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The difference between spirituality and new age

doo's picture
Submitted by doo on Tue, 03/11/2008 - 04:30.
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Average: 5 (1 vote)

I wonder how to define to myself the difference between spirituality and New Age. I find many aspects in New Age that I don't like, for example the "secret" thing that is totally anti-spiritual (passionate desire for material (money)).

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‹ Addictions - Are you aware of yours? RELIGION IS NOT SPRITUAL ›


leo's picture

Defined through science

I like the following quote of Riktam Kantu which in an answer to a similar question, defines the difference between spirituality and new age:

New age is what science has not discovered yet. Spirituality is what science will never be able to discover.

It is so true. We define something as supernatural when the conventional science has not yet understood it. Healing is supernatural while medicine is natural...

Science will never be able to depict spirituality because science's prime tool is the mind while the essence of spirituality is beyond the mind, hence beyond the scope of science, by definition.

leo | Fri, 03/14/2008 - 02:43
solo's picture

The common factor of

The common factor of spirituality and new age is the realization that reality is not what we perceive through our senses and the mind.

But here ends the similarity. While spirituality uses this understanding to transcend the world and to break the attachment to it, new age takes it to changing the world and thus even strengthen the attachment to the maya.

solo | Sun, 03/16/2008 - 00:58
solomon's picture

New age is fastfood

Spirituality is an authentic, fresh and delicious Chinese food sold on a dirty stall in a busy far-east village street.

New Age is this very same food imported in a preservative can, opened and nicely served in a synthetic fast food chain.

If you consume new age, expect to pay more and get less. In both cases, be aware of what you are eating and expect occasional stomach aches.

solomon | Tue, 03/18/2008 - 07:44
Chaitanya's picture

Kudos

Kudos to your vivid illustration! Beautifully and succinctly stated. You said exactly what I was going to comment, but with much more eloquence.

Chaitanya | Fri, 07/04/2008 - 13:45
santthosh kumaar's picture

WHATEVER IS BASED ON THE SPRIT IS SPRITUALITY

Santthosh
HI DOO,
WHATEVER IS BASED ON EGO IS NOT SPIRITUALITY. THE SPIRITUALITY IS BASED ON THE TRUE SELF WHICH IS SPIRIT. MOST OF THE WORLDS SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL GROUPS ARE BASED ON THE 'I' AS SELF AND WORLD AS REALITY. HENCE THEY CANNOT TRANSPORT SEEKER TO THE CORE OF HIS EXISTENCE WHICH IS NON DUAL REALITY. ONLY SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS LIKE FORMLESS SPIRITUALITY CAN GUIDE THE SEEKER TOWARDS THE REALITY OF HIS EXISTENCE.
WITH RESPECT AND REGARDS
SANTTHOSH

santthosh kumaar | Mon, 06/30/2008 - 22:33