Department of Education of the Administration of the city of Kogalym

School stage of the All-Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren

in physical culture

2012-13 academic year

Boys and girls (grades 7-8)

Full name __________________________________________________________________ KL__

Correctly completed tasks are estimated at 1 point.

The time to complete the task is 40 minutes.

1. The term "Olympias" in ancient Greece meant ...

a. synonymous with the Olympic Games.

b. meeting of athletes in one city.

in. four-year period between the Olympic Games.

G. the first year of the four-year period, the onset of which is celebrated by games.

2. When are the Olympic Games celebrated?

a. It depends on the decision of the IOC.

b. During the first year of the celebrated Olympiad.

in. During the second calendar year following the start of the Olympics.

G. During the last year of the celebrated Olympics.

3. Tasks for strengthening and maintaining health in the process of physical

education is decided on the basis of ...

a. hardening and physiotherapy procedures.

b. body improvement.

in. ensuring full physical development.

G. formation of motor skills and abilities.

4. The healing value of physical exercises determines them ...

a. the form. b. content.

in. Technics. G. hygiene.

5. The improvement of the spiritual and natural forces of a person is mainly characteristic of ... activities.

a. professional b. physical education

in. corrective G. sports

6. A healthy lifestyle is a way of life aimed at ...

a. development of the physical qualities of people.

b. maintaining high performance of people.

in. maintaining and improving people's health.

G. preparation for professional activity.

7. The initiator of the revival of the modern Olympic Games is

a. Roman Emperor Theodosius I.

b. Pierre de Fredy, Baron de Coubertin.

in. Philosopher-thinker of antiquity Aristotle.

G. Juan Antonio Samaranch.

8. Physical exercises used to correct various deformities of the musculoskeletal system are called ...

a. leading. b. imitation.

in. corrective. G. general developmental.

9. The development of endurance corresponds to the mode of work and rest, when each subsequent exercise is performed in the phase ...

a. not restoring performance.

b. full recovery of performance.

in. Beyond recovery.

G. increased performance.

10. The main criterion for the effectiveness of long-term sports training is:

a. the maximum fund of motor skills and abilities.

b. the highest level of development of physical qualities.

in. athlete's health.

G. the highest sports result.

11. The system of organizational and methodological measures that allow to outline the direction of specialization of a young athlete in a particular sport is called:

a. sports selection.

b. sports orientation.

in. pedagogical testing.

G. predisposition diagnosis.

12. What are the main principles of the Fair Play sports honor code?

a. Maintain self-respect under any circumstances.

b. Not to strive for victory at any cost; to maintain honor and nobility on the sports ground.

in. The combination of physical perfection with high morality.

G. Treat with respect and be honest with opponents, judges, spectators.

13. Sports and gaming activity is characterized by ...

a. educational and developmental orientation.

b. a small number of relatively standard situations.

in. not the constancy and uncertainty of the structure of the activities of the participants.

G. high importance of the quality of the performance of the role in relation to the desire to win.

14. The need for physical improvement belongs to the category ...

a. biological b. motives

in. habits G. beliefs.

15. The emergence of physical exercises is historically due mainly to ...

a. level of development of primitive people.

b. conditions for the existence of mankind.

in. the nature of the labor and combat actions of people.

G. geographic location of human habitation.

16. The condition for strengthening health and improving volitional qualities is ...

a. hardening of the body.

b. participation in competitions.

in. daily morning exercise.

G.

17. The main indicator characterizing the stages of development of an organism is

a. biological age.

b. calendar age.

in. skeletal and dental age.

G. sensitive period.

18. Physical education is ...

a. a way of mastering the values ​​accumulated in the field of physical culture.

b. the process of doing physical exercises.

in. way to improve performance and improve health.

G. ensuring the general level of physical fitness.

19. The load of physical exercises is characterized by ...

a. their impact on the body.

b. tension of certain muscle groups.

in. time and number of repetitions of motor actions.

G. preparedness of those involved, their age and state of health.

20. The basis of the methodology for educating physical qualities is ...

a. age adequacy of the load.

b. movement training.

in. performing physical exercises.

G. gradual increase in force.

Today there is no exhaustive, unambiguous and final answer to the question of what spiritual development is. Why so? There are a lot of reasons - from the difference in religious beliefs to differences in the political and economic structure of a single country. Naturally, the individuality of each person and the historical path of society and society with its traditions, labels and prejudices also influence. But what to do?

An attempt to define

Although it is clear from the foregoing that there cannot be a single answer, it is still necessary to outline some framework for further consideration of the issue. Spiritual development is a certain indicator of certain qualities of a single person, which are associated with his ethics and morality. This is a sense of purpose, mission. The spiritual development of a person is inextricably linked with the degree of understanding of the universe, its integrity. And also with the awareness of one's own responsibility for all the events in life.

