What Is the Point of Spirituality?

A lot of people are - rightly - very sceptical of what goes on under the word 'spirituality.' But might there be something of value nevertheless in aspects of what people call the spiritual? A short guide to what a highly rational mind might learn to appreciate within the concept of 'the spiritual.'
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“The word spirituality has a capacity to divide people like few others. For some, it’s an innately beautiful touchstone, the designator of a special kind of experience that is so valuable, it is best left reverentially unexplored and pure, lest one disturb its ethereal mysteries with the cold hand of reason. For others, it’s nonsensical bunkum of appeal only to adolescent dreamers, the underemployed and the weak minded. But precisely because ‘spiritual experiences’ are so often either worshiped or derided, it pays to try to submit them to dispassionate and sober examination, not in order a priori to crush them or honour them, but so as to make them more intelligible, to friend and foe alike. Whatever our suspicions, spiritual moments are capable of being pinned down, split into their constituent elements and assessed with due regard. One should - and can - get respectfully rational about spirituality.”
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[@theschooloflifetv]

Do you consider yourself spiritual? Let us know in the comments below and to join your fellow School of Life audience members, be sure to download our new free app: bit.ly/2H2Co9p

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

No! 😡

[@thinkabout288]

YES we are all one like it or not universal consciousness quantum entanglement 🔆

[@talkinteefs]

Yes absolutely 👌

[@michaelsvoboda1024]

@@thinkabout288 Incoherent rambling metaphysically impossible read Ayn Rand

[@thinkabout288]

@@michaelsvoboda1024 Ayn is for the survival of the fittest we are now removed from the cave however we do need to educate our youth on birth control toooooooooo many babies having babies

[@takchengsze4719]

I am spiritual but not religious. I like to take a long walk along the beach and in contact with nature. I found it more spiritual in nature than in churches. Our materialistic culture based on the ego system. For example, a mansion, sport car, fancy cloths, jewellery, watches. These are all items to build up our ego. Leading a spiritual life cleanse out a lot of material desire. We only need the necessary to be fulfilled and happy.

[@bayraktarx1386]

You like walks at the beach and it helps you to relax BUT what's spiritual about it? You could replace word "spiritual" with any other word and sentence wouldn't change at all. Spiritual is meaningless word.

[@takchengsze4719]

@@bayraktarx1386 it is personal. The sea gives a sense of peace from nature. It can be woods, mountain s or deserts. This is not an argument and just a sharing. You can find spirituality in market too. There is no point to argue, just ignore.

[@bayraktarx1386]

@@takchengsze4719 it's a hipster word, why not just say you love or enjoy the nature? Want to sound like a weirdo gl!

[@takchengsze4719]

@@bayraktarx1386 I don't think it makes a difference, it is just words. But I think there is spirituality in nature.

[@bayraktarx1386]

@@takchengsze4719 what do you mean with spirituality?

[@annakozlova4559]

“A spiritual experience is neither ineffable nor absurd; the term refers rather to a deeply sustaining interval of relief from the burdens and blindness of being us.” Wow this is beautiful

[@bewildered6866]

ah, just like a good nights sleep, sweetpea ... thought so. :)

[@StevenHaack-os3yx]

I agree 1000 %: Seeking relief from the dark side of ourselves is what provides direction and meaning.

[@sarceg.2580]

I enjoyed the explanation that a spiritual moment coincides with a temporary escape from the ego. To me that is a lot of what spiritualism is - living in the moment, looking beyond the self, and seeing the beauty in all things/people.

[@bewildered6866]

you have just describes a common physical mental process ... time to come back down sweetpea :)

[@bewildered6866]

@Robert Everyone imagines.

[@deathconsciousness7057]

@@bewildered6866 *watches rick & morty once* I can tell you like to circlejerk on r/atheism

[@CCubes88]

@@bewildered6866 sweetpea lmao stop trying so hard to sound intelligent

[@george_m._grow]

This is a very good summary of the old fashon Western "spirituality". I call this a part of WELLNESS made by people don't know what spirituality really is. But who, the fuck, reall yknows it? The Books of Life

[@animprovement]

The cool thing about spirituality is quite often people are on the same page.

[@kingsmerte3629]

I've never been spiritual, but now that you've explained spirituality so well, I can be more empathic with people who have a use for it

[@THE-WAY_THE-TRUTH_THE-LIFE.]

That's great to be more empathetic, but technically you have been spiritual, because afterall, you are just a spiritual soul put into a temporary body of flesh. Just not everybody acts to their spiritual nature.

[@stevengagne3400]

"...we might find ourselves loving, that is appreciating and delighting, understanding and sympathizing with; with a family of dung beetles, or a moss covered tundra..." God, I love you School of Life!

[@thegaspatthegateway]

honestly the most fun description of love i've ever heard

[@allthatjazzshow3299]

Literally to the 1% who's reading this, God bless you, may all your dreams come true, may you be successful in all spheres of life, stay safe and have a wonderful day :)

[@musicaismylovica]

Love you!

[@5-minutesorigami219]

There is no god

[@monicab508]

Amen. Thank you and likewise

[@Its_my_life369]

thank you dear and wish you the same....gbu.....u r really sweet and kind and generous

[@Its_my_life369]

🙏🕉💗💗💗💗

[@HumansOfVR]

Make your own Bible. Select and collect all the words and sentences that in all your readings have been to you like the blast of a trumpet. Ralph Waldo Emerson

[@jonaseggen2230]

O.o Wow!

