What Does Spiritual Journey Mean

In March, I finished Yuval Harari's Homo Deus, and one section in particular remained with me: his thoughts on spirituality and why religions are anything but spiritual. Religion is defined by Harari as follows:

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Any all-encompassing myth that bestows superhuman validity on human laws, conventions, and values is referred to be religion. It establishes the legitimacy of human social systems by claiming that they are based on superhuman laws.

Religion claims that we humans are bound by a set of moral principles that we did not create and that we are powerless to change. This is the system of moral laws created by God and revealed in the Bible, according to a believing Jew. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, according to Hindu belief, devised the laws that were revealed to us humans in the Vedas. Other religions, ranging from Buddhism and Daoism to communism, Nazism, and liberalism, contend that the so-called superhuman rules are natural laws rather than the work of some god. Of course, from Buddha and Laozi to Marx and Hitler, each believes in a separate set of natural principles discovered and revealed by different seers and prophets.

The claim that religion is a mechanism for maintaining social order and organizing large-scale collaboration may irritate people who see religion as primarily a spiritual path. However, just as the divide between religion and science is shorter than most people believe, the divide between religion and spirituality is far greater. Spirituality is a journey, whereas religion is a transaction.

Religion offers us a well-defined contract with specified aims, as well as a thorough picture of the world. ‘God is real. He instructed us to act in certain ways. You will be allowed to paradise if you obey God. You will burn in hell if you disobey Him.' Because of the deal's clarity, society can create universal rules and ideals that govern human behavior.

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Spiritual journeys aren't like that at all. They generally lead individuals on intriguing journeys to unknown locations. Usually, the quest begins with a big question, such as “Who am I?” What exactly is the purpose of life? What exactly is good? Spiritual searchers, on the other hand, are not easily satisfied with the ready-made answers offered by the powers that be. They are adamant about following the big question wherever it leads, not only to places they are familiar with or would like to see. Academic studies, for the most part, are a transaction rather than a spiritual journey, because they lead us to a preset destination that has been sanctioned by our elders, governments, and banks. ‘I'll study for three years, pass the tests, earn my BA, and find a well-paying career.' Academic study may be transformed into a spiritual trip if the major questions you discover along the road lead you to unforeseen places you couldn't have imagined at first. A student might start studying economics in order to get a job on Wall Street, for example. However, we may label what she learns a spiritual journey if it leads her to a Hindu ashram or to assisting HIV patients in Zimbabwe.

Why would you call such a journey “spiritual”? This is a holdover from ancient dualist faiths, which held that there were two gods, one good and the other wicked. According to dualism, the benevolent deity created pure and eternal souls who lived in a spiritual paradise. However, the malevolent god – also referred to as Satan – created a material universe. Because Satan didn't know how to make his creation last, everything rots and disintegrates in the world of matter. Satan enticed souls from the pristine world of spirit and imprisoned them inside material bodies in order to breathe life into his faulty creation. A human being is a good spiritual soul trapped inside an evil physical body. Since the soul's prison, the body, decays and inevitably dies, Satan tempts the soul with corporeal pleasures, particularly food, sex, and power. When the body disintegrates and the soul has the opportunity to return to the spiritual world, the soul's desire for bodily pleasures tempts it back into a new physical body. As a result, the spirit wanders from body to body, squandering its days in the chase of food, sex, and power.

Dualism teaches people to free themselves from material enslavement and return to the spiritual world, which is foreign to us but is our true home. We must resist all material temptations and deals during this pursuit. Because of this dualist tradition, any journey on which we question the conventions and deals of the mundane world and embark on an unknown adventure is referred to as a “spiritual” voyage.

How many of us are actually on a spiritual path, according to this definition of spirituality? Few people, I believe, can honestly state they reject all material temptations and deals in favor of aggressively pursuing big questions.

If anything, it reminds me of all the religions I follow and how little I question their tenets–liberalism, which believes in the equality of all people; capitalism, which believes in trade and markets; animalism, which believes that all animals are sentient beings; and a variety of others that I'm sure have labels I'm unaware of.

