This would be the perspective of the transcendent aspects of life from which I write, what I refer to as metaphysical spirituality. The phrase metaphysical spirituality is purposefully intended to make the very significant distinction from religious spirituality. You will likely not recognize the phrase as one that indicates any particular wisdom tradition, because intentionally, it does not. For that reason, you will also find that the phrase metaphysical spirituality is deliberately not capitalized. It denotes a perspective that is not atheistic, not religious, not purely scientific, and most importantly, not doctrinal or ideological. Some might refer to this approach to the mystical or divine realm simply as spirituality; others, as I frequently do, refer to it as metaphysics. But since metaphysics is also a branch of philosophy, I should point out that as I use the word, it specifically refers to a spiritual take on reality -- not to a philosophical school of thought.

Omitting the word spirituality in no way diminishes the importance of spirit as a fundamental and essential presumption of metaphysical spirituality. That said, I stress that the word spirit is entirely unconnected to religion. Considering the conventional wisdom that matters of spirit are relegated to the realm of religion, this point may cause some cognitive dissidence on the part of some. So let's be clear that while religion may be about spiritual matters, spirit is definitely NOT about religion. And further, metaphysical spirituality is definitely not part of conventional wisdom.

Spirit is life. The word comes from the Latin root spiare, meaning "to breathe". The Universe is about movement, and spirit is what moves. Spirit is transcendent, which is to say, beyond the experience of the material / physical world as perceived through the five senses. It is only the shackles of habit and custom that automatically casts the non-material into the realm of religion. And most assuredly, as an expression of open consciousness, the point of metaphysical spirituality is to not be bound by habit and custom.

Also, in emphasizing that I do not use the word metaphysics as a school of philosophy, my intention is to make clear an essential attribute of metaphysical spirituality -- that it is austere and simple. It aims toward minimalism - not complexity. By contrast, most philosophical schools of thought, being the fruit of intense intellectual activity, are quite complex. Metaphysical spirituality is more intuitive.

There are quite a number of metaphysical wisdom traditions and schools of thought. They have all been worked and polished into a coherency that in some respects looks quite similar to the doctrines of religions. There is a primary distinction however in the intention of such coherency that differs from religion. The philosophical structure of most, though not all metaphysical schools, is simply for the purpose of coherent organization. With religion it is that, but even more so, it serves as a statement of a doctrine.

Since metaphysical spirituality has regard for essential concepts and principles of transcendence, but holding them in a generalized rather than structured sense, many students of particular metaphysical schools of thought would find little disagreement with its basic outlook regarding the higher aspects of life. At the same time however they might possibly feel that it lacks sufficient complexity for their tastes.

I would never refer to metaphysical spirituality as a "belief system". There is not one to promote nor any to teach. It is about something much larger than mere belief "systems" - consciousness. The fact that metaphysical spirituality has no set doctrine can make metaphysics appear incoherent to the casual observer. The whole point of religious doctrine after all, is coherency. It sets forth very explicit and clear (and often complex) statements of what the beliefs are. For metaphysical spirituality, it is more about discovery of some common ideas, concepts and principles. It is presumed that with such discovery comes growth in awareness. But, there is nothing that says that any of the ideas must be believed. And, while there is no set doctrine and no call for the seeker to believe any of the concepts and principles, one does come to discover a magnificent coherence.

In the end, this sense of profound coherence has far greater impact for the seeker than if it came via a prescribed doctrine. The feeling of understanding that results is at a far deeper level because it comes together naturally from within as insight builds upon insight. The interesting thing is that the coherency is alive, meaning that it is not founded upon fixed beliefs. In fact, beliefs don't carry all that much importance. Beliefs develop, but are always held with the attitude that they are impermanent and subject to change. With ongoing insight the beliefs move and shift. That's what makes it a living coherency. Do you see the connection to open consciousness here? The sense of coherence that the seeker experiences within becomes so powerful that nothing else can match it.

So it is then that from this perspective of metaphysical spirituality, we are positioned to show that open free-flowing consciousness is not only what will save the planet, but is the only way that can lead to peace, harmony and cooperation on earth. I am not referring here to any mythical Nirvana, but rather to a world where love and compassion replace fear and certainty, the latter pair being responsible for inhumane acts and horrid conditions of poverty, starvation and disease.

End of Part 4; go to Part 5

Copyright © 2007, William Gunderson
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