Movement towards self-improvement

Spiritual development is a process, it is a path. It should not be seen as a result or a line to be crossed. If this process is stopped, then the person will immediately begin to degrade, since the spiritual development of the individual cannot be paused. This movement from less to more is a process that has its own specific characteristics, like any other. These include speed, direction, magnitude of change. Really improve what can be measured in some way. This means that it is possible to qualitatively monitor the dynamics of development at different levels (or stages). How to navigate in a matter of direction? Very simple - you need to look at the result. If practice makes life better, easier, brighter and more interesting, if a person becomes kinder, more tolerant, there is harmony and peace inside him, he is on the right track. If a person experiences inspiration, joy, elation from the fact that his personality grows, becomes mature, morality improves, the ability to penetrate into the essence of things increases, then his path is right.

Way directions

Spiritual and moral development in today's society is achievable by different methods - alternative and traditional. What could it be? The spiritual development of the individual must begin with social and cultural activities. In addition to this, there may be: literature - the Bible, the Koran, the Vedas, the Avesta, the Tripitaka; spiritual personal practices - meditations, rituals, rituals, exercises; visiting holy places such as Mecca, Vatican, Tibet, Shaolin. As you can see, there are a huge number of options, and they are all individual. Perhaps the beginning of the spiritual path will be hatha yoga or the Church. You need to listen to yourself, your heart.

A small note

Life shows that a very deep delusion on such a path as spiritual development is the prevalence of external influence on the will, personality, body, mind, feelings, and these are only external, insignificant circumstances. At first they may play an important role, but as you progress, they should fade into the background or disappear altogether. True spirituality is born and grows from within. The world itself gives the practice certain signs of where to go next and how.

The need for a companion and support

Any process is subject to certain laws. If there is any development, for example, a nuclear reaction, then it is subject to the laws of physics. Spiritual - these are the values ​​that are inherent in every person. On this path it is important to have an assistant, companion, partner. You should not be shy to discuss certain aspects with your soulmate or with a friend. If the interlocutors do not share the aspirations - it's okay. Just show an example. Naturally, qualitative growth and development will be noticeable, and there is a high probability that the partner (or friend) will also be interested in raising their own level of spirituality. It is necessary to provide him with help and support so that a person feels confident and comfortable.

Development of personality or spirituality?

The word "personality" is a set of socially significant qualities (interests, needs, abilities, attitudes, moral convictions). In this case, we can say that personal development is work that is aimed at revealing individual characteristics, self-realization in society, self-manifestation. This is a man-made indicator. But what is spiritual development? In the truest sense of the word - the manifestation of the spirit in man and in the world. It turns out that this term may not be associated with the implementation in society at all. You can say "spiritual development of culture." But how does this concept apply to individuals? Naturally, you can combine the words and say "moral and spiritual development of the individual", but what is the difference between them and how significant is it?

demarcations

Personal development is a process of effective realization of a person in society. In this case, the boundaries are set from the outside, that is, by society. The external environment stimulates action, and it also limits it. Personal development is the material side of human existence. This includes the desire to be successful, to earn good money. But spiritual development is a search for internal boundaries, conditioned by oneself, the desire to meet with one's "I". At the same time, there is no desire to “become someone”, but there is a need to get answers to eternal questions: who am I, why am I, where did I come from? The spiritual development of a person is a process of understanding oneself, one's nature, one's masks, which do not depend on any external indicators and circumstances.

Way difference

It always implies some kind of goal that must be achieved within a certain time frame. There is an end point, there is a starting point. That is why we can say that this is the "path of achievement." It is assumed that there is something outside that limits us, and it is overcoming this limitation that is the way to achieve what we want. And if there is an intangible goal, for example, to be happy? After all - this is an internal sensation, subjective. In personal development, it is replaced by certain material objects - a million dollars, marriage, and so on. If a certain goal is supposed to be striven for and achieved, then this is not spiritual development. After all, it comes from a completely different state - it is comprehension, search, experience, feeling, cognition of reality here and now.

Self discovery

For personal development, someone, some kind of obstacle is needed. You need to become better and more perfect than someone else. This is what is important and necessary. The spiritual development of the individual implies the discovery of oneself through the acceptance of oneself. A person begins to take an interest in himself, in what he already has. There is no desire to become "someone" different. This is an exclusively internal process, because nothing and no one is needed, there is no need for support or approval. Inner knowledge, inner strength appears, various illusions about the surrounding reality and oneself disappear.

