THE

Understanding The Self

SPIRITUAL
SELF
By; Kim Romer Guadalquiver & Paolo Alvarez
Part I

LESSON 3: SUPERNATURALS: BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

 Lesson Objectives:

 Identify various religious practices and beliefs

 Understand the self in relation with religious belief

 Explain way of finding the meaning of life

 INTRODUCTION
Spiritual self is one of the four constituents of the “self” according to
William James in his book, The Principles of Psychology in 1890 (Material self,
Social self, Spiritual self and the Pure Ego).
The spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of self. It is the
most intimate version of the self because of the satisfaction experienced when
thinking of one's ability to argue and discriminate, of one's moral sensibility
and conscience, and of our unconquerable will (James 1890) is purer than all
other sentiments of satisfaction. (Green 1997)
The ability to use moral sensibility and conscience may be seen through
the expressions of religion, its beliefs and practices. In the same manner,
cultural rituals and ceremonies are some manifestations what people believe
in. Moreover, seeking the meaning of life is a journey that the spiritual self is
on.

5
 ABSTRACTION
RELIGION
Rebecca Stein (Stein 2011) works on definition of religion “as a set of
cultural beliefs and practices that usually includes some or all of basic
characteristics. These characteristics are:

1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural beings, such as spirits and

gods

2. A focus on the sacred supernatural, where sacred refers top a feeling of

reverence and awe

3. The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found on

supernatural beings as well as physical beings and objects
4. The performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation of
sacred object to communicate to supernatural beings and to influence or
control events

5. The articulation of worldview and moral codes through narratives and

other means

6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism

of social control within a community; provide explanation for unknown
and a sense of control for individuals.

An individual lives in a society where there are many practices of religion. The
choice of religious belief lies within the spiritual self. Although the choice
maybe influenced by the society and its culture.
 Ritual
Ritual is the performance of ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law
(Britannica 2017). Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known
societies. It is thus possible to view ritual as a way of defining or describing humans.
There are three fundamental characteristics of rituals according to Penner
(Britannica 2017). Ritual has the characteristics of

1. a feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in relation to the sacred

2. dependence upon a belief system that is usually expressed in the language of

myth

3. is symbolic in relation to its reference.

The self can be described as a ritual being who exhibits a striking parallel between
their ritual and verbal behavior. Just as language is a system of symbols that is based upon
arbitrary rules, ritual may be viewed as a system of symbolic acts that is based upon
arbitrary rules. Participation to rituals is expressions of religious beliefs.
Some World Religious
and Practices
There are different religions
with different beliefs and
practices. Some of the major
world religions are Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, Islam,
and Judaism.
 Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama “Buddha” – 6th Century B.C.E.

Buddhism
Beliefs
Buddhism believes that life is not a bed of roses. Instead, there are
suffering. pain, and frustrations. When people suffer, they want to
experience the goodness of life and avoid disappointments. It becomes a
habit known as the reactive cycle of wanting and hating. like and dislike,
and craving and aversion. This reactive cycle can be broken through the
practice of mediation, acquiring more wisdom and deeper understanding,
and acceptance of things as they are.
Customs and Practices
There are two types of meditation practices: samatha and vipassana.
Samatha is practiced as mindfulness of breathing and development of
loving-kindness (Metta Bhavana). Vipassana practices aim at developing
insight into reality. Acquiring wisdom is by studying Buddha's teaching, the
Dharma. Through the refection of Dharma, Buddhists can achieve a
deeper understanding of life. Buddhists believe in non-violence principle.
Buddhism
Some of the major Buddhist celebrations are
1. Parinirvana Day in February – Death of Buddha
2. Buddha Day (Wesak) in May – Birth of Buddha
3. Dharma Day in July – The beginning of Buddha’s teaching
4. Padmasambhava Day in October – The birth of a Buddhist mystic
Lotus Born
5. Sangha Day in November – The preaching of Buddha on 1,250
enlightened monks at Veluvana Vehera
 Christianity

Jesus of Nazareth “Jesus Christ” – 33 a.d.