If I were to classify anything I do as “spiritual,” it could be moments like this when I can take a step back for an hour and ask myself why I believe what I believe, how I came to those ideas, and if it makes sense for me to continue believing what I believe. It's feasible that I'll become tired or bored soon and return to my numerous distractions and commitments, but it's also possible that a particular line of thinking will drive me to change my mind, seek a new belief, or slightly tweak an existing perspective. This practice–reflecting and thinking about a few important questions on a regular basis–is a strong defense against having ossified views that make it difficult for me to accept a different worldview. And I can't ignore the value of reading and how books can help us achieve these meditative states.

I'll leave you with this final quote from Harari on the cycle that transforms spiritual journeys that seek to examine, if not destroy, current belief systems into their own:

The spiritual journey is always tragic from a historical perspective, because it is a lonely route appropriate only for individuals rather than entire societies. Human cooperation necessitates more than simply questions, and people who rail against stultified religious structures frequently end up creating new ones to replace them. It happened to the dualists, whose spiritual quests turned into religious institutions. It happened to Martin Luther, who found himself drafting new law books, founding new institutions, and designing new ceremonies after opposing the Catholic Church's laws, institutions, and rituals. It happened to Buddha and Jesus as well. They violated traditional Hinduism and Judaism's laws, rituals, and systems in their relentless search for the truth. However, more laws, ceremonies, and structures were eventually erected in their honor than in the honor of any other figure in history.

What do you do in a spiritual journey?

Every single one of us is living a completely distinct existence. We all come from diverse backgrounds and have distinct stories to tell about our lives. Throughout our lives, we have a variety of experiences. Furthermore, everyone of us holds a completely separate set of beliefs. Your situation is in no way analogous to mine. As a result, it's understandable that everyone's life journey is different. This is why we must all go on our personal spiritual journeys. We must all go on a journey that is consistent with our personal values (and/or faith). This is exactly how it should be. Following in the footsteps of another person might be motivating at first. Attempting to duplicate another person's accomplishments, on the other hand, may not always be good. Make the decision to forge your own path. You may never have the profound insights that come from traveling on your own and unique journey if you go on a voyage that other people prepared or intended for you.

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Definition of the term “spiritual journey”

A spiritual journey, in general, is the process of a person beginning on a quest to gain a deeper insight, wisdom, and knowledge about oneself, the world, and/or God. The phrase might refer to someone who is trying to live a more deliberate and conscious lifestyle in order to learn more about themselves and their lives. However, it can also relate to a person's deliberate pursuit for a greater understanding of God and, possibly, their faith.

While some feel that one must choose to go on a spiritual journey, it may be more advantageous to think of our entire lives as spiritual journeys. This can assist us in seeing that all of our life events are crucial steppingstones on our paths.

How to go on a spiritual journey

The following information may help you better understand what you can do to begin your spiritual journey. Consider these hints as arrows pointing you in the right direction. They are not meant to be used as a step-by-step guide. You also don't have to follow their exact sequence. Simply check if any of these suggestions strike a chord with you. Apply them to your own life and situation if they are applicable, and see if they are helpful.

Where do you want to go?

Knowing where you're heading is always a good idea. This is true not only for individuals who travel in the physical world, but also for those who go on a spiritual trip. You'll be more likely to walk aimlessly without making progress if you don't have a clear target in mind. However, if you have a rough notion of where you want to go, steering your activities in that direction will be lot easier. Knowing exactly where you want to go with your life might be really tough. At the same time, figuring out your life's purpose can be difficult. The aim is to have a general notion of where you want to go.

This does not imply that you must already know your journey's final destination. In fact, the final destination could shift over time. This is entirely acceptable and not at all a concern. In fact, changing your goals as you get older is encouraged. This isn't to say that you shouldn't have a certain destination in mind before taking your first step. Make a goal and alter it as needed.

