What does spirituality mean in modern times?

What is thesolution to evils of xenophobia:

There are 10 solutions. We start one by one in the order of importance.

1. RE-EDUCATING THE PARENTS (PROPER PARENTING)

Proper parenting is the most responsible act and involves complex issues. Therefore, we have to discuss proper parenting first and what it means.

Proper parenting is the process of raising and educating a child from birth, or before, until adulthood. Raising a child properly means giving the proper education to the child. As mentioned before, the earlier it starts the better it is for the child (the future adult). The first and foremost educators in child’s life are the parents. Therefore, it is of immense importance that parents have the proper education themselves first.

The goals of human parenting are usually to provide for children's emotional, intellectual and spiritual needs, protect them from harm, and impart in them skills and cultural values until they reach legal adulthood, usually after adolescence.

Therefore, one of the most important responsibility of parenting is to secure child’s development emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

Emotional development refers to the conditions in which a child's mind can develop securely and peacefully. If the child's dignity is safe, i.e. nobody encroaches upon a child physically or verbally, he/she is able to develop with emotional security.

We discussed ten golden rules in child’s proper emotional development and ten golden rules in child's proper intellectual development that parents have to bear in mind all the time.

Now we continue with spiritual development in the child.


Spiritual development


Spirituality is one area in human development which has never received proper attention. One of the main reasons why the world is in turmoil and political crisis is the fact that children never receive proper spiritual education while they are growing up. There is no proper parenting in this context, neither is there any other knowledgeable source which can provide proper spiritual guidance. Parents usually confuse spirituality with religionism (and religion). Therefore, one has to redefine Spirituality and look at its true definition.



The traditional and medieval definition of Spirituality:



Traditionally spirituality has been defined as a concern with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and faith, a transcendent reality, monotheism (one God) or more deities. Spirituality in this sense implies the mind-body dichotomy, which indicates a separation between the body and soul.



The spiritual is traditionally contrasted with the material, the temporal and the earthly. A perceived sense of connection forms a central defining characteristic of spirituality — connection to a metaphysical reality greater than oneself, which may include an emotional experience of religious awe and reverence, or such states as satori (an enlightened persona) or nirvana (Buddhist, eternally free from suffering and rebirth, reincarnation). It deals with subjective dimension of religion, particularly that which pertains to salvation (as in mysticism and esoterism). .



The true definition of Spirituality in our modern times (new modernity) which comes close to dealing with humanity and humanitarianism in the light of scientific humanism is:



A concern with matters of humankind's ultimate nature and the meaning of human existence, not only as material biological organisms, but also having a unique relationship to that which is perceived to be within the realm of the bodily senses. The peace and happiness one gains through spiritual attainment is irrespective of the material worldly gains. Spirituality is about the development of the individual's “inner” self through specific practices.



While the words religion and spirituality are often incorrectly used interchangeably, an important distinction exists between spirituality in religion and spirituality as opposed to religion. In recent years (new modernity), spirituality as opposed to religion often carries connotations of a believer having a faith more personal, less dogmatic, more open to new ideas and myriad influences, and more pluralistic than the doctrinal/dogmatic faiths of conventional religions. It also can connote the nature of believers' personal relationship or "connection" with the inner self and a unified belief-system (world view, philosophy or ideology), as opposed to the general relationship with a Deity (supernatural being, God, gods, etc) as shared by all members of a given faith (religion). This secular spirituality is consistent with holding any belief- system, or more importantly with holding none at all. The emphasis is likely to be on practice rather than belief and on the inner self of the individual rather than on a relationship with the supernatural (Divine, God or Deity), outside the self.

Secular spirituality has the added advantage that it never comes in conflict with science. Science takes as its basis empirical, repeatable observations of the natural world, and thus generally regards ideas that rely on supernatural forces for an explanation as beyond the purview of science. Scientists regard ideas which present themselves as scientific, but which rely on a supernatural force for an explanation, as religious rather than scientific; and may label such idea as pseudo-science. In this context scientists may oppose religious spirituality in the scientific sphere.

What we need to develop in our children is the spiritual climate which give them the ability to see things openly and without any value judgement of other's beliefs. it should also instill in them the desire and devotion to be helpful to humanity. Parents have to be given a spiritual model that should help them raise children who develop the ability to cope with the harshness of trying times without resorting to coping mechanisms of those conventional religions which utilize unscientific or supernatural means.



Here is a spiritual model for the parents that is easy to follow.



Spirituality is a personal path of soul consciousness, leading to only one destination, where "love, compassion, hope, contentment & happiness” is the sole factor. The search and attainment of this path provides "Eternal Peace".



Hope (faith) is an undaunting courage which sustains us with all the strength, endurance & divine knowing that we need, to gently flow through life's obstacles through out our eternal path.



Spirituality may "NOT" include supernatural or magical thinking as has been practiced in all traditional religions. Most important is to have a powerful connection with a “spiritual being” (yourself), the strength of which lies within your own self. In other word, one derives all the strength from within one's own self, rather than from any outside supernatural or magical power.



Not every parent can be spiritual because it requires developing tremendous strength within you. However, for the sake of spiritual development of children one has to learn to acquire this strength. Teach the children the very essence of spirituality that will guide them for the rest of their life. They will gain the power within themselves to overcome any problem, any obstacle and any pain. One element which distinguishes this kind of spirituality from traditional one is the fact that in secular spirituality everyone is respected and treated equally regardless of one's nationality, race, ethnicity and religion. Therefore, it eliminates all the factors that create xenophobia. Moreover, through the guidance of secular spirituality one can also learn to eradicate any hindrance that is blocking one's success.



Many philosophers believe that secular spirituality is the answer to the world problems we are facing today.


Next we shall continue with the ten golden rules of spiritual development in children.

For comment and questions please write to:

syedshahidmd@yahoo.com.au

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Thanks

Sydshahid