Attitude towards the future and present

Personal growth is completely and absolutely built on images of the future, on futuristic pictures. If we don’t have something now, then we must take some steps so that this “something” appears in the near future. We are focused on tomorrow and live it. The biggest problem in such a way of life and worldview is the depreciation of the present time, since in this version it is not of particular value. Spiritual development implies a completely different attitude to time - the absolute irrelevance of the past and future, because only the present exists, and only it is valuable. Attention is directed to awareness of the current moment of life. External situations only provide a stimulus for research.

Availability of guarantees

Personal development cannot exist without any guarantees. Although it is clear that no one knows a 100% future in this ever-changing world, it is the illusion of security and stability that is important. In this case, everything becomes only a means, and freedom - the goal. Everything is perceived not as an ongoing event, but as a reward for work. The spiritual development of a person is devoid of any guarantees - this is a complete and absolute unknown. Everything is perceived as a process of comprehension, without subjective assessments.

ideals

In personal development there is always some kind of ideal, striving for it. Whether it's the perfect relationship, the search for the perfect job, the perfect life. This is necessary to feel the significance of yourself and your life. That is why in personal development they use such assessments as “good” and “bad”, “moral” and “immoral”, “moral” and “immoral”. There are no evaluative concepts in spiritual development, since any action has its own hidden meaning that needs to be known. There is no ideal, but there is a desire and desire to know the essence.

Spirituality is one of the most complex concepts on Earth. A lot has been written and said about it, but no one has yet given an exhaustive, convincing definition and it is not clear enough why it is practically necessary for a person, which significantly reduces the possibilities of its development. A lot of stereotypes and contradictions do not allow to form an integral understanding of spirituality, therefore we will consider the primary issues of spirituality: its concept, meaning, development and main mistakes.

Understanding Spirituality

Spirituality is the knowledge realized in a person about God, Good and Evil, about our society, one's destiny and everything that concerns the interaction of a person with higher powers, himself and the world around him. This knowledge determines most of the main manifestations of a person (thinking, psycho-emotional sphere, behavior, lifestyle), his individual characteristics, the attitude of other people towards him, the ability or inability to make any significant achievements, and much more.

The most important goals of spiritual development: the achievement of perfection (inner strength, positivity), the knowledge and realization of one's destiny. Truly spiritual knowledge makes a person's life joyful and happy, allows him to gain power over himself and his destiny, and brings him closer to God. Pseudo-spirituality, various delusions make a person weak and evil, lead to suffering and misfortune, oppose him to the will of higher powers.

Inner strength is the ability to achieve any significant goals and overcome life's obstacles. It is characteristic of a few, they are born with it or form themselves with it, receiving the appropriate upbringing, they clearly know what they want, have a great desire for a goal, unshakable confidence in themselves and their strengths. They do not rely on chance and are convinced that everything in this world must be earned by their professionalism, development and activity, they actively act and achieve the goal, respect and recognition of others. "Nothing can stop me" is their motto.

Weakness - aimless existence, lack of dignity, respect for others and any significant achievements, endless doubts, insecurity, vulnerability, etc. Such people are in the majority, barriers stop them, failures break them, and they only make excuses: “What can I do?”.

In esotericism, inner strength has many well-defined levels (stages of development) that describe the logic and sequence of changes in all the main components of a person: from his beliefs to external manifestations. Understanding these levels is extremely necessary for people, as it allows you to determine the direction of human evolution, the stages of his spiritual development, evaluate yourself, your strengths and find your place in the general hierarchy of beings in order to set more complex, but real goals and objectives, and answer many others. questions.

The acquisition of power is subject to universal laws, but it can be light or dark, which is determined by the goals and methods being implemented. Distinguishing between Good and Evil is one of the key issues of all world religions and most spiritual schools, it is he who determines the choice of the path of development. The bright path is the path of Love, Goodness, Justice, service to God and society. The dark path is perfection in Evil, the path of violence, fear, destruction, struggle with God, society, etc.

Kindness, positivity - purity of thoughts and motives, the absence of any negative emotions, the ability to maintain goodwill, satisfaction in any, the most unpleasant situations, the ability to love and believe, to see in each person the creation of higher powers and wish him happiness. All this is achieved by appropriate spiritual practices, leading to enlightenment and other exalted states. Evil, negativity (to some extent characteristic of almost every person) - deceit, desire for evil, anger, envy, fears, lack of freedom, violence, aggressiveness, disbelief in God or purposeful service to evil, crimes and any other violations of spiritual laws, the will of higher forces.

The Importance of Spirituality

The importance of spirituality cannot be overestimated. It allows a person to rise above the animal world, step by step, as he evolves, to know the will of higher powers and approach divine perfection. Realizing the importance of spiritual development for God, man and society, performing a great feat, their missions (high-level beings: deities, gods) came in different epochs to convey spiritual knowledge to people, found religions and teachings. It was they who largely determined the history and culture of many peoples.

