Benefits of spirituality
Thought (or ‘ego’) can be considered the opposite of spirituality. It’s only in the last few thousand years that humanity has become completely identified with thought. Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers set up ‘schools of thought’. In the seventeenth century, Rene Descartes declared “I think, therefore I am", and developed the scientific method. He separated the spiritual and material worlds, and the dominance of materialism began. Newton confirmed the mechanistic view of the world, and this idea has continued to today.
This has driven huge advances in technology, science, and commerce. But it has also gradually eroded the importance of spirituality in our lives. Greater identification with thought meant losing sight of Being. As a result, we have also lost the benefits of spirituality. And spirituality can improve our lives on pretty much every measure you can think of.
A more complete understanding of life
In western culture we still believe that science and thinking are primary. Spirituality, or the idea that there is ‘something more’ to human experience, are taboo. They must stay separate to science, reason and materialism.
But science and thinking cannot explain all things. Reading about the science of sexual reproduction will never be the same as the experience of sex. Spirituality can add depth to what is logical and rational. Spirituality is ‘gnosis’: an intuitive knowledge that goes beyond thinking. William James proposed including a wider range of evidence such as introspection, intuition, values and meaning. These things, combined with measurable data, can give us a clearer picture of our universe.
After all, Professor Brian Cox is not as famous for his physics as he is for the meaning he brings to our understanding of physics.
Meaning and purpose in our existence
Existential philosophy considers our existence across four dimensions:
physical or material (health, safety, comfort)
social (our self in relation to others)
personal (autonomy, freedom, knowledge)
spiritual (our place in the universe).
We achieve existential wellbeing when we have balance across these dimensions. In the physical, social and personal dimensions our minds are fixed on “I am, have, can, want…” etc. In the spiritual dimensions this focus shifts to “Who am I meant to be? What can my existence contribute to life?”.
It can be argued that spiritual wellness is the foundation for the other dimensions. Similarly, loving connections with the physical, social and personal aspects of existence lead us to the spiritual dimension.
If spirituality is the foundation of existential wellbeing, this reverses Abraham Maslow’s famous ‘Hierarchy of Needs’ which prioritises our physical needs. But Viktor Frankl (psychologist, philosopher and Holocaust survivor) famously showed that our most important human need is to find meaning. It was purpose and meaning he turned to as he endured the most inhumane conditions. It was purpose and meaning that supported him when none of his needs for safety, food and shelter were being met. It was purpose and meaning that gave him hope.
We can see this every day around the world. Where people are experiencing significant existential challenges, it is often spirituality (in whatever form) that sustains them.
Lasting joy
Despite our huge advances in wealth and comfort, we are arguably more unhappy than ever. This can be explained by our focus on the physical or material dimension of existence.
This dimension is described as hedonic (what gives us pleasure). But pleasure is fleeting. The next pay rise, or meal, or overseas trip (while important and wonderful) cannot give us lasting joy. Whereas eudaimonic dimensions (our relationships, self-development and spirituality) have been shown to lead to more anti-viral cells being present in the body. They can literally arm us against the attacks of life.
While happiness comes from pleasure, joy comes from eudaimonic dimensions. The scientist George E. Vaillant refers to emotions such as love, compassion, gratitude, hope and joy as ‘spiritual emotions’. These emotions are deeply embedded in human biology. They are found in our brain stem (the earliest part of our brains to develop). Whereas happiness lives in the smaller ‘fight or flight’ part of our brain. Having a beer gives us pleasure, but sharing that drink with a friend gives us joy. Joy is more significant and stable. It goes to the very core of our being.
Healthier minds and bodies
Dr Lisa Miller is a psychology professor and founder of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute. Her extensive research spans over 200 publications. It looks at the neuroscience of spirituality and its benefits for health, mental wellness, treating addiction, community engagement, and developing resilience (something that improves outcomes in most areas of our life).
The research of psychology and neuroscience professor Barbara L. Fredrickson also shows that that our capacity for experiencing love (central to spirituality) can be measured and strengthened in ways that improve our health and longevity.
Spirituality makes us healthier.
A more beautiful world
Science also tells us that spirituality can help us build not only healthier people, but a healthier planet. This is not new. Humanity thrived in Indigenous cultures with deep spiritual foundations.
‘Unity consciousness’ is a term to describe the experience of being inter-connected. Some people use this term in place of ‘God’. Dr. Miller said, ‘When we (develop our spirituality)…we begin to live beyond…a splintered and fragmented view of who we are to one another, and to cultivate a way of being built on core awareness of love, interconnection …It gives us a new paradigm for being, leading, and relating that can help us act with greater clarity and capability…We can evolve our work and school culture toward greater purpose and meaning. We can revise our governments and health and social service institutions to better support and serve all. We can see our choices and the consequences of our actions through a lens of interconnectedness and shared responsibility.’