UNDERSTANDING THE SELF – GE 1

LESSON 9 – THE SPIRITUAL SELF

NAME : _________________________________COURSE & SECTION : _______________

Introduction

 During the time of crisis or every time that we have a problem we often times
question God’s Power and Mercy. We often blame him for what happened to us. This
makes you doubt your faith in God’s Love and power towards mankind. On the other
hand if there is some phenomenon that cannot be explained by science we also turn
our belief to the Supreme Being (God) telling yourself and others that it is his work or
Divine powers that make that incredible work and if it is negative is the vice versa of it.

But whatever religion you may have it always end up in answering this question
“What is the meaning of your life”. This is the time you look for spiritual fulfilment. For
those who do not believe in God they might get curious about it or Him.

I. THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION: BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL BEING AND POWER

“ Quiet the mind and the soul will speak”

Ma. Jaya Sati Bhagavati

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 Religion is defined by its unique ability to provide individuals with answers to the
ultimate questions of life, death, existence. and purpose. (photo courtesy of
Ras67/Wikimedia)

Spiritual Versus Religious

Philosophy started the moment humans started to wonder. “Why do we die?”, “Why
bad things happen to good people?”, “Do we really have free will?”, “ Is the future
determined?” and “ Does God Exist?”.

Spiritual is defined as relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed

to material or physical things.

Religion and spirituality are both paths to God. They are different in their
approaches.

A religious person is someone who believes in God or group of Gods and

consciously adheres to the beliefs of his /her religion. While, Spiritual person, places
little importance on beliefs and traditions and is more concerned with growing and
experiencing the Divine.

Religion takes the approach of fear. It emphasizes sin, guilt, and the concept of a
punishing God.

On the other hand, The spiritual approach to God is through the path of Love.
Where there is no condemnation and judgement, but where there is mercy and
acceptance.

Religion talks to God who is high up in the heaven whereas, Spiritual believes God
is a living presence in our hearts.

Why is Spirituality Important ?

1. Sense of meaninglessness and lack of purpose.
2. Associated with better health and well-being.
3. Source of Social support.
4. Holster life expectancy

Contemplative Practice can be broadly understood as a method to develop

concentration, deepen understanding and insight and cultivate awareness and
compassion.

Examples of Contemplative Pratices

1. Meditation – mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of
spiritual awareness.

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2. Prayer – A spiritual communication with God as in supplication, thanksgiving,
adoration or confession.
3. Yoga – A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline.
4. Journaling – Writing during difficult times.

Religion is defines as the belief in and worship of superhuman controlling power

especially a personal God or Gods. Some religions preach a God of Peace. There are
also religions that preach Holy wars. Religious beliefs provide people with certain
ways of thinking to help them cope with ultimate questions that cannot be explained in
any other ways.

The Four Dimension of Religion

1. Belief - refer to the attitude we have, roughly, whenever we take something to be

the case or regard it as true.
2. Ritual – is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by tradition or by
sacerdotal decree. Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behaviour exhibited
by all known societies. It is thus possible to view ritual as a way of defining or
describing humans.
3. Spiritual Experience – it is an experience or feeling of immediate connection
with higher power.
4. Unique Social Forms of Community – it emphasized that religious belief and
practices ”unite in one single community called a Church, all those who adhere
to them” Emile Durkheim (1915-1964)

Religious Classification What/Who Is Divine Example

Polytheism Multiple gods Hinduism, Ancient
Greeks and Romans
Monotheism Single god Judaism, Islam,
Christianity
Atheism No deities Atheism, Buddhism,
Taoism
Animism Nonhuman beings Indigenous nature
(animals, plants, natural worship, Shinto
world)

By looking at religions in terms of these four dimensions — belief, ritual,

experience, and community — sociologists can identify the important characteristics
they share while taking into consideration and allowing for the great diversity of the
world religions.

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The Religions of the World.