The main purpose of a person before the higher powers, which all religions and positive teachings speak of, is to become an assistant to the Creator in the realization of his plans, to serve God. The path to the realization of the destination is development - the achievement of spiritual perfection and the disclosure of all the abilities inherent in a person. Life on Earth is a unique opportunity for enjoyment, good deeds and development, a large classroom. When the training is completed, you can go to higher worlds, “get out of the wheel of samsara”, “be born in the world of the gods” (according to Buddhism).

Power over oneself is one of the most significant results of spiritual development. This power means that only those feelings, desires and emotions that he considers right, which strengthen him, live in a person, i.e. he is free from irritation, resentment, anger, etc., calmness, goodwill and contentment have become his nature. For such a person, there are no fundamental barriers to any internal changes, he is able to realize in himself any knowledge, qualities and states that he needs.

Having received power, power over himself, a person is able to gain power over his own destiny. All the main life goals: work, personal life, the formation of the environment - become achievable, because. a spiritual person knows how “things happen”, how spiritual laws, karmic tasks, the past influence fate, where a person is free in his choice, and where he is obliged to act only in a certain way. Such a person is able to make the best decisions and implement them in the best possible way, approaching his goal.

Our society can become more perfect only if its citizens become more perfect, if people manage to get rid of the state of loss and anger, find the meaning of life and receive the strength to change it. Spiritual development awakens in a person the desire for positive activity and helping people, for serving society, finding one's place in it and eliminating its main problems: ignorance, lack of spirituality, aimlessness, dislike, crime, violence, drug addiction, poverty, environmental disasters...

Development of spirituality

Despite the fact that the concept of spirituality is quite widely known, most people still do not understand its true meaning and the words of Krishna, spoken thousands of years ago, unfortunately, remain true to this day: “Out of a thousand people, hardly one striving for perfection, and out of a thousand striving and attaining, hardly one truly understands me. If a person really strives for spiritual perfection, then, first of all, he must make a responsible decision and choose an appropriate development system.

A responsible decision has a number of fundamental differences from various pseudo-solutions (good wishes, all kinds of excuses, etc.). It is based on a clear understanding of the importance of spiritual development for oneself, one's destiny, God and society, and brought to such an extent that a person can say about himself: "I will overcome everything, I can do everything." This corresponds to the maximum possible strength of aspirations and involves getting rid of everything opposite, from any doubts about the need for development.

The path of spiritual development is not strewn with roses, it involves getting rid of shortcomings, changing many habits and beliefs that seemed unshakable, overcoming many obstacles, which is never easy, without a struggle. A responsible decision is based on the fact that a person understands this and is ready to fulfill all the conditions necessary to achieve the goal. It is the willingness to take on the role of a student, recognizing that he is at the very beginning of the path and respecting the opinions of those who are one step above.

The choice of a development system should ideally be such that a person will never regret it. This is a difficult and important task. Any normal development system, in comparison with self-education, has a number of undeniable advantages: a well-developed, time-tested program and methodology that gives positive results, the ability to control the adequacy of development and obtain the necessary consultations, a circle of like-minded people who are ready to help.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, self-education in the spiritual realm is just as futile as attempts to independently learn how to play the violin, fly a modern aircraft, etc. An unsystematic study of spiritual literature often gives rise to internal contradictions that a person cannot cope with, which blocks his further development. The primary purpose of spiritual literature is to arouse interest in this area of ​​knowledge and the desire for excellence, to lead to the path of development.

Basic Mistakes

The more complex the field of knowledge, the higher the probability of errors in it, and in the spiritual sphere there are more than enough of them. The first global mistake inherent in spiritual schools is ignoring, opposing or rejecting the second component of complex development - energy development (improvement of the body, energy management, disclosure of extrasensory abilities, etc.). The explanation for this attitude can be anything, but it has only two reasons - an elementary misunderstanding or a desire to keep the audience, killing interest in other issues.

Comprehensive development accelerates the achievement of both spiritual and energetic perfection. Spiritual development allows you to clear your mind, remove the prohibitions of higher powers, and get the right to reveal your abilities. Energy development makes a person energetically stronger: it increases efficiency, increases the speed of internal transformations and decision-making, when the vision is revealed, it allows you to get in touch with the subtle world and your soul, in practice to check most of the spiritual positions.

"Science begins where measurement begins." The second global mistake of many theological schools is the lack of clearly defined development criteria: levels (levels of inner strength) and positivity (distinguishing between Good and Evil). In this case, it loses specific goals and stages, becomes ineffective and inaccessible for analysis, and often turns into a pastime. The presence of criteria allows not to violate the logic of development, to invest efforts in accessible tasks that give the greatest return.