[@neo-babylon7872]

I believe that a lot of people have the critical thinking ability to realize that killing, stealing, and etc... has a negative long-term effect and so they should not do it. They will eventually realize that. However, problem is a lot of people look at the immediate effect of things and don't realize that stealing while has the immediate effect of getting you a commodity, it might and certainly will have the long-term effect of hurting the mutual trust of the society and making life harder for you and everybody. It takes a bit of imagination for people to realize that but many people don't have it. In that case, a religion or a commonly adopted moral code would be useful to invoke a sense of guilt on these kind of people. However, the religions of thousand years ago are only good for that time and they wouldn't work for 2019. I might be completely wrong but if this is the case, then having a commonly adopted moral code and finding a way for people to connect with it (using activities and etc...) would be a very good solution here.

[@bewildered6866]

sigh ... more inane tosh from Waldo. :)

[@johnsmith-tq5zn]

That's exactly what I believe! Even though I have never worded it this way so far! I invite you all to my spiritual blog, where I talk about my existential journey, my personal crisises, my life experiences in general. I'm a vegetarian, a pro life and a religionless theist and I've got so much to say. lonesoulofmine.blogspot.com/

[@milacruz3970]

Ohh Interesting!

[@kuldeepchhetri1355]

The point of spirituality is to see the reality as it is, without any judgements.

[@Annsu2017]

^^thisss

[@heatherkate93]

Yes agree to see with discernment

[@AuthorAngelLWhite]

Or grow towards peace and sense of content consciousness.

[@historydocumentaries7845]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/naGbqJuKnNF0nMk . 🙏🙏

[@SuperShotoBros]

To attempt to understand and accept what is willingly...

[@studyme-selftaughtlife4958]

The practice of *FOCUSING* on your breath in a tough situation, and in calm times, is a simple practice for those who don’t believe in “woo-woo” stuff.

[@YooTooobJeff]

Woo-woo? Is that anything like hoo-hah or ramalama-dingdong?

[@QRMŞYNQRAMA]

@@YooTooobJeff yes

[@SpiritualitywithGabriella]

That’s well put 😊

[@studyme-selftaughtlife4958]

@@jeremy____5747 It does actually. Studies have proven that the control of breath leads to lower stress and better performance in terms of work and projects. If it doesn't work for you then you may be doing it wrong. Simply just control your breath by taking it in deep and slow. When your mind knows that it is in control and out of danger, it starts to relax. Because why would your brain relax if there is danger?

[@studyme-selftaughtlife4958]

@@jeremy____5747 Eh, studies aren't applied to every single person in the world. If that doesn't work, I'm sure there's another substitute for you to find.

[@Moomoo-11_11]

"We can imaginative participants in the entire cosmic drama." Beautiful. Just beautiful.

[@aakkii2123]

*“Religion is for people who fear hell, spirituality is for people who have been there''* David Bowie

[@adamfrank1182]

Nope 😂

[@sneakerbabeful]

@@adamfrank1182 Yep.

[@adamfrank1182]

@@sneakerbabeful Nope

[@adamfrank1182]

@heythatsalex6589 Nope 😂😂😂

[@lennomenno]

Believe in Jesus or burn. Now that’s love !!

[@leonardowerk]

I relate so much to that. Finding one's way from radical, angry atheism to understanding and experiencing spirituality for oneself is a rewarding and liberating journey.

[@bewildered6866]

If you were, "radical and angry", then you weren't a true atheist. Atheists are highly intelligent types who persevered through mountains of Trash and are now Happy, Contented and Proud that, unlike the other Poor Suckers, they have discovered the Purpose of Existence. :)

[@T0mat0_S0up]

Leonardo Werk Ignore the crazy person

[@bewildered6866]

@@T0mat0_S0up ah, so you have no Comment to make: only Trash ... ok. :)

[@T0mat0_S0up]

Stuckrevolver Honestly I find that ironic 🤷‍♂️😂

[@bewildered6866]

@@T0mat0_S0up you again kiddo : feel free to tell us what you are talking about.

[@jofussh.2103]

Spirituality in a nutshell: Say no to excessive materialism and yes to higher things.

[@Killerkiki313]

What are examples of higher things?

[@BethatGirlSis_Andrea]

Yes it’s all within 🧠🫀✨and it’s a beautiful ✨ thing

[@cnault3244]

"Spirituality in a nutshell: Say no to excessive materialism and yes to higher things." Could you define what you mean by excessive materialism? Could you define what you mean by "higher things"? Do you mean clouds? Stars?

[@nikhilprem7998]

@@cnault3244 perhaps something where your mood and satisfaction is dependent on intrinsic behaviors and more on your feelings than what another person might think? More clearly able to drift away from the material world, that's the best I can put it.

[@cnault3244]

@@nikhilprem7998 So spirituality = emotion

[@sukhsandhu8995]

Spirituality seems like the right or correct method of reaching true freedom and requires the work we all should focus on. To me it seems worth giving the effort of discipline and selfless hard work which we all have the potential to do in our own way and at our pace! Hopefully the universe/God will reward us even a little at a time so we know we are going in the correct direction🙂🙏🏾

[@rain0069]

"we make sense of nothing when there's nothing to make sense of"

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

🙄

[@rain0069]

@@JK_JK_JK_JK up thumb

[@coreycox2345]

Was there silence before the big bang?

[@theMRsome12]

@@coreycox2345 nope. There was no spacetime. So, no time to hear the sound.

