(November 18, 2016 at 4:11 pm)Primordial Bisque Wrote:(November 18, 2016 at 4:00 pm)Aegon Wrote: Are you believing something outside of reality, or are you just thinking about reality in a different way? That's what I think Taoism does.
Believing that there is something outside of, or greater than, reality which you can attune to. That's always how I viewed spirituality. Thinking of reality in a different way sounds closer to perspective, rather than spirituality.
Maybe I'm conflating spirituality with the supernatural?
I think so.
I suggest that 'life-enhancing change in perspective' is often a reasonable (if less sexy) synonym for 'spiritual growth' as it is often bandied about. No supernatural beliefs or woo required. Aegon mentions Taoism. I think aspects of Buddhism shorn of some of its metaphysical dogma (and by extension Zen), as well as Yogic practice can lead to profound but entirely natural changes in one's life and relationship to others and the world at large. And of course, the Abrahamic faiths all have traditions of mysticism not wholly dissimilar from those found in Eastern practices, though of course with a rather different religious content associated with them.
I suspect the Buddha, St. John of the Cross, and Laozi most likely would have had much more in common with each other than any of them would have had with lay members/followers of their respective traditions.
