Magliocchetti 1

Massimo Magliocchetti
PL 265
Professor Fowler
11 December, 2015
Nosce Te Ipsum
Abstract: Spirituality is a variable aspect of a person which aids in defining who they are, and
how they deal with different situations. In this essay, I explored how different lives are of equal
import, that we should respect others as though they were us, that having a sacred space that
allows for greater inner reflection, that compassion is necessary in intimacy through
understanding for all people, and that spirituality is such an intimate, yet broad term in defining
a persons identity. I have found that a greater sense of spirituality shall lead to a greater
understanding of ones self, and a greater understanding of the relationship that all beings share.
I: I Believe All Lives are Equal
This first section of my credo will focus on the innate equality all beings should share. I
say we all should share the same equality because this is not always the case. The fact that some
lives are perceived to be of greater import than others baffles me because throughout many, if not
all religions is the idea that life is sacred. However, this can become skewed, and through this
distortion rises a hierarchical system of being; this hierarchical structure even creates tiers intra
species.

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II: I Believe in the Golden Rule
Now, after discussion the merits of equality of being comes a more in-depth look at our
actions towards our fellow humans. The Golden Rule states that you should only do unto
others as you would want done unto you.
We have a responsibility towards others, and this belief concerns moral development and
obligations. In class, we read Pope Franciss encyclical, Laudato si, and he discussed, in great
length, our responsibility to one another. Now, Pope Francis mainly discussed our involvement
with each other in terms of our impact on the environment, and in doing so illustrated the issues
of exploitation and oppression.
Pope Francis referred to the more developed countries as the global north and less
developed nations as the global south. He then went on to discuss the natural exploitation of
the global south by the global north, and how the reaping of natural resources harmed local
environments. In ruining the local environments, the people in the areas local to the mining, or
resource extraction, experience adverse effects. In some places, the people experience
contaminated water, ruined plant life, and overall destruction of the environment. Pope Francis
then went on to say that we have dominion over this Earth, but dominion does not entail
exploitation.
When the Pope discussed nature, and our connection with it, he cited the Hymn of St.
Francis. St. Franciss hymn solely focuses on how interconnected people are with the
environment, and how we may reap what is sown, but we are also charged with replenishing
(healing) the earth. Just as we are charged with healing the Earth after we take what is needed,
we must also take care of each other. The environments people find themselves in, especially
those they call home, can be so adversely effected by other people that they are forced to leave.

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Taking care of one another also describes how we should view each other, and Pope Francis
really touched upon this when he discussed homelessness to the United States Congress. He also
described homelessness in the encyclical, and the gist of his sentiments was that it should not
exist.
Homelessness should not exist, and yet it does. Events transpire that we cannot fully
control, and when they do, we need at least one other person who can help lift us up. Many
people who are homeless are looked down upon by society, especially with stereotypical slurs
such as bum, free rider, etc. Most of those who are homeless are not alcoholics or addicts in any
respect; they are people who just had a bout of bad luck. These people do not deserve our anger
or disgust, they instead deserve our help. I do thoroughly believe that we are meant to help one
another. There is of course cause for conflict, but only constructive conflict. In almost all
religious texts, even the Heros Journey, there was some conflict necessary to overcome a certain
barrier that needed to be transcended in order to progress the individual. This can also be
translated to the community the person lives.
III: I Believe in Sacred Space
Transitioning from the need to help one another, comes the need to help ones self. Selfreflection and meditation is a crucial part of caring for the self. When others care for you, part of
the care is brought inwards, however, the majority of it is external. Reflection is important, not
only for the person to understand themselves better, but to calm themselves and find inner peace.
Inner peace is a large part of caring for the self because of how it actually translates into
the physical realm. This is actually one of the more interesting topics that inner peace relates.
Studies have been conducted, as some groups have presented on in class, which show the effects
of ones sense of peace and their health. One of the speakers that came to class was Dr. Helming

