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health
November 2009 
What is the relationship between health and spirituality?
Posted on Nov 8th, 2009
by 
Naumadd
Naumadd
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for November 08, 2009:
Personal "health", personal "spirituality" are the same thing. A human being isn't a conglomeration of parts, but one holistic integrated complex and dynamic working whole. And disagreeing with many traditional views, a human being isn't a "spirit" trapped in a physical shell.
In the views of many, the human "spirit" is what you experience as your total "person". It is your fullest sense of your own life, your passions, your specific experiences, your memories, values, your knowledge and wisdom, your talents, skills, imagination, goals, achievements, physical health, mental health, etc. "Spirit" is everything that makes you "you". Of course, like many others, I reject the idea of a "mystical" spirit. "Spirit" is all-natural but it is still as wondrous to me and to those who agree with me on the nature of "spirit" as it is to anyone else. In fact, I believe a full understanding of and appreciation for the "spiritual" isn't genuinely possible until one agrees "spirit" is and only can be a naturally based phenomenon. When you deny the material roots or material source of the spiritual, you cut yourself off from genuine spirituality in insurmountable ways until you recognize where "spirit" actually comes from and appreciate it for what it is.
"Spirit" as the sum total of a person is directly affected by one's physical and mental health and, of course, one's physical and mental health are directly affected by one's sense of "spirit". Our languages make it difficult to speak of such things but, suffice to say, I think of health and spirit as one thing rather than two, just as I reject the artificial division of "mind" and "body". Mind is body is mind. There is no affecting one without affecting the other. There is no infuencing one's health without harming or feeding the spirit and vice versa.
This has the meaning, at least in my own mind, that: taking an aspirin, taking a bath or shower, combing one's hair, applying lotion to one's hands or chapstick to one's lips, eating an apple or your vegetables or a hot bowl of oatmeal are spiritual acts as much as lovemaking, walking through a beautiful forest, collecting flowers, holding your ailing mother's hand, playing with a child, watching a fire burn down, or pleading in prayer and so many other things one might call "spiritual" experiences. Whatever it is you do or say or experience that nurtures, preserves or improves your life is for health, is for spirit.
They are one and the same.
In the views of many, the human "spirit" is what you experience as your total "person". It is your fullest sense of your own life, your passions, your specific experiences, your memories, values, your knowledge and wisdom, your talents, skills, imagination, goals, achievements, physical health, mental health, etc. "Spirit" is everything that makes you "you". Of course, like many others, I reject the idea of a "mystical" spirit. "Spirit" is all-natural but it is still as wondrous to me and to those who agree with me on the nature of "spirit" as it is to anyone else. In fact, I believe a full understanding of and appreciation for the "spiritual" isn't genuinely possible until one agrees "spirit" is and only can be a naturally based phenomenon. When you deny the material roots or material source of the spiritual, you cut yourself off from genuine spirituality in insurmountable ways until you recognize where "spirit" actually comes from and appreciate it for what it is.
"Spirit" as the sum total of a person is directly affected by one's physical and mental health and, of course, one's physical and mental health are directly affected by one's sense of "spirit". Our languages make it difficult to speak of such things but, suffice to say, I think of health and spirit as one thing rather than two, just as I reject the artificial division of "mind" and "body". Mind is body is mind. There is no affecting one without affecting the other. There is no infuencing one's health without harming or feeding the spirit and vice versa.
This has the meaning, at least in my own mind, that: taking an aspirin, taking a bath or shower, combing one's hair, applying lotion to one's hands or chapstick to one's lips, eating an apple or your vegetables or a hot bowl of oatmeal are spiritual acts as much as lovemaking, walking through a beautiful forest, collecting flowers, holding your ailing mother's hand, playing with a child, watching a fire burn down, or pleading in prayer and so many other things one might call "spiritual" experiences. Whatever it is you do or say or experience that nurtures, preserves or improves your life is for health, is for spirit.
They are one and the same.
Access: Public
As they say stress is a killer;) Thank you for your insights and personal experience.
I too share a similar philosophy. When a wild bird whom I have known for years, comes to my hand or hair to gather nesting material (hehe) I do not see it as some big sign from “God” I see it as a miracle in the sense that 2 beings from 2 totally different languages and situations come together in trust:) They are quick to learn my body postures as I them. To me that is the miracle.
Quote: “A human being isn't a conglomeration of parts, but one holistic integrated complex and dynamic working whole.”
Truly so.
I like your views on spirit. The thing about your writing expression, is that it is always genuine and clear. This, I have always admired. I am glad to have read your thoughts again after so long away.
Blessings~