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Unpacking the Self: Spiritual Self

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify various religious practices and beiefs.
2. Understand the self in relation with with religious beliefs , and
3. Explain ways of finding the meaning of life

What is spiritual Self?

Spirituality Comes from the Latin word Spiritus which means breath or life force.

Your Spiritual Self is in your most beautiful and powerful form. It is the authentic self, the
unconditioned part, the you without patterns.

This is personal for each of us, so no need to get caught up on the language.

SPIRITUAL SELF
Spirituality is a wide topic with numerous interpretations.
In general, it entails a sense of connection to something larger than oneself, as well as a search
for meaning in life.
Understanding certain universal concepts, such as love, empathy, altruism, afterlife,
knowledge, and truth, is a part of spirituality.
Spiritual development requires brief periods of liberation based on the knowledge that ideas are
not reality but rather temporary mental occurrences. According to neuroscientific studies,
practicing mindfulness causes the brain's cortex to literally grow larger, with more gyrification
and gray matter.

The Soul
- The soul is often regarded to be synonymous with the mind or the self since it is the immaterial
part or essence of a human being that confers identity and humanity. The soul is further defined
in theology as the aspect of the person who shares in divinity and is frequently believed to
survive the death of the body.

Rituals and Ceremonies

- A ritual is a ceremonial or action carried out in a usual manner. It
consists of a series of actions comprising gestures, words, and objects carried out in a private
setting and completed in the prescribed sequence.
Cult, and Witchcraft
● Cult
- Is a social group distinguished by its unusual philosophical, religious, or spiritual
convictions, or by its shared interest in a certain person or thing
- In order to influence someone and their behavior without arousing suspicion, the idea is
to acquire their trust by making them feel liked and
welcomed. This is simply disguised manipulation.
● Witchcraft
- is the use of what the practitioner (or "witch") considers to be magical knowledge,
powers, and practices, such as spells, incantations, and magical rituals.
- Witches are seen as those who are antagonistic to the sacred in the Philippines, as they
are in many of these civilizations. On the other hand, anthropologists who write on the
healers in the indigenous folk religions of the Philippines either use the vocabulary of
these societies traditionally or more general anthropological words like "shaman."

Supernatural
- The term "supernatural" is used to describe phenomena, events, or entities that fall
outside the purview of what is considered natural or explicable by the laws of science.
These can include things like ghosts, paranormal activity, supernatural creatures like
vampires or werewolves,
and other phenomena that are often associated with the supernatural realm.

Cultural, religious, and philosophical views can give rise to the idea that there are supernatural
creatures and spiritual entities. Here are a few explanations on why spiritual beings are
connected to the supernatural:

1. Many religions include the idea of the supernatural as one of their fundamental
principles. They assert the existence of supernatural beings that function beyond of the
realm of nature, such as gods, angels, demons, and others. These entities frequently
play a part in paranormal or miraculous occurrences.

2. Folklore and mythology are rife with tales of supernatural beings and happenings from
all around the world. These tales frequently feature encounters with gods, ghosts, or
other paranormal beings. These stories offer a bridge between the natural and
supernatural worlds and aid in explaining the unexplainable.

3. Explaining the Unexplained: When individuals come across enigmatic or puzzling

phenomena, they may ascribe them to supernatural forces or spiritual entities. This
offers a framework for making sense of and dealing with circumstances that defy
scientific explanation.

4. Cultural Traditions: Numerous customs, ceremonies, and rituals involve calling upon or
appeasing supernatural beings. These rituals frequently have a spiritual or religious
 significance and are thought to create a bridge between the natural world and the
supernatural.

5. Finding Meaning and Purpose: Belief in spiritual entities and the paranormal can give
people a feeling of meaning and a connection to something bigger than themselves. In
times of misfortune or uncertainty, it can provide consolation and direction.

REBECCA STEIN
Rebecca stein's research has primarily dealt with cultural and psychological anthropology, with
an emphasis on child raising, passing values to future generations, deviance, gender, and
religion.

Religion according to Rebecca Stein:

Rebecca Stein (Stein 2011) defines religion as the act of cultural beliefs and practices that
usually includes some or all of basic characteristics, and they are:
1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirits and gods.
2. The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found on supernatural beings and
objects.
3. The performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation and sacred object to
communicate to supernatural beings and/or to influence or control events.
4. The articulations of worldview and moral codes through narratives and means.
5. .Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social control
within a community; provide explanation for unknown and a sense of control for
individuals.

