I’m into the belief that Spirit is Soul. That works for me for, surely, our bodies must be powered by soul.
A quick peep behind the doors of any ER will confirm that we, humans, brain cells and enzymes notwithstanding, are but bones, flesh and fluids. Of course, we are animated by our soul! It is from her that comes our humanity.
The nice thing about souls is that they are neither vengeful nor benevolent – these are the alleged attributes of gods. And gods don’t cut it for me because, from a distance, they appear far too human with their demands, moods and foibles.
Though through birth and circumstances, I could claim Catholicism as well as Judaism as my religious heritage, I have never practised any form of religion, not even an alternative one and so I can honestly say that, unlike some, I have never been *hurt* while practising my faith.
Basically, my spiritual belief is centered around our soul being an intrinsic part of us – an active energy – that resides in the middle of our chest. And of course, I believe in the inexplicable and overarching power of the Cosmos.
It is only through a connection to Soul – constant pure energy – that, I believe, we can attempt to edit some of the karma that is ours to amend in this lifetime as well as soften the rub of our ordinary, daily life.
Having said that, seeing as our karma is partly inherited from our soul’s prior incarnations and partly constructed by ourselves – same as our ego – it will take many more lifetimes before our subsequent incarnations can rectify the deficit – or help the balance tilt the other way.
In the meantime, no effort is too little. Rethinking thinking and understanding better – within a philosophical framework – the meaning of what is happening to us and to those with whom we share moments should be our foremost personal goal.
That, as well as – though it comes uninvited – *actively* accepting all c.r.a.p. with an open heart, just as readily as we usually accept our moments of joy and pleasure without questioning *why me?*.
For me, the litmus test of genuine spirituality is simply whether, in the moment that is under our feet, we are able to *actively* accept our stressors, our illnesses, our disappointments and our emotional pain with a heart that is truly open – a heart that dictates *acceptance* to the mind – or not.
If the answer is, “OMG! Not yet!” that’s all OK, cos practice makes puuurfect and no genuine effort @ altering our heart energy is ever too little. Baby steps rock.
Bamby
heather426
C.C. Saint-clair
alfiesgirl
Spot on!
Acceptance is key to both spiritual & personal growth.
It’s so easy for people to get caught up in the “why Me”
mentality…or to play the blame game & try to blame their
current problems on outside forces.
In order to grow & move forward, we must first accept whatever is going on as just how it is, living in the moment really helps…only by accepting it, can we stop blaming & start healing.
I totally agree, though it’s hard.
My finances are up, as I have a huge web design deal this year (the reason I’m less active on squidoo these days). It hit me, finally, this weekend – that this means I can relax a little. Just be, a bit more. I have time for study, and enough financial security to be able to give myself a break about working online. I bought some fascinating books yesterday
Didn’t bother about spending over 100$ on them 
But to get that acceptance going, about yourself and your circumstances, when things are NOT going well – that’s huge.
Not that I’m now less tense. But I seem to have found the ‘you can relax now’ button.
snip:Just be, a bit more. I have time for study, and enough financial security to be able to give myself a break about working online.
**** this sounds like the moment under your feet could, indeed, be most enjoyable. From the point of view of *active* spirituality, it does open up for you a window of opportunity of a different sort.
People argue, mostly within themselves, that it is *impossible* to be Zen, calm and @ one’s best when one is maxxed out.
This reasoning is the tell-tale sign that the real meaning of what it means to be spiritual is somewhat lost on the ones who argue that line.
It is when the going gets tough – or horrid – that our spiritual mettle is seriously tested. It is at such moments that we are *expected* to stand fast and understand the test that has just presented itself, seemingly inexplicably, in the moment under our feet.
As my mentor keeps reminding me, “Life is school, not a holiday camp.”
When one is sailing through a patch of calm, then, lucky is that one. It is *the* opportunity to be Zen more easily from the inside/out and deal, from the inside/out, in reagards to all the other situations that are not yet flat-lined.
The ‘you can relax now’ button is certainly good for the brain – maybe, and for the body – maybe, but when it comes to matters of the soul, nothing beats the button that’s stamped with H.O.M.O.M in fluoro pink. And that button is best used w/o moderation.
Enjoy your moments of pure recklessness. YAY!
Kind thoughts from me