Comments on: What is Being Spiritual?

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:35:08 +0000

You don't really need to label your self as that would seem that you are just boasting how good you are. let someone do that for you.

By: Terrie Nakashima

Terrie Nakashima — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:39:50 +0000

Let me tell ya, if u really into this stuff, u should check out this Hypnosis & NLP course

By: Laura Dunn

Laura Dunn — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:27:21 +0000

great article. Check out this link for more information on spiritual materialism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiritual_materialis...

By: Andrew K. Lee

Andrew K. Lee — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:38:31 +0000

It does no good for us breezily to write off such thoughts by thinking that we "cannot imagine" answering to God for how we spend our money. In saying this, we limit who God (or whomever) is or might do by our own imagination. We make spirituality merely a matter of our own personal preferences and desires for creature comforts. Such a mentality will surely keep us from any kind of personal transformation or any chance of moving closer to a higher power.
Finally, why shouldn't God be concerned for how we spend our money? Consider the words of Jesus of Nazareth (who was surely a spokesman for the Divine, whether or not we agree with the Christian view that he was the "Son of God"): "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…. whatever you did for one of the least of these…. you did for me."
That doesn't make life much easier for any of us, but meditating on it and seriously considering how we must then live might just make us more spiritual.

By: Andrew K. Lee

Andrew K. Lee — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:38:00 +0000

You also noted: "I truly cannot imagine having to defend myself in front of God or whomever after I leave this world because my shopping at Sephora made me lose some points from my karma account." I cannot be entirely sure how you meant this statement, but it suggests a common laziness of spiritual thinking. I want to be comfortable–more than comfortable–as much as the next person, and I have good taste in wine and clothes and food and many other things. But we have to take time to think that through. Does my being comfortable hurt others? Could money I spend all too freely making myself "comfortable" give someone else a chance simply at life? Many of the people of Laos, for example, live on less than $1.50 (US) a day. Isn't there something spiritual in recognizing that my willingness to be a little less comfortable, perhaps to give up a trip to Sephora or wherever else, might make me able to provide for someone much less fortunate?

By: Andrew K. Lee

Andrew K. Lee — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:37:27 +0000

You noted: "I have never come across any book that says having money makes you bad or not spiritual." You might consider the books "Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger" by Ron Sider or "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon.

By: Syam

Syam — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 14:25:04 +0000

RE:I truly cannot imagine having to defend myself in front of God or whomever after I leave this world because my shopping at Sephora made me lose some points from my karma account.

Buddha Says: "You will not be punished for your shopping but by your shopping".

By: Reid

Reid — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:13:33 +0000

I enjoyed this article. I subscribe to the idea of spirituality as an expression of goodness. I was also reminded of a teacher at Naropa who describes his idea of Spirituality as "Living the Questions" as opposed to feeling we need to have "The Answers". This was the first article I opened on my first visit to Elephant Journal. thanks!

By: The Power of Images — happylotus.com

The Power of Images — happylotus.com — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:02:35 +0000

[...] Click here to read my newest article, What Is Being Spiritual, at Elephant Journal. [...]

By: swati jr*

swati jr* — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:30:31 +0000

labels mean nothing. the proof is in your actions- or nonactions.