[@rain0069]

@@coreycox2345 silence is but a word ....NO

[@lolitap.9695]

For me, god is the energy that created all of us and is the energy that we are made of

[@yahya2925]

How could Someone that created something from nothing be anything like the something They created? Makes no sense.

[@himurakenshin8054]

@@yahya2925 because the creater is in you....the only way out is fking in .... the system that they made is about who has prosperity which only exist in this current dimension which is 5%of the value to our purpose....if you arent here to save the world as its most of your job on earth... your purpose is just to experience ... you have probably picked your parents before your memory was wiped we porbably wouldn't be able to hold the truth and now new era in coming ...matrix gonna crumble...its going to be bad before its going to be good if you are not meant to save the world in this life time you are probably enjoying life or stuck in this all thr distractions that they have created to keep us entertained... which involves gmo food (we are not supposed to be eating meat either ... they lied to us.. Some of yall dont even know some of us are gmos ..you might have aggresive animal dna ..thats why you cant survive without meat but we some are called chosen ones we are vessels we came into this life to either just experience life or some might get distracted all up in the matrix which is just to experience is which is nothing wrong with this... but bruh all the religions are man mades some religion has elements of spiritual in em which has a lot of truth in it... but some religion has a lot of wrongs in em than the truth ... but the wrong people made the system to seprate people... when you come togethor you win against the system which is 95%corrupted and bring all the truth to the light even most of the news be fake it always has to be a bad news to automatically make you feel negative emotion which lowers your vibration..when you are feeling good having a good day and energetic that means you are on your high vibration... and you smoke weed or eat something we all call unhealthy it be lowering your vibration without you knowing it

[@himurakenshin8054]

And this stuff i am talking about i currently know 10% of it which means to answer you might have to do deep research... you might be not ready for your spiritual journey if you are happy within the matrix ... which is eating gmo foods... all the junk foods and the current most hip hop songs have certain frequency which makes you feel pessimistic (i dont clearly but it lowers your vibe) vibration... ) Your brain is 90% water . Andyour body 75 or more And Bruh we all know how the the certain frequency sound do to a water...

[@ishanbhardwaj]

God is dead. Be Zarathustra the Godless.

[@vjchallenger8535]

Shut up

[@momsazombie1]

I think according to this definition I can became 'spiritual' as a teenager although it was through rational thought that I arrived at such a state. I thought about all the 'stuff' of the universe and how it is all interconnected and that the 'objects' to which we refer in words have no real world boundaries as everything is in perpetual flux. It occurred to me that I also do not have such edges, that my body is constantly influencing and being influenced by its environment, this environment being the entire universe. I reasoned from this that there was no real boundary between me and the rest of the universe - I was the universe experiencing itself! And that the self could be conceived as a point, like the centre of a circle, having no spatial dimension, whereby a feedback loop in the flow of cosmic information gave rise to the universe's awareness of itself - and that's me. And you.

[@Ofstudiofae]

Who are you?, I feel like I need to talk to you more , such understanding, wow 🤎

[@momsazombie1]

@@Ofstudiofae I think I should refer you to Eckhart Tolle, Rupert Spira and Caterina Maggi who are my current spiritual teachers and can explain this stuff much better than I can. Although I had these insights during my life I never did anything with them and have suffered my ego as much as anyone if not more. It's only in the last few years that I've started to see that knowing this stuff doesn't make much difference, you have to make it your life and that takes some work and a whole lot of courage.

[@Ofstudiofae]

momsazombie1 thank you 🙏

[@mosesmoose6294]

😁😁

[@Aleeandrav]

loved this!

[@minervaloves]

"We may never be properly loved or appropriately appreciated". So true and so sad

[@bewildered6866]

So ... love Yourself, thats Plenty ... jeez.

[@lmy222]

Yes, it may sound sad, but in fact it only means that nothing you ever get will make you more loved or happier if you yourself are not the love already.

[@bingo1232]

With light from an inner glow, I crawled out of my head, thru a little hole (just big enough for one ego at a time) and into a… sun-drenched, light-filled, love is bursting world. There I communed with angels… they taught and I listened or… I taught and they listened. We got on together. Radiant was joy aplenty. Finally, there was THE question hanging in the air - to go or to stay? Then they convinced me to at least consider the bodhisattva vows. I’ll never forget the first time I was able to put my (our) skills together! Teddy said, “Life is a gift horse.”

[@fraidoonw]

thanks! too me SPIRITUALITY is just a word for things which are indescribable ....nevertheless this word in our modern time is extremely blown up.....you know it better!

[@specialkender]

This is one of the most accurate description of those moment i've ever heard, and your animations are AMAZING. BIG PROPS, your work is art.

[@talkinteefs]

Great video 👌👌👌 spirituality is key in centering our thoughts and emotions, it gives the mind and body a break and it costs nothing

[@angeliparraguirre7329]

Psychology 100?

[@Fulgrim88]

"We may never be properly loved or appropriately appreciated" "Our invisibility and meaningless is a given we can now joyfully accept" As someone who's been suffering from depression all my life and who never once had anyone tell me they love me, I "accepted" these facts years ago. Plot twist: It didn't make me any happier. It made me calmer and more functional, for a time. But now I envy those who have fought these "facts", for I think while their fights might ultimately be futile, the experiences you make along the way are the essence of "being alive"

[@rebeccagunther4030]

I'm reading your book about staying CALM, and I can hardly get through a paragraph without having to stop and think about my life, reevaluating it and healing from some old wound or bad way of thinking. I don't agree with every word, but I think 99.9999% agreement is pretty awesome.

