The Truth Perspective: What is the real meaning of spirituality?

Sott.net
Sun, 12 Jun 2016 16:00 UTC

From monotheism to ancient mystery traditions to new age 'spirituality', there is a plethora of religious or 'spiritual' beliefs available that claim to offer the real path to 'god'. But have any of them done so? Are modern human beings any more morally or spiritually evolved than their ancestors at any other time in history? What is the real meaning of spirituality and what is the nature of true human evolution?

On this episode of the Truth Perspective, we discussed what is perhaps the most often asked question: what is the meaning of life? Is real spirituality based on rules and doctrines, or something else? And if we aren't really practicing spirituality, how do we do so? At the end of the show we also had some brief comments about the recent shooting in Orlando.

Running Time: 01:56:38

Download: MP3

Reader Comments

Reindeer · 2016-06-13T03:57:12Z

Why oh why...

Why oh why that even on a program discussing spirituality people just can't resist the political sniping. The very fact that only 15 minutes into a nearly two hour show we are off into the "us vs them" games and hearing about how horrible candidate X is tells me this is not a program worth listening to.

Baybars · 2016-06-13T04:04:18Z

So you want to know the meaning of life, do you? Well, nothing describes that better than watching the documentary called "The Meaning of Life"...[Link]

Ruth · 2016-06-13T05:37:53Z

To some people politics is a form of religion, one which they simply will not tolerate any criticism for.

Olimpia · 2016-06-13T19:08:42Z

Without understanding what is really going around you, also in politics which is an important part of our reality if we like it or not, one can't be truly spiritual person. I remember one Reiki teacher saying that what he needs to be spiritual is only to concentrate on Reiki and Buddhism. When challenged, he seemed to be pretty astonished at the idea that to become a real spiritual person one should learn about many aspects of reality...

Olimpia · 2016-06-13T19:09:08Z

Great show, thank you!

Joe · 2016-06-14T09:36:59Z

Because what is happening in this world is a fundamental part of "spirituality." If you had listened to the show, rather than having a knee-jerk reaction to it, you might have understood that.

binra · 2016-06-13T23:22:15Z

What is the real meaning is...

What is the real meaning - of anything - IS an undefended curiosity and willingness that embodies spirituality. Being with the real in yourself and others is spirituality.
The presumptions of self-assertive identity are not receptive or relational - they are defences passing off as socially or personally justified
Regardless the forms and the meanings assigned or associated with the forms, true perspective is the extension of Meaning to relations and not the sacrifice and denial of relations to conform to ideas of spirituality or of anything else.
The attempt to validate or justify any identity is the extension of self doubt within a mask of social agreements and definitions - including the conformity or mimicry of ideas and forms of 'spirituality'.

In other words there is an untrue overlay of meanings or mind - given the status of reality and the determiner of reality - as a result of separation trauma of fear, guilt, and rage in which split mind fragments to reflect such a world of deceits in which to hide a loveless agenda - and to hide from a loveless agenda. But love remains Itself and NOT what a fearful mind has 'made of it'. Recognition of love - regardless of names and languages remains original nature and original communication. But mutually agreed definitions of 'love' or Life or truth all operate to deny love's recognition via a filtering distortion of fear driven mis identification - that defends itself against truth in the name and form of believed and defined truth.

But we - and our world are only truly identified and defined in the intimate recognition and appreciation of love extending - which is never an isolation or rejection of life in existence - but its embrace.
The person is not who you are or 'spiritualisable', save-able or enlighten-able - excepting this: it can become a channel or an instrument of free willing communication the extends THROUGH it and reflects to who you truly are as recognisable worthiness of love's awareness. Because it us your function to extend the Meaning that is the gift of free willing presence and recognise your 'self' in All. Not your personality - but your true source and nature.
What then of that which is NOT true of you? Put it behind thee - but not in self-judgement of hatred and vengeance - but by holding to clear and unified purpose that arises spontaneously as the movement of your being - when you are no longer giving protection and allegiance to the insane attempt to control Life as if you could or must in order to 'survive' a chaos of conflicted identity that you are unaware of your own choices in generating, blaming choice and willingness as if an evil or oppositional will has blighted you and your world. But choice and willingness are the remaining freedoms in a world predicated upon deceits of fear and guilt masking as protectors. You are always 'choosing' by the focus and direction of intent and attention - but know not the what you do - and so cannot choose anew while locked into definitions that fear set when you had no other perspective from which to choose otherwise.
It is no use asking the 'head' what anything is if you are desiring truth - but if the head is needed the heart will call and direct it to whatever serves. Getting 'ahead' of yourself or losing your head in a sense of separation from your true capacity to feel and know - is a kind of self-reinforcing loop. Calming down from the inflammation of conflicted and compulsive reaction is make a space in which what is real can dawn on you - as you - of itself. Of course no one can put this into words - at least without inviting the head to persist in conflict of judgements and opinions signifying what exactly?
Where you choose to invest the love or value of your focus and attention is the measure YOU set - regardless the attempt to justify persisting in self limitation under the guise of a false narrative. If you accept a fundamental sense of worth to that you exist - regardless what you may think - then there is a basis to allow and grow receptivity to that which resonates and is relevant to who you truly know and feel yourself to be. You are not here to live anyone else's life - but in the true of yours will know and be known truly. As a mask seeking validation you will seek to 'win' over Life and be blind to what you do and what comes back in like kind.
Because deceit is accepted currency the term true or spiritual and similar was coined. You are already a spirit - and don't need to think this for it to be so. There is already a purpose or function that Life simply is - and aligning in it is remembering the gift through willingness for giving. Be and share the true of you anyway and any way you are genuinely moved - but be vigilant against fear's deceits that hide your true desire from you amidst hatred disguised as self-righteousness. The personality level is not the true reflection of Creation - nor an expression of true evolution - for an ancient hatred has never changed more than it form and face - excepting a shift from hate to love undoes the basis for valuing guilt and vengeance as one's justification and power.
Is it not timely for an honest accounting?

gdpetti · 2016-06-15T21:59:53Z

Well... it is the usual 'spiritual' statement on love... whereas Love is another thing altogether, which often intrudes upon the conversation to remind us that the fingernail is not the whole role in this play. Mostly, I thought is more of a meditation exercise, to calm our feelings, so that the experience before us isn't lost in translation, or worse... and things can always get worse... thank 'god'.

