“Intensity of feeling is no measure of depth of awareness.” — Flannery O’Connor
The spirit refers to consciousness—whether the proto-consciousness of a plant, the semi-consciousness of an animal, or the full-blown consciousness of a human.
Once you understand what the spirit is, you will understand that the spiritual concerns the expansion and deepening of consciousness. It deals with awareness, not merely with feelings. This expansion and deepening of consciousness may produce feelings, but it is not identical with them.
An emotional experience is just that: it concerns feelings and emotions, not the expansion and deepening of consciousness. Emotional experiences have no inherent spiritual validity; at most, they reveal aspects of our mental state.
So when you see people becoming highly emotional about something religious, do not assume it is a spiritual experience. It may be—but it may not be. It must be judged by the fruit it produces: does it expand and deepen one’s consciousness? Does it lead to greater awareness of reality, a deeper connection with ultimate reality?
Spiritual Versus Emotional Experiences
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