[@guillermococofrito9196]

Lol 99.9999 means probably there is between 10 and 40 words you dont agree with.

[@peacewillow]

to the atheists i would like to say, all life on earth descended from one cell, ergo, we are all one. when people say they "feel god", they are actually feeling the oneness of all life. it's a beautiful feeling.

[@Tabbix]

I'm agnostic and I can experience the feeling of oneness of all life. Merely knowing we all came from the same origins is enough for me to appreciate how we're all connected. "God" unfortunately is a word that's been tainted by many who use their religion as a shield against the cruel things they do, and so many people who were hurt by those who are religious consider it a warning sign that the person might be cruel. It's like a dog being kicked seeing someone raise their foot. The instinct is to run because of the remembered pain.

[@syawkcab]

"we are all one" What does this even mean?

[@YooTooobJeff]

@@Tabbix then a mature analysis would tell you not everyone is the same in that regard... Grow up, you exhibit solipsism...

[@brando8997]

We are not all one but if you need for me to break it down biologically I will

[@aporszatmari2914]

We know. Freud was known to write meticulous studies regarding the topic, there's a good summary about it: "Freud also sees the goal of the instincts to be the attainment of unity. Thus the "oceanic feeling" of "being one with the external world as a whole," is explained by Freud as a nostalgic vestige of the first period of infancy, when the ego does not yet distinguish anything outside itself. Our instincts reflect the universal human desire to recover this state of primary narcissism, the original state of unity."

[@sesamaeohyeah9608]

I used to be confused on whether spirituality and being religious are the same thing but now I understand. Great video ❤️❤️

[@osse1n]

I found the name "Spirituality" to be hipster and new agey just some years ago. Today, I preach the importance of spirituality all the time and find it to be the most important thing that we don't learn in school. Lucky we have Alain to spread the word.

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

Who The FK is Alain?!?! 🤔

[@osse1n]

@@JK_JK_JK_JK Founder of *The School of Life* and a cool philosopher

[@2bossedup]

There's nothing new age about spirituality. It's all older than any human breathing today

[@moonkookie1505]

This mood is what had carried me through hell and back. I've only realized this recently. It was and is my strongest guide, my light at the end of the tunnel. I solve most of my problems when I go there. As I healed from the trauma, I started getting into this mood when I dream, and I get so many resolves and deep understandings just while sleeping, it's amazing. It makes me happy that I know nothing matters, that we are all part of the universe and the universe is part of us, and when we die, even though our consciousness dies, every part of the matter that made our bodies, that made our brains, every neuron, every signal between them, everything continues on, only in a different form, and it's beautiful. Although our life is fleeting, we truly are eternal. I want to use this state of existence and the gift of being human to see the world in a way only humans can, and after that, another adventure comes and I'll feel content and I'll let it carry me into the unknown. Only recently have I realized that this is what made me feel such love for everyone and everything around me, the feeling that I don't see often in others. That feeling is usually connected to religion and when I was an early teen, I had struggled with being unable to believe in god, despite madly wanting to. I was too logical for my own good and I was devasted. And now, I know why. I had to find my own spirituality, even though it was within me all along, wanting to be seen. I thought it had to die with my belief in god, and that's where I was mistaken. In this video, you've literally summed up the stuff that I found out by reflecting for the last few days, you said it so well that the pieces of information, still raw, just came together in a clear picture. Thank you for making this.

[@nishtharana9158]

I consider myself spiritual by embracing myself as well as others gently and not trying to incessantly change everything around me. Also, by connecting with people I have felt a sense of unequivocal openness that is deeply satisfactory. 🌼

[@danielledorchester9739]

being open is the key to happiness, I think. when I used to have social anxiety / feel like i was putting on a facade (especially when I was in the closet) I just felt so sad. you gotta do youuuuu

[@amasulem]

It really is 'relatedness', how we relate to nature, humans, ourselves and ideas that intersect and underlay them all but often there may be no words that can articulate thatness/thisness.

[@amasulem]

Poetry, myth and allegory are often a means of communicating it though.

[@bewildered6866]

Perhaps buy a pocket dictionary/thesaurus and do an English course. :)

[@Heatherbeesknees123]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!!!!!! You can not listen to it to understand it you absolutely have to relax and you will get every word! Thank youuuuu

[@ThumpinglyGood]

