avatarEdward John

Summary

The author, despite a daily meditation practice and profound experiences, rejects the label 'spiritual' due to a non-belief in spirits or souls and views meditation as a secular, beneficial activity rather than a spiritual pursuit.

Abstract

The author has been practicing meditation since 2006 and has had profound experiences but does not identify as a 'spiritual person' because they do not believe in the existence of a spirit or soul. They view meditation as a practical tool for relaxation and peace rather than a pathway to spiritual enlightenment. The author has been mistakenly labeled as spiritual and has had to clarify their stance to others. They practice the NSR method of meditation and have explored other techniques like mindfulness and non-duality, experiencing 'no self' states that they do not consider spiritual. The author speculates that some people may use 'spiritual' as a term to feel superior and questions the motivations behind its use. They reference Sam Harris's perspective on spirituality, which does not require belief in a spirit, and provide links to further reading on related topics.

Opinions

  • The author does not believe in the existence of a spirit or soul, which is why they dislike the term 'spiritual.'
  • Meditation is seen as a non-spiritual practice that provides relaxation and peace, not a connection to a spiritual plane.
  • The author has encountered misunderstandings where others have mistakenly assumed they are spiritual due to their meditation practice.
  • 'No self' experiences during meditation are interpreted as an absence of spirit, contrary to spiritual experiences.
  • There is skepticism about why people use the term 'spiritual,' suggesting it may be used to claim a sense of superiority or specialness.
  • The author acknowledges that some individuals genuinely believe in the spiritual aspect of practices like meditation.
  • Sam Harris's view on spirituality is presented as an alternative that does not require belief in a spirit, aligning more closely with the author's perspective.

Why I Don’t Like the Word ‘Spiritual’ (Even Though I Meditate Every Day)

It makes me think of someone having a spirit and/or soul, which I don’t believe we have

Image by Okan Caliskan from Pixabay

I’ve been meditating in some form since 2006. During that time I’ve had some profound experiences. And yet I don’t consider myself to be a ‘spiritual person’. I don’t even like the word ‘spiritual’.

Why?

‘Spiritual’ makes me think of someone having a spirit and/or soul, which I don’t believe we have. I’m not religious, and I don’t believe in life after death or anything like that. We’re just biological machines, our brains are just organic computers, and once we’re dead, that’s it.

Being mistaken for a spiritual person

Somebody I met on a dating app tried to get me to date one of her friends. She decided me and her weren’t a good match for each other, but I would be suitable for her friend.

She knew I was into meditation, and her friend was a ‘spiritual person’, so she thought we’d be a good match. But I had to break the news to her friend: sorry, I’m not spiritual and never have been. I just find meditation beneficial.

Meditation as a non-spiritual practice

I meditate at least twice a day using the NSR method — it’s basically a much cheaper version of Transcendental Meditation. I have also dabbled with other techniques such as mindfulness, the Headless Way, and non-duality.

I’ve even had ‘no self’ experiences, where my feeling of being a separate person disappears. But I don’t consider that to be a spiritual experience. Quite the opposite, actually. ‘Spiritual’ implies I have a spirit, whereas a ‘no self’ experience is the feeling of an absence of a spirit.

I meditate because I find it relaxing and peaceful, not because I believe it’s going to get me onto some kind of spiritual plane.

Why do other people use the word ‘spiritual’?

Some people must genuinely believe they have a spirit, and so they will consider themselves spiritual people. They believe that by doing their spiritual practices — e.g. meditation — they will develop themselves spiritually.

But I wonder whether some people use the word as a badge of superiority. By claiming to be a spiritual person, they are making themselves seem special in some way — better than ‘normal’ people.

What do you think?

UPDATE January 2022

Jon Ogden caught my attention by providing a link to Sam Harris’s opinion about this:

I get where you are coming from and largely agree with your worldview as you describe it here. But “spiritual” doesn’t have to be about “spirit,” as articulated by Sam Harris here: https://www.samharris.org/blog/a-plea-for-spirituality

More from me…

Philosophy
Spirituality
Meditation
Spiritual
Spiritual Growth
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