Levels of Spiritual Development
Stages of spirituality vary in number depending upon who you ask, because the meaning of spirituality includes many definitions by people of different faiths. Spiritual development, however, connotes a progression through stages. The where and the how of these stages depends upon our circumstances and our attitudes towards ourselves, people and the world at large. The ideal behind this precept arranges the stages of spiritual development according to the milestones we experience in our lives at the time.
Other People Are Reading
-
Self
-
According to New Age spiritualist Thayer White, the first stage of spirituality concerns the self and the fulfillment of basic instincts and desires. This stage represents the need for pleasure and other self serving habits. Self-serving habits may include the habitual search for sex, eating or drugs. As we grow older, those same pleasures dwindle and lose their flare of excitement. The search continues to fill the void.
Ambition
-
Once pleasures cease to fulfill the human heart, the next journey beckons us to improve ourselves with success, stage 2 of the journey. Success is another word that is hard to define. Each person carries their own definition of success. But in simplistic terms, our success is that special talent, trade, vocation or skill that we possess to determine our worth. These determinants of success may include our careers, relationships or ability to make money. Again, this stage of spiritual development, like the 1st stage, includes attachments that can harm.
-
Duty
-
Stage 3 of spiritual development, if we have ceased the other attachments in the previous stages, transitions us to the need to serve others. This stage entails a person's search for truth, meaning and purpose for life. Our duties to others may include our family, the community or our country. Volunteer work certainly fits this category. Mother Teresa is an example of stage 3.
Unattachment
-
Those who pass onto stage 4 have been liberated from attachments. Gandhi generously gave to others without expecting anything in return. Gandhi was not interested in the results of his service. He mired in the act of service itself. Stage 4 beings do not actively seek bliss, but by remaining unattached and without expectations stay in bliss.
Transient
-
Author Stephen Hawley Martin, a writer of metaphysics, says that few people have obtained stage 5 spirituality---that of a transient. People in this stage are able to transcend the physical and communicate with the spirit world. Stephen Hawley Martin identifies Robert Monroe of the Robert Monroe Institute as possessing the capabilities of such a spiritual person. Other names for transient include spirit guide, medium or shaman.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Smiling Buddha in Suzhou image by jorisvo from Fotolia.com