The next mistake is not very easy to distinguish from the first time - this is fanaticism - a distortion of devotion, a path to disaster. Devotion is a necessary condition for development, the ability not to change the chosen path, to overcome all difficulties and temptations. This presupposes the observance by the system of the code of honor of the hierarchy of Light, the ability to see one's mistakes, shortcomings and, if possible, eliminate them. Fanaticism is blind faith, it is the justification of any stupidity and atrocities, if they correspond to dogmas or are lowered from above, the inability to critically analyze what is happening.

A common mistake is also a negative attitude towards other schools and areas. A little sooner or later, however, all positive forces will unite into a single hierarchy of Light on Earth, now each of the systems is implementing its karmic task. The Forces of Light should not fight with each other, for this there are a sufficient number of other opponents: internal problems, diseases of society and other manifestations of Evil. When choosing a development path, it is desirable to check that the corresponding system is free of at least the indicated errors.

Mianie M.Yu.
PhD, Professor,
founder and scientific director
Center for Human Development

Spiritual development- this is the study of the structure of INTELLIGENT LIFE, through the knowledge of YOURSELF, your feelings and thoughts, from where and how they are born, how they affect us, on a personal and general level.

The real Spiritual path of development (growth of the Soul) is not possible without real knowledge of oneself (one's inner world of feelings and thoughts).

Not everyone is able to come to this Path. Someone is busy earning their daily bread, someone needs to arrange their personal lives, that is, most people are immersed headlong in “everyday life” and they simply have no time to stop to think about something else. Fear also has a place. After all, even realizing the senselessness of the “race” for new acquisitions and the growth of one’s social significance, it takes a lot of courage to boldly look into oneself and try to change the usual way of life, and at the same time transform oneself.

Only some out of the ordinary event that can shake a person can make such people leave the “comfort zone” - it can be stress, a sudden insight caused by shock, the death of loved ones, etc. The event should make him understand all the illusory nature of such a life, where values ​​come, and human life, by and large, has no meaning.

When understanding comes and the familiar world collapses, a person faces a choice - how now to live on, what to believe in, what or whom to serve? What can stimulate a person to believe in himself and think about eternal and unshakable values? At this moment, a difficult path of changes and transformation of his spirit opens before him, an opportunity opens up to touch his Divine principle.

Evolution of Spirit and Soul

Spiritual development is the Path of the evolution of the spirit and soul, which distinguishes people from animals, and for the sake of which we all incarnated here on Earth. After all, the meaning of life lies in the fact that by moral victories over one’s shortcomings, character traits and habits, clear the mirror of one’s soul from dirt, strengthen the spirit and continue improvement already beyond our reality, in higher worlds and in more subtle matters.

Real Spiritual development is possible only under these conditions, when a person goes beyond the Destructive Mind, in which there is the creativity of illness, death, doubts…

Our body is the seat of the soul and is connected with the Creator (God or Creator) through the spirit. It can also be said that each person, animal, insect, plant, mineral or atom together constitute the body of God, or it manifests itself through everything that surrounds us and it all evolves and develops according to cosmic laws and cycles.

Having reached human nature, the soul and body are subjected to severe trials. On their way, obstacles arise in the form of ego, doubtful desires, negative emotions, a sense of self-importance, etc. In the fight against these factors, a person sometimes lives many lives until conditions mature and form in which a person can no longer continue to live like this without changing yourself.

The Essence of Spiritual Development

The most important thing on the path of Spiritual development is to find the integrity of one's views and aspirations with the desires of the soul, and then it is possible to become similar to God not only in image, but also in content. Love is the key to discovering limitless possibilities in yourself. Love is the language of God. Learning to love truly is not easy, and many do not even have an idea of ​​what it is. Their understanding does not extend beyond carnal rubbing against each other and possessive attitude towards beloved ones.

We must learn to give love to the whole world around us, without expecting anything in return, because God has already rewarded a person with everything that one could only dream of at birth. However, for some this is not enough and they rush from one extreme to another. Hence the wars, and rivalry, and fornication ... This is the path of suffering and dissatisfaction, which destroys the body and destroys the soul.

But how, by what means and methods to come to an agreement with oneself? Perhaps prayer will become a consolation for someone, but it is not capable of giving an impulse for evolutionary growth. Religion is an unnecessary mediator between man and God. In our time, it increasingly serves as a tool for manipulating people, a means of profit and dirty machinations on the part of the church or higher authorities.

Only evolution matters now. Therefore, by choosing a voluntary, firm and conscious intention to know and change yourself, you can come to the desired result. As they say, there are many who seek the Creator, but not many find him. The Creator lives in each of us, but without awakening it, we turn away from ourselves. He does not hear the voice of our desires, requests or laudatory odes - he reacts only to manifestations of the spirit expressed in actions.

