Spirituality and Psychology

Earlier I wrote a blog about a certain former seminarian classmate of mine who asked me why do I desire to be a teacher.

And during the next class we were like sharing our ideas in the middle of out Guidance and Counseling class discussion about psychology and how psychology is different from religion, and that spirituality is at all different from psychology. Another classmate who is 20 years older than I am and is an engineer also said the same about psychology. And so did my teacher who graduated bachelor in psychology about probably 20 years ago.

My engineer classmate says that psychology is only focused on the mind and does not tackle about spirituality. My commentaries are first of all, psychology deals not only with mental processes but also behavior. Secondly, psychology, just like education, takes into consideration the Psychomotor, Affective, and Cognitive aspects of an individual and of learning. Thirdly, spirituality is a form of a higher frequency of consciousness. And consciousness is just a part of the broader field of psychology. Somehow I can say that spirituality is related with psychology or that it is studied in the science of psychology. Laslty, there is a branch in psychology called Transpersonal psychology that studies self-transcendence and spiritual aspects of the human experiences.

The essence of spirituality is the search to know our true selves, to discover the real nature of consciousness. This quest has been the foundation of all the great spiritual teachings, and the goal of all the great mystics. (more)

• Abraham Maslow identifies peak experiences wherein people often have spiritual experiences. He calls this self-transcendence, which is beyond self-actualization or self-realization.


• Carl Gustav Jung calls this  process a person undergoes to wholiness the process of individuation.


• Eastern religions call this "Great Awakening" and/or "Enlightenment"


• In Carl Gustav Jung's Psyche and Symbol, he emphasized that the spirit is "the sum total of all phenomena of rational thought, or of the intellect, including the will, memory, imagination, creative power, and aspirations motivated by ideals."

While I was looking for research journals to find answers to the question initially raised, I stumbled upon this informative  interdiciplinary conversation (pdf) in a certain college wherein participants shared their own point of view about the connections and intersection between psychology and spirituality .

As a learner, I do want to stick with the linear thinking, rather do otherwise and try to find the answers through my own inquiry or read as much as possible until the mind's query is sufficed.

Today Matters

Earlier in class, one of my classmates who happens to be a former seminarian, and who is now a counselor, and an active church leader, asked me of my reason for wanting to become a teacher. Then I was kind of "uhhh" "uhmm" Then I realized I really did not know why, nor did I ever thought about it.

First and foremost I wanted to have masters degree in Psychology, probably on Counseling or Clinical Psychology. However, I couldn't afford yet the tuition fees so I have to find a job and save money for my future. That was my original plan.

Few days after, instead of finding a job, I found my self sleeping, eating, doing nothing at home. I was basically bumming around, annoying people (parents) and did all kinds of weird stuffs.  Then I lost my motivation. My mom bombarded me with questions like when am I gonna stop bumming around and start looking for a job. She's basically giving me the pressure. Consequently, I started looking for a job online. I passed my application and my cv online to various companies some I know, others I have not the slightest idea as to what their company is about.

Then a few days after, a recruiter from Convergys called me on my land line phone and asked me if I was interested in applying for customer service representative in the company. They got my number from my Alma matter's database. Then I said,"Okay, I'll try." So I was scheduled for an interview the next day. When I arrived on the venue, I saw a close friend who happened to have just passed the final interview and was there for the training. Since I was very early, I sat with him and we chatted. There I also found out that his boyfriend was also in the other call center company where my friend previously worked. He was also applying  for the costumer service position.

Few minutes later, I saw my other friend who also my school mate in USC. He was also applying in Convergys. And I saw his baby and his girlfriend who was also a school mate of mine.

What conspired the whole day was all good. I passed the processes, and was scheduled for the final interview the next day. But then I didn't pass the final interview. It wasn't all that bad. My realization on that following day was that I can never get things that I never wanted, and that I can only strive for what I want. Or maybe I am just trying to justify my actions. But really I'm so lazy to get a job right now.

Then came May, my cousin who was working with CTTE in CSCST, where I am currently having my DPE course, said his "simply inspiring" words that did inspire me to enroll. So here I am now, hopeful to be a teacher's board passer and become a teacher.

I'm back again with the same question, why do I want to become a teacher. All I know is that I have no answers as of the moment. But soon enough I will definitely have my answers.