Have the courage to embark on your own journey

Many people will try to sway you in one direction or another. They will tell you that there is only one road to take and that all others are useless. Should we, however, assume that a person's path is better or worse than that of another? What matters is that you find your own way. But it's much more crucial that you have the fortitude to continue along this path. If you let others push you in a certain path, you might not have the motivation or persistence to remain with it.

Develop a roadmap

It's a good idea to create a roadmap after you have a basic concept of where you want to travel on your journey. The map is nothing more than a written plan outlining how you want to get closer to your goal. The strategy could include explicit objectives for taking a spiritual trip. However, you could also specify what you plan to do to achieve these objectives.

It's critical to consider some meaningful goals when creating your roadmap. Make a list of these objectives and rank them in order of significance. For example, you might want to make a goal for yourself to learn more about the nature of reality. You may also want to strengthen your relationship with God. Maybe you want to be more compassionate to others or less fearful of death. Set a goal and devise a method to achieve it, whatever it is.

Keep a journal of your journey

It's critical to remember that your spiritual journey did not begin when you decided to go on it. Rather, it started with your birth. You are who you are today as a result of your entire life's events. All of your joys and sorrows, successes and defeats have shaped you into the person you are now. As a result, all of these experiences have given you valuable insights and lessons on your spiritual path. They weren't always nice recollections, but they all contributed to your growth as a person.

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A journal can be a great method to keep track of your experiences as you travel. You'll be able to see the golden thread that runs through your life if you write down the significant events in your life. Taking a thoughtful perspective to prior experiences, on the other hand, could be highly beneficial. Doing so may assist you in gaining vital life lessons and insights from the many events that have occurred in your life.

Decide what role your journey should play in your life

There is no greater objective or purpose in life for some people than to follow where their spiritual path leads them. Some people devote their entire lives to this quest. This is nice, but it might not be the best option for everyone. As a result, deciding for yourself what role your spiritual path should play in your life is really beneficial. Consider how significant spiritual parts of your trip are to you. Consider the length of your excursion.

You could just want to incorporate a new part of a more spiritual attitude into your daily routine. However, it's also feasible that you want to learn more about yourself, your life, God, or your beliefs. As a result, it's always a good idea to assess how essential the spiritual journey is to you directly. It's simply a crucial component of some people's lives. Others believe that is the exact reason they exist.

Those who have gone a little longer than us often say that the pace of their spiritual journey has gradually increased. Their curiosity (or an inner yearning) led them to investigate particular notions, which they gradually incorporated into their lives. Gradually, this resulted in a tremendous change in their entire lives.

Don't think of your spiritual journey as a one-way trip with a set start and end time. Instead, consider it a lifelong learning experience.

There are no mistakes

There is no such thing as a perfect spiritual journey. It's impossible to prepare every detail of your trip ahead of time. As a result, you may occasionally stroll in the opposite way. In other circumstances, you could make a mistake that temporarily stymies your progress. Don't allow these difficulties deter you from continuing on your spiritual path. Consider what occurs to you along the way as learning opportunities. In many circumstances, we must take one or two detours before finding the path that leads us to our objectives.

So don't beat yourself up if you make a mistake. It's completely human. That is why we have come. We've come to study, grow, and experience. We all make mistakes from time to time. When this happens, it's critical that we learn from our mistakes and do everything we can to prevent repeating them in the future.

Conquer your mind and ego

Taking a spiritual journey entails accepting responsibility for one's own life and choices. It entails gaining mastery of one's mind and ego. Learning how to become more virtuous human beings is an important part of a person's spiritual journey. Your mind and ego are two significant components that influence who you are. You can make rapid progress in your quest by defeating these two and forcing them to obey your commands. Otherwise, your ego and thoughts will lead you astray.

Learn to silence your mind's chatter. Take note of how your thoughts affect your actions and how you interpret reality. Develop methods for clearing your mind and gaining control over your thought processes. Look for ways to think more optimistically.