Self-doubt and fear of an unknown future, and, most importantly, an unknowing choice of the Spiritual path will very quickly return an immature person to a familiar and comfortable way of life. To stay true to your choice, especially at the initial stage, you need to be vigilant, listen to yourself and pull up whenever the ego begins to dictate its conditions - complete control of thoughts and actions.

• You need to accept yourself, sorting out your delusions, mistakes, resentments, albeit not immediately, but over time. First of all, you should learn to always remain honest and be yourself under any circumstances. There is no need to blame anyone for the current situation, and even yourself - after all, this is a school where we all go through training and grow our souls with each class.

Freed from the burden of past mistakes and insults, a person gains lightness and self-confidence. The surrounding world begins to create favorable conditions for a person, fills the space with guiding signs, life becomes joyful and transforms right before our eyes. Feeling inner peace and a desire to live, a person in the future will never be able to repeat the mistakes of the past and will not make new ones.

Reading philosophical literature, spiritual practices, and meditation will help speed up evolution. Religious literature contains too much speculation and falsehood, so a person ignorant of such matters can easily accept anything on faith. There are a lot of ancient and modern literary artifacts that can acquaint the traveler with the structure of the universe, with cosmic and spiritual laws, with concepts that reveal the very essence of a human being and much more.

Spiritual development is possible only if a person sincerely wants to know his inner world, really change the structure of his feelings, give himself the opportunity to know how to actually live, breathe, love, without feelings of fear.

Literature:

E.P. Blavatskaya, D.L. Andreev, Roerichs, Sri Aurobindo, Osho, ancient Indian epics – “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana”, Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, Philokalia, AllatRa and many other books that are recommended for deep study by those who chose the path of the spirit.

In this article, you will be able to understand in detail how to start spiritual development and what it really is. This article is written based on the experience and research of many people who are on different paths of spiritual growth: within and outside of traditional religions. You will definitely find here all the information you need to start self-realization.

First you need to understand the basic concepts, especially what the concept of “spiritual development” means.

What is spiritual development really?

First, one must understand the clear difference between spiritual development and cultural or moral development. For example, some people sincerely believe that going to museums and theaters elevates them spiritually. But this is a mass delusion, especially when you consider the direction in which contemporary art is going today.

A person can do certain things for decades and think that he is progressing spiritually. In fact, he will not make any progress on the path of self-realization.

True, there is one caveat: if a person has a God-given talent in the field of art and he, for example, is an artist. Then visiting exhibitions and other events related to this area can help a person in spiritual development.

Why? Because:

Spiritual development implies that a person will go his own way in accordance with the talents that are the manifestation of God in him.

There is a certain Divine plan for the life of every living being, which is also called destiny. And if a person does not follow this, then there can be no question of spiritual growth.

The concept of "spiritual development" is described in detail in the video:

Also, before engaging in spiritual development, you need to clearly understand why this should be done.

The main goal of spiritual self-development

It is no secret that many of those who embarked on the path of spiritual self-improvement experienced some or other difficulties before that. It could be a difficult situation in matters of money, a discord in relationships or health problems.

One way or another, life's difficulties push a person to a more conscious life. The whole surrounding world is waiting for us to get out of the influence of the illusion of the material world and begin to develop in the spiritual direction.

The main goal of spiritual development is the realization of one's spiritual nature, God in the heart and life based on this.

Understand that the goal of spiritual development is NOT going to temples on a schedule or unconsciously repeating prayers because some priest said so. We must learn to build a relationship with God in our heart without any intermediaries.

The Almighty is the closest friend and well-wisher who is with us every second and is waiting for us to finally pay attention to him. But we ignore God in our hearts and exchange Him for external, often meaningless things: religions, rituals, pseudo-teachers, etc.

The process of realizing God in the heart is not as long as many priests tell us. We are told that we are not yet developed to communicate with God directly. But this is a lie. No additional conditions are needed to communicate with God. He is with us right here and now.

Don't believe? Try to start living with an eye to your heart (the voice of conscience, if you will). And you will see that real spiritual development has begun, and then miracles will begin.

In general, true spiritual progress is always accompanied by miracles. If a person is engaged in spiritual development a lot, pray for several hours a day, visits the temple every week, reads spiritual treatises, but miracles do not happen in his life and he does not become really happier, then he does NOT develop spiritually and, most likely, went on a false way.

Often people fall for such a deception that religious leaders impose on them: now you need to be humble, endure and develop spiritually as much as possible, but after death everything will be fine. This is another monstrous lie that helps to make people slaves.

You need to live here and now. We need to communicate with God today. You need to be happy in the present moment. This is what God expects of us. And for this, you just need to start living according to your conscience, putting God on the altar of your heart.