World Rituals and

Origins Beliefs
Religion Practices

Judaism  Judaism began in Followers of Judaism Judaism has many

Symbol: The ancient Israel about are monotheistic,
star of David 4,000 years ago. believing that there is
The prophet only one true God.
Abraham was the Israel is the sacred land
first to declare that of the Jewish people,
there was to be only and it is seen as gift to
one true God. them — the children of
Moses, centuries Israel — from God.
later, then led the According to the Torah,
Jewish people away Jewish believers must
from slavery in live a life of obedience
Egypt, which was a to God because life
defining moment for itself is a gift granted by
Judaism. Moses is God to his disciples
credited with writing (Sanders, 2009).
the Torah, the Followers of Judaism
sacred Jewish texts, live in accordance to the
which consists of the ten commandments
five books of Moses. revealed to Moses by
God on Mount Sinai.
These commandments
outline the instructions
for how to live life
according to God.
rituals and practices
that followers of the
faith carry out. Jewish
people have strict
dietary laws that
originate in the Torah,
called Kosher laws.
The goal of these
laws is not a concern
for health, but for
holiness. Examples of
foods that are
prohibited include,
pig, hare, camel, and
ostrich meat, and
crustacean and
molluscan seafood.
Additionally, certain
food groups are
banned from being
consumed when
combined, for
example, meat and
dairy together
(Tieman & Hassan,
2015).
Other examples of
Jewish rituals are the
practices of
circumcision and Bar
and Bat Mitzvahs.
These rites of
passage for young
boys (bar) and young
girls (bat) mark the
transition into

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The Religions of the World.

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Origins Beliefs
Religion Practices

manhood and
womanhood. During
these celebrations,
the coming of age
process is celebrated.
Jewish followers also
carry out multiple
prayers each day,
reaffirming and
demonstrating their
reciprocal love with
God.

Christianity  Christianity began in At the core, to be There are many

Symbol: The approximately 35 CE Christian is to believe in rituals and practices
Cross — i.e., the date of the trinity of father, son, that are central to
the crucifixion — in and holy spirit as one Christianity, known as
the area of the God: the God of love. the sacraments. For
Middle East that is Out of love for example, the
now known as Israel. humanity, God allowed sacrament of baptism
Christianity began his only son to be involves the literal
with recognition of sacrificed in the washing of the person
the divinity of Jesus crucifixion to expiate with water to
of Nazareth (Dunn, their sins. Christians are represent the
2003). A poor admonished to love cleansing of their
Jewish man, Jesus God, and to love their sins. Today, the ritual
was unsatisfied with neighbours and of baptism has
Judaism and took it enemies “as become less
upon himself to seek themselves.” They common, however,
a stronger believe in God’s love for historically the
connection to the all things, have faith that process of baptism
word of God defined God is watching over was considered an
by the prophets. them at all times and integral rite in order to

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The Religions of the World.

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Origins Beliefs
Religion Practices

Thus, Christianity that Jesus, the son of christen the individual

initially developed as God, will return when and to wipe away
a sect of Judaism. It the world is ready. their ancestral or
developed into a Jesus is the exemplar of original sin
distinct religion as the religion, (Hanegraaff, 2009).
Jesus developed a demonstrating the way Other sacraments
stronger following of in which to be a proper include the Eucharist
those who believed Christian. In the (or communion),
that he was the son Christian faith, confirmation,
of God. The the theodicy, or the penance, anointing
crucifixion of Jesus way that Christianity the sick, marriage,
was the first of many explains why God and Holy Orders (or
tests of faith of allows bad things ordination). However,
Christians (Guy, happen to good people, not all sects of
2004). is shown through faith in Christianity follow
A division emerged Jesus. If believers follow these.
within Christianity in Jesus’ footsteps, they One of the core
between Eastern will have access to qualities and
Orthodoxy and heaven. Unfortunate practices of
Roman Catholicism occurrences are acts of Christianity is caring
with the division of God that test the faith of for the poor and
the Roman Empire his followers. Therefore, disadvantaged.
into East and West. by maintaining faith in Jesus, a poor man
A second division God’s love, Christians himself, fed and
occurred during the are able to carry on with nurtured the poor,
Protestant their lives when demonstrating care
Reformation when confronted with tragedy, for all, and is thus
Protestant sects injustice and suffering seen to be the
emerged to exemplar of morality
challenge the (Dunn, 2003).
authority of the Christian churches
Catholic church and are often institutions
Papacy to be that demonstrate how
intermediaries to follow Jesus,
between God and running charities and
Christian believers. food banks, and
housing the homeless

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The Religions of the World.

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Religion Practices

and the sick.

