Belief in a singular creator deity?

Faith in a particular religious doctrine?

Something else, or is it meaningless to you?

To me it means an awareness that at the core of every sentient being is an unending essence energy. That everything in the cosmos is connected by a source consciousness.

I think "spirituality" is a very generalized term and can mean anything to anyone. Now, my "version" is somewhat similar to yours, although I try to blend in a little scientific theory to even things up a bit. I think of myself as an "Agnostic" and not really religious. But I share somewhat similar views to yours. I don't know whether it can really be called a "consciousness", though there are quite a few examples of an "interconnectedness" amongst all things.

Am I making any sense?

Spiritual = The story we tell when we don't know

i am not sure that spirituality is limited to an inner journey.
there's a practical component which grows over time
(may also wane)

Some levels to this component could be:

1. A base of Compassion - a beginner's level

In everyday life, getting moved by songs or music or love
creates an empathy in our mind space

a relationship with nature:
could include scientific base that improves our understanding
explains why some of us care about distant future: global warming

a social awareness & belonging:
like right here in the forums, transcending national boundaries
where we listen to view points although they conflict with ours

detachment from emotions like anger or disgust:
like when a beggar asks for a handout

learning from our own sorrows / shocks:

in all of the above we begin with 'compassion'
and it allows us to momentarily experience some 'detachment'

--xx--
2. Detachment:
i think newer possibilities open up with bit of detachment in our everyday life, like sharing without thinking or doing a good job as a matter of course

the theme of detachment grows to a point of quality
which may be termed as 'spiritual bias' in our action
(correct me if there's a better term)

to do so, the mind-space enlarges to hold a 'we' instead of an 'I'
--xx--

3. Deliberate instead of Impulsive response:
Sounds like maturity but consider this when it stems from an inner sense of goodness / goodwill

4. Spiritual tools:
Now we may be ready for meditation or stillness
a) stops the chatter running within the mind,
b) stops the visuals cascading in our mind,
c) slows breathing,
just plain awareness (w/o any opinion about it)

in this stage, an awareness, a divine hand as guiding
or may be we are just re-aligning
to a larger 'external' energy flow
(if one takes work it is aligning with the Boss)
but i sense collaboration instead of competition
as part of alignment to this flow

All of the above is probably 'prep' for a journey.
(i may be here although not anchored in it)

5. The Journey / Faith
As SCB points out, scientific exploration could be one such path
at least with the wealth of info on net we can figure something?

the problem was as a lay man, i compared human brain with chimp brain and found the chimp brain can hold larger emotional content!!

May be it's time for a Guru to familiarize us with this unknown path. May be faith is what i require.

--xx--
6. The Goal:
my point is that some blinding flash of light during meditation
or a vision,
may or may not happen or whether it's part of spiritual journey
i don't know.
--xx--

i sense a spiritual aura when i read a few words of one of our
own in these forums - a detached form of love.

that's a level of 'spirituality' i'm currently aspiring for.
thanks for reading.

i also see Technovative has used just a few words & so believe
he means it.

Ultimately SimplyComplicated spins this post with:
"Spiritual = The story we tell when we don't know"


Let's say it's true,
steps 1 to 4 are still in our natural inclinations.

--xx---
additionally:
spirituality at the levels of Christ or even Joan of Arc??
merely thinking about shakes me up.

i suppose that would require a stronger body or
as somebody said recently a 'guilt free' mind?

as this would be a 'trans-formative' stage,
point of no return
i would prefer stage 5 to be a slower journey

as the next generation is expected to live over 100 years,
these journeys may be completed by a lot more 'elders'