DIFFERENT PATHS

THAT LEAD TO THE

SAME DESTINATION
SPIRITUAL AND RELIGION
 BOTH LEAD THE FOLLOWERS ON
A PATH TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT
AND DO THE RIGHT THING.
 THIS MEANS RELIGION AND
SPIRITUAL ARE BOTH PATHS TO
GOD.
SPIRITUALITY
 BELIEVES IN GOD WHO IS OMNIPRESENT AND
OMNISCIENT, SOMEONE WHO IS A LIVING PRESENCE IN OUR
HEARTS.
 APPROACH TO GOD IS THROUGH THE PATH OF LOVE
WHERE THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION AND JUDGEMENT BUT
MERCY AND ACCEPTANCE.
 EMBRACES ALL THE WORLD’S RELIGIONS BUT AT THE
SAME TIME IS NOT CONSTRAINED BY ANY RELIGIOUS
DOGMAS OR FORMS.

SPIRITUAL PERSON
 PLACES LITTLE IMPORTANCE ON BELIEFS AND
TRADITIONS AND IS MORE CONCERNED WITH GROWING AND
EXPERIENCING THE DIVINE.
RELIGION
 GOD IS DEPICTED AS SEPARATE FROM HUMANITY,
WHO IS IMPARTIAL BUT IMPERSONAL.
 TAKES THE APPROACH OF FEAR AND EMPHASIZES SIN,
GUILT AND THE CONCEPT OF A PUNISHING GOD.
 MANY RELIGIONS FEEL THEIR PATH IS THE ONLY
WAY TO SALVATION AND THAT OTHER RELIGIONS ARE
WRONG.

RELIGIOUS PERSON
 SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN A GOD OR GROUP OF
GODS AND CONSCIOUSLY ADHERES TO THE BELIEFS OF
HIS/HER RELIGION.
WHY IS SPIRITUALITY IMPORTANT?
 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES ARE
ASSOCIATED WITH BETTER HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING.
 SPIRITUAL FELLOWSHIP CAN BE A
SOURCE OF SOCIAL SUPPORT THAT MAY
PROVIDE A SENSE OF BELONGING,
SECURITY AND COMMUNITY. STRONG
RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO
INCREASE WELL-BEING AND BOLSTER
LIFE EXPECTANCY.
CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE
 A METHOD TO DEVELOP CONCENTRATION, DEEPEN
UNDERSTANDING AND INSIGHT AND CULTIVATE AWARENESS
AND COMPASSION.
EXAMPLES OF CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICES:

1. MEDITATION

 MENTAL EXERXISE FOR THE PURPOSE OF REACHING

A HEIGHTENED LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
2. PRAYER

 SPIRITUAL COMMUNION WITH GOD AND MAY ELICIT

A RELAXATION RESPONSE ALONG WITH FEELINGS OF
HOPE, GRATITUDE, AND COMPASSION
3. YOGA

 A HINDU SPIRITUAL AND ASCETIC DISCIPLINE

 IN HINDU THEISTIC PHILOSOPHY, IT TEACHES THE
SUPPRESSION OF ALL MIND AND BODY ACTIVITY.
 IN WESTERN CULTURE, IT IS A SYSTEM OF PHYSICAL
POSTURES, BREATHING TECHNIQUES AND SOMETIMES
MEDITATION.
4. JOURNALING

 STUDIES SHOW THAT WRITING DURING DIFFICULT

TIMES MAY HELP YOU FIND MEANING IN LIFE’S
CHALLENGES AND HELP YOU BECOME MORE RESILIENT
IN THE FACE OF OBSTACLES.