| The term spirituality is a confusing term. Usually, | | | | of processing information arriving at our many senses |
| when one mentions spirituality, the first thought in | | | | in many contexts. It allows us to look beyond the |
| many people's minds is that of religion. While religion is | | | | basics and outside of the accepted comfort zones to |
| an aspect of spirituality, spirituality is not an aspect of | | | | comprehend the ideas and ideals of other entities, |
| religion. Spirituality covers other areas of belief as | | | | both physical and spiritual.Opening Your MindAs part |
| well. Put simply, spirituality is the all-encompassing | | | | of our being, we all have the need to believe in |
| arena of belief in something greater. This can be a | | | | something greater than ourselves. There is a part of |
| god, oneself as the greater being, or simply, the | | | | us that has to belong. Many people fall deeply into |
| life-force or essence that surrounds us all. But, | | | | organized religion because it provides the camaraderie |
| society and religion lead their followers in many | | | | and a focal point for their community as well as a |
| different directions replacing the core meanings with | | | | basis for the moral code of the community. These, in |
| moralistic and idealistic terms in hopes of garnering | | | | addition to the faith-based answers to the big |
| attention by answering those big questions pertaining | | | | questions, provide a comfort zone and a foundation |
| to life, death, the after-life, and a god.Faith vs. | | | | for many. However, by opening one's mind and |
| KnowledgeWhile many religious zealots view the idea | | | | examining the many facets behind these big |
| of knowledge-based spirituality as agnostic, indeed, it | | | | questions, one can develop and acquire the true |
| is not. As a matter of fact, even agnosts believe in | | | | answers within one's own context.What is the key? |
| something, which provides them an alternative stance | | | | Context-free rationalization. Of course, context-free |
| to organized religion and gods. You have to believe in | | | | is a little strong as we must all have a context, or a |
| something to take a stance!Faith-based spirituality is | | | | point of reference, that we can use to compare |
| the belief and trust that things will be as they will be | | | | information and apply our rules and belief systems. |
| in the future. It is the acceptance of the great | | | | However, open experience and vast knowledge can |
| mysteries of life and death for which religion and | | | | provide us with multiple contexts that we can use to |
| society teaches that there are no definitive answers. | | | | devise a wider view of a particular piece of |
| Such an approach to spirituality creates a fear-based | | | | information. This wider view is what is called an open |
| environment based on gods who are vindictive and | | | | mind. The open mind has no safety zone as it is |
| uncaring. Believers place their lives into the hands of | | | | always risking it's comfort zones in search of new |
| an unseen being in the hope that all will work out for | | | | information and new ways of examining situations |
| the best.Knowledge-based spirituality is the | | | | and other beings.What's next?Acquiring this |
| understanding and kinship of all and the desire to | | | | knowledge and ability to move across many contexts |
| achieve and progress through life toward one's own | | | | is not a simple task as it requires the ability to |
| Vision and goals. The great mysteries become topics | | | | acquire, accept, and process information outside of |
| of personal research and, with an open mind, | | | | our current context. It is a chicken or the egg |
| answers can be acquired from the environment and | | | | situation; however, it is a decision that we make as |
| the Universe. This type of spirituality invites one to | | | | humans to initiate such a move.By opening our minds |
| set aside fears and examine the information and | | | | and perceptions, we allow our conscious minds the |
| entities of the surrounding environment. One has the | | | | ability to communicate more freely with our |
| chance to take life into one's own hands and guide it | | | | subconscious minds. In doing so, the vast amounts of |
| along a path to one's own desires.Hatred and | | | | information available in the collective unconscious, The |
| FaithOne of the problems of today is that, in our | | | | Grid, The Universal Library is available to us, simply by |
| world, wars, hatred, and bias begin in the moral | | | | looking. Consider the idea of opening the mind as a |
| grounds established by religion and society. Religion | | | | primer for what follows once you are able to use |
| creates a solid separation between different factions | | | | your mind to its fullest capabilities and acquire |
| of humanity. These factions take the core ideals of | | | | immeasurable knowledge from all entities across the |
| society and mutate them to suit the needs of their | | | | Universe and throughout time.This is the true meaning |
| particular beliefs. In the end, when societal boundaries | | | | of spirituality. The knowledge and desire to exist with |
| are breached, and control languishes over the ranks, | | | | and within the Universal essence. To accept and |
| uprisings and bitter conflicts begin to restore order. | | | | acquire knowledge that is freely available to you |
| The stronger of the factions wins and forces their | | | | through time and space. Finally, the knowledge to use |
| beliefs on the weaker.In faith-based factions, fear is | | | | this information in a way that is beneficial to you, as |
| instilled and faith that a great hereafter exists. People | | | | protecting and projecting yourself, you are providing |
| fight to maintain their beliefs because they've finally | | | | a pathway for others and the betterment of your |
| forced their conscious minds to accept the | | | | communities.Edward B. Toupin, Ph.D., is a published |
| unanswered questions based on invisible and | | | | author, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, |
| unfounded guesses by their noblemen. The battles | | | | and technical writer living in Las Vegas, NV. Edward |
| are fought to ensure that their foundations and | | | | works with people to help them strive for a richer |
| comfort zones are not affected by the infidels of | | | | life. He also authors books, articles, and screenplays |
| the intruding factions.However, with knowledge-based | | | | on topics ranging from career success through life |
| factions, fear is minimized and the great hereafter is | | | | organization and fulfillment. Check out some of his |
| right here and now and continues on forever. | | | | recent print and electronic books as well as his |
| Knowledge provides the mind with a greater degree | | | | articles covering various life-changing topics! |