Full transcript: The word ‘spirituality’ has a capacity to divide people like few others. For some, it's an innately beautiful touchstone, the designator of a special kind of experience that is so valuable, it is best left reverentially unexplored and pure, lest one disturb its ethereal mysteries with the cold hand of reason. For others, ‘spiritual’ is just nonsensical bunkum of appeal only to adolescent dreamers, the underemployed and weak minded. But, precisely because spiritual experiences are so often either worshipped or derided, it pays to try to submit them to dispassionate and sober examination, not in order a priori to crush them or honour them, but so as to make them more intelligible, to friend and foe alike. Whatever our suspicions, spiritual moments are capable of being pinned down, split into their constituent elements and assessed with due regard. One should - and can - get respectfully rational about spirituality. BEYOND THE EGO Spiritual moments’ belong to a mood that most of us will only ever irregularly and perhaps haphazardly access, a mood in which practical concerns, are for a time, kept entirely at bay and we accede to a slightly unnerving yet also thrillingly oblique perspective on existence. During these moments, the ordinary world and its pressures are kept at a distance from us. Perhaps it's very early in the morning or late at night; or we might be driving down a deserted motorway or looking down at the earth from a plane tracing its way across Greenland. It might be high summer or a deep-winter evening. We don't have to be anywhere or do anything, there are no immediate threats or passions and we’re liberated to consider the world from a new and unfamiliar angle. The essential element is that we're able to look ‘beyond the ego’. Our customary state is - more than we generally even aware - to be heavily invested in ourselves: we aggressively defend our interests, we strive for esteem, we obsess about our pleasures. It’s exhausting and pretty much all consuming. But in a spiritual moment, maybe helped along by the sound of flowing water or the call of a distant owl, the habitual struggle ceases; we’re freed from our customary egoistic vigilance and we can do a properly extraordinary thing: look at life as if we were not ourselves, as if we were a roaming eye that could inhabit the perspective of anyone or anything else, a foreigner or a child, a crab on a seashore or a cloud on the hazy horizon. In our spiritual state, the ‘I’, the vessel that we’re usually supremely and exhaustively loyal to, ceases to be our primary responsibility. We can take our leave and become a roaming vagabond promiscuous thing, a visitor of other mentalities and modalities, as concerned with all that is not us as we are normally obsessed by what is. A NEW SENSITIVITY As a result, a range of emotions that we would typically feel only in relation to us can be experienced around other elements too. We might feel the pain of someone we hardly know; or be gratified by the success of a stranger. We could take pride in a beauty or intelligence to which we were wholly unconnected. We can be imaginative participants in the entire cosmic drama. LOVE There might, in all this, be a particular emphasis on love. That could sound odd, because we’re used to thinking of love in a very particular context, that of the circumscribed affection that one person might have for a very accomplished and desirable other. But understood spiritually, love involves a care and concern for anything at all. We might find ourselves loving - that is, appreciating and delighting, understanding and sympathising - with a family of dung beetles or a moss-covered tundra, someone else's child or the birth of a faraway star. An intensity of enthusiasm that we usually restrict to only one other nearby ego is now distributed more erratically and generously across the entire universe and all its life forms. GOD Spiritually minded people might at this point say that they can feel the presence of God inside them. This can be a particularly enraging remark for atheists, but it is more explicable than it sounds. What they may be trying to say is that, in certain states, they're able to experience some of the generosity, nobility of feeling, and selflessness traditionally associated with the divine. It isn’t that they promptly imagined themselves as bearded men on clouds, it means that the objectivity and tenderness we might ascribe to a divine force now seems, momentarily, to be within their grasp. FEARLESNESS Spiritual moods can usher in especially anxiety-free states. No longer so closely wedded to ourselves, we can cease to worry overly about what might happen to our puny and vulnerable selves in the always uncertain future. We may be ready to give up on some of our ego-driven, jealously guarded and pedantically held goals. We may never quite get to where we want to go, but we are readier to bob on the eddies of life, content to let events buffet us as they may. We make our peace with the laws of entropy. We may never be properly loved or appropriately appreciated. We’ll die - and that will be just fine. And yet at the same time, a particular gaiety might descend on us, for a huge amount of our energy is normally directed towards nursing our ego’s wounds and coping with what we deep down suspect is the utter indifference of other people. But that no longer seems like such a spectre we have to ward off and we can start raise our eyes and notice life in a way we never otherwise do. Our invisibility and meaninglessness is a given; we can now joyfully accept, rather than angrily or fearfully rage against. We don't quake in fear that we might not be a somebody, we delight and embrace in the full knowledge of our eternal nullity - and delight that, right now, that blossom looks truly enchanting in the field opposite. CONCLUSION We cannot persist at a spiritually elevated plane at all times. There will inevitably be bills to be paid and children to be picked up. But the claims of the ordinary world don't invalidate or mock our occasional access to a more elevated and disinterested zone. Spirituality has perhaps for too long been abandoned to its more overzealous defenders who have done it a disservice. It deserves to be explored most particularly by those who are by instinct most suspicious of it. A spiritual experience is neither ineffable nor absurd; the term refers rather to a deeply sustaining interval of relief from the burdens and blindness of being us.

[@chrishughes6164]

I experience your definition of spirituality every single day for at least some time, and it is growing in its strength and time throughout the day. I do this through connecting with God through prayer and sacred literature - scripture - and then consciously returning to this sacred space through the day and especially as I am tempted toward resentments, lusts, and fears.

[@Bonpu]

Wow! That was a thorough and enthralling introduction that you rarely encounter from anyone not deeply involved in a “spiritual” practice or tradition. Others might say spirituality is simply seeing the mind for the machine it is rather than habitually trying to be the mind. You become yourself instead of merely "knowing" (imagining) yourself. Applause!

[@JimmyKakanis]

Acceptance of the ways others experience and interpret life is such a beautiful mindset and skill to cultivate.

[@richieperry6129]

Loved this video. Being spiritual is the best, no matter what your faith is, whether it's one or many, separate or an amalgam.

[@AP86777]

Spirituality is everything to me. It helps me out of depression and grounds me again. My favourite teachers are Eckhart Tolle and Krishnamurti. 🌌💜

[@rushabhsuchdev3335]

I feel so spiritual while watching that I've stopped the video midway and getting rid of all the gadgets around. Thanks, SOL!

[@BloodnutXcom]

That's why Minimalism has some spiritual connection. When we realize we are not defined by our stuff.