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(PhD, APRN FNP-BC, AHN-BC), and she lectured us on the effect of spirituality in healthcare. I
saw the merit in everything she said, and I agreed with most of her information. I say that I saw
the merit in all of it and agreed with most of it because the studies she cited seemed to focus
more on prayer. I agree that prayer has an effect on a person, but that effect is generally because
it fosters hope. As I said before, hope is more or less synonymous to inner strength and
resilience. However, prayer is not the only ritual someone can participate in that brings about
hope and inner peace. I focused more on what she said concerning inner peace and sacred spaces.
Prayer is a form of meditation, just as hymnals are used to meditate as well. Anything that
calms a person, thereby effectively bringing them to another plane of consciousness and insight
can be considered meditation. I say another plane of consciousness because that is what
meditation is; it is the analysis of oneself and the means to which the person is centered.
Centering ones self is important because that is when they can be considered to be at peace. That
is when they are sure of who they are, and why they are the way they are. Centering ones self is
a way of securing the persons identity, because someone who is unsure of themselves will be
left open to many different influences. Knowing thyself is important because at that point in
time, they are, internally, the soundest they can be. This directly relates back to my views on
hope. Meditation is leads to a strengthened mind and sense of self, and that is how I define hope.
Hope is the sinner strength that drives how a persons body can be effected by medical
treatments, and even how diseases interact with their body. There is strong relationship between
internal factors and external ones that aid in keeping a person healthy. Hope is not necessarily a
standalone treatment and cure, but it can heavily supplement external ones. What the effect of
sacred space boils down to, is the bolstering of belief in oneself and their self-purpose, thereby
spawning hope and effecting the whole person.

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IV: I Believe in Compassion

So far I have examined external factors, and then an internal factor that leads to
spirituality. Now, I will examine an aspect of spirituality that is a culmination of the previous
topics: compassion.
Compassion is a very interesting aspect of the person. Compassion is not apathetic, and it
does not include sympathy as a result of pity. Compassion deals solely with empathy. There was
one video we were shown in class. The video was a TedTalk featuring Buddhist Roshi, Joan
Halifax. She discussed the importance of compassion in healing. One of the statements she
makes that I found most interesting was that we cannot be attached to the outcomes (Halifax).
This statement stood out to me because it signifies that we can become desensitized to suffering.
After all, that is the genesis of compassion suffering.
When I think of suffering, different images and emotions come to mind, and not all of
them are personal. Suffering brings about change, and therefore bring about a better
understanding of ones identity. However, compassion is a multifaceted construct. There are
many different inputs that go into the equation which brings about the ability for compassion. All
people are capable of compassion to an extent, and some better than others. It is centered on
empathy, the ability to draw on personal experiences in order to connect with someone.
Sympathy is a shallower form of connection, but empathy is one of the more intimate forms of
connection. So, when Roshi Halifax says that detachment from outcomes is one of the essential
parts of compassion, she is correct. When you become attached to outcomes, then you can
become desensitized to the suffering as an involuntary coping mechanism.

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The coping mechanism is involuntary because empathy denotes making yourself
vulnerable to suffering. We must make ourselves vulnerable, however, in order to transform it.
Roshi Halifax also says that we must aspire to transform suffering (Halifax). We can only
transform the suffering we see when we open ourselves up to it. In opening ourselves up to
anothers suffering, we are able to better understand them and provide a new level of care that
would otherwise be unavailable. Compassion is the culmination of the previous sections because
it is the underlying force that connects all of us. It is the ability we have to connect to people we
may not even know well, but in opening ourselves up to the, we see our similarities.
V: I Believe in Spirituality
I have covered multiple topics in this essay, all of which lead to the topic of spirituality. It
is interesting that a topic, which is so personal to people, can be such a general term used to
describe a multitude of beliefs. Spirituality, to me, is an incredibly intangible aspect of my
identity. In its intangibility comes its elusiveness. The elusiveness concerns my ability to actually
grasp the nature of it and properly articulate its description.
Spirituality is such a broad term that encompasses many different beliefs, and yet such an
intimate term because of its nature. Its nature is to guide ones actions, and help interpret stimuli.
It is the driving force behind identity, integrity, and inner peace. The intimate nature of
spirituality is why I believe there to be so much conflict concerning it.
Now, spirituality is not religion; religion is the medium which spirituality is categorized.
Through religion, I see the differences in spiritual understanding becoming more apparent, and
therein lies the nature of the conflicts.
The conflicts arise because the differences are made apparent, and not the commonalities.
Almost all religion believes that life is sacred, and some even extend that sentiment to nature.

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Therefore, all life is viewed as sacred. Many religions also preach similar, if not the same ideas
on compassion, and love. The misinterpretation of these ideas is an issue, and the cause can be a
misperception due to different labels being placed on them. This is why education on spirituality
is important. Not only for the external conflicts, but the internal as well. What we show
outwardly in rituals is usually derived from a better understanding of how we function on the
inside. How we find peace and security within ourselves, and how we see ourselves in the
network of life that inhabits the Earth.

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Works Cited
Halifax, Joan. Compassion and the true meaning of empathy. TedTalk. Dec. 2010.
Helming, Mary. Spirituality in Healthcare. Dec. 7.
Pope Francis. Laudato Si. May, 2015. Web. Dec. 2015.