Christianity

Beliefs
Christians believe in Trinitarian God. One God in three
personas: God the Father (Creator), God the Son (Savior), and God
the Holy Spirit (Sustainer). Eternal life after death will be achieved
through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is, God the Son, who
came into flesh, to spread the Good News of Salvation. He died on
the Cross for the sin of the humanity but resurrected from the
death, so that anyone who believes in Him will be saved and have
eternal life. The Holy Bible is a selection of books, which is divided
into two, the Old Testament and New Testament.
Christianity
Customs and Practices
Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Communion are
practiced by Christian churches. The Sacrament of Baptism
symbolizes the birth in Christian World, while the Sacrament of
Communion is an act of remembrance of Jesus Christ's sacrificial
love. Jesus Christ teaching in unconditional love that is expressed
in loving the poor, oppressed, and outcast of the society.
Christmas and Resurrection (Easter) are the two major
celebrations in Christianity. Christmas, usually on December 25,
commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ while Resurrection
Sunday (depends on the lunar calendar, sometime in March or
April) celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death.
 Hinduism

No founder, but is instead a fusion of various beliefs

2300 B.C.E. - 1500 B.C.E.
Hinduism

Beliefs
Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs and religious
groups; thus, there is no single founder or leader. Hindus believe that
existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, governed by Karma. Karma
is a concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how the past life
was spent. Hindus believe that the soul passes through a cycle of
successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on how the
previous life was lived. Vedas are sacred scriptures of Hindus.
Mahabharata and Ramayana are two other important texts of the Hindus
Customs and Practices
Diwali, and Navrati are the most celebrated festivals of the Hindus
Diwali is the Festival of Lights while Navrati is the festival of nine nights,
which celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Hindus have set dates to
honor particular manifestations of God.
 Islam

Muhammad of Mecca – 610 A.D.

Islam

Beliefs
Muslims believe in Allah, who is their "One God. They believe in the
unity and universality of God. Muslims also have a strong sense of
community or "ummah” and an awareness of their solidarity with all
Muslims worldwide. Islam means “willing submission to God.”
Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last and final prophet sent
by God. Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 CE and received revelations
from God through the Angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years. The Holy
Book of lslam is called the Qur'an, which was taught to be recited in Arabic
because any translation is seen as inadequate.
Islam
Customs and Practices
Muslims believe in the five pillars of Islam, which are the foundation
of Muslim life:
1. Shahadah - statement of faith: "There is no God but the one true God
and Muhammad is his messenger”
(Arabic: La ilaha illa Allah wa Muhammad ar-rasullulah).
2. Salat - the prayer that is practiced five times a day.
3. Zakat - the monetary offering for the benefit of the poor. It comprises
the 2.5% of a Muslim's assets.
4. Hajj - the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims who can afford are asked
to do the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
5. Sawm - the fasting. Muslims do fasting, from food, drink, and sexual act,
during the celebration of Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the
Islamic lunar calendar. The fast is from dawn to sunset.
Islam
Two of the major festivals in Islam are Eidul-Fitr and Eldul-Adha. Eidul-Fitr
is the celebration at the end of Ramadan, while Eidul-Adha is celebrated
within the completion of the Pilgrimage, the Hajj. Ramadan
commemorates the month when the Qur’an was first revealed to
Muhammad.
 Judaism

Abraham – 2000 – 1800 Century B.C.E.

Judaism

Beliefs
The Jews believe in God of Abraham, the same God that liberated the
Hebrews slaves from Egypt to Canaan, the Promised Land through the
leadership of Moses and later, Joshua.

