THE SPIRITUAL SELF

Overview

This lesson explores the essence of spirituality, how distinct it is from religiosity, the
influences that form one's spirituality and how it affects one 's self.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the lesson, I am able to:

1. differentiate spirituality from religion;
2. describe the practice of religion, belief in supernatural being and power;
3. explain the concept of “dungan”, spirit or soul;
4. evaluate ways of finding and creating meaning in life.

Setting Up

Activity 2.4.1

Name: Date:

Course/Section: Instructor:

MY OWN MANDALA

Directions: Mandala is a symbolic picture of the universe and spirituality. It helps to transform
ordinary minds into enlightened ones. Using any coloring materials, color the Mandala
below based on your preference. Also, write your name inside the circle on the center.
Reflective questions

1. What comes to your mind when you first heard the word Mandala?

2. What did you feel doing the activity?

3. Are you going to share your work to other people? Why or Why not?

4. Given another chance, are you going to recreate your Mandala with your own design?
Lesson Proper

SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

Oftentimes, many people define spirituality and religion synonymously. There are also times
that these two terms are interchangeably used. Conversely, they are definitely different concepts. But,
they play an important role in our lives.
Spirituality came from the Latin word spiritus which means breath of life. Jafari, Loghmani
and Puchalski (2014) defines spirituality as a way an individual seeks and communicates the meaning
of one’s experiences in relation to self, to nature, and to the moment. It is a connection to something
bigger than you, of significant, reverent, or sacred. On the other hand, religion came from the Latin
word religio that means an obligation, bond, reverence and religare that means to bind. Many
scholars define religion as the relationship of an individual to God, and involves doctrines, beliefs and
rituals connected with the same a group that has shared same faith. An individual can be both religious
and spiritual but being religious does not mean you are a spiritual person.

Religion Vs. Spirituality : What is the difference? (Brady, 2019)

Religion Spirituality
Object referral Self-referral
Focuses on the external
Objective vs. Subjective Focuses on the inward journey
Experience (houses of worship, books (internalization and awareness
of scripture, eternal rituals) of one’s soul)
Structures and rule based No set of external rules,
construct restrictions and rigid structure
Organized vs. Formless (moral rules, laws and (pathless path of self-
doctrines) discovery)
Deeply rooted in tradition, more flexible and adaptive
Traditional ritual, creed, and doctrine (embraces change and the
(transmitted through evolution of consciousness)
vs. Evolutionary history)
Approach
About faith direct experience of the soul or
Belief vs. (Unconditional acceptance divinity
Spiritual and surrender to the divine)
Experience
Concepts of original sin, Discards the remains of fear
divine judgment, God’s and worry in favor of a more
Fear vs. Love wrath, or eternal loving, compassionate
punishment can approach to life—and death

The differences between spirituality and religion are not the outright judgment of which is
better than the other. One’s spiritual and religious beliefs and practices may still vary from one
person to another.
Characteristics of a Spiritual Person

Howell (2013) made a research on the personal and societal benefits of spirituality. Based on
the responses, here the top five characteristics of a spiritual person.

1. A spiritual person is gracious. Spirituality encourages someone to be positive and

expresses gratitude, shows generosity on time and resources, one’s overall life indeed.

2. A spiritual person is compassionate. Living a spiritual life lets a person to feel good
even on small things in life. He or she looks at the world with empathy.

3. A spiritual person is flourishing. Spirituality enables a person to have positive relationships,

high self-esteem and lets him or her look at the meaning and purpose in life.

4. A spiritual person is self-actualized. Spirituality practices help a person to focus on

their internal values for personal growth. A spiritual person concentrates on the fulfillment of
one’s goal and that is to become a better individual.

5. A spiritual person takes time to savor life experiences. Living a spiritual life makes a
person more aware of his or her day to day activities and gives an experience positive
emotions related to small pleasures in life.

Within the self lies the best way to improve spirituality. Constant thought and contemplation
on decisions and options in life, cultivating empathy and compassion for other humans, and having
confidence in a higher being will improve spiritual awareness. It's not only finding meaning in life but
also how it brings meaning to life.

THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION: BELIEF IN SUPERNATURAL BEING AND POWER

As you grow older, you start to ask questions rooted in religious orientations. You have
probably compared one religion from another. However, you make realizations and observations until
you found the meaning of that goes beyond your religious orientations.

Functions of Religion

Cognitive enables human to explain the unexplainable phenomena

Social maintains social order by encouraging socially acceptable
behavior and discouraging inappropriate behavior
Emotional / controls the forces which they feel they have no control
Conflict Resolution uses religion as a way of diffusing anger and hostility
Reinforcement of Group allow people to express common identity and strengthens
Solidarity group identity and belonging
 Religiosity follows the belief systems and practices associated with a tradition in which there
is agreement about what is believed and practiced.