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Start learning from the hardships of your life

Each of us is confronted with significant hardships, challenges, and suffering in life. The majority of people in these situations simply bear the pain and move on. If you're on a spiritual path, however, you might want to take a step back and look at the big picture. You went through all this sorrow and misery for no good reason if you overlook what happens to you in life. However, if you think of your difficulties as excellent teachers who are teaching you essential lessons, you will be able to make significant progress on your trip.

There is more to life than black and white. Life's difficulties and hardships can be excruciatingly painful. However, if you go back and think on your past, you will notice that all of these events shaped you in some way. Accept the fact that everything occurs for a reason. Nothing occurs by chance. And everything that occurs contributes to a better outcome.

Follow where your intuition leads you

Many people who embark on a spiritual quest have no idea where they will end up. They simply feel compelled to take the first step by an inner need. They know deep down that this is the right decision. They don't analyze the benefits and drawbacks, but they are confident that their decision will lead them in the correct way.

Have the guts to follow your intuition wherever it may lead you if you embark on a spiritual journey. Pay heed to what it says, whether you name it intuition, higher guidance, or gut instinct. Don't let your fears and concerns steer you in the wrong route. Instead, have the guts to try new things and follow your instincts.

Draw inspiration from the Bible.

The Bible has an almost unlimited quantity of profound wisdom and practical instruction, and it has inspired billions of people around the world to become better people. Unfortunately, a sizable portion of the population rejects these beliefs. Many individuals, likewise, are uninterested in “thousand-year-old books.” All of these people are missing out on extremely significant teachings that can be amazing spiritual partners.

These works will assist you in gaining a fresh perspective on your life and values. Many of these texts will serve as good sources of spiritual inspiration for you. They put the difficulties you've faced in perspective and point out areas where you can grow and progress spiritually.

You will discover as you read these writings that they can enrich your life and extend your outlook.

The enlightening teachings of sacred texts might just be the fertilizer you need to thrive on your path. The same can be said of sages and saints' wise utterances.

Embrace the unknown

If you always take the same path you've always taken, you'll always end up where you started. Take pleasure in the journey's mystery. Have the guts to step off the beaten route and see where it takes you.

It is impossible to plan everything in life. Our development is hampered by the illusion of certainty. You never know what experiences you'll have or who you'll meet on a spiritual journey, especially when it comes to the individuals you'll encounter. We never know how events will play out on our journey.

You will be faced with wonderful opportunities if you have the confidence to embrace the unknown.

Start meditating

Meditation is practiced by all major religions, though it is recognized by different names. However, it is critical to recognize that meditation is merely a tool. It can be used to not only develop your mind, but also to help you progress spiritually.

Meditation can help you relax your mind and lessen the negative effects it has on your conduct. Simultaneously, frequent meditation will assist you in connecting with your true self and higher aspects of yourself.

Best spiritual journey books

A hand-picked collection of good publications to support you on your spiritual path may be found below:

Many opportunities to go on a spiritual journey will present themselves throughout a person's life. These summons to action might come in the form of life-changing events, dreams, or inspiring dialogues. Unfortunately, many people choose to disregard these calls. They won't go on a spiritual journey because they're terrified of where it might go. They are afraid of change and are uncomfortable with the unknown. As a result, they continue to live their lives as they always have, ignoring the growing urgency of the call.

Rather of avoiding your call, attempt to embrace it. Look for your life's meaning and purpose. But after you've figured out what you want to do with your life, have the confidence to go for it. Your trip will be filled with unknowns and hardships. However, you will finally be able to fulfill your full potential as a result of all of these experiences.

I hope you liked reading this article about the various spiritual paths available. Have you ever gone on a trip like this? In the comments box below, we'd love to hear about your experiences.

How do I start a spiritual journey?

The spiritual journey—and the resulting “spiritual awakening” we seek—always appears to take place in some exotic location or following a spectacular incident.

Perhaps you believe you need to travel to Peru to drink ayahuasca or leave your spouse to get the spiritual awakening you seek?