God is not very interested in people who endure everything and are afraid of everything. He needs courageous and resolute people who do not shake with fear and do not blindly believe non-humans, who often dress in sacred clothes.

To be fair, it should be noted that there are also pure spiritual people within the framework of religions. Maybe not as many as we would like, but they are. And only God in our hearts will help us to distinguish who is a real man of God and who is a "wolf in sheep's clothing."

If this main goal is not in the focus of a spiritually developing person, then whatever he does, everything will be devoid of deep meaning.

Where to start spiritual development: tools and their choice

If we talk about traditional religions, then in general the instruments of spiritual development are the same there: the choice of the religion itself, prayer practices, spiritual treatises, communication with like-minded people, the search for mentors and spiritual teachers. And it is believed that this is quite enough to go to the spiritual world (or reach the Kingdom of God) AFTER death.

To a person who has been familiar with “religious cuisine” for more than a year, sooner or later it becomes obvious that there are quite a lot of unfortunate people among the followers of religions. Moreover, there is a wealth of information about what crimes are committed by religious leaders: fraud, theft, child abuse, drug trafficking, murder, and more. All this raises many questions from adequate and sane people.

What to do?

To follow the path of any religion or outside of it is the choice of a particular person. The purpose of this article is to teach you to distinguish false spirituality from genuine. Therefore, below we will discuss in more detail the tools of spiritual development that are used both in official religions and outside them.

These are the tools:

• Life according to the heart;
• Choosing a spiritual path;
• Prayer practices;
• Holy Scriptures;
• Sublime surroundings;
• Mentors and teachers;
• Altruism or selfless activity;
• Additional tools to help spiritual growth.

Life according to one's heart or how to listen to the voice of conscience?

It has already been noted above that God, as one of His full aspects, is in the hearts of all living beings. This aspect is called the Paramatma or Supersoul or voice of conscience.

Today it is becoming more and more obvious that living according to conscience, with an emphasis on God in the heart is the safest way on which a person will not be deceived by pseudo-spiritual personalities. Relying on the Oversoul, a person can not be afraid of anything, since in this case he is under the direct protection of God. In one of the texts of the Bhagavad Gita, God says:

“Give up all religions and just surrender to Me. I will deliver you from all the consequences of your sins. Don't be afraid of anything."

And that says it all, and it's all clear. The main thing in spiritual development is to completely surrender to the Almighty, and then everything will develop with His direct participation.

What is the easiest way to surrender to God? Start listening to your heart, which is where God is. He is with us always and in the present moment too.

How to learn to listen to God in the heart? No one will give specific recommendations, since everyone has this process in different ways. Only He himself knows how everything will happen to a particular person.

Therefore, you just need to sincerely turn to Him and say that you want to learn to listen to Him in your heart. God will surely respond to such an appeal and begin to lead you through life.

And we are not talking about the fact that you were taken like a dog on a leash and led. Where God is always there are exciting adventures and miracles. Believe me, you will definitely not be bored.

In my opinion, this tool on the path of spiritual development should become more important than religions, spiritual teachers, prayers, temples, etc.

How to choose a spiritual tradition?

If you decide to follow the path of any religion, then you need to seriously approach its choice. And in this matter, too, everything is individual. One person may be suited to one religion, another to another religion, a third to a third spiritual tradition. By the way, this does not mean that they should compete with each other - only fanatics do this.

Also, a person does not have to be exactly in the religious tradition in which he was born. It often happens that, having matured, a person chooses another spiritual tradition, which is “closer to his heart”.

Choose your religion (tradition) wisely using the following criteria:

• This tradition must lead to the Personality of Godhead (if the tradition's philosophy is that only their path and "their god" are the only correct ones, then this is either a false tradition or false and ignorant followers);
• In this religion there should be many truly Holy Persons (not 2-5, but hundreds, thousands and more);
• The tradition must be based on authoritative scriptures that are many years old (at least 500 years old and more);
• Many people should follow the path of this religious tradition and achieve certain results on it (for example, people rise to a higher level of life, renounce violence, immorality and debauchery, etc.);
• In this religion, there should be a spiritual (prayer) practice, which every sincere follower is engaged in;
• You should be fine in this tradition; if you experience constant discomfort, then perhaps this is not what you need;
• It's good if you like the customs and rules in this religion (at least they are satisfied at the initial stage).

More than enough criteria are listed for choosing a spiritual tradition (religion) at the beginning of spiritual development. Consider them.

I would like to draw your attention to one point. During the last 200 years, not the best things have been happening in religions and it is my duty to tell you about it. Do not be lazy and study the article:

For people who do not want or are not yet ready to choose a particular religious tradition, there is an opportunity to develop spiritually outside of religion. This is detailed in the article:

Prayer practice: when, how and why?

