I think one of the most misunderstood words is “spiritual” and “spirituality.” Ask someone to define the words, and they will be at a loss. We have a vague, foggy notion, but no clear concept.
Most people think that spirituality has something to do with heightened emotions or mystical insights. But this is not true. In order to understand spirituality, we must first understand the word spirit.
The word spirit is derived from the Greek word for breath. It is something unseen but can be felt. It’s not visual, but it’s real. In the religious world, it is thought to be the immortal soul, but that is not quite right.
The spirit is consciousness. It is that invisible thing that makes life what it is. It is that awareness of ourselves and the world around us. It is when we lose this consciousness that we die: it is consciousness that leaves.
Now, if spirit refers to consciousness, then spirituality refers to the cultivation of consciousness. It is about the deepening and expanding awareness of reality. That is what spirituality is about.
So when I say that I’m spiritual but not religious, it means that I’m about cultivating an awareness of Ultimate Reality outside the confines of church, mosque, or synagogue. I belong to God, not to any religion.