That said, the process of 'evolution', spirituality and the like is what we make of it, this subjective interpretation of the emotions and intellect is our 'gift', wouldn't you say? As there is a method to the madness of all this experiential catalyst, such as this one:
-------
The ‘Silvered Water’ of ‘Syria Mon Amour’
by Kaori Shoji

Special To The Japan Times
[...]
Alhough Mohammed has given multiple interviews to the Western press, Bedirxan chooses to remain out of sight and is virtually impossible to reach. She’s currently living in a refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border and involved in the establishment of a school for children, mostly the orphaned who are in desperate need of some semblance of order.

“Trying to build a school was what she was doing when she and I first started talking,” said Mohammed. “And now she is continuing that work.”

The two first came into contact when Mohammed was sifting through YouTube footage of the fighting and massacres going on in his home country. Using social media, Bedirxan contacted him and asked “You are Ossama the filmmaker?” When Mohammed replied that he was, she explained that she had a camera and wanted advice on what she should be filming in Syria.

It was 2013 and Bedirxan was offering to film in Homs, effectively putting herself in the line of fire, knowing that anyone wielding a camera, or even a cellphone, was at risk of being gunned down by snipers. In fact, many of the YouTube visuals used in “Silvered Water” were taken by people who were killed afterward.

“For Simav the war was a life-altering experience,” said Mohammed. “She was a young Kurdish woman from a conservative family and, up until the siege, she had never left the family fold. But then everything became chaos and the old traditions no longer meant anything. Simav left her family and struck out on her own.”

It was these drastic changes, said Mohammed, that compelled Bedirxan to film her surroundings and also stay in Syria: “She said, ‘I don’t want to cut myself off from my own experiences. In Paris, I can do nothing. In Syria, I can work, film, express myself. In Paris, I would be just another refugee.’ ”

Mohammed suggested that they collaborate on a book project of her day-to-day experiences during the siege and war, but she declined that too, telling him: “Having actually lived through it, I don’t have the energy left to relive the whole thing over again.”

“She lost so much but gained a few, precious pieces of treasure, mainly the right to self-expression,” said Mohammed remarking on the rare spark of hope that has come out of “Silvered Water.” “The revolution gave her that chance. She became free, for the first time in her life.”

For his part, Mohammed remains imprisoned in guilt and his own quandary of existence in exile.
[...]

----------
[Link]

Who amongst us would wish to take away that freedom she has earned, the hard way? This is Love... the 'gift' of spirituality, more self-realization than 'evolution', but don't words always get in the way of understanding? And isn't that part of the journey? Intertwined like the negative and positive energies of creation. It takes two to tango, even if they are really one dancing in a dark shadow play we call life.

medicis · 2016-06-14T02:14:35Z

such nonsense, generally...

not worth detailed rebuttle. I found the commenters.... the narrators, whatever they are....more or less, to be amazing naive... amazingly prejudiced... amazingly childlike. Sincerely, dr. rw, neuropsychologist, retired.....the whole thing... generally, not worth the time.... to listen to it.

pinkfreud · 2016-06-14T05:58:21Z

If you're gonna be like that, the least you could do is give a rubuttle. Probably beneath a "neuropsychologist" like yourself. Or maybe your version of spirituality just got attacked and you can't ponder the thought.

JGeropoulas · 2016-06-14T16:09:04Z

If you're truly more enlightened than these "commenters...narrators", you would humbly seek to enlighten us--rather than arrogantly expressing disdain.

medicis · 2016-06-14T02:18:31Z

actually, binra

was much more accurate and entertaining.....to boot.

medicis · 2016-06-14T02:20:25Z

good on you binra....

....a breath of fresh air..... thanks

Anna1 · 2016-06-14T14:38:02Z

The soul spirit relationship

Where the soul is a torch, the spirit is the light. Keep the soul nourished and the spirit will continue to shine.

lysna · 2016-06-14T14:49:55Z

More like keep your BRAIN well nourished with good food or you wont be aware of any light or torch or spirit or goblins or fairies.
Iv'e always had trouble consuming SOUL food as it's a little hard to grow & find in the supermarket.
Tends to be invisible unless I create its in my own brain.
LOL...

JGeropoulas · 2016-06-14T16:00:20Z

What would Jesus (and Plato) say...

about the need to develop a spiritual "organ" capable of seeing the world as it really is?

And Jesus took Thomas and withdrew and told him three things. When Thomas returned to his companions, they asked him, "What did Jesus say to you?" Thomas said to them, "If I tell you one of the things which he told me, you will pick up stones and throw them at me..."
-- Gospel of Thomas

“Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed, by the masses.”
-- Plato

lysna · 2016-06-14T17:15:58Z

Seeing beyond the shadows & lies & our culture requires a healthy critical & self critical mind/brain & a lot of effort.
That is different to fantasies...
So good point Plato & thanks for bringing it up JGeropoulas.

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The Truth Perspective: What is the real meaning of spirituality?

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