[@danielledorchester9739]

@@BloodnutXcom wowww i've really never thought about that, but I've been feeling more spiritual lately, emapthetic, happy, prosocial and very minimalist. I'm super crazy about being eco friendly because I just want to leave as little of a mark on the planet as possible or I feel selfish. Being a minimalist is gratifying because conserving things becomes a challenge, like I'll think to myself "i want a new one" and feel that societal pressure to conform to consumerism, but then it occurs to me that if something is perfectly good it only makes sense to use it until you absolutely can't anymore, not just when you're bored of it, you can find novelty in other areas of your life. I'll never be the person who feels like they need the latest upgrade of the iPhone available every time it comes out, but I never thought about that as coming from a spiritual place.

[@bewildered6866]

yeh ... they say you can go blind.

[@SpiritualitywithGabriella]

That’s amazing !!

[@gabrielleangelica1977]

I'm an Omnist...my spiritual path is a smorgasbord buffet! 🎑The earth is my temple and the world is my congregation.

[@TheGrmany69]

Spirituality is the general term for the process of gnosis, the development of esoteric knowledge, as this is invaluable for self-regulation, self-control and ontological meaning.

[@osse1n]

*Mindful living is the single most important path towards a profound, fulfilled and joyful life.*

[@Just-Nikki]

O'SSÉIN - Master Your Mind With Me I absolutely agree

[@drschwandi3687]

What is this even supposed to mean?

[@aleakilea]

🙏🏽

[@Dragons_Armory]

For me it's storytelling, the experience of re-invoking the stories of the past or writing books gives you this escapist as well as emotionally profound inner feeling. I might live a boring existence but at least the inner life is rich. And my head movie is always great

[@100Jim]

We are the universe because we are in it.

[@horsepowerenthusiast6933]

The universe is within us.

[@jeromewright93]

Be humble in your beliefs.

[@deeppurple883]

The nearest I come to anything remotely similar, personally. I have a reverence for creation and life. There aren't any word's that can describe our reality. No matter how it came into existence and our reality . is all inspiring.

[@jedics1]

I used to have a lot of anxiety to 'be somebody'....Now it is almost a certainty this will not be the case I have relaxed and found acceptance and simply don't care about a LOT of things I used to think were important...In fact I now go out of my way to be a nobody, no one has much expectations of you, no one is getting disappointed, it all adds up to a relief really.

[@maxrodes2085]

A beautifully written video whoever wrote this script, has extreme Talent

[@rae717]

Thank you so much! Insightful, compassionate, deep and very well illustrated. I always appreciate the marriage of the visual with the thoughts and insights of School of Life presentations.

[@GEOTHERMALHEAT0]

Understand yourself, your true nature...you have attained spirituality

[@WaveHeartSoulArt]

Spirituality is the science of the inner. Mater is only part of our existence. We are both, body(body and mind) and soul.

[@randomguy19954]

Brilliant video. I always thought spirituality was a bunch of nonsense but I have another perspective now. I didn't realise immersing myself in a book or staring at a squirrel could be considered spiritual but I enioy that stuff a lot. It's a chance to transcend and escape our own selfish, confusing and limited realities.

[@adamost4831]

I love God and I let his prescense guide my life

[@GITMDENZEL]

Which god is that? considering there’s so many of them

[@brando8997]

And how does he do that exactly?

[@mariankomada8186]

Walking along the beach is the power for relaxing

[@MephLeo]

I would rather call it transcendence. It conveys the same meanings explained very well in this video, without the same preconceived religious connotations.

[@lifeisagameofknowingyourro6327]

Ego hurt is something I can fix In a second but soul hurt is something that takes an decade to fix and I did it I feel so high and light now but good video.

[@maximnoise]

Ich liebe diese Videos! ❤️👍🏻

[@ashbymcgowan]

A good explanation. I am a Buddhist who finds meditation very hard. When one has done meditation you are not meant to talk about the experience (for obvious reasons e.g. people will say that you are a liar, that you are not a special person so the experience can not be special...). Buddhist meditation has well documented states of experience. Once I experienced Satori while doing Tibetan Meditation. If I was a Christian I would have said: God poured into my being in a totally non-sensual way for three hours. It was a state of bliss.

[@michorizo84]

This is what I want to hear more of, investigation of the spiritual away from the influence of the militantly religious and militantly atheistic.

[@freddiekarlsson5429]

When you experience a spiritual moment, the flow of time doesn´t blind you any more.

[@taqi5675]

This is amazing 😭 people in the future will benefit much

[@pradnyashenoy8044]

What an awesomely clear explanation of the most misunderstood but the most necessary aspect of human psychological landscape! Thank you so much for all your videos. I keep learning and relearning the wisdom needed to live life wisely by visiting your videos again and again and again...

[@adameve15]

Spirituality will always be timeless whether man appreciates it or not. Men in general will always seek. The metaphysical yearnings of life will always make it more relevant than ever because somewhere and at some point in life, men will reject a world of materialistic accruals. By not focusing on the self all the time allows man to consider the cosmos around him, hopefully, making him realize that he is just a speck of dust in it. It doesn't necessarily yield an answer because the latter presupposes assumptions and pre-conceived notions. However, a brief experience can blossom into a subtle realization that the finite mind is not everything that one believes it is. It doesn't have to be associated with any deity nor culture nor belief. It is above that since it is "beyond man." And it takes humility and wisdom just the thought of mentally exploring it. Let alone being immersed in it.