Islam Originating in Saudi Central to Islam is the Islam outlines five

Symbol: Arabia, Islam is a belief that the God, pillars that must be
Crescent and monotheistic religion Allah, is the only true upheld by Islamic
the Star that developed in God and that followers if they are to
approximately 600 Muhammad is God’s be true Muslims.
CE. During this time, Messenger, otherwise 1) Daily recitation of
the society known as the Prophet. the creed (Shahadah)
of Mecca was in God also demands that which states that
turmoil. Muhammad, Muslims be fearful and there is only one God
God’s messenger, subservient to him as and Muhammad is
received the verses He is the master, and God’s messenger;
of the Quran directly the maker of law 2) Prayer five times
from the Angel (Ushama, 2014). daily;
Gabriel during a In Islamic faith, the 3) Providing financial
period of isolated Quran is the sacred text aid to support poor
prayer on Mt. Hira. that Muslims believe is Muslims and to
He developed a the direct word of God, promote the practice
following of people dictated by the Angel of Islam;
who eventually Gabriel to Muhammad 4) Participation in the
united Arabia into a (Ushama, 2014). month long fast
single state and faith during the 9th month
through military of the Islamic
struggle against calendar;
polytheistic pagans. 5) Completion of a
Followers of the pilgrimage to Mecca
Islamic faith are at least once in their
referred to as life (“Pillars of Islam,”
Muslims. 2008).
Today, a division
exists with Islam
originating from
disagreement
regarding

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Religion Practices

Muhammad’s
legitimate successor.
These two groups
are known as
Sunni’s and Shia’s,
the former making
up the majority of
Muslims.

Hinduism Hinduism originated The beliefs In the religion of

Symbol: Om in India and Nepal, characteristic of Hinduism, practice is
or Aum however the exact Hinduism are a belief in more important than
origin of this reincarnation, and a belief. One ritualistic
widespread religion belief that all actions practice that is carried
is highly contested. have direct effects, out by Hindu followers
There is no known referred to as Karma is the act of making
founder, differing (Flood, 1996). In offerings of incense to
strongly from the contrast with other world the deities. This act of
other religions religions, Hinduism is offering is seen as a
discussed here, not as strongly defined “mediation” to open to
which have strong by what followers the lines of
origin stories of the believe in but instead by communication
individuals that first what they do. The between the sacred
posited the specific Dharma is what outlines and the profane, or
way of religious life a Hindu’s duty in life, the deity and the
(Flood, 1996). identifying individuals individual. This
with a place within the correspondence is of
dharmic social great significance to
stratification system, or Hindu followers
the caste system. This (Flood, 1996).
classification greatly Another widespread
dictates what a Hindu ritual practice is yoga,
can and cannot do. which is a practice of
Hindu followers believe holding postures
in one God that is while focusing on

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The Religions of the World.

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Religion Practices

represented by a
multitude of sacred
forms known
as deities (Flood,
1996). In Hindu religion,
in death, only the body
dies while the soul lives one’s breath. Yoga is
on. Individuals are used to silence the
reincarnated, surviving mind, allowing it to
death to be reborn in a reflect the divine
new form. This new world. This practice
form is believed to be brings the believer
dependent on the way closer to unification
in which the individual with the divine.
lived their life, with the
proper way being
identified as their acting
in accordance to the
duties of their caste
position (Flood, 1996).

The noble eight-fold

Buddhism Buddhism refers to Buddhists are guided path includes eight
Symbol: The the teachings of through life by the prescriptions: right view,
Dharma Guatama Buddha. It Dharma or four noble right intention, right
Wheel (the originated in India in truths. speech, right action,
eight spokes approximately 600 1) The truth that life is right livelihood, right
of this wheel BCE. Buddha, impermanent and effort, right mindfulness,
represent the originally a follower therefore generates and right concentration.
eightfold of the Hindu faith, suffering such as These outline the
path). experienced sickness or misfortune; “middle path” between
enlightenment, or 2) The truth that the the extremes of
Bohdi, while sitting origin of suffering is due sensualism and
under a tree. It was to the existence of acseticism, which gives
in this moment that desire or craving; rise to true knowledge,
Buddha was 3) The truth that there is peace, and
Enlightenment

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 The Religions of the World.

