GEC 1 - Understanding the Self

Module 7
THE SPIRITUAL SELF AND THE MEANING OF LIFE

Starting Accurately (INTRODUCTION):

Are you happy with the way you live your life now? Do you find meaning in the things that
you do everyday? What makes you truly happy? Did you ever take these questions seriously
before?
As you go through changes into becoming a better person, you will discover that your
own life that is becoming more improved and empowered can bring about social transformation.
However, everything starts with personal transformation and such experience is spiritual in
nature (Kavar, 2015). This is also referred to as psycho-spiritual integration or development
which leads to a better understanding of oneself regarding these questions: Who am I? What are
my big aims in life? How clear are they? How am I as a Filipino? How truly Christian am I?
This integration seeks answers to basic existential questions in life. It leads into the core
of the human being (Villafuerte, et.al., 2018).

Inculcating Concepts (INPUT/LESSON PROPER):

You are important. You are part of a society that needs to undergo social transformation.
As you are being exposed to different situations in life, there are instances when the desire to
make a difference may be awakened in you as you take on the search for the meaning of your
life.
Throughout your lifespan as an individual, the development of sense of spiritual identity
has a big contributing factor to your healthy identity development (Poll & Smith, 2003). Having
understanding of what the spiritual self is and how to maintain its well-being are found to be
important considerations as you search for your true identity. Moreover, as you search for
meaning in life, one of the major concerns to consider is the development of a balanced
spirituality because it integrates well with your psychological maturation.

Let us take a look at the concept of spirituality and the spiritual self and what spirituality is.

A. The Concept of Spirituality and the Spiritual Self

Spiritual Self
According to Villafuerte, et al. (2018), spiritual self;
- is who we are at our core.
- is more permanent than the material self and the social self.
- is our subjective and most intimate self.
- is the aspect of self which develops a certain level of spirituality which is
deemed as man’s way of seeking as well as expressing the meaning and
purpose of his life.
- is concerned with the higher things in life such as the Sacred or the Divine.

According to Alata, et al. (2018), spiritual self;

- is who we are at our core.
- is more permanent than the material self and the social self.

Spirituality
- is specified more concretely in deepening the faith.
- leads man to deeper communion with the Divine.
- is a path of direct and personal connection with the Divine.
- embraces all faiths, social and political ideologies.
B. The Spirit and the Soul

The terms spirit and soul are sometimes used interchangeably, but they have
distinctions which need to be recognized.

SPIRIT SOUL
- “ruach” in Hebrew - “nephesh” in Hebrew which means “living”
- “pneuma” in Greek or “life”
- which means breath (especially the - “psukhe” in ancient Greek
breath of life) - “psyche” in Greek
- “espiritu”, “ispiritu”, - originally meaning “throat” or “neck” which
- The disposition of an individual means “human life”.
- A person’s habitual attitudes - “kaluluwa” (Tagalogs)
- Man’s supernatural power which - “kalag” (Visayan, Hiligaynon, Kinaray-a)
comes from God - The animating principle of human nature
- It is the part of us through which all - In modern psychology, described as the:
life and power of God flow. - will
- The life-giving part of man (James - mind
2:26) - the set of emotion
- conscience

Here is the Hebrew concept of the spiritual nature of man:

- Man is viewed as holistic, one totality
- Man is an integrated unit of physical, mental and spiritual components that are
inseparable to make a whole person.
- Genesis 2:7 – “And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground and
breathed into His nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

On the other hand, here is the Greek concept of the spiritual nature of man:
- Man is viewed dualistic in nature.
- The dualistic view is started by ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle,
Socrates and Plato.
- Pagan Greek philosophy taught that the soul is immortal and that it can live
separately from the body.

Note: Many of the moral ideas of pagan Greek philosophers have been incorporated into
Christian moral doctrine.