[@kiranfelix5799]

That Be *Anywhere,do anything* touched my heart

[@arete7884]

Spirituality is about stepping of the stage and having the observer perspective, remembering of self prior to the role u act on the stage.

[@alainleclercvonbonin1919]

What a wonderful statement! As someone this rather atheistic leanings, I was till recently very suspicious of spirituality. I was scared off by so many bad teachers and examples - dull religion - nonsensical new age stuff - you name it. But I recently found that there are many useful lessons and tools for life in spirituality. If you substitute the word 'God' with the word 'Love' this can make sense even for a critical mind.

[@titlespree]

Everyone has a spiritual self! Those who deny it are just not consciously aware of it! Their ego blinds them. 👼🏼

[@MatiasHasCandy]

Does your ego, or belief in God, blind you of scientific facts? I'm not trying to argue, I'm just curious.

[@titlespree]

@@MatiasHasCandy In short, no!

[@MatiasHasCandy]

@@titlespree That's good. I know people who believe in God and evolution, even though they might contradict each other. I think that spiritually is an okay mindset; more important than just belief.

[@titlespree]

@@MatiasHasCandy I believe in facts, intuition and skepticism :)

[@НикитаСтаростин-м6н]

It was long ago. I was learning in high school and life seemed to be hard) I was walking with my best friend. Just looked into the sky and thought it feels like being deep and like before I saw it flat. And it was a very intense feeling. I was happy and felt like understanding something really important at the same time it was almost impossible to formulate and bring into an ordinary life. It was like being high in someway) and since I never heard about something like that afterwards it felt like it can't be something real. My friend was the only one with whom I could talk about it. And I'm thankful to him for that. Even now formulating that seems strange and useless ) but watching this video I just remembered that evening that was very important to me. It helped me to realize there is something else from the material and practical stuff I was asked and taught by my parents and at school.

[@MelMelMel]

We are finite. Spirituality is trying to access the infinite. Before we grasp infinity we have to let go of the finite self. Thus, practicing spirituality is paradoxically grasping letting go.

[@voynich7119]

I used to not quite understand religion. I mean I always believed that you can believe and do whatever you want, as long as you don't hurt anyone, but I still didn't understand why so many people believed something with so little evidence. I don't believe in a god, so I thought why believe in some higher being when there are so many more rational and believable explanations. But lately I've come to understand, that spirituality comes in many forms, not just religion or horoscopes or fortune tellers. You can be spiritual without being religious or superstitious. And even if you are, that's fine too. I believe spirituality is rooted deep in our nature and is something that we need to stay sane. Your video eplained it perfectly and gave me further insight to what others connect with spirituality. Great, insightful video as always. Keep doing what you do.

[@earlgrey2130]

People don't "hate" spirituality. They hate the delusions that come with being religious and the damage it causes to mankind.

[@angeliparraguirre7329]

Say it again for the people in the back

[@adamost4831]

I’m sorry but if you believe having faith in a religious doctrine or divine figure is damaging I don’t think you should be studying philosophy. Your journey to the truth may not be the same as another religious person’s but that should be fine. Some people find comfort in God and you might not that’s fine. Keep politics and bigotry out of this wholesome channel for goodness sake

[@NtoV1995]

@@adamost4831 it is something beautiful, and it shouldnt, but yet people use it as an excuse to harm other people and get away with it, for all of mankinds history. its like fire, its warm, makes us survive the winter, gives us good food, quality of life is asured, but yet, man has found a way to use it as a weapon. its a shame.

[@YooTooobJeff]

There is no "they", there is only you... Work out your penchance for hate...

[@YooTooobJeff]

@@adamost4831 and Godness sake, too...

[@totallyanonymousbish9599]

We are all consciousness♡ Everything is energy. All is one. One is all. All is centered around ego.

[@silvalleshi5636]

01:42 AM , Thank you youtube 🤷‍♀️

[@mahadev0]

You're talking with me deep inside where I'll be living eternal life by being space.

[@truegrit7697]

I needed this message today. I need to get back to my meditation.

[@mirunastefaniaflorescu7201]

Same

[@SpiritualitywithGabriella]

True Grit yes it’s very important.. even 10 mins a day helps so much

[@caseyrothwell9073]

One of the best School of Life videos I've seen. Sometimes I feel the School of Life takes a too atheistic and cold, rational approach to life. This explained spirituality excellently in my opinion, neither worshippingly or condescendingly. Thanks for that. It makes me feel more open to SOL ideas in other videos, knowing they are not coming from a totally materialist perspective. Well done :)

[@cryptoguy3196]

Spirituality is not for cos you're bored. Its for when you're looking beyond the beyond

[@bewildered6866]

no-one can see beyond etc, not even me.

[@injeel_ahmed]

learn science bro... Spirituality is BS. There's a part in your brain which give us the feeling of EGO and when we intake some kind of specific drugs, that part of the brain stops working which gives us the false feeling of "higher consciousness". There is no magic, its all chemical reactions

[@KimbasKingdom]

But what is boredom? I wonder if it's our subconscious mind's way of looking beyond the beyond. Boredom drives us to look for something more. So perhaps spirituality does address boredom after all :)

[@chronometa]

Peacefulness and contentment in the moment.

[@aceb9330]

I am Athiest 💙 but I believe in natural elements and great leaders ......