World Rituals and

Origins Beliefs
Religion Practices

a way to bring this

suffering to a halt and
achieve release from
the cycle of suffering (Tsersing, 2005).
and rebirth; A key ritual practice of
4) The truth of following Buddhism is meditation.
the eight-fold path as a This practice is used by
awakened to the followers to learn
way to end this suffering
truth of the world, detachment from desire
(Tsering, 2005).
known as the and gain insight into the
This path consists of the
Dharma. Buddha, an inner workings of their
‘right’ view to carry out
ordinary man, taught mind in order to come
one’s life. Buddhists
his followers how to to greater
believe in reincarnation,
follow the path to understandings of the
and that one will
Enlightenment. Thus truth of the world. In the
continue to be reborn,
Buddhism does not Buddha’s example,
requiring them to
believe in a divine meditation on breath or
continue the study of
realm or God as a on chanted mantras,
and dedication to the
supernatural being, which are often key
four noble truths and the
but instead follows passages of the
eightfold path until
the wisdom of the Buddha’s sutras
Enlightenment is
founder (Rinpoche, (teachings), is a key
achieved. Only then will
2001). practice to reach the
the cycle stop.
Therefore, the end to place of Enlightenment
suffering is only reached or awakening.
through the cessation of
the craving or desire
that drives the cycle of
rebirth

Trivia:
 Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religions and the predecessor of
Christianity and Islam.
 The world’s largest religion is Christianity. To date is has 2.1 billion followers
worldwide.
 Hinduism, considered the world’s oldest religion.

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Interesting Facts about Islam:

 The word “Islam” means submission or surrender.

 The root word of Islam is “Islam”, which means “Peace”.
 The word “Islam” in religious terms means “surrender one’s will to the true will
of God to achieve peace”.
 A Muslim is one who surrenders himself to God’s true will.

Interesting Hinduism Facts:

 The word Hindu originates from the Indian Indus River.

 There are more than one billion followers of Hinduism in the world today.
 Most Hinduism’s sacred texts were written in Sanskrit in ancient times.
 The Oldest ancient sacred texts of Hinduism are called Vedas. Vedah means
Knowledge.
 The Vedas include Rigveda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, and Atharva-Veda.

Interesting Buddhism Facts:

 Buddha is also known as “The Enlightened One” or “The Awakened One”.

 When Buddha was 35 he meditated under a fig tree, the Bodhi Tree, for several
days until he attained enlightenment.
 Buddha lived at the age of 80. He died in Kushinagar, India in 483 B.C.

Reference: Otis, Vergie, et.al,(2018) ,A Holistic Approach in Understanding The Self.

Mutya Publisher, Philippines

Link:
Belief (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) . (2020). Retrieved 29 July 2020, from
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/belief/
Ritual. (2020). Retrieved 29 July 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/ritual
Little, W. (2020). Chapter 15. Religion. Retrieved 29 July 2020, from
https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology2ndedition/chapter/chapter-15-religion/

II. THE CONCEPT OF “DUNGAN: - SPIRIT OR SOUL

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 Babaylan, ang manggagamot. Detail of Mural “History of Philippine Medicine” by Carlos “Botong” Francisco.
Image credit: XiaoChua.net

  Before the Spanish colonized the Philippines, there existed a 500-year long
tradition of indigenous feminism that predated women’s liberation in the West.

Babaylan refers to the pre-colonial Philippine tradition of female mystical healers whose

spiritual connectedness was a source of political and social power. Babaylan women
serve as intermediaries between spiritual and material worlds in their communities.
Their leadership roles are multi-fold: warrior, healer, priestess and sage.

Babaylans listen to the community and lead through a deep understanding of the inter-
connectedness of all life forms. To this day, many babaylans remain politically active in
advocacy, activism and working for justice in their communities, especially in matters
of land dispute, displacement, state violence, increased militarization and the plundering
of their land.

The Babaylan explore the world of Animism. Animism is the attribution of a soul
to plants, inanimate objects and natural phenomenon. They also believed that souls
persist after death and become ghost, in the same way the modern Filipinos believe ib
“Multo”.

How do “Dungan” and “Ginhawa” differ?

Animate or inanimate creatures have “souls” or “life force.”. Our ancestors

believed in the spirit beings in the environment, deceased ancestral souls, and to forces
in nature (wind, moon, stars) which are invoked for help. (That could be seen in my
“Legend of Kansilay”.) This makes it clear that central to the tradition of our ancestors,
there is that belief for “soul” that is a “life force” and we would like to believe that the
belief still persists today.

