Are We Spiritual Beings Having a Human Experience?

“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.“

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

What Does it Mean to be Spiritual?

To be spiritual covers such a diverse and broad spectrum.

A Tibetan Monk can be spiritual, as can your average person working a stressful 9 to 5 job in a bustling city.

You can be religious and spiritual or, you can be atheist and spiritual.

Even if you don’t consider yourself spiritual, you can have moments of clarity and experience beauty of a single moment. You may therefore not be spiritual but, everybody will experience spiritual moments.

A while back I had an online dating profile. I can’t remember if it was Tinder or one of the others but, you had to select a certain number of ‘hobbies/interests’ that best described you.

One of those hobbies/interests was ‘spiritual’.

True to form, I was thinking a lot about this. I selected it but, thought to myself, I wonder what others perceive ‘spiritual’ to mean.

Will people think I am religious, or will they think I practice yoga every day, or dance naked under the moon?

What image did I have in my mind when I saw someone else’s profile included the word spiritual?

Spirituality still carries through some degree of stereotype from the days it was associated with religion and then new age in more recent times.

It is obvious to me now however, that spirituality is a way of life much more sort after by a larger number of people.

• People who look within in an attempt to better understand their own emotional field and the impact they have outwardly.
• People who have a sense of being a part of something bigger and, that there is more to this life than we know or can understand.
• People who believe that empathy, compassion, and gratitude should play a bigger role in our societies today.

Those that look within generally do so to try and get a better understand of self.

Looking within is a way of taking responsibility for our own emotional states. It’s recognising our own suffering and understand that we alone are the only ones with the power to determine how much and over what, that we suffer.

This coincides with the impact we have outwardly. It affects how we treat others and, for want of a better term, affects the energy we put out into the universe. It affects what we manifest in return.

Many people reject religion for any number of reasons. But, even so, still have an instinctive belief in something bigger than our individual selves.

In order to give meaning and allow us to experience our lives, the belief of being a part of something bigger is comforting.

For many, just this unlabelled belief is enough.

It’s enough motivation to live life in the best way they can. Attempting to show empathy and compassion to others and practicing gratitude.

There are a growing number of people who are awakening spiritually and understanding the need, now more than ever, for these qualities.

What Does it Mean to be Human?

Being human is to be the sum of our biological bodies.

We are born and we strive to learn. We learn so we can better ourselves and our lives.

Sigmund Freud believed that humans had two instinct categories that our basic urges fall under:

• Life instinct
• Death instinct

Life instincts (Eros)

• Survival – Food and shelter
• Reproduction – Love and sex
• Pleasure – Things that make us feel good

Death instincts (Thanatos)

• Fear
• Aggression
• Self-destruction

What Sets the Human Experience Aside from Any Other Animal Experience?

1. Humans have a higher level of self-awareness and consciousness

This allows for abstract thought, and the ability to contemplate existential questions.

2. Language and communication

We have developed complex languages and communication systems. This allows for the exchange of vast amounts of information and ideas.

3. Technological advancements

Humans have created technological innovations that shape our experiences and interactions with the world.

4. Capacity for rational thought and problem-solving

We possess the ability to reason, plan and solve problems using abstract thinking and logic.

5. Social complexity

Human societies are characterised by intricate social structures, norms, and institutions that govern behaviour and relationships.

6. Emotional depth and complexity

We experience a wide range of emotions, often with greater intensity and complexity than other animals. This includes emotions such as empathy, compassion, jealousy, and pride, which influence social dynamics and relationships.

Can Being More Spiritual Help us to be More Human?

In our human society, material wealth, and material success is often what it used to measure our lives against and used as motivation. This is even more so in Western cultures.

When you come across someone on social media for example, perhaps someone you went to school with and haven’t seen since.

What do look at?

Are they married? What do they do? Did they have children? Have they let themselves go?

I imagine we would all briefly think or wonder these things. But how many of us would wonder just one question, are they happy?

Happiness, more often than not, doesn’t come into it sadly. We are programmed, as humans to focus material success.

On a larger scale striving for material wealth and success is often at the detriment to others, causing wars, poverty and suffering.

I keep waiting for the day that I hear or see a news headline where one UK party leader has praised another party leader for the handling of a situation.

I remain dumbfounded that this has never happened. It’s just malicious attempts to undermine in order to gain favour.

There is the belief that they would lose favour if they showed compassion, empathy and gratitude towards the opposing leader.

I think it would change the world if that attitude was adopted, not only towards opposing parties but to other governments and nations too.

I believe that humans are inherently good. I think mass collective unconsciousness is responsible for the world’s suffering.

Spirituality can contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human experience in several ways:

1. Connection with others

Spirituality often emphasises interconnectedness and empathy, promoting a sense of compassion and understanding towards others.

This can enhance relationships and strengthen bonds within communities.

2. Personal growth and development

Practices such as mindfulness, meditation and self-reflection can promote inner growth and self-awareness.

By moving away from the material realm, we can focus on values, purpose and beliefs, leading to a more meaningful and authentic life.

3. Finding meaning and purpose

Spirituality often involves seeking meaning and purpose beyond the mundane aspects of life.

By engaging in practices that encourage self-reflection on existential questions and our place in the universe, we can cultivate a deeper sense of meaning and fulfilment.

4. Coping with challenges

Spirituality can provide solace and support during times of adversity or uncertainty.

It enables us to develop a belief system that can offer us comfort and help us build resilience and have a sense of hope in the face of difficult circumstances.

5. Promoting well-being

Research suggests that spirituality practices are associated with various positive outcomes. These include better mental health, greater life satisfaction, and improved coping skills.

Related Post – How To Use Mindfulness When Navigating Difficult Life Issues