Purring CatIt has been my experience as a teacher that students want to talk about spirituality. There are a variety of definitions and interpretations of spirituality, one of which is that it is a personal belief in a higher power. Student spirituality, in my opinion, is largely ignored in the educational system.

The word spirit comes from the Latin root spiritus, which means “breath” referring to the breath of life. An individual can be spiritual or religious or both: they are not diametrically opposite nor are they opposing forces.

Spirituality appears to be about an individual quest, however it also contains the global worldview that we are all connected.

Being present with nature can also be a spiritual practice: the witnessing of rustling leaves, thundering oceans, and a purring cat is sacred ground. All of nature can be an expression of spirituality. For some, this is all they need.

In Complementary Health students are introduced to the concept of spirituality as it completes the mind-body-spirit connection in holistic health.

“The most important thing I learned in this class [Complementary Health] is that spirituality means so much more than reading from a bible or regularly going to the temple. Before I took this course, I did not consider myself to be a spiritual person. I did not have any really strong beliefs, so I guess I thought that I couldn’t be spiritual….”

– Grade 11 Female student

Spirituality can be taught in such a way that it becomes an invitation to look at the sacredness of an everyday life. It can be an individual’s journey towards wholeness, a journey inward, as well as a personal quest for meaning and purpose. Spirituality is about contact with the scared in all life; it is heart knowledge.

“If you look for the truth outside yourself,
It gets farther and farther away.”

– Tung Shan
Philosopher, 9th Century AD

See my book  here for more information on teaching students about spirituality.