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 From the point of view of the “babaylan,” inside the body of a living person dwells
the “dungan” (a companion that co-exists). This “dungan” gives life, animation, and
sensibilities to a person. It can temporarily leave the body at will (during sleep). It is
dangerous for “dungan” to leave the body when the person is awake. The body would
become like a robot that runs out of battery.

There is another spirit that resides in a person (same person). We call it

“ginhawa” ( breath of life). It is the vital force. If “ginhawa” leaves the person, the body
dies. There is no more vital force that would be responsible for the throbbing of the
heart and the beating of the pulse. (If you bring the person to the hospital, the doctor will
examine him thoroughly and later would say, “Sorry, he is dead.”)

“Ginhawa” and “dungan” should be together. “Ginhawa” provides the vital life
force while “dungan” provides the intellect, emotion, and consciousness. We will make it
clear. The two entities are there together lodged in one person. “Dungan” can
temporarily leave and the person becomes unconscious or semi-conscious as in fainting
or dreaming. If “dungan” returns to a person, he becomes fully conscious again.

Is there a possibility that “dungan” cannot return to the body anymore? Yes, if
“dungan” is ambushed or harmed by other spirits. If “dungan” does not return, the
person dies. “Ginhawa” cannot sustain life without “dungan.” Here is the funny question,
“Do the two spirit entities leave the body separately or do they fuse together and depart
for their journey in the upper or next world?”

The “babaylan” does not have the specific answer. I would like to believe that
they fuse together and leave. That could be the reason why we need the “babaylan” to
do ritual for “dungan” to return. A person who has a weak “dungan” should ask the
“babaylan” to give him a “batak-dungan” (upgrading).

The “dungan” that does not return (and the body dies) is known as “kalag” (has
separated or disentangled). The “babaylan” can help “kalag” in a “patulod,” a rite where
a “babaylan’ would usher the soul to proceed to the world of the dead so that the soul
will no longer come back and disturb the living as “murto” (ghost).

If the family insists that the soul will be awakened because the wife and the
children would want to know where did the father hide his money, a “babaylan” who
specializes on “pukaw” (to awaken) rite could be done. The Catholic Church does not
approve of this practice.

Link:

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Alvero, R., Alvero, R., & Alvero, R. (2016). DID YOU KNOW? Pre-Colonial
Philippines’ Longstanding Tradition of Women Leadership and Mysticism —
Filipina Women's Network. Retrieved 29 July 2020, from
https://filipinawomensnetwork.org/epahayagan/did-you-know-pre-colonial-philippines-
longstanding-tradition-of-women-leadership-and-mysticism
Pacete, V. (2017). Pacete: Exploring the spirit world in us. Retrieved 29 July 2020,
from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/131606/Lifestyle/Pacete-Exploring-the-spirit-
world-in-us
Reference: Otis, Vergie, et.al,(2018) ,A Holistic Approach in Understanding The Self.
Mutya

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit of man?

Often, though, soul and spirit are interpreted to mean the same thing and end up

being used interchangeably. This can lead to the question, “Is there a difference
between the soul and the spirit, and does it really matter if there is?”.

Thessalonians 5:23 says, “And the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly,
and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This verse clearly tells us that human beings are made up of three parts—the
spirit, soul, and body. In the original Greek language, the conjunction “and” in “spirit and
soul and body” indicates the three are different from one another. So just as the body is
separate and distinct from the soul, the soul is also separate and distinct from the spirit,
as illustrated in the diagram below:

Hebrews 4:12 makes an even finer distinction, saying, “For the word of God is
living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the
dividing of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts
and intentions of the heart.”

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 From this verse, we can understand that the soul and the spirit are so close to
one another that the two require the word of God to divide them, to separate them from
each other.
Based on these two verses alone, we can conclude that our soul and our spirit
are not the same thing. In fact, it is evidently not only important for us to see that they
are distinct components, but also to discern one from the other.
Spirit is directly from Latin spiritus “ a breathing(respiration, and of the wind)
breath of a God” hence, “inspiration, breath of life. Soul on the other hand, refers to the
conscious, the moral, and thinking part of a person. The soul is immortal; it will go to
hell, purgatory, or heaven after the person dies.
In eastern culture, Soul is the part of the person that has Dharma. Dharma incurs
karma. Karma is the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous states of existence.
In western culture, soul can often mean someone’s moral consciousness. Spirit
may also refer to ghosts or any other supernatural beings.

