Spiritual Tourism Experiences
Beyond dogmas: what is spirituality and how to apply it for a full life
Nov
The term spirituality often generates some controversy: Do we really understand its meaning? Is being religious the same as being spiritual? What experiences or internal aspects do we consider relevant to define ourselves as spiritual people?
In this article we will delve into the concept of spirituality, dispelling its ambiguities and discussing its practices. We will reflect on the judgments associated with this term, exploring how it can benefit us in our daily practice.In this article we will delve into the concept of spirituality, dispelling its ambiguities and discussing its practices. We will reflect on the judgments associated with this term, exploring how it can benefit us in our daily practice.
What is spirituality
Spirituality implies connecting with our deepest essence and reflecting it in every action and word.
What is essence? It is what we are inside, it is our inner motivation, that is, the vital energy that drives us and seeks to manifest itself in our life. So, “to be spiritual” is to express and materialize our inner life, to act in accordance with our values and feelings.
It implies living in coherence. In other words, it is to integrate all aspects of our existence in an authentic and balanced way.
Recognizing ourselves beyond our thoughts and the mask we have constructed paves the way to our authenticity without the limitations of these filters.
What do we mean by “spiritual awakening” and why can it be painful?
The term “spiritual awakening” refers to a process of profound change in the perception and understanding of reality from within.
This “awakening” does not follow defined steps. Sometimes it is gradual and sometimes sudden. Nor does it imply reaching a destination, but marks the beginning of an inner transformation.
It does not solve all problems, nor does it mean feeling or appearing “enlightened”. Rather, it is the ability to begin to see what previously went unnoticed because the veil falls from our eyes.
But taking responsibility for being deeply consistent with what we want to make of our lives involves having the courage to let go of our old self. And sustaining that decision can hurt, since it means giving up the sweetness of flattery and the affection of attached relationships.
It also means facing our own “emotional procrastination”. It means having to regain motivation when we feel faint, moments when we face ourselves to find the inner harmony that comes from being true to ourselves. And that brings peace.
The Paradox of letting go in order to find oneself
On the way to the development of a genuine spirituality, there is an inevitable increase in awareness. That is, we realize that our way of seeing life and the meaning we are giving to it does not serve us because we do not feel good. We recognize that we need to make changes and that there is an internal impulse that prevents us from doing so.
We become aware that there is something that moves us without us being aware of it.
Thus, as we ask ourselves questions, doubts are awakened, and the internal structure on which our identity is based starts to crack.
This process can present resistances since it entails detachment. What we are letting go of are the ideas that define the character we built to feel safe, accepted and, ultimately, loved.
This implies destabilizing the foundations on which we sustain our idea of “I”, we lose contact with the known and we jump into the void. That feeling of losing oneself can be terrifying, until we realize that this leap is precisely the one that leads us to connect with our true identity.
Authentic spirituality is experienced in a mental space where we do not know who we are and where our pluripotentiality remains intact: all that we can become.
