To construct mind maps of our reality is nothing new, we all see things from our frame of reference and, depending on our value systems, this frame of reference will continue to change. It made me wonder about the value system of spiritual path takers.
The origin of the word spirit according to wikipedia: The term spirit means “animating or vital principle in man and animals”. It is derived from the Old French espirit, which comes from the Latin word spiritus “soul, courage, vigor, breath”, and is related to spirare, “to breathe”. In the Vulgate the Latin word spiritus is used to translate the Greek pneuma and Hebrew ruah. The term spiritual, matters “concerning the spirit”, is derived from Old French spirituel, which is derived from Latin spiritualis, which comes from “spiritus” or “spirit”.The term spirituality is derived from Middle French spiritualite, from Late Latin “spiritualitatem” (nominative spiritualitas), which is also derived from Latin “spiritualis”.
So, as usual, spirit is a very difficult thing to define. Does this mean that there is only definitely one path for a spiritual walker? One of the things that seem to stand out is that most spiritually inclined people, of which all of us fall under actually, is vegetarianism. I have a fond memory of a 6 week yoga instructor training course that I participated in. Part of the course was to eat no meat. This sparked an interesting debate between a friend of mine and one of the other attendees that was doing the course. This debate went on for two days, my friend being pro meat and, of course, the opposing vegetarian on the other side. It was amazing to me that they both had solid arguments that was not based on emotional biases, but on well researched facts. What was sad is that both of them, after the two days, instead of just sharing their views, tried to convince the other that each of them was right. Ironic, because according to me, they were both right. I have met people who are the healthiest of vegans, but they have no connection to life. By that I mean that they see animals as things and rarely show a solid emotional connection to them, but they will not eat them for health reasons. Then there are the spiritual vegans who sees all life as sacred, and they refuse to eat the flesh of another living thing, but plants are also living things as published in “The secret life of plants”. It seems chaotic to say the least, a never ending loop of arguments for and against certain principles and behaviors. We are as much a part of nature as the stars, trees, rivers, plants and mountains. This means that we should look to nature for an answer. We as humans have herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. As Polonius stated in Hamlet by William Shakespeare:”To thine own self be true”.
May we all see the importance of sharing our own truths and not the truths of our ego.