Spirituality
T
he word spirituality comes from the Latin word spiritus, which is translated as breath. Spirituality is most commonly defined as “relating to, consisting of or having the nature of spirit; not tangible or material.” Another definition centers on the thoughts of people and their relationship to the cosmos. Up until the 20th century the concept was seen as central to religion but by the end of the century it was viewed by some as being a quite separate entity. Some would argue that spirituality makes a person more sensitive to love, justice, peace and more of the intangible things that cannot be directly perceived by a person’s senses. It supports the idea that the human being and the rest of creation are composed not only of matter but of something that is immaterial and beyond our knowledge. Other definitions of spirituality explain it as a power, greater than oneself, that is operating in the universe; a sense of interconnectedness with all living creatures; and an awareness of the purpose and meaning of life and the development of personal, absolute values. It is impossible to point out the “right” definition as each individual perceives the word spirituality in his or her own way. For many spirituality is a way to find meaning, hope, comfort and inner peace in their lives. It is important to note that spirituality is not religion. The term is often related to religious life but spirituality can be reached outside religion. The characteristics of spiritual life include selflessness, altruism and the experience of inner peace. In general, spirituality provides a way for people to escape from the negativity, frustration, anger and stress in their lives. Practices such as prayer, meditation and yoga allow a person to reach the balance between his or her thoughts and actions. Despite the fact that it varies from person to person, spirituality has a number of common themes. A person living spiritual life seeks to reach beyond his or her limits. This goal may include questioning beliefs, keeping an open mind and trying to better understand the ways of the other people. Self discovery is an important factor to many people who regard themselves as spiritual. Spirituality’s objective is not always to reach a conclusion or solve a problem but rather to help find a direction, meaning and purpose in life. Another major theme in spirituality is reaching and understanding a higher power that, depending a person’s views, may be rooted in religion or nature.