Now about another important topic - prayers and mantras.

These practices are certainly useful and important, but only when a person is engaged in them consciously and sincerely. When this turns into an automatic process and a person prays simply because he has to, then the effectiveness of prayer tends to zero.

At the initial stage of spiritual growth, the daily practice of prayer or mantra will be useful. It will purify the consciousness of a person and elevate him. Everything new in this world bears fruit, but for the time being.

Over time, when a person is "drawn" into the spiritual life, the effectiveness of prayer drops and it often becomes automatic. And the following situation can be observed: a person seems to be actively engaged in spiritual development, prays, but no special result is visible. This means that he is on the wrong path.

Prayer should be as an addition, but not as the main goal of spiritual development. People who live according to their hearts are often much happier and more powerful than those who, like a robot, pray for hours to no avail.

God responds only to sincere prayers when a person consciously addresses him, and does not think during prayer about what he will do after prayer or how he was unfairly treated. It is better than automatically repeating a prayer to do some kind and selfless deed for people or other living beings. More about it in the video:

Studying the Scriptures

We know a lot of Holy Scriptures, but the question is how much they have survived in their original form in our 21st century? As a result of various studies, I learned that all major spiritual treatises are subject to distortions to one degree or another. By the way, this is mainly done by representatives of official religions. Why? Because they serve a single supra-religious leadership.

The Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad Gita, the Torah, or something else - today it must be read carefully, with the mind turned on, and everything cannot be taken on blind faith.

Does this mean that spiritual treatises should not be read at all? Of course not. Even in the distorted scriptures, many profound things remain. You just need to know what to choose to read and how to be guided by the study of treatises.

When reading any scripture, one must be guided by the heart. The most important comment about what we read comes from the God within us. If a person lives according to his heart, then he cannot be led astray even by rewritten books. The Almighty will always help to find something that will help a person in spiritual development.

You can learn about how spiritual treatises distort in the article:

About the sublime environment and mentors

It's hard for one to develop. It is impossible to progress spiritually outside of society. Therefore, a person must have relationships with other people. That is, he should not withdraw into himself, considering this the height of renunciation. It is in interaction with other people that we are “turned” like a stone in order to give a beautiful and elegant form - to make truly spiritual people.

It is favorable to have communication with like-minded people who are also engaged in spiritual development. You can communicate with them, share experiences, discuss interesting topics, etc. This gives inspiration, energy, and can also give unexpected clues in situations that are incomprehensible to us. At the moment of difficulties and doubts, such an environment is a very good helper and friend.

True, it is not always easy to find such an environment. But, as they say, a sincere person who lives according to his heart will never be left alone, and God will surely find company for him when it is needed.

Even better if you find a mentor, which will suggest what and how to do, point out errors, etc. Keep in mind that any situation or any person can be a mentor for us, if we can perceive them in the right frame of mind.

But it is not so easy to become a true mentor who will give us advice and we will follow it. Such a person must lead an exalted and pure life for many years. The same goes for spiritual teachers.

One of the most important signs of a spiritual teacher is that he teaches the student to do without him, and does not try to become an intermediary between God and him. A real spiritual teacher helps a person to become himself, and not someone there. A true guru speaks about God in the heart of the disciple and teaches to live on the basis of this.

Not all mentors and teachers meet the criteria described above. But what can you do, such times are now ... Live according to your heart and God will definitely tell you where the teacher is, and where the swindler and scoundrel are.

Selflessness for spiritual growth

It is impossible to separate real spiritual progress and selfless deeds. A spiritual person always lives on the basis of his talents, and it is in the talent destined for us that one can be truly selfless.

At the initial stage, while we are not in our talent, we can and should look for ways to manifest selflessness. There are really a lot of them these days. Details about the importance of this quality and its development are written in the article:

Important points at the beginning of spiritual development

In addition to the initial steps in spiritual development, certain actions must be taken in other directions as well.

First of all, it is:

• Daily regime;
• Cleanliness;
• Nutrition;
• Intoxication.

Without putting things in order in your everyday life, it is impossible to progress on the spiritual path. Therefore, you need to strive to eat right, sleep at the right time, maintain personal hygiene, get rid of bad habits and much more.

In day mode Pay special attention to getting up early. You can learn about the basics of the daily routine from the video:

Cleanliness is especially important for spiritual development and it is imperative to strive for it. This is the purity of the body, underwear, the surrounding space, the psyche, etc.

Start by taking a shower every morning. About the need for this in this post:

Nutrition largely determines our level of consciousness, our qualities of character and even actions. For example, if a person loves to eat meat food, then he will show a tendency to violence and lust, and this will be a serious obstacle to spiritual development. Regarding the usefulness or harmfulness of meat.