The Jews believe in the coming of Messiah, the Savior. The sacred
scripture of the Jews is called the Torah or the Law. The Torah is the guide
of the Jewish living. The study and interpretation of Torah is part of the
Jewish culture.
Judaism

Customs and Practices

There are five major festivals observed by the Jews:
1. Rosh Hashanah – The New Year

2. Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

3. Pesach – Passover

4. Shavuot – Pentecost

5. Sukkot – Tabernacles.

The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday evening at sunset and is an

important time when families gather for the Shabbat meal.
Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and customs are
all part of the expression of the spiritual self. What to
believe and how to manifest the belief is entirely
dependent on the individual, to the self. A person might
believe that there is a higher being, a supernatural
being, usually termed as God, but not necessarily wants
to be affiliated or identified with a certain religious
group. Others may have religious practices which are
perceived to be contrary to the practices of other
groups. Religious beliefs and practices, therefore, are
formed relative to its context and culture.
FINDING AND CREATING
MEANING OF LIFE
Dr. Viktor E. Frankl – The
Logotherapy
 Dr. Viktor Frankl
 Born on March 26, 1905
 Lives in Vienna, Austria
 At a young age, wrote a short paper to
Sigmund Freud
 Graduated with a medical degree in
University of Vienna

 Survivor of the Holocaust

 Published his book about logotherapy
in 1959
 The Doctor and the Soul: Introduction to
Logotherapy
 Man’s Search for Meaning
 Logotherapy
Logotherapy is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl, who
is considered the Father of Logotherapy. The main belief of logotherapy is
that "man's primary motivational force is search for meaning."
Logotherapy aids individuals to find personal meaning of life, whatever life
situation they may be.
In logotherapy, meaning can be discovered by creating a work or
doing a deed, experiencing something or encountering someone and the
attitude toward unavoidable suffering. According to the Victor Frankl
Institute of Logotheraphy (n.d.), it uses the philosophy of optimism in the
face of tragedy, where people are capable of “turning suffering into
human achievement and accomplishment; deriving from guilt the
opportunity to change oneself for the better, and deriving from life's
transitoriness an incentive to take responsible action.”
 Basic Concepts of Franklian
Psychology
The Franklian Psychology has the basic
concepts. These are the following:
 Life has meaning under all
circumstances.
 Main motivation for living is our will to
find meaning in life.
 Freedom to find meaning.
Furthermore, Franklian Psychology aims to:
1. become aware of spiritual resources,
2. make conscious spiritual resources, and
3. use "defiant power of the human spirit'
and stand up against adversity.
Logotherapy Assumptions
Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy states the
assumptions of the logotherapy, which includes the
following:
1) The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind
and spirit.
2) Life has meaning under all circumstances, even the
most miserable.
3) People have a will to meaning.
4) People have freedom under all circumstances to
activate the will to find meaning.
5) Life has demand quality to which people must
respond if decisions are to be meaningful.
6) The individual is unique.
 Frankl Sources of Meaning

Popova (2017) discussed Frankl’s work, and there are

three possible sources of the meaning of life according to
Frankl. These are the following
1. Purposeful work. To find the meaning of life starts
with holding a future goal.
2. Courage in the face of Difficulty. A meaningful life is
a life with suffering.
3. Love. “Love is the only way to grasp another human
being in the innermost core of his personality. . .”

Costello (2017) captured Frankl’s message. “The ultimate

secret on the spiritual foundation of life is that love is
salvation and joy of eternity.” The ultimate factor to find
the meaning of life is love.
Part II

WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL SELF?

