Spirituality as an Effort to Seek and Find to Continue to Get Closer to God
Author: Jacob Ereste
Freelance Journalist
Everyone can undertake a spiritual journey to seek and find and then be able to get closer to God. Even those who are not religious can undertake a spiritual journey, but it is impossible to be better and faster than those who already have a strong religious basis. However, not a few of those who were originally not religious and did not believe in God, can actually find and be more intense and serious in undertaking a spiritual journey without ever tiring, so that they can be more humble and Istiqomah in pursuing the guidance and teachings of religion properly and correctly. So that ethics, morals and noble morals as humans appear to radiate from the face of their calm and peaceful happiness, like a lake from a clear and refreshing spring.
Learning from philosophers who have works equal to Ibn Sina who lived from 980 to 1047 has explained about mysticism and symbolism such as “Hayy Ibn Yawzan dives into the depths of the spiritual to find out the most essential thing. He is also considered a symbol of Islamic rationalism that bridges the East and West. Its existence proves that Islam and science can unite within the framework of logic and spirituality. He shows that reason and faith can go hand in hand towards universal truth.
While Al Farabi who started from the roots of classical Islamic philosophy emphasized that reason is the path to truth, without denying revelation. He also criticized the approach that separates religion and philosophy. Because philosophy and religion according to him lead to the same truth.
He acknowledged that philosophers and prophets are two superior human beings. The difference is only in the method: philosophers through reason while prophets through revelation. The essence of Al Farabi’s thinking is to harmonize reason, ethics, art and revelation for human perfection.
The figure of the great teacher Atisha Dipamkara Shrijnana, a teacher and spiritual developer who lived at the same time as Ibn Sina in 982-1054 AD was known as a Buddhist figure from India who played a significant role in the revival of Buddhist teachings in Tibet. Lamrim as the core of his teachings is known as the stages of the path to enlightenment. He systematically compiled the Buddhist teachings from the basic level to the highest level.
The three main foundations of the spiritual path include renunciation (releasing worldly attachments), Budhicitta (sincere intention to achieve enlightenment for the sake of all beings), and the view of emptiness (shunyata). Apart from that, there is also Bodhicitta and universal compassion. Therefore, Atisha emphasized the practice of loving-kindness, compassion and wisdom for and for all living beings.
In fact, Atisha also taught ethical and spiritual disciplines called lojong to foster awareness and self-control in order to cleanse the mind of various impurities. Atisha’s teachings are very strong in the Kadampa tradition to the point of becoming a kind of foundation for the Gelug tradition which Tsongkhapa continued to develop and became a role model for the Dalai Lama.
What is interesting in the context of spirituality, all religions believe in miracles as a real manifestation of God’s power. In Islam for example, the Prophet Muhammad SAW is believed to be the recipient of revelations such as in the Isra Mi’raj incident — a one-night journey from the Grand Mosque in Mecca to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in Medina directly to the seventh heaven, Sidratul Muntaha to receive the command to pray five times a day from Allah SWT. This spiritual experience is believed by Muslims so that the celebration of Isra and Mi’raj is always commemorated in the traditions of Muslims until now. Such is the close connection of rationality, spirituality and transcendence in the cross-traditions of the great thoughts of existing religions.
In Christianity, Jesus is believed to be able to heal the sick and raise the dead. Even bread and fish multiply to be eaten by many people.
In Hinduism, the miracles of the Gods and Avatars such as Krishna are able to show divine power in the Mahabharata battle and various holy stories that show supernatural phenomena and healing. While in Buddhism, the story of Sidharta Guatama achieving enlightenment in carrying out obligations such as being able to float in the air, calming storms in the power of supreme spiritual vibrations.
Likewise in local beliefs in the archipelago, miracles in the healing effort can be done through prayer and incantations or an extraordinary event that is believed to have received the blessing of the ancestors. So in essence the essence of miracles is very possible when used properly and to help the lives of others. Thus, miracles can strengthen awareness and belief in the spiritual dimension that is entered through the energy obtained from religion. This means that all religious people have the potential to undergo spiritual practice as a way to get closer to God.Even so,there is no prohibition for those who are not religious to pursue Spirituality,because that way it could be that those who are not religious Will have Faith and belief in religion.**
Banten,June 15,2025.
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