| Spirituality includes all religions, religious views and | | | | is imagined as a place free from the bonds of earthly |
| spiritual beliefs. Spirituality is not organized religion. | | | | life where gravity no longer holds down the body, |
| Spirituality is not Spiritualism, a belief in communicating | | | | but this virtual reality is within. |
| with the dead. Spirituality is not a New Age term, nor | | | | Spiritual awakening is the connection to a different |
| is it associated with the occult or anything | | | | level where the invisible and the visible merge. Many |
| subversive, secretive, mysterious or irreligious. | | | | of us have experienced such a moment when we |
| The dictionary defines spiritual as of the spirit or of | | | | knew we were connected to something greater than |
| the soul as distinguished from the body and the | | | | ourselves:o Maybe it is standing in an old Native |
| material matters. We are body, mind, and spirit. | | | | American ruin, with the energy encompassing all and, |
| Spirituality is everything related to the spirit, which is | | | | even though others mingle nearby, there is a feeling |
| separate from our mental or emotional mind and | | | | of transcendence.o Maybe it is standing on the |
| separate from our physical or material world. | | | | ocean's edge, feeling the lapping of the shore as if it |
| I like a definition provided by philosopher Ken Wilber: | | | | were cleansing the soul and leaving a sense of peace |
| Spirituality is an intelligence that is separate from | | | | and togetherness while the sand between the toes |
| intellect, emotions or any other aspect of our lives | | | | continues to assure a grounding.o Maybe it is driving |
| but just as valuable. | | | | through the mountains with the peaks rising high on |
| Body, mind and spirit. We are a combination of all | | | | all sides, highlighting a feeling of insignificance and |
| three. Spirituality, or the study of that third aspect of | | | | humility in the presence of a much larger scene.o |
| our lives, is all-inclusive and not limited to any one set | | | | Maybe it is meditating, feeling totally encompassed |
| of beliefs. In spirituality, there is the moment of | | | | with love and a sense that, at that moment, |
| spiritual awareness. Deepak Chopra discusses the | | | | everything is wonderful, forgiving, lasting. |
| similarities of spiritual awareness in all religious and | | | | Individual experiences vary, but similar feelings unite |
| spiritual traditions. | | | | us. Spiritual awareness is a common bond despite |
| Perhaps the word is enlightenment or illumination, | | | | different beliefs. Spiritual awareness guides our |
| since finding or seeing the light is one way to express | | | | Spirituality. Everything is connected to the spirit, the |
| this encounter, which when experienced, is clear yet | | | | third aspect of our lives, that combines with our |
| often difficult to describe. Chopra suggests this | | | | body and mind to remind us we are spiritual beings |
| experience as taking us from the material world to a | | | | having a human experience. |
| virtual reality not available to our five senses. Heaven | | | | |