Lesson in Understanding the Self

1. Spiritual Self
Prepared by:
Orlando A. Pistan, MAEd-GC
Psychology Instructor

2. Spiritual Self
An intimate version of the self
comprised of one’s moral
sensibility, conscience and
beliefs.
Spiritual self can be expressed
through one’s religion.
Practices, rituals and
ceremonies are manifestations
of what people believe in.

3. Religion
The belief in and worship of a
superhuman controlling power,
especially a personal God or
gods.
An individual lives in a society
where there are many practices
of religion. The choice of a
religious belief lies within the
spiritual self. Although, the
choice maybe influenced by the
society and its culture.

4. Ritual
The performance of ceremonial
acts prescribed by a tradition or
sacred law.
Ritual is a specific and
observable mode of behavior
exhibited by all known
societies.

5. Characteristics of Ritual:
1. A feeling of respect or dread
in relation to the sacred;
2. Dependence upon a belief
system;
3. Symbol to its reference.

6. Major Religions of the World
1. Buddhism
2. Christianity
3. Hinduism
4. Islam
5. Judaism

7. Buddhism
 Buddhism is a tradition that focuses on
personal spiritual development. Fourth
largest religion in the world.
 Buddhists strive for a deep insight into
the true nature of life and do not worship
gods or deities.
 Buddhism originated in ancient
Northeast India.
 Buddhists seek to reach a state of nirvana,
following the path of the Buddha,
Siddhartha Gautama, who went on a
quest for Enlightenment.
 Sacred text: Tripitaka
 Dharmachakra wheel symbolises the cycle of
life, death and rebirth. The eight spokes remind
people that the Buddha taught about eight
ways of life.

8. Buddhism Practices
 Samatha meditation – mindfulness of breathing and
development of loving kindness.
 Vipassana meditation – aims at developing insights into
reality of life.
 Parinirvana Day - an annual Buddhist festival that
remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached
Nirvana at the age of 80.
 Wesak day - celebrating the life and death of Gautama
Buddha.

9. Christianity
 Christianity is the world's biggest
religion.
 Any group whose beliefs are based
on the teaching of Jesus.
 Christianity began as an offshoot of
the Jewish faith in Nazareth, Israel.
 Believes in God, Holy Spirit, as the
creator.
 Sacred text: The Bible (Old and New
testaments)
 The cross is the main symbol. It
reminds Christians that Jesus died on
the cross to save them.

10. Christianity Practices
 Sacrament of Baptism – symbolizes the birth in Christian
world.
 Sacrament of Communion – an act of remembrance of Jesus
Christ sacrificial love.
 Christmas – usually December 25, commemorates the birth of
Jesus Christ.
 Easter – celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.

11. Hinduism
 Hinduism is the world's third largest
religion.
 Hinduism is the oldest living world
religion. It is also the most difficult to
understand as Hindus may be
atheists, monotheists or polytheists
 Originated in Northern India about
4000 years ago.
 Sacred text: Vedas and Upanishads
 Aum is the main symbol of
Hinduism. It is the sound heard in
deepest meditation and is said to be
the name most suited for God.

12. Hinduism Practices
 Diwali – the festival of lights. Divali symbolizes the spiritual
"victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge
over ignorance.
 Navratri - is a nine nights Hindu festival. It is observed for
triumph of good over evil.

13. Islam
 Islam is an Abrahamic, monotheistic
religion teaching that there is only
one God- Allah, and that Muhammad
is the messenger of God.
 The Arabic word 'Islam' means
submission and obedience, and
derives from a word meaning 'peace'.
 It is the world's second-largest
religion, with its members most
commonly known as Muslims.
 Originated in Saudi Arabia.
 Sacred text: The Qur’an

14. Islam Practices
 Salat – the prayer that is practiced five times a day.
 Haji – the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca.
 Sawm – the fasting from food, drinks, and sexual acts during
the Ramadan. The fasting is from dawn to sunset.
 Eidul-Fitr – the celebration at the end of Ramadan.

15. Judaism
 Judaism is the oldest of the world's four
biggest monotheistic religions. It's also the
smallest among the 5 major religions of the
world.
 Believes that there is a single God who not
only created the universe, but with whom
every Jew can have an individual and
personal relationship.
 Originated in Israel.
 Sacred text: Torah
 The symbol or emblem of the Jewish people
is the Magen David (Shield of David), also
known as the Star of David.
 Menorah - it symbolizes the burning bush as
seen by Moses on Mount Sinai.

16. Judaism Practices
 Rosh Hashanah – the new year, held in the first day of september.
 Yom Kippur – the day of Atonement, 25-hour period of fasting and
intensive prayer.
 Pesach – passover festival, celebrates the Exodus myth from the
Book of Exodus.
 Shavuot – pentecost. celebrates the revelation of the Five Books of
the Torah by God to Moses and to the Israelites at biblical Mount
Sinai.
 Sukkot – tabernacle, commemorates the sheltering of the Israelites in the
wilderness.

17. Summary
 Religious beliefs, rituals, and practices are all part of the
expression of spiritual self.
 What to believe, and how to manifest the belief is entirely
dependent of the individual.
 A person might believe that there is a higher being, usually
termed as God, but not necessarily wants to be affiliated with
a certain religious group.
 Others may have religious practices which are perceived to
be contrary to the practices of other groups.

18. Spiritual Self
Thank you for paying
attention.