RITUAL
Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behaviour exhibited by all known societies.
It is thus possible to view ritual as a way of
defining or describing humans.

Three fundamental characteristics of rituals according to penner ( Britannica 2017). Rituals has
characteristics of:

● The first characteristic is a feeling or emotion of respect, awe, fascination, or dread in

relation to the sacred.
● The second characteristic of ritual involves its dependence upon a belief system that is
usually expressed in the language of myth.
● The third characteristic of ritual action is that it is symbolic in relation to its reference.
It is possible to think of the self as a ritual being who displays a significant similarity between
their verbal and ritual activity

Ritual can be seen as a system of symbolic deeds based on arbitrary norms, much like
language is a system of symbols based on arbitrary rules.

WORLD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

Buddhism
Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions. It originated in South Asia around the 5th
centurywith Siddhartha Gautama, and over the next millennia it spread across Asia and the rest
of the world.

- Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but that if one
achieves a state of enlightenment (nirvana), it is possible to escape this cycle forever.
Siddhartha Gautama was the first person to reach this state of enlightenment and was,
and is still today, known as the Buddha.

- Buddhists do not believe in any kind of deity or god, although there are supernatural
figures who can help or hinder people on the path towards enlightenment.

- Many Buddhist practices are done as part of devotion and veneration. The most
common types of veneration practices include merit-making, bowing, giving offerings,
chanting, meditating on the qualities embodied by specific buddhas or bodhisattvas
(such as compassion and wisdom) and pilgrimage.

Christianity
Christianity, major religion stemming from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth
(the Christ, or the Anointed One of God) in the 1st century CE. It has become the largest of the
world’s religions and, geographically, the most widely diffused of all faiths.

- Christianity is the faith tradition that focuses on the figure of Jesus Christ. In this
context, faith refers both to the believers’ act of trust and to the content of their faith. As
a tradition, Christianity is more than a system of religious belief. It also has generated a
culture, a set of ideas and ways of life, practices, and artifacts that have been handed
down from generation to generation since Jesus first became the object of faith.

- Christianity is thus both a living tradition of faith and the culture that the faith leaves
behind. The agent of Christianity is the church, the community of people who make up
the body of believers.
Hinduism
Hinduism is also known as Sanatanadharma meaning “immemorial way of right living”.
Hinduism is the oldest and most complex of all established belief systems, with origins that date
back more than 5000 years in India. There is no known

- Hinduism is unique in that it’s not a single religion but a compilation of many traditions
and philosophies: Hindus worship a number of different gods and minor deities, honor a
range of symbols, respect several different holy books and celebrate with a wide variety
of traditions, holidays and customs. Though the caste system in India began with
Hinduism, that system is no longer rigidly enforced. Today there are four major sects of
Hinduism: Shaivism, Vaishnava, Shaktism and Smarta, as well as a number of smaller
sects with their own

- The primary sacred texts, known as the Vedas, were composed around 1500 B.C. This
collection of verses and hymns was written in Sanskrit and contains revelations received
by ancient saints and sages.

The Vedas are made up of:

● The Rig Veda
● The Samaveda
● Yajurveda

Islam
Islam originated in Mecca and medina at the start of the 7th century CE. It is the Second largest
religion in the world after christianity. “Islam” means “submission to the will of God”. The
followers of islam is called Muslim. Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-knowing God,
who in Arabic is known as Allah.

Beliefs
● Beliefs in the oneness of God The main beliefs of islam “there is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”
● beliefs in the angels of God Muslim believes in angels, the unseen beings, who worship
God and carry out the God’s orders throughout the universe.
● beliefs in the book of God. muslim believes that God revealed holy books or scripture to
a number of God’s messengers. Namely the Angels.

Qur’an(given to Muhammad)
- sacred book of islam, where the Word of God and contains complete guidance for
mankind.

● beliefs in the prophet or Messenger of Allah. There are twenty five prophets are
mentioned by the name of Quran, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. They
 believe that Muhammad was the last Prophet that was revealed that was sent for all
humankind with the message of islam.

● beiefs in the Day of judgement In Arabic, they call it “Yawm ad-Din” This is the day when
Allah will decide how people will spend their afterlife.

● beliefs in the Divine Decree. In arabic, Al- qadar. This beliefs Allah will decided
everything that will happen in the future of the world and in people’s lives, which is also
call Predestination.