D. The Filipino Traditional Understanding of Soul

Here is the Filipino understanding of what the soul is:
– is equivalent to “Kaluluwa” (Filipino), “kadkadduwa” or “kararwa” (Ilokanos), all
come from the root word “duwa”, which means “two”. This is because of the
belief that the soul has two existences: physical (connected to the body) and
spiritual (it exists on its own).
– The Ilocano “kadkadduwa” further derived from kadduwa, meaning “companion”.
– For the Ilonggos and Antiqueños, “kalag” or “dungan” (but “dungan” has a
secondary meaning which is “willpower”).
– The notion of multiplicity of souls is common among Filipinos (Villafuerte, et al.,
2018).
E. “Loob” and Personhood

“LOOB” or “KALOOBAN” is defined as:

– the inner self or inner being.
– the core of one’s personhood and where the true worth of the person
lies.
– what makes one what he is and who he is as a person.
– a term used to describe a person in relationship with others, e.g.,
magandang loob or mabuting loob and masamang loob.

On the other hand, PERSONHOOD;

– manifests the unity of the spiritual and the material or physical nature
in human existence.
– gives to the human individual a universal worth and an exceptional
standing.
– is a foundational concept for all that we are and all that we do (White,
2013).

PRAYER – is the Christian’s acknowledgment and awareness of the true nature of the
“loob” and the richness or weakness of this “loob” as exposed by the light
of faith.
– is our conscious personal communion with God. It is the fruit of the Holy
Spirit working in our hearts, enabling us to turn to God and with
confidence, to call Him our Father. How does this concept of loob and
prayer help us find meaning in life?

F. Finding and Creating Meaning – Viktor Emil Frankl

F.1. According to Viktor Frankl;

 “Meaning is something to discover rather than to invent.” It has the same
concept with inner happiness, life satisfaction, self-actualization and deep
spirituality.
 In life, there is an existential vacuum which means that life empty,
meaningless, purposeless, aimless, and adrift and so on.
 Because of this vacuum, we tend to fill our lives with pleasure or power and
so on.

F.2. Three Ways of Discovering Meaning in Life

 Experiential Values – is an approach that involves experiencing
something or someone we value and the love we feel towards another,
e.g., family, relatives, friends and workmates.
 Creative Values – is the traditional existential idea of providing oneself
with meaning by becoming involved in one’s projects, or better, in the
project of one’s own life, e. g., creativity and passion.
 Attitudinal Values – include practicing virtues such as compassion,
bravery, a good sense of humor, and the like.
 Frankl’s most famous example: Achieving meaning by way of
suffering.
 Ultimate goal: Self-transcendence.

G. The Practice Religion

  The people’s way of connecting themselves to God as they search for
meaning in life.

G.1. Religion
– beliefs and behaviors related to supernatural beings and powers.
– an organized system of ideas about the spiritual sphere along with
ceremonial practices; our way of relating with the supernatural or the
DIVINE.

G.2 Rituals – are patterned form of behaviors that have something to do with the
supernatural realm.
– are performed in a repetitive nature.
– can be religious or secular.
G.3. Magic
– commonly referred to as “tricks” and “illusions” that make impossible
things to happen, usually performed as entertainment.

G.4. Witchcraft
– commonly understood as “kulam”.
– refers to the idea that certain people have an inborn power to harness
spirits or energies for specific purposes.

G.3. What the Bible Says about Magic, Rituals and Witchcraft
Since Filipinos are predominantly Christians, we have the Bible as our
guide in the practice of religion (Villafuerte, et.al., 2018). Specifically, passages
from the book of Deuteronomy say that;
“Don’t sacrifice your children in the fires on your altars; and do not let your
people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in
witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirit
of the dead. Anyone who does this is detestable to the Lord. It is because the
other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive
them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God”
(Deut. 18:10-13).

NOTE: Please read further on the provided book pages (p. 108-117) for more
information regarding this topic.
VII. REFERENCES

Alata, E. J., Caslib, B., Serafica, J. P., & Pawilen, R. (2018). Understanding the Self.
Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc.

Brawner, D., & Arcega, A. (2018). Understanding the self. Quezon City: C & E Publishing,
Inc.

Villafuerte, S., Quillope, A., Tunac, R., & Borja, E. (2018). Understanding the self. Quezon
City: Nieme Publishing House Co.

White F. J. (2013). Personhood: An essential characteristic of the human species. The

Linacre Quarterly, 80(1), 74–97.
https://doi.org/10.1179/0024363912Z.00000000010