There are four basic ways of being spiritual, long recognized in Hinduism, described roughly as: 1) Bahkti, through the emotions and devotion; 2) Jnana, through the mind and intelligence; 3) Karma, through commitment and activity; 4) Raja, through inner exploration and meditation. Most individuals are capable of following all four paths, though the demands can be incompatible (e.g. Bhakti is sensual but Raja withdraws from the senses). But most also find one way most natural.

Another way of looking at the spiritual is to ask what challenges of life are addressed by personal growth; the growth is “spiritual.”

“Personal Effective Reality.” I have sometimes used this phrase to describe my own truncated sense of time. I am aware, for example, that some other people regularly deal with plans for future events with great effectiveness, with a sense of impending reality containing considerable detail and vividness even if the event is far in the future; whereas planning ahead for me is a chore, feels abstractly unreal, and scarcely (and seldom) moves over several weeks ahead of the present. Likewise, I have observed that some people carry numerous and strikingly vivid memories compared to mine, many extending to the distant past. My own past seems sparse and pale by comparison. So my “personal effective reality” is not so rich nor so extensive in a temporal perspective as it might be. To develop in these areas would be to expand my psyche, to deepen my spirit.

Another example: I always did very well at math courses, yet I never was really interested in math and have forgotten most of what I ever learned. So I would say that math was never a part of my “personal effective reality,”– in contrast to many members of this congregation for whom math is a sort of second language.

One could use the phrase to examine other features of one’s life. Does your “personal effective reality” extend to: daily aesthetic appreciation; the ability to forgive slights and injuries; a sense for value issues in daily occurrence; sensitivity to the needs of others; awareness of political impacts of large scale policies; concern for the good of community beyond personal concerns; engagement of imagination over a wide range of experience; a range of emotional responses to life’s issues; gratitude for the goodies that come your way. In what areas are you aware of being ineffective and what realities are deep and strong for you? Such an inventory can chart arenas for attempting some personal psyche growth, some development of the spirit. Any strengthening, deepening or broadening of the psyche you already have is “spiritual.” Adding to one’s “personal effective reality” makes you a bigger person and a more spiritual one in my book.

Rev. Dale Arnink
Transition Minister, Minister Emeritus

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