Culture and practices

There are five pillars of islam that refers to the important practices of muslim faith, namely
1. testimony of faith (shahada),
2. daily prayers ( salah)
3. almsgiving( zakah)
4. Fasting (sawm)
5. pilgrimage (hajj)

● Ihram clothing - is a white attire that symbolizes of human equality and unity before
God.

● “Stoning of the devils” - where muslim pilgrims throw pebbles at three walls,
called Jamarat, in the city of mina.

Judaism
Judaism originated in the middle east.
It is the first major monotheistic religion. In Judaism, people are called Jews.

Abraham, the founder of Judaism ( as he was the person who had a covenant to God.)

Beliefs
● Tanakh - In English, "the old testament". This is the main sacred text of the Jews. The
word tanakh is made up of the names of the three sections of the Hebrew Bible: the
Torah, Nevi’im, and Ketuvim.
● Torah - This is the most sacred book of the Jewish people.
● God. The names of God mostly used in the Tanakh are Elohim and Tetragrammaton.
● YHWH: Yud, He, Vav, He. Expanded in English as "yahweh". For Jews, speaking the
name of God is forbidden. Many orthodox Jews do not say the name of the Lord out
loud; rather, they say HaShem "the name" or Adonai "my lord".

● The world to come. In the Hebrew Bible Heaven is just where God lives. The Bible
describes that the soul goes somewhere to live on with their ancestors.
 ● Western wall also called the wailing wall or the "kotel". It is the most religious site in the
world for the Jewish people. The wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to
pray outside the previous temple mount.

Culture
● Clothing Jews wear specific pieces of religious clothing for prayer or other occasions.
Kippah also known as yarmulka. It is a small cap used by Jewish boys and men to cover their
heads. where a sign of respect to God is a covered one’s head.
● Orthodox jews wear kippah all times. While, liberal jews wear kippah sometimes.
● Kosher foods According to Torah and Jewish Law. All vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts
are kosher. When it comes to meat, kosher animals is one who chew and has a cloven
hoof.
● The two most common law that regulate the jews diet. are the avoidance of certain kinds
of meat and seafoods, and the need to keep meat and milk products separate.

Jewish items in home:

● Mezuzah - a piece of parchment on Which a certain verses from the torah
Are inscribed by a specially trained scribe.
● Goblet - a cup of wine at shabbat and festive meals that were shared within the family.

Practices
● Brit Milah - the hebrew term for Circumcision and refers to the initiations rituals for jewish
newborn baby boys.
● tzedakah - Tzedakah comes from the torah and the Hebrew term for Charity.
examole, Pushke. A collection box for coins to be offered as
charity.
● Shabbat - or Saturday is the seventh day of Hebrew week. And the most important days
for jews in judaism, it is the physical and spiritual rejuvenation.
● Niqab/hijab - piece of clothing worn by Muslim women to cover themselves from head to
feet.

"FINDING AND CREATING MEANING OF LIFE"

Dr. Victor Frankl

- Get to know Viktor Franki:
- Victor frankl is also known as a man search for meaning
- Born in Vienna, Austria on March 26, 1905
- Died in his hometown on 1997 due to heart failure
- Due to his interest in psychiatry, he began writing to Sigmund Freud at the age of 16.
- Earned his medical degree from the University of Vienna in 1930
- Nazis made him the head of the Rothschild
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian neurologist and psychologist who founded what he called the field
of “Logotherapy”, which has been dubbed the “Third Viennese School of Psychology”
(following Freud and Alder). Logotherapy developed in and through Frankl's personal
experience in the Theresienstadt Nazi concentration camp

According to Dr. Viktor Frankl, in Logotherapy, man can discover meaning in three ways:

1. Doing a deed - this is by finding meaning in life through work, achievements, and
accomplishments. This way differs from man to man, and from moment to moment.

2. Experiencing a value - it is by experiencing something, or someone, such as loving a

person. During Frankl's time in the concentration camp, he observed that the
transcendental power of love helped the prisoners stay alive. He also defines love as
"Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his
personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being
unless he loves him."

3. Suffering - Frankl once said "to live is to suffer, to survive is to find the meaning in the
suffering." There is a purpose and meaning for each suffering. It is when the person can
use the unconquerable will to find and discover that meaning.

IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS THERAPY IS KNOWN AS "TRAGIC TRIAD" WHICH ARE:

● PAIN - turning a suffering into achievement

● GUILT - drive to use it as an opportunity to change oneself for the better

● DEATH - reminder that life is impermanent, so make and take responsible actions.

- Dr. Frankl believes that without suffering, human life cannot be complete. He considers
suffering an essential part of human existence.

- the meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own
psyche, as though it were a closed system. It denotes the fact that being human always
points, and is directed, to something, or someone, other than oneself be it a meaning to
fulfill or another human being to encounter. The more one forgets himself by giving
 himself to a cause to serve or another person to love the more human he is and the
more he actualizes himself.

- According to Frankl, there is no general answer to the meaning of life; each person
must formulate their own understanding of the meaning of life based on their own
set of circumstances, relationships, and experiences. Life puts us to the test, and
our reactions indicate what we've learned.

Therefore, the meaning of life is revealed daily and hourly through our choices to take the right
actions and fulfill our duties and responsibilities.

LOGOTHERAPHY

“Logos” is Greek for meaning and logotherapy is used to help patients find personal meaning in
life. Victor Frankl believed humans are motivated by a desire to find meaning in life. He argued
that even in the most miserable circumtances.

Logotherapy originated in the 1930s as a counter- response to the prevalent theories of the time
and examines the physical psychological and spiritual aspects of individual .

The Basics Tenets Of Logotherapy

● Freedom Of Will: Human beings can freely choose their response to the outward
circumstance.
● Will to meaning: Human beings are completely free to achieve their goals and purposes
in life with the search for being the primary motive .
● Meaning in life: According to logotherapy, meaning us not just an illusion that gets
invoked in an individual.

Logotherapy is used in the treatment of various psychological issues:

- Grief
- Substance use disorders Anxiety
- Schizophrenia
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
LOGOTHERAPHY ASSUMPTIONS
The assumption of Franklian

Psychotherapy can neither be proved nor disapproved with any certainty. This is also true with
al psychotherapies. To see if assumptions make sense in our lives must assume that they are
true. According to experiences of Logotherapist, these assumption make sense.

1. The human being is an entity consisting of body, life has meanin under mind and spirit.
2. All circumstances, eventhe most miserable.
3. People have a will to meaning.
4. People have freedom under all cirsumstances to activate the will to find meaning.
5. Life has a demand quality to whoch people must respond if decisions are to be
meaningful.
6. The individual is unique.

● The first assumption deals with the body(soma), mind(psyche), and spirit (noos).

● Assumption two is “ ultimate meaning”. This is difficult to grasp but it is something

everyone experiences

● The third assumption is seen as our main motivation for living and acting

● Assumption four is that we are free to activate our wil to find meaning and this can be
done under any circumstances.

● The fifth assumption, the meaning of the moment is more practical in daily living than
ultimate meaning. Unlike ultimate meaning this meaning can be found and fulfilled.

● The sixth assumption deals with one’s sense of meaning.

 “BASIC CONCEPTS OF FRANKLIAN PSYCHOLOGY"

The Franklian Psychology has the basic concepts. These are the following:

● Life has meaning under all circumstances.

● Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life

● Freedom to find meaning

Life has meaning under all circumstances

Frankl believed that life has meaning in all circumstances, even the most miserable ones. This
means that even when situations seem objectively terrible, there is a higher level of order that
involves meaning.

Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning

Frankl believed that humans are motivated by something called a "will to meaning," which is the
desire to find meaning in life. He argued that life can have meaning even in the most miserable
of circumstances and that the motivation for living comes from
finding that meaning.

Freedom to find meaning

.Frankl argued that in all c.ircumstances, individuals have the freedom to access that will to find
meaning. This is based on his experiences of pain
and suffering and choosing his attitude in a situation that he could not change.

FRANKLIN'S SOURCE OF MEANING

1. Purposeful Work
- To find the meaning of life starts with holding a future goal. Eachindividual has each own
future goal to achieve or a task to perform. That task or goal to fulfill becomes the
meaning of their life. Therefore, meaning of life is unique to every individual.

2. Love
- Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the innermost core of his
personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another human being
unless he loves him
3. Courage in the face of difficulty
- A meaningful life is a life with suffering. Suffering isinevitable part of life. To find meaning
of life is to recognize suffering, pain, and death aspart of life and to have the courage to
face these life difficulties.