How do you cope with lack of spirituality around you

[FallingStar21]

I am a spiritual person, not religious per se, but my beliefs are quite close to the Buddhist teachings. I also respect and believe there's truth and wisdom in every religion.
My "issue" is that I struggle with the lack of spirituality around me. I mean mostly at work or random every day places where you need to talk to people etc
I never start a conversation of that sort (in fact I shy away from disclosing anything about my personal faith). But as people love to discuss all kinds of things and share their opinions, I have realised that the majority are very much in the material so their interests and priorities are very different. They can often be very sceptical, if not dismissive, of anything that's not part of it and that's another reason I don't say much on such topics.
Of course everyone has a right to believe or not believe whatever they like, but ithe lack of spiritual awareness and mindfulness is really bringing me down. Anyone else feels that way?

@aSofaNearYou "And yes I can see your point that atheists have jumped onto a discussion between the spiritual"

I'm puzzled by this. I was reading the thread because being an atheist doesn't make you uninterested in discussion about spirituality and philosophy or immune to the transcendent. I joined it because somebody said something very offensive about "non spiritual" people. That's hardly "atheists jumping on!"

"I guess the issue arises when people cut themselves off. Most spiritual people (esp in the west) realise the importance of foundation, of grounding, in the physical earth whilst also being present the spiritual the two things, obviously aren’t separate so to just having to express the one can feel very limiting. . Others just concentrate on the material, I understand that this can lead to a frustration and feeling limited. It’s like having two children but only being allowed to discuss one, if you mention the other you are laughed at, derided etc"

@OMG12, I was contemplating separation as well earlier this morning. 🙂 I was thinking about the times I want to be separate from people myself. It is usually when some of the people around want to challenge or vie for power or precedence, attempting to affect my own or other's autonomy and take over. Instead of seeking unity people can display something more akin to seeking possession. I don't seek to engage in power struggles. According Christian belief we the power is in (unity with) Christ. So then I cut myself off at least for a while or partially until I can find a way to find some unity.

Yes I agree. When people say things about others it can often provoke a response, even if they were just talking between themselves. I was just acknowledging that that does happen, but personally I do not believe it's wrong to join in the discussion when people are talking about you and others like you in that way.

Sorry but someone waffling about spiritualism at work would drive me insane. What do you do now? What kind of environment do you work in? I think maybe you need to look to work in an area where personality wise people might be more open to it...

Death of mythical interfaces with nature and small communities, a truth that must overcode all different truths, a flattening of the world, an emptiness that drives the worship of money and desecration of nature and people, a mechanisation, a position of violent authority that cannot see its own failings, an empire, a monoculture, unfulfilling, unhealthy lives. Good medicine though

Forgot quote:

"When people say things about others it can often provoke a response, even if they were just talking between themselves. I was just acknowledging that that does happen, but personally I do not believe it's wrong to join in the discussion when people are talking about you and others like you in that way."

@aSofaNearYou, ah, having a problem with people's attempts at defining you (or the group of people you identify with). It reminds me of the Biblical theme regarding people attempting to define God / what is and isn't Godly. People's judgement or to be more accurate prejudice. Certainly something I would consider a spiritual topic.

@W24 Gosh. For me, Secularism just means wanting a society where religion/spiritual belief is entirely a private matter and has no role in public life.

People who dont shars your beliefs are boning? That's insulting even by your standards.

"where religion/spiritual belief is entirely a private matter and has no role in public life."

@CurlewKate do you think there can be unity and privacy at the same time?

Her whole post is literally about why it bothers her.

@ohmeoh I'm sorry- I don't understand your question.

my beliefs are quite close to the Buddhist teachings. I also respect and believe there's truth and wisdom in every religion.

@FallingStar21 May I ask how you can think that all religions are true?

For example, you presumably believe that material life is transient, unimportant and unhappy- an obstacle to be overcome whereas a Christian would see life as sacred- something to be celebrated.

I can't see a way to reconcile Buddhist and Christian theology on life without removing the original meaning of one or both.

That's before you get into the bit of (for example) Christian or Muslim traditions that insist theirs is the only Revelation.

I like science, and often depend on rationality, scepticism and empiricism. I just think it comes at a rarely discussed cost, an emptiness that probably drives everything that's wrong with the status quo. I might seem a bit intense, I don't talk about this stuff much, it is a lonely way to think.

@CurlewKate, what don't you understand about it?

Speak for yourself. It's possible to not be spiritual but also not be "empty".

@ohmeoh

I'm sorrry- I don't understand it to the point I don't know how to express my lack of understanding! You ask whether there can be unity and privacy at the same time. I don't understand this in the context of secularism. Unless you have understood religion as having no place in public life to mean there
should be no community of people of faith-gatherings, churches-things like that?

These are my observations of society at large, I'm not meaning to call specific individuals empty. I just think secularism is a spiritual weedkiller and pesticide lawn when we'd be more comfortable in a temperate rainforest. I don't have a recipe for a better life, I'm just not happy with the status quo and I feel like we've all lost something we don't understand, me as well.

"I don't understand this in the context of secularism. Unless you have understood religion as having no place in public life to mean there
should be no community of people of faith-gatherings, churches-things like that?"

@CurlewKate, I wasn't really thinking that far. Simply put, for example, a Christian seeking unity in Christ would aim for their Christian faith be affecting every aspect of their lives, every decision. So their actions would be affected which if they were in positions of authority would affect their governance over others. So how could their beliefs be kept private and separate from the people they have governance over?

@ohmeoh
"So their actions would be affected which if they were in positions of authority would affect their governance over others. So how could their beliefs be kept private and separate from the people they have governance over?"

Ah, I see. Frankly, if you can't keep your own personal views separate from your work life/position of authority you shouldn't take on the role. You have no right to impose your views on other people. Simple as that.

"Frankly, if you can't keep your own personal views separate from your work life/position of authority you shouldn't take on the role. You have no right to impose your views on other people. Simple as that."

@CurlewKate, so you can keep your views, perspectives on life, understanding, world views entirely separate from the decisions you make?

How? Science does not manage it. There are always priors interpretations. Incomplete understanding and necessary assumptions in order to progress.

This does not necessarily mean your views are entirely imposed - if you are voted in / supported by people who allow you to maintain your authority. Otherwise you'll be replaced/overthrown.

Well I'm quite happy on my pesticide lawn or whatever vaguely insulting metaphor you want to use. Please don't assume that just because you feel like you've lost something doesn't mean we all do.

Define spiritual. TBH I have no idea what it means.

I just get on with my life and try to be as kind as I can. There is more than enough to marvel at, hate, explore, rejoice in without looking for outside influences.

Being grounded does not mean being shallow or lacking in reflection.

I am also happy to embrace not knowing about the big questions - it is quite simply the human condition. Let us be content with what we have, what we know, what we can do to make lives happier and what we can learn from the world around us.

@ohmeoh "@CurlewKate, so you can keep your views, perspectives on life, understanding, world views entirely separate from the decisions you make?"
Not from the personal decisions I make for me and mine, no. But at one stage in my life I was a senior Civil servant. And I sure as hell did then. My views were completely irrelevant to my work.

Move to Glastonbury. I moved here three years ago. You can strike up a spiritual conversation with people at work, on the street, in coffee shops. Plenty of buddhists here and everything else.