JMJM,
My comments are embedded below:
> JMJM:
> From you input, it seems to indicate that in the western culture, the
> word "spirit" and "spiritual" are not part of everyday life. These two
> words are in the supernatural domain and beyond everyday conversation.
> Is this true? Or is it just in Zen_Forum?
[Bill!] No, that is not true. Some, maybe most, consider spirits and
sprituality as part of everyday life. EVERYONE that considers themselves as
belonging to a religion (Christianity, Judism, Islam, Hindi, etc...) believes
in spirits. These terms and topics are frequently used in everyday
conversation. Of course so are UFO's and Obama's birth in Kenya. Being part
of everyday conversation doesn't validate them.
> In the Chinese culture, spirit or spiritual states are very common in
> everyday life. Usually if I say that I am happy or sad, it also means
> that my spirit is high or low. Nothing supernatural about it. I would
> say to the majority Chinese, mental state is spiritual state. I don't
> know whether Anothony agrees with this or not. It could be just me.
> Besides, my Chinese is not very good either.
>
> Please respond. I do understand that generalization are risky. But
> this could be important to know.
>
> Thank you,
> JM
[Bill!] We also have an alternate meaning of 'spirit' that is used like that.
When you sad you could say you're in 'low spirits'; happy is 'high spirits'.
'Spirits' also refer to alcoholic drinks. The reason I zeroed in on the
supernatual meaning of 'spirits' is because I think the people who told you
they were 'spiritual but not religious' were using it in the supernatual way -
not the casual 'mental state or general feeling' way.
...Bill!
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