Link: What Is the Difference between the Soul and the Spirit?. (2014). Retrieved 29
July 2020, from https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/difference-between-soul-and-spirit/
Reference: Otis, Vergie, et.al,(2018) ,A Holistic Approach in Understanding The Self.
Mutya Publisher, Philppines.

The Soul According to some Ethnolinguistic Groups of the Philippines

The soul (linnawa) of a child floats around in the heavens, awaiting its entry into
the human world. During sexual intercourse the soul/spirit enters the female through the
male, resulting in pregnancy. If a woman cannot conceive, shamans conduct sacrifices
to see if the couple is compatible. If they are, shamans offer other sacrifices to enhance
fertility.
The soul is believed to continue in existence in the world of its ancestors. In time the
soul of the new-dead becomes one of the callading or ancestral spirits. The callading
are considered man’s benefactors.

The Isneg believed that dead exist in other world, the Aglalanawan, where the
earthly tasks of planting, harvesting and communal living are functions common to
them. The kaduwa, soul, is believed to cross the pond in a ferry piloted by the
spirit, Kutaw(A psychopomp). In a bid to please kutaw, who could facilitate the spirit’s
entry to aglalanawan, the appropriate customary death rituals would be the key.

The first soul of the Ilokanos is called the kararua, or the soul proper. This is the
term used for the equivalent of the Christian soul that can only leave after death.

Karkarma is the name of the second soul. It can leave the physical body when one
is frightened, or may be stolen. If this soul fails to return the owner becomes insane,

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sacrificial ceremonies may be held to lure back a lost karkarma.  Karkarma stands for
natural vigor, mind and reason.

Aniwaas is the name of the third soul. It can leave the body during sleep and visits
places familiar to the body. If one wakes up while the aniwaas is visiting these places,
they may lose the aniwaas and become insane.
.
Araria is the name of the fourth soul. This is the liberated soul of the dead, the soul
that visits relatives and friends in the earthworld asking them to pray for it or perform a
duty it failed to do in life. Its presence can be heralded by the howling of dogs. This soul
can make sounds and manipulate physical objects usually relating to what it did in life.

The Tagalog soul, the kaluluwa can leave the body involuntarily. The kaluluwa

refers more to the soul of the deceased. The soul of a living person is
called kakambal (meaning twin or double). The kakambal may travel around at night
and some particularly bad encounters are the cause of nightmares (bangungut). The
kakambal becomes a kaluluwa after death.

The Ibanag have a distinction between body (baggi) and soul

(ikaruruwa). Ikarurua means ‘a companion of the body’. Mekararuanan (me + kararua
– to be rid of the soul) is a phenomenon where the soul can leave the body but it is
without sense. The ritual Mangagaggako invites the soul to return to the body

The Ibanag believe that the soul has physical characteristics. The soul may have
color and the souls of dead babies can reach adulthood in the spirit realm. The role of
the soul is to give direction and wholeness to the man, but the body can survive without
the soul, and even without the body the soul experiences material wants and needs.

The Hanunoo Mangyan believe in a plurality of souls. Karaduwa

tawu/tawo (human soul), karaduwa manok (Chicken soul) Karaduwa Baboy (pig
soul) karaduwa kuti (cat soul) and karaduwa hipon (shrimp soul). An individual may
possess 2-5 other souls. These other souls are explanations for miraculous recoveries
from near fatal experiences, their dream life or natural reactions to startling sounds or
movement.

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 Image from the Soul Book courtesy of GCF book

A Tagbanwa has one ‘true soul’ the kiyaraluwa and five secondary souls. The

kiyaraluwa is given to each infant by the god Magindusa as the nose of the child
emerges from the vulva.

The secondary souls are located in the extremities of both hands and feet and in
the head just below the air whorl (puyo). The souls of the feet protect one while walking
and from injuries to the feet, the same functions to those in the hands. The secondary
soul located by the puyo is not fixed in young children and may cause illness if not
properly aligned, some shamans specialize in realigning the soul to its proper place.
This soul is said to have a material form like a round white

Link : The Soul According to the Ethnolinguistic Groups of the Philippines • THE
ASWANG PROJECT. (2017). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from
https://www.aswangproject.com/soul-according-ethnolinguistic-groups-philippines/

Ritual and Ceremonies

The word ‘ritual’ is derived from the Latin word ‘ ritualis’, associated
with the word ‘rite’ which comes from ‘ritus’, typically understood to mean a
type of ceremony or custom.
It is also believed that the original concept of ‘ritus’ could be
associated with the Sanskrit or Vedic Religion ( also known as Historic
Hinduism) concept of ‘ṛtá’, the principal of natural order within the universe.
The concept of ‘ritual observances’ also ties into the theme of ceremony.