The supernatural concepts are a part of any human society. One must develop a view of cultur
al relativism to research spiritual beliefs, and try to recognize beliefs from the viewpoint of an emic or
insider. Imposing one culture's meanings or beliefs onto another is likely
to lead to misunderstandings. Despite the wide range of supernatural beliefs found in cultures around
the world, some common elements are shared by most belief systems.

Sashur Henninger-Rener, an anthropologist – research, identified the common elements of

religion in relation to the belief in supernatural being and power.
Elements of Religion

1. Cosmology. This explains the origin or history of the world. Religious cosmologies offer a "big
picture" of how human life was created and the forces or powers at work in the universe
2. Belief in the Supernatural. This pertains to the realm beyond direct human experience. The
belief may involve a god or gods, but it's not a necessity. Quite a few religious beliefs involve more
abstract ideas about supernatural forces.
3. Rules of Behavior. Such principles describe proper behavior for individuals and society as a
whole, and are geared towards harmonizing individual acts with moral beliefs.
4. Rituals. Religious rituals or procedures which are typically supervised by religious experts.
These may be oriented toward the supernatural, such as rituals designed to please the gods, but at
the same time addressing the needs of individuals or of the entire community.

THE CONCEPT OF “DUNGAN”, SPIRIT OR SOUL

The word "dungan" originates from the Ilonggos according to Magos (1986). The Ilonggos'
dungan or soul, which is normally not seen by the human eye. According to the Visayans, this can
leave the body voluntarily like when the person is asleep. If a person can see himself in his dreams it
means that the physical body has been replaced by his "other self". It was profoundly impressed
amongst the ancient Filipinos that a person who was asleep does not suddenly awaken. So a person
who is sleepy is first called softly and louder and louder gradually to give the soul a chance to return
to its body.
Traveling off the dungan outside of the body will be accident-free. It can be stuck in a
container or poured out from a vessel of liquid. The owner will only be able to wake up after the soul
has returned home safely. Anything that happens to the dungan does indeed happen to the human
body. It is also suspected that another reason for the soul's voluntary withdrawal is if the body is
seriously maltreated (Magos, 1986).

The Visayan dungan has a secondary sense of "willpower." A good dungan is the mental and
psychological capacity to control one's way of thinking or convince others to. An individual with a lot
of willpower is said to "have a good dungan." The constant companionship of two people (sometimes
under the same roof) can lead to a spiritual rivalry between the two dungans and the defeat of the one
with the weaker dungan.
One may conclude that "dungan" or "spirit" is something that cannot be seen and touched, and
goes beyond our senses. It's also something that science can't describe.
FINDING AND CREATING MEANING [Frankl]

According to Frankl (1959), the meaning of life lies in finding a purpose and taking
responsibility for oneself and others. A person can face all the "how" questions of life by having a clear
"why." He / She can only make the world a better place by feeling safe and confident of the goal that
motivates him or her.

There are 3 ways to find meaning in one's life according to Frankl in his novel, Man's Quest
For Meaning.

By Doing a Deed
Realizing artistic quality comes not from the ‘greatness' of the mission, but how one treats and
executes his or her mission. It is not the ‘radius' of the action which is essential, but how one
feels the ‘circle' of his / her mission – how respectfully one performs them.

By Experiencing a Value
Explore all facets of life in-depth, being open and receptive to all life has to bring. Deep
emotional feelings, i.e. wonder and sunset happiness, a pleasure in close contact with others,
sharing a child's sorrow, etc. Support all of the emotions; don't refuse them; float with them,
but don't get trapped.

By Realizing Attitudinal Value

Accept with great bravery all the sufferings caused by an unchanging destiny. Out of your
misery draw power of intent. Intrinsically, human life should never be meaningless. Life
challenges us and puts various circumstances before us.

References

Brady, A. (2019). Religion vs. Spirituality: What Is the Difference?

https://chopra.com/articles/religion-vs-spirituality-what-is-the- difference

Frankl, V. (1959). Man’s search for meaning : An Introduction to Logotherapy. Especially Part 2 :
basic Concepts of Logotheraphy. 149 - 210

Jafari, N., Loghmani, A., & Puchalski, C. M. (2014). Spirituality and health care in Iran: time to
reconsider. Journal of religion and health, 53(6), 1918-1922.

Howell, R. T. (2013) Why Be Spiritual? Five Benefits of Spirituality.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cant-buy- happiness/201302/why-be-
spiritual-five-benefits- spirituality

Magos, A. (1986). The Ideological Context of Ma-aram Practice in Mariit. In the Enduring
Ma- aram Tadition : An Etnography of Kinaray-a Village in antique. New Day
Publishers. 46-62
Assessing Learning

Activity 2. 4.2

Name: Date:
Course/Section: Instructor:
MY SYMBOL OF BEING
Directions: Imagine yourself as a very precious object displayed inside a museum that other
people would remember your existence here in the world. Inside the box, draw
that single object that could represent yourself. And tell the story of your life in
relation to the object representation you have drawn.