Arriving at spirituality

Do you think that a person arrives at spirituality after having exhausted all their available avenues in the material world, so that they can return wth fresh eyes sort to speak? How did you arrive at spirituality?

Thanks for your help :)

[wstein]

Originally Posted by traceyacey12

Do you think that a person arrives at spirituality after having exhausted all their available avenues in the material world, so that they can return wth fresh eyes sort to speak? How did you arrive at spirituality?

Thanks for your help :)

I was born with certain knowings. The relevant one is that 'I am not my body'. along with a natural curiosity, I started learning of (my) spirituality as soon as that was possible. I did not exhaust any other avenues first. I also acknowledge that I am not the typical case.

I would say the typical case is that most humans are born with some awareness of spirit thus left to the natural course would discover spirituality pretty early on without too many unnecessary alternative views. However, most cultures frown on 'that mystical ****' and so toddlers are coerced out of pursuing spirituality except for what the religion of their parents teaches. Some (not nearly all) later in life rediscover spirituality later in life and typically have to start back at the beginning.

[John32241]

Hello,


My understanding is that there are layers and layers of spirituality. Even the masters are learning and spiritually growing.


As a child I knew I was different. I went along with my families religious beliefs to the best of my ability. Then in my early 20's I abandoned them and trusted more in myself. Eventually at 50 or so I started evolving my spiritual beliefs.


We are all quite unique. My reality perspective for how life works has been divinely guided. Each of us are loved and precious.


There is always more to learn and become aware of. I hope these thoughts will be helpful.


John

[Starman]

Originally Posted by traceyacey12

Do you think that a person arrives at spirituality after having exhausted all their available avenues in the material world, so that they can return wth fresh eyes sort to speak? How did you arrive at spirituality?

Thanks for your help :)

My philosophy evolved and as it evolved I let go of the old way I had of seeing things. I went from a visceral reaction to life, to and intellectual interpretation of life, to a deeper experiential understanding of life. The one common denominator along the way was my interpretation of life, indeed, my interpretation of myself. Now understanding the more I interpreted something the farther away from it I got. Eventually all I had was my interpretation and not the thing itself. It really was not until I lost my eyesight and went totally blind for 5-years that I began to actually see.

A dozen surgeries later I got my eyesight back but also had gained some great insights. The spiritual interpretation is a very different dimension than the mental interpretation; it involves less elaboration and is much simpler than the mental. What I found was that the spiritual was always with me but I was not ready for it until I had traversed intellectual pursuits. I studied the physical body and worked in the medical field.

I then later studied psychology and worked in the mental health field, and still later became a professional social worker and learned about societies and cultures. This was my particular journey that lead me to a much deeper inquiry into what I now call “my spiritual nature.” My journey involved gathering tools along the way that, unbeknown to me at the time, were useful when I approached that deeper spiritual journey. Everyone’s path is as unique as they are, there is no one way and one way only. Although there are some common themes, like patience, humility, and listening to your deeper being, or heart, etc.

Thank you all for your replies, very helpful :)

Originally Posted by Starman

My philosophy evolved and as it evolved I let go of the old way I had of seeing things. I went from a visceral reaction to life, to and intellectual interpretation of life, to a deeper experiential understanding of life. The one common denominator along the way was my interpretation of life, indeed, my interpretation of myself. Now understanding the more I interpreted something the farther away from it I got. Eventually all I had was my interpretation and not the thing itself. It really was not until I lost my eyesight and went totally blind for 5-years that I began to actually see.

A dozen surgeries later I got my eyesight back but also had gained some great insights. The spiritual interpretation is a very different dimension than the mental interpretation; it involves less elaboration and is much simpler than the mental. What I found was that the spiritual was always with me but I was not ready for it until I had traversed intellectual pursuits. I studied the physical body and worked in the medical field.

I then later studied psychology and worked in the mental health field, and still later became a professional social worker and learned about societies and cultures. This was my particular journey that lead me to a much deeper inquiry into what I now call “my spiritual nature.” My journey involved gathering tools along the way that, unbeknown to me at the time, were useful when I approached that deeper spiritual journey. Everyone’s path is as unique as they are, there is no one way and one way only. Although there are some common themes, like patience, humility, and listening to your deeper being, or heart, etc.

Thanks for sharing, Starman. Amazing story :)