Classification of Rituals
1. Imitative Rituals – these are patterned afte myths and the ritual
repeats the myths or aspects of the myths. Ex. Making noise during New
years Eve when it strikes at twelve.
2. Positive and Negative Rituals – The negative rituals focus on rules
of prohibition, which cover an almost infinite variety of rites and behaviour.
While Positive Rituals are mostly rituals concerned with giving blessings to
an object or to an individual.

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 3. Sacrificial Rituals – The distinct feature of this type of ritual is the
total destructions of the sacrifice as an offering to a “higher being”. The
sacrifice can be a human being , an animal, food crops or an objects.
4. Life Crisis Ritual is the tradintion of one mode or stage of life into
another. This ritual defines the life of an individual. For Example. Burrying
placenta after birth.

While on the other hand, Ceremonies are the formal activities conducted on
some solemn or important public or state occasion. Such example of these are
Japanese Tea Ceremony, Coronation Ceremony and Marriage Ceremony.

Link: The History of Ritual - Violet Gray. (2017). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from
https://violetgraydesign.com/the-history-of-ritual/#:~:text=The%20word%20'ritual'%

Definition of ceremony | Dictionary.com. (2020). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cerem

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III. FINDING AND CREATING MEANING

Victor Emil Frankl (1905-1997) is the Founder of Logotherapy – A form of

existential Analysis He believed that the “Meaning in life is the major motivational factor
to live.” . His Holocaust experience taught him that pleasure wasn’t as important as
meaning. His situation was full of pain. Still he focused on meaning of being there
through helping others and staying optimistic about future.

“LOGOS” is a Greek word for ‘meaning’. Logotherapy focuses on the meaning of

human existence as well as man’s search for meaning. According to logotherapy,
this striving to find a meaning in ones’s life is the primary motivational force in man.
You can take away everything that a man possesses, but as long as he has his own
meaning for his life, he will survive.

Discovering the Meaning of Life

1) By Doing a deed, i.e. by realizing the “creative” values;
2) By Experiencing a value, i.e. experiencing aspects of Truth, Beauty, Goodness and
realizing the Experiential Values;
3) By Suffering, i.e. by realizing the attitudinal Values.

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REFERENCES:

Otis, Vergie, et.al,(2018) ,A Holistic Approach in Understanding The Self, Mutya

publisher ,Philippines

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Link:
Alvero, R., Alvero, R., & Alvero, R. (2016). DID YOU KNOW? Pre-Colonial
Philippines’ Longstanding Tradition of Women Leadership and Mysticism —
Filipina Women's Network. Retrieved 29 July 2020, from
https://filipinawomensnetwork.org/epahayagan/did-you-know-pre-colonial-philippines-
longstanding-tradition-of-women-leadership-and-mysticism

Belief (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) . (2020). Retrieved 29 July 2020, from

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/belief/

Definition of ceremony | Dictionary.com. (2020). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/cerem

Little, W. (2020). Chapter 15. Religion. Retrieved 29 July 2020, from

https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology2ndedition/chapter/chapter-15-religion/

Pacete, V. (2017). Pacete: Exploring the spirit world in us. Retrieved 29 July 2020,
from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/131606/Lifestyle/Pacete-Exploring-the-spirit-
world-in-us

Ritual. (2020). Retrieved 29 July 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/ritual

The History of Ritual - Violet Gray. (2017). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from
https://violetgraydesign.com/the-history-of-ritual/#:~:text=The%20word%20'ritual'%

The Soul According to the Ethnolinguistic Groups of the Philippines • THE

ASWANG PROJECT. (2017). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from
https://www.aswangproject.com/soul-according-ethnolinguistic-groups-philippines/

What Is the Difference between the Soul and the Spirit?. (2014). Retrieved 29 July
2020, from https://blog.biblesforamerica.org/difference-between-soul-and-spirit/

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Link: Logotherapy.PPT. (2020). Retrieved 1 August 2020, from
https://www.slideshare.net/DrKiranShingl

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