Food For Thought....

[badstar]

Question that came up from some discussion at the grove today...


Spiritual growth:

What personal responsibility does it bring with it?

Comments

[ravenshrinkery.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it confers more responsibility on a person so much as it makes them more aware of the responsibility they (and all people) have to the world and to each other. Our knowledge of those rules that guide the universe are there regardless of whether we know them or not, after all. While it may be easy to say that those people who know about a problem should therefore take the burden of it, that burden really exists with all people and it doesn't take enlightenment to understand enough of what that burden is and to work to help.

[saratoga80.livejournal.com]

Let's assume the following:
1. You believe in some form of higher power(s).
2. You believe life has some form of purpose.
3. You believe in some form of soul/spirituality.

I am excluding atheism without spirituality for the now, since they are obviously not interested in developing their spiritual side.

In that regard, then, spiritual development is requisite within a soul. Simply speaking, as you grow, you feed your soul as you might nourish your body. Ergo, if you believe in a higher power or powers in some form or another, your development as a person goes hand in hand with your development of belief in that deity (or dieties). Likewise, tat development in return sustains one in their growth - sort of a reflexive cycle of mutual benefit.

So, one has to choose what their beliefs dictates. Hopefully, regardless of religion expression, we utilize that religion to move in a personally responsible direction. But let's remember - a religion is like a good tool in a tool belt, it's a way to make things better, but we're still in control of it. If any of us believes that our religion "dictates" our actions, then we miss the point of responsibility. A religion should liberate us to make a responsible decision by choice, not constrain us to make a responsible decision by fear of some form of negative afterlife. IN other words, the net positive benefit of our spirituality should encourage positive actions, not simply discourage negative ones.

At least, that's my 2 cents.

[pagandenma.livejournal.com]

For me, it's remembering to not let myself stagnate, to make myself as best-prepared to advise others who come to me, and to always keep an open mind. That's my responsibility toward my spiritual growth and assisting however possible in other's growth.

[half-double.livejournal.com]

The responsibility to grow more. Everything you learn shows you how much more there is to learn.

[apeiron-gaia.livejournal.com]

Responsibility connotes a relational quality. "Spirituality" too often becomes an egocentric endeavor, "what feeds ME", "what makes ME grow", etc.

Spirituality relates to the spirit. Spirits are not nominal chunks of atoms, but are transcendent, and therefore, can be applied to others, whether only to humans, or to the whole natural order.

To get closer to "spirit", not merely "my spirit", is to become closer to the greater transcendent energy that connects everything.

That being said, spiritual growth brings a responsibility not merely to your own spiritual health but also to others. We are ALL spirit, and therefore spiritual growth is not a form of masturbation, but a stretching out and embracing the spirit which already embraces All.

[dcnblus.livejournal.com]

A lot of that has to do with how one defines "spiritual." Are we talking one's personal inner spirit, for whatever that may be, or a belief in the holistic view of "spirituality" as a universal construct?

Moving with this deconstruction theme, Growth tends to have a balance inherent in the process. One part gets bigger, other parts have to compensate for that growth. Are we talking about growth as a balloon, or a soufflé which invariably collapses if things around it move too much?

I should think that the "personal responsibility" is as it is in all things... to preserve the balance, to understand limits, and to fully recognize your sphere of influence.

Oh well... enough waxing philosophical :) Enjoy!