From the comfort of your own home, you may connect with your spirituality and awaken to the lessons that are meant for you over and over again throughout your life.

What are the 3 elements of spirituality?

In their eternal wisdom, all shamans, healers, sages, and wisdom keepers of all centuries, continents, and peoples claim that human spirituality is made up of three aspects: connections, values, and life purpose. These three components are so strongly linked that it may be difficult to tell them apart. Take a minute to ponder on each facet of human spirituality to determine the state of your spiritual well-being if this is possible. This will be a three-part monthly series, starting with relationships.

Internal (your domestic policy)—how you deal with yourself, how you nurture the relationship with yourself and your higher self—and external (your foreign policy)—how you relate, support, and interact with those people (and all living entities) in your environment—are the two categories of relationships.

What criteria would you use to assess your internal relationship, and what steps could you take to improve it?

How would you assess your external relationships, shifting from the perspective of domestic policy to international policy?

How do I find my spiritual path?

Many people assume that in order to discover your spiritual path, you must be a member of a particular religion or faith. However, this isn't always the case; you don't have to be a Christian, Muslim, Jew, or even a Buddhist to find your own particular spiritual path. Regardless of what you believe in about anything else in life, your spiritual path is something that is absolutely particular to you.

For many people, following a spiritual path is akin to looking for something that completes them. If you've discovered that things outside of yourself can't genuinely make you happy, it's time to realize that the only way to find true pleasure is to start from inside, and then everything else will fall into place. But where do you start looking for your own spiritual path? Let's have a look.

For many people, finding their spiritual path is best accomplished with the assistance of someone who is more enlightened than they are. With the guidance of a professional psychic, many people have been able to properly decide their spiritual path. Speaking with a psychic may also help you gain a greater understanding of specific events and situations in your life, allowing you to watch things unfold for their intended purposes. For more information about online psychic reading services, check these reviews.

Because meditation allows you to become more at one with yourself, it is an excellent tool for determining your spiritual path. Meditating will assist you in better controlling your thoughts and feelings, as well as gaining a deeper understanding of yourself, allowing you to connect with your true self.

Seeking for your higher self via strategies like those outlined above will help you identify your spiritual path in life. It will be easier for you to discern and follow your path once you begin to grasp that you have a higher self and what it represents.

What is the spiritual awakening process?

Spiritual awakening, contrary to popular belief, does not entail a literal transformation “Awakening.”

You don't wake up one day feeling like you have a powerful energy within of you beckoning for change.

Spiritual awakening is a long process in which a person realizes that their existence extends beyond the physical realm “I” refers to the ego.

Eastern spiritualists refer to the ego, or everyday self, as the acquired mind in Taoist philosophy.

Our current selves — our likes, actions, preferences, and convictions — are the result of years of socialization.

These particular features we pick up, however unusual they may be, do not yet make up a whole self.

Humans are a self-preserving species as a result of evolution; it's in our DNA to resist change.

Humans are innately egoistic beings, therefore we can't help but form a bubble around ourselves and do everything we can to keep it safe.

While a firm belief in who you are and what you believe in may appear to be the very definition of the full “self,” philosophers such as Carl Jung argue that separating the “I” from the rest of the world is harmful because we inevitably begin to limit what counts as good and righteous to those qualities unique to us.

Consider this: your Spirit lives alongside your ego. The ego acquires things you enjoy and don't like, as well as convictions that distinguish what's good from what's evil, during the years of learning and interacting.

As the ego takes control, your Spirit becomes confined and inert, rather than moving beyond it.

What are the stages of spiritual awakening?

The hero's journey, an evolutionary process of growth and transformation woven into all great myths and stories, was outlined by renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell: “A genuinely heroic shift of awareness occurs when we stop worrying about ourselves and our own self-preservation.”