I just told my classmate that as of now, I'm taking the opportunity that the world has given me that's why I am here. I don't know my direction. I'm just merely taking a step to this road I am not fully aware of. And trying to explore if this is really where I belong. What matters is that I am enjoying what I have today, I am making friends. I am loving my subjects.

Sometimes if you are so preoccupied of the future, you will end up losing God's gift, which is today. The reason why today is called present because It's a blessing and it matters.

The Fourth Principle

I've been wondering why I'm sad

For no reason, I'm not glad

The days I've spent so dark, so hollow

It's not that I can't dare to swallow

Mesmerizing are the stars above me

Captivating are the diamonds I cannot see

I've been wondering for so long

Hoping to know what's right or wrong

I hope to see one day the l;ight

For which will help me in my fight

Cause I know I can never win the battle

Without it, there's no dazzle

Honestly, life is kinda tough

The road's kinda rough

Sometimes I expect too much

I base my decisions on a hunch

Life's really not that easy

Sometimes people are good, oftentimes unruly

But hey, look at the bright side

There are many things I need not hide

This time there's no stopping

As the fourth principle is stating

Pursuing one's happiness is everybody's right

So lets all stand up and start our fight

(written on January 24, 2007)

Couch of the Unfathomable

situated at the corner of the darkened room

is the couch of the unfathomable, where the angel sat

she looked at the darkness that is miserly black

the dim light from the sooty sky illuminated her

while the bottomless pit of the abyss made her sober

the nightingales of the night sang their discant songs

and her sluggish, melancholy spirit devoured them all

her lifeless black torn wings is all that she has

never had she realized that she's one beautiful lass

she felt her heart beating for something

through the absence of awareness she knew there was one thing

but that one thing was left unsaid, dormant and forgotten

the words of the angel kept in silence deep within

the violence of the darkness of the earth she loathed

that made her fall on the ground, and she lost it

her life on earth was wasted, she thought

not realizing that she flew into the sky, where she could

to fly as beautiful as she could in the human world

and help others in their search for the Word

as he angel sat on the couch of the unfathomable

her lifeles black torn wings is healing

until she could finally soar up high into the sky

and sing her melodious and harmonious songs

so that the world will hear again

the sweet air of the angel that once have fallen

on the earth's vicious and violent ground

© 2007 | jeelchristine poems

This poem offers hope after pain. I remembered  Daniella and I decided on writing something positive on a papyrus, and this poem was written, as a summary confrontation for all our heartbreaks and painful experiences. It's a time to let go and finally step on the next path our lives.

Divergence

There is more to me than what you see.

Scarred with the pain that inflicts me

Devouring my wandering soul,

Underneath the shadows I call my own.

Despite all I've been through, I never quit

I have fought hard enough for me to sit

I suddenly see my self standing in the new world

I doubt if I belong.

I've wondered if I have a place here

A place I can call my own.

I've searched hard enough to find my home

But for now, I don't know where I belong

Do I belong?

Most of you don't really understand

What I'm going trough now is tough

Perhaps you know nothing of me at all

I've still yet to find what I'm capable of

My sense of purpose is confusing me

What am I destined for tomorrow?

Clueless, is this my direction?

Quite a diverged road I'm walking into now.

This divergence will take me there,

Hopefully to the place I shall call my home

© 2007 | jeelchristine poems

With Great Freedom Comes Great Responsibility

photo taken from Angelspit


I don't care what you do as long as you do it. Do it to your best and make it happen. Don't worry about what else thinks. Just do your thing. Your art will most likely appeal to people you haven't met..and that's really exciting. Turn the introjections off. And come out from your shell. Life is too short.

Do it with responsibility because with Great Freedom comes Great Responsibility. Do it and be ready for the consequences of you actions.

There was once a boy who kept on obeying his mother, to the extent to losing his self. He does things that he is asked to do even though he does it without happiness. Until there came a time when he finally burst to realization to get his life back. One day his mother asked him to do something for her. His mother was shocked with the son's reply. "No mother. I've been doing anything you say without even asking me if I want to do it. I do things for you and do nothing for me. It's about time I get my life back." He said it with courage.

The mother replied, "Did you ever thought about the consequences of your actions son? For this I will punish you!"

He replied. "I am ready." He never felt so happy his entire life until then.

That is what I meant by "With Great Freedom comes Great Responsibility.

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hbrbg...

[Blog entry is copy pasted from my previous blogsite, posted Aug. 26, 2008]