Spirit, Mind, Soul, Body? Part 3

Mind and Soul?

As I mentioned in part two of this series, I have little use for the word soul. It's loaded with too many religious connotations and too much New Age "woo" for my taste.

There is beauty in simplicity. I use spirit to refer to that which makes alive and mind to refer to the cognitive function of all living things.

While I might consider using "soul" to refer an "spirited mind" living apart from a physical body, I think doing so might confuse rather than clarify.

Spirit, Mind, Soul, Body? Part 2

Spirit and Soul?

Soul, like spirit, is another word we use with gross imprecision. We use it as if we all know what it means even though we have no general consensus on the meaning of the word. 

Many use it to refer to an invisible substance in us humans wherein resides our ability to think, feel, and will. Many also attribute to soul the animating aspect I attribute to spirit and deem it eternal. 

As such, our soul somehow enters our body for the duration of our life and escapes when we die. Some believe that after death our soul either ascends to heaven for eternal bliss or descends to hell for eternal damnation. Others believe that our soul reincarnates multiple times until we earn escape from the cycles of reincarnation.

Many seem to use the word soul in a dramatic but superficial way for its emotional affect. It can make the user seem profound, deep, and "spiritual."

Soul is primarily a religious or "spiritual" term and has little if any role in a scientific view of living beings. 

If I use it at all, I do so with the sense that James Hillman gives it. In his view, our soul is our perspective. To have a soul is to have a perspective. As such, soul is a function of our mind.

I have little use for the word. It does no work in Thumotics.

In Thumotics I use spirit to refer to that which makes alive, mind to refer to our cognitive function, and body to refer to our physical being.

 

Spirit, Mind, Soul, Body? Part 1

Spirit and mind?

Spirit and soul?

Mind and soul?

Spirit and body?

These questions I'll explore in this and upcoming posts.

I'll start with spirit and mind.

Spirit and Mind Defined

I define spirit as "that which makes alive" and mind as our cognitive function.

By spirit we are alive. By mind we are aware and able to think. 

The Relationship Between Our Spirit and Mind

In my view, spirit is prior to mind. Our spirit is that which animates our mind. Being spirited and alive makes it possible for us to be minded; that is, aware and able to think. Without spirit it is impossible for us to be aware and think. No spirit, no mind.

Not only does spirit animate our mind, it does so in varying degrees. Our mind can be more or less animated according to how spirited it is. A highly spirited mind thinks quickly. A low spirited mind thinks slowly.

However, the relationship between our spirit and mind is two-way rather than one-way. We can attend to and be aware of our own spirit and that of others. We can mindful of spirit.

In addition to being mindful of spirit, we can affect our own spirit and that of others with our mind. By our own self-talk we can lift, calm, contract, expand, withhold, and extend our spirit. 

By speaking our mind to others we can affect the spirits of others. 

The Exploration Continues

There is a growing body of scientific research that suggests that speaking our mind affects not only the spirits of other human beings but other animals and even plants as well. 

As we continue to explore spirit and what all spirit animates, no doubt we will learn more about mind as well

Spirit Essentials, Part 1: Define Spirit for Yourself

It is essential to have a definition of spirit.

I recommend that you develop your own definitions, descriptions, and images of spirit rather than borrow them from someone else.

First, answer this question for yourself: What is spirit? Write your current understanding of what spirt is. It doesn't have to be your final word or even polished. It's a place to begin. Your answer will probably change over time as you learn more about spirit.

Second, imagine spirit. How does spirit sound, look, smell, feel, and taste? What is it like? What images come to mind? Is it always the same or does it change? What happens when something or someone who was spirited no longer is? 

Third, do some reading on the meaning of the word "spirit". Start with a few dictionaries. Explore the meanings of words that contain spirit. Explore, for example, the meanings of aspire, conspire, dispirit, expire, inspire, transpire, and esprit de corps. 

Study the etymology of the word. Find out if there are equivalents in other languages. 

Study related words like soul, mind, energy, and consciousness. Are these different words for the same thing or do these words refer to different things?

Next, rewrite your definition of spirit in light of what you have learned so far. Again, understand that as you learn more your definitions, descriptions, and images will change.

Now you are a thumonaut, an explorer of spirit.

A Different Perspective on Eternal Life

Many believe that life, more specifically, human life in the form of the soul, is inherently eternal. They believe life always has been and always will be. It's a given in their view.

Truth be told, we do not know that life is inherently eternal. We do not know that life always has been and always will be. 

We also do not know if there was a time when life was not. We do not know if life had a beginning. If it did, we do not know when, where, or how. Much less do we know why there is life rather than not.

Since spirit is life, we do not know if spirit had a beginning or not. We do not know if spirit is inherently eternal. Maybe it is; maybe not.

We do know this: life and therefore spirit is potentially eternal. As long as the living continue to live life goes on. It is at least possible for life to continue eternally.

This means that eternal life is about spiraling forward with sex, conception, birth, nurturing, growth, maturity, sex, conception, birth, nurturing, growth, maturity and so in a potentially eternal spiral. This means that eternal is not a given. It isn't inherent to life. Rather it is depends on the actions of the living- all of the living.

It also means that every one of us plays a role in the potential eternity of life. We either contribute to it or detract from it. We either affirm and promote life or deny and negate it. 

The choice is ours. May we choose wisely. May we choose life. May choose that which makes alive. May we choose spirit.