The primary pushing off point for any hero's quest is known as the call to adventure. The call to adventure is a break from regular life, a signal that comes from deep inside, grabs your attention, and drives you in a new direction. The spark that sets off a spiritual awakening is a call to adventure. Every life has a moment that, if grasped, will change it forever. The call to adventure is a reawakening experience, a shift in perspective that forces you to reconsider your perspective on life. A travel to a strange location, the loss of innocence, an illness, a challenge, the death of a close friend, a near-death experience, or the loss of a job are all examples of spiritual experiences. Regardless of the specifics, the experience alters your perspective and causes you to see the world through fresh eyes. You've been given the task of living an ordinary life in an extraordinary way.

At this critical juncture, Joseph Campbell advises that you must choose whether or not to accept the call to adventure. In truth, though, ignoring the call isn't an option because your soul is inviting you to change on a deeper level. If you ignore the call, the opportunity will recycle itself like a skip on a record, patiently waiting for you to embrace the call to a new existence, thanks to your unique karmic influences. Furthermore, there is no going back once a transforming and deeply waking incident has occurred. Your eyes have been opened, and no matter how much you try to reject it, you can't turn away from the image of a greater reality calling to you.

You enter a broader universe once you've answered the call to adventure. You take an active role in your spiritual development and advancement. As you begin to manage your life toward chances that enhance your knowledge, responsibility becomes the operative word. Everything feels the same and weirdly different at the same time, thanks to a tiny alteration in perspective.

How do I awaken my spiritual power?

When trying to put all eight aspects of wellness together, the spiritual aspect of wellness can be the most individualized piece of the puzzle. People, on the whole, like to live lives that have meaning and purpose. When these objectives are attained, it brings peace into one's life and the lives of those around them.

So, what are some things you may do to increase your spiritual well-being? It's best to experiment with several ways to see what works best for you. Spiritual wellbeing can be reached in a variety of ways, both physically and intellectually, because it involves one's values, beliefs, and purpose.

1. Examine your spiritual foundation. You are merely asking yourself questions about who you are and what you mean when you explore your spiritual essence. Consider the following question: “Who am I?” What is the point of my existence? What am I most passionate about? These questions will lead you down a path where you will think more deeply about yourself and recognize aspects of yourself that will assist you in achieving fulfillment.

2. Search for hidden meanings. Looking for deeper meanings and examining patterns in your life will help you realize that you have power over your future. Knowing this can help you live a happier and healthier life.

3. Get it off your chest. It will be easier to retain a concentrated mind if you express what is on your mind. You may feel befuddled and unable to make sense of your feelings after a long day or an important event. You may be able to think more clearly and move forward if you write down your thoughts.

4. Give yoga a shot. Yoga is a physical discipline that can help you achieve spiritual wellness by eliminating mental and physical stress. Yoga is taught at all levels and can help relieve anxiety, sadness, weariness, and sleeplessness as well as reducing stress, strengthen the immune system, and lower blood pressure.

5. Take a trip. Yes, it is correct! Taking time for yourself to travel to a familiar location or to a new location can do wonders for your mental health. You will have a greater connection with yourself when your mind is able to block out distractions and assist you in reflecting and resting. This allows you to eliminate stressors and retrain your mind to focus on total wellness. Exercising, visiting with a counselor or advisor, meditation, or taking a temporary vow of silence are all activities that can be done while on a trip.

6. Keep an optimistic attitude. You will find yourself thinking differently and shifting your mind to a happy, healthy place once you begin to view things in your life in a good light. You'll discover that you're more comfortable when you eliminate negativity and re-frame how you think about specific things and situations.

7. Set aside some time to meditate. While managing your time and everyday tasks can be difficult, it is critical to make time for yourself. Take five to ten minutes each day to meditate, whether it's first thing in the morning, during your lunch break, or right before bedtime. By incorporating meditation and relaxation into your daily routine, you will be able to clear your mind and strengthen your connection to your spiritual well-being.

Source: http://student-affairs.illinoisstate.edu/health-promotion-and-wellness/7-ways-improve-spiritual-wellness/