Individual - Cultural Self
What is Spirituality?
 SPIRITUALITY
Spirituality involves the recognition of a feeling or
sense or belief that there is something greater than
myself, something more to being human than sensory
experience, and that the greater whole of which we are
part is cosmic or divine in nature. (Maya Spencer 2012)
Spirituality means knowing that our lives have
significance in a context beyond a mundane everyday
existence at the level of biological needs that drive
selfishness and aggression. It means knowing that we
are a significant part of a purposeful unfolding of Life
in our universe. (Maya Spencer 2012)
May the Force be with you!
 May the Force be with
you!
The spiritual self is that unseen part of who we are that
provides our physical self with insight, intuition and other
ways of knowing and being beyond what our five senses
experience in the physical world. For example, I can be in
your physical presence and through my sight of you and
proximity to you I can feel energy flowing between us. This
greater awareness provides us with information that includes
our spiritual purpose for being here in this life and guidance
on what actions to take.
Don't Let Your Ego Join the Conversation
 Don't Let Your Ego Join the
Conversation
When you're talking about spirituality with someone who holds completely
different beliefs than you, it can be easy for your ego to lead the conversation
and start an argument. We are all reflections of one another and every
experience has a lesson embedded within it, so what can you learn from this
person? Recognize the beauty in duality and accept that whatever quality you
dislike about another person is a quality you likely have within yourself.
Remember That Spirituality Doesn't Mean Religion
 Remember That Spirituality Doesn't Mean
Religion
Spirituality doesn't mean religion, it means the pursuit to
answer the existential question, "Who are we and how did we get
here?". People find comfort in religion because it offers an
absolute truth, which can be less scary than admitting you know
nothing. The only absolute truth you really have is your true self,
your inner Self, your Divine presence, your soul, God, or whatever
you choose to call it.
Define yourself
spiritually
Bringing a Spiritual Perspective to Daily Life
 Bringing a Spiritual Perspective to Daily Life
A REFLECTION
Mary Baker Eddy’s book, "Science and Health with Key to the
Scriptures," unlocks spiritual treasures of the Bible. The truth it reveals
makes Christian healing - healing as Christ Jesus practiced it -
understandable and accessible to all. Greene: We can learn to define
ourselves spiritually as image and likeness of God, who is Spirit. We
can prove the freedom that comes with this understanding. Man,
meaning all men, women, and children, is entirely spiritual, entirely of
God.
The material is not of God; the material is fleeting, powerless,
illusory. We don't actually have both a material and a spiritual identity.
but only a spiritual one, since God is omnipotent and does not create
or empower matter. This is what Jesus taught. "We come to know
freedom when we learn our true identity to be of Gods creating.”
 Bringing a Spiritual Perspective to Daily Life
A REFLECTION
God's creation is always loved, always pure, always whole, always
reflecting His strength and perfection. God's law demands that we
team to truly love our neighbor all humanity. Hatred, resentment, envy
jealousy, and revenge will never bring us into the realm of infinite love.
But the step-by-step, day-By-day living of love can be found to be
natural to us. The adventure is ongoing, and the rewards are great.
And everyone is welcome to come along!
 WHAT'S YOUR
SPIRITUAL
PERSONALITY?
 THE
KINESTHETI
YC
ou may have chosen a career where physical activity is part of every
day - such as a bodywork specialist, massage therapist, personal trainer or
coach. "For kinesthetics their way of connecting spiritually is through the
body," says Dintaman. "Kinesthetics feel through their physical being,
through touch, through movement".
Try: Long-distance running can be a way to connect with spirit too,
says Dintaman. Walking or any kind of moving meditation can help you
tap into something bigger than yourself to find more peace. "My sister is a
kinesthetic; she does three hours of yoga every single morning, and she's
a dance instructor and body worker," she says.
 THE Scholar
If you have a spiritual personality that explores, Contemplates and
writes; this is how your spiritual personality explores. You may have a
more scientific minds too, wanting corroboration and reasoning for what
you believe. These people really connect with their own spiritual essence
through their thoughts. Dintaman: "If the kinesthetic is the body, the
scholar is the mind".
Try: Reading Scripture, inspirational or self-help books will feel like a
natural way to explore your spiritual self. You might enter into a
discussion with someone about things you've read, or you many want him
to join a book club or other group that provides you with fulfilling
conversation. "The topics you choose will depend on what floats your
boat," says Dintaman.
 THE
Devotional
Devotionals are committed to living from the heart, opening up to spirit
in this way, and bringing love to everyone they meet. Devotional types are
less analytical and do not always need a tot of scientific evidence. They often
feel the truth in their heart, and trust their instincts. Although I am
represented in many of the types, I have a fair amount of the devotional type
says Dintaman
Try: This spiritual personality might enjoy chanting or singing, or being
with a teacher who inspires them. You may also be drawn to ecstatic
experiences and dance (also attractive to kinesthetics) If you want to cultivate
more of the devotional in yourself, you might attend a lecture or read books
by a spiritual teacher. Or you may feel spiritually nourished by simply
spending time with loved ones or helping others in some way.
Thank You!