The meaning of spiritual self-development is a question that I get asked quite frequently. The definition of spiritual is “a sense of deep connection with a higher power or divine truth” (Webster’s Dictionary). The connotation of spiritual has certainly changed and developed over the years, and many connotations are found along with each other. To explain my thoughts on this subject, I will utilize the dictionary definition to explain the meaning. Then as an expound on the process of spiritual development.
The meaning of spiritual development is the ability to see oneself as having an inner knowing or awareness of a higher power, God, or Spirit. Many people do not realize that all things begin with a thought or decision, nothing more nothing less. When we begin to grow in spiritual awareness, we find ourselves becoming enlightened or more sensitive to the Divine Presence within. It is this awakening that leads many on a journey of discovery and spiritual growth. The journey itself is spiritual, but one can only imagine the many journeys and the impact that it has had on those who have gone before us.
If you are a spiritual person and wish to further your spiritual development, there are many avenues to choose from. The most important thing to remember is that to develop spiritually is to continually grow in knowledge and awareness of our own abilities and the Divine Plan for our life. A life spent in constant spiritual development is definitely more fulfilling than one where we sit back and vegetate. This process of continual spiritual growth provides a much richer and rewarding life experience than passive non-spiritual development.
False Signs of Spiritual Awakening
Spiritual awakening is not a simple concept. It can be difficult to describe what it is, especially for those unfamiliar with spiritual traditions and the Wheel of Samskara. The term spiritual awakening is often used in Western culture to denote the whole age of enlightenment, but in other cultures is used specifically to describe a particular school or movement. It typically translates various Buddhist concepts and terms, most importantly bodhi, satori and kensho. However, spiritual awakening does not actually reside in any one of these concepts or teachings, but rather within each of them.
- Spiritual awakening occurs when one fully comprehends their true nature as being part and parcel of God, and when they are able to fully detach themselves from any idea of self (ego) and develop a direct relationship with the Absolute.
- This process of spiritual development will lead to the awakening of the mind to the truth of Oneness, or Paracelsus’ famous phrase which describes the connection between God, the Absolute and the cosmos.
- This process of psychological development often involves an overwhelming sense of peace and is accompanied by an expansion of personal consciousness to include inner wisdom, intuition and psychic visions.
- Often, people who have gone through such spiritual awakenings have described their experiences as comparable to that of discovering new levels of consciousness, or even leaving their minds behind in an instantaneous flash.
So, how do we differentiate true spiritual awakening from false signs? A good way is to look at psychology to find out what causes the formation of false signs within our minds. For instance, in everyday life, we experience many false signs that appear to be authentic, such as feeling a certain way, hearing a certain sound, seeing a certain thing, or thinking a certain way.
These experiences are caused by the influence of worldly distractions and conditioned responses that arise from our conditioned responses. For instance, this may be because a person has been told for years that eating too much will make them fat, and they have formed an eating disorder based on that false information. True spiritual awakening, however, is experienced when the conditioned response is no longer present and the individual has the ability to look at the world anew.
What Does it Mean to Be Spiritual?
Spiritual health is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. Although spirituality has many different meanings, it basically deals with your inner state of mind and how you view the world and yourself. Many of us are guided by faith or a belief system when it comes to spiritual matters. But does your spiritual health also include physical health? Do you have good spiritual health, but have poor physical health?
Some research indicates a relationship between your spiritual beliefs and your state of health. Positive spiritual beliefs, trust, comfort, and the strength obtained from prayer, meditation, and religion can all contribute to good health. It can even support healing.
Improving your spiritual health can not only heal an illness, it can also make you feel better on a whole. By improving your spiritual health you are better able to get the most out of every day, and how you feel at any given moment. A good spiritual outlook on life can affect the way you think and feel about almost everything. And physical health is just one part of this full perspective. well. The more you can learn to improve your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health, the better off you’ll be in the world. That’s something worth fighting for!
What You Should Know About Spiritual Symbols
Many people wear a symbol as a piece of clothing or jewelry to represent their religion or belief system. More often than not, those who choose to wear a religious symbol don’t know what it represents and where it came from. Often times the symbols worn by religious people are a way for members of that faith to communicate with each other in the form of symbols. Wearing a symbol such as the cross, you can use it as a way to honor a loved one or to show respect for your beliefs.
There are many different types of religious symbols available for consumers to choose from. These symbols can include crosses, angels, and also some symbols used by several different religions such as the Celtic cross. For those who are new to the concept of spiritual symbols, you can take a look at religious books at your local bookstore to get an idea of the different symbols used in different religions. From there you can go online to purchase these symbols and have them customized for you. Many people like to have religious symbols as part of their fashion statement because they are unique and have their own meaning and purpose.
The most popular of these symbols are the Celtic cross. This symbol has been around for centuries and has played a big role in many different battles and conflicts. In fact, the name “Celtic” is derived from the Welsh word “eklwyn” which means “of the cross”. Wearing one of these spiritual symbols can definitely show someone that they are of high faith or are close to a faith community.