[@YooTooobJeff]

Far from being a nullity, we all play significant parts in a larger play we many times do not comprehend... someone near to you is glad you exist

[@ipudding100]

once again, such a fantastic video, well spoken, well crafted... always a pleasure to watch!

[@lefrongo6120]

For me, spirituality is often that we have to perceive because it focuses your thoughts and senses of what is really needed in life other then just wanting things that aren't a necessity. It's on the basis of being true to yourself and being with yourself, seems like a loner tactic at first I know but this is what I picture it out to be. Which will then later on help you observe things more clearly and distinct scenarios on certain situations and even analyze how things are going. It makes you think outside of the box from whatever the choices you have been given while taking into consideration of your own. But what you just described in the video is pretty self explanatory, what a magnificent video to be honest. It's all really a sense of feeling, people might perceive it in different ways yes but that's up to themselves to figure out.

[@coachbahman]

*No one should HATE spirituality..* Spirituality is the foundation of all success.

[@simonstanier]

Nonsense. I'm pretty sure there is absolutely no word that can start that sentence and be correct. Success is relative, subjective and not wholly based on anything at all.

[@JoshuaPryce-ps7hx]

The point of spirituality to me is the focus of the heart and renewing of the mind, i believe we can only and truly do this with the help of The Holy Spirit.

[@zainsheikh8801]

This feels like a very nice sequel to the higher consciousness video :)

[@SpiritualitywithGabriella]

Zain Sheikh I totally agree

[@zainsheikh8801]

@@SpiritualitywithGabriella Thanks Gabriella!

[@anupadeshmukh3318]

Oh my goodness. Thanks a ton, for putting up this video. I appriciate rather applaud your effort to put this experiance of spirituality in words. I don't know how to express my heartfelt gratefulness for this content. Everything is spot on.

[@YumiYumY]

I believe there are better words for what you call "Spirituality" but fine, let's call it that way :p

[@florahorvath6794]

Hey :) for example...?

[@YumiYumY]

@@florahorvath6794 Well this is rather an old video and I commented that some time ago, can't really remember the topic here and don't really want to watch it again. But as far as i remember the subject, I would choose words like, awareness, calmness, peacefulness. Video in general sounded mostly things related to state of minds rather than being "Spiritual". I believe that's the main reason rationalist or realist people would avoid using the term "Spirituality".

[@tnl-warrior3218]

@@YumiYumY I wouldn't say that

[@StevenHaack-os3yx]

Spiritual awakening, to me, is through the dark sides of my personality. Becoming aware of my imperfections causes me to look for relief. This seeking relief from pain and suffering is the path that leads to enlightenment. Oh, that's right, I am not in charge of too much. I have little control of much of anything, except the way I react to the emptiness and frustrations of this experience called life.

[@callistomoon461]

This video is a masterwork.

[@jordanvas9025]

God blesses those who bless others!!

[@edrianb6837]

this is simply well put :) Keep up doing god's work and thanks The School of Life channel!

[@my-Kids-fun-zone]

This video reminded me of some incredible reads by Ramzi Najjar: 'The YOU beyond You,' 'The Ultimate Human Secrets,' 'How to Hack Back Your Mind,' and *The Echoes of Enigma.' These books are not just insightful-they’re transformative. They offer practical wisdom and actionable steps to truly shift your perspective and enhance your life. If you’re looking for a deep, meaningful read, these books might just be what you need. #PersonalGrowth #SelfHelp #TransformativeReads

[@anantsaini]

Why it is so difficult to understand your words ? 😅

[@bewildered6866]

cos you're thick as a brick. :)

[@anasosa01]

I wouldnt sweat it ;) his videos are opinion based , they aren’t actually backed by any science , and are highly hypothetical. They don’t consider opposing point of views, and are stereotypically british. Haha. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s important to know that this isn’t by any means, an objective pov. His books are really good though.

[@sage416]

Pr.incorporated preach

[@anasosa01]

Pr.incorporated i agree with you. Im glad people are watching this video in search for spirituality... however not every video u watch on youtube about spirituality is the truth... that would be literally impossible... im just letting this person know that if they dont get it ... dont sweat it ...

[@anasosa01]

Real K ...science is based on hypothesis that is then disproved or confirmed .... based on true experiments... but not everything can be explained by humans and human science such as human consciousness and spirituality... right? So... its ok not to understand this video...because it’s theoretical... however if u eat a poisonous mushroom... u might die from biological reactions in ur body

[@nueamara]

this instantly calmed me down, can I listen to it forever

[@scriabinismydog2439]

I know it's not related to the video(which was great, thank you), but I would love a series on Composers/Music in general. You made a video on practically everything, literature, architecture, psychology, philosophy, etc. But I would really enjoy something about music😊. P. S. The animations are getting better every new video!

[@marquanreese7895]

"That blossum looks truly enchanting in the field opposite" whew chille that hit home

[@KnowledgeCollectiveOfficial]

*I think that this video was very interesting because it shows what questions people ask when they try to figure out the purpose of Spirituality. I think that the purpose of Spirituality is to connect us with ourselves and to develop in this life. One video is never enough to fully answer this question, so I will be creating more videos on this topic.*

[@sandersrebel9464]

This is how I've felt ever since I did truffles, I view the world differently without my ego in the way. At first I thought it was psychosis until I realised that my ego had died and that I was just in a higher state of consciousness.

[@Filipe9171]

The word spirituallity is so prone to misinterpretation that I prefer not to use it at all. In most cases what I see is people using it to claim or justify nonsense and unscientific gibberish.