What is a Spiritual Journey?

Today I had a really nice conversation about business as a sacred journey. But it got me thinking, what exactly is a sacred journey? Maybe it’s better to start by asking, what is a spiritual Journey?

In Western cultures, we tend to separate the spiritual from the mundane. People go to their church, or temple and in between they go about their normal lives. Some people deliberately live in a way that’s consistent with their religious beliefs. A lot of people don’t.

Does following those spiritual beliefs in daily life constitute a spiritual journey? I’ll argue that it might, but it might not.

If it’s only about following the rules, then I don’t think it is particularly spiritual. And it’s probably not very fulfilling either.

I guess it comes down to intention, to the way you view the world. If you see the sacred in everyday things, then I’d say you’re probably living your life as a spiritual journey. If you’re focused on guilt, judgement, or just showing up for your religious obligations, that doesn’t sound spiritual to me.

I know a lot of people who, for various reasons left the religion they were raised into, and they feel a certain degree of loss.

They left for good reasons, and those things haven’t changed, but there’s still a sadness. Sometimes people miss the sense of community, or the music, or the grand architecture you see in some religious structures.

So what do you do when you feel a sense of loss over having left? I guess that’s a really personal kind of question, isn’t it?

If you miss the music, then maybe you need to find a replacement you can live with. That might even mean going back to some services without adopting all the dogma. Same thing for the architecture, can you return to those buildings with a new internal relationship?

If it’s the community you miss, that one’s a little harder. It can be difficult to go back into a community that believes differently than you without feeling like you’re wearing someone else’s skin.

What about community formed through common hobbies, or volunteer work? I know, it’s not quite the same. But we have to be responsible for our own self-care, and you may not always think of your spiritual side as being part of that, but it is.

Is there another spiritual community that feels more aligned with your beliefs? Do you need to adopt a new attitude towards some aspect of spirituality? One that’s more supportive of the life you live now?

I personally miss the chanting from the temples in Chiang Mai Thailand. Khun Yaa, the grandmother of the family I lived with while I was there last, took me to meet the Abbot of the temple she goes to. She knew how I felt about the chanting, and he gave me a CD of the chants.

I turn that on, and close my eyes or meditate and it’s as if I’ve traveled through time. I’m right back in Thailand, listening to the chants with Khun Yaa. I can picture the beautiful Thai temples, with their white stucco walls, red, green and gold roofs, and the colorful art.

Every meditation I do has its roots in my studies in Thailand. Even the ones I’ve learned from other traditions because it all goes back to my first real meditation teacher.

My teacher, Mama Nit, passed away a few months after I visited her last. That chapter is closed, but I’m grateful I got to see her. It’s through the advice and the skills she taught me that I pursue my spiritual journey.

Maybe that’s the key. The gratitude for what you once had, and what it’s left you with today. Maybe your spiritual journey is building on the lessons of the past. We’re all making progress and learning things every day. If we do that in a way that’s spiritually meaningful, that’s probably the heart of the journey.

*typos included at no additional charge.