Three Pillars of Spirituality

The term "spiritual", mean "concerning the spirit”, which is derived from Latin spiritualis, which comes from spiritus or "spirit". Spirituality is related to the inner dimension of human being. In spirituality there are three essential pillars doctrine, tradition and method or practice.

Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings which come from the Truth as a religion. The Absolute is origin and the starting point of all religion teach that human as ‘the image of God.’ Doctrine as a guidelines and instructions for man how to go through his life to return to his origin. Doctrine is the fundamental aspect of human faith.

The English word "tradition" comes from the Latin traditio, the noun from the verb tradere (to transmit, to hand over, to give for safekeeping). Religious tradition refers to beliefs, or customs performed or believed in the religion, originating in it, transmitted through time by being taught by one generation to the next, and are performed or believed in the present.

For man, tradition is a preserved contact to the Divinity and related to morals. Doctrine and tradition, both are related to communal relation between man and the Divine. Every religion have its own tradition which is related to its doctrine. For example: shalat is a form of Islamic prayer, Jesus prayer is a christianity tradition and yoga is related to Hinduism.

Method or practice is related to the tradition but it is more personal effort and experience to participate and build stronger connection to the divine. Tradition and method should be based on and in line with the doctrine since doctrine is the fundamental aspect of tradition and method. Practicing method without doctrine and tradition lead man to astray and confusion.