subgenius wrote:i appreciate what you have written here, thanks.
However, i would propose the following, which i have already alluded to on this thread:
I agree with your notion that love will invoke certain physiological actions/reactions....i especially appreciate the distinction between love and emotion.
However, with regards to the Spirit being confused with emotion, is rather like a cold virus being confused with sneezing.
So, when you speak about how acts of love will invoke the presence of the Spirit and then the presence of the Spirit may or may not bring about a physiological response (emotion)....just as one may have an emotion without the presence of the Spirit.
It seems that the OP has this fairly simple concept of emotion and spirituality confused.
Kind Regards
Hello again subgenius!
Perhaps if we look at the human body a bit differently this confusion might find some clarity?
Here in physical incarnation, it is known by wisdom traditions that we are composed of more than just a physical body. We also have a mental body, a vital or emotional body, and subtler bodies which operate under the same premise, but are not part of this discussion.
Each body accesses and functions in a particular world or realm. The physical of course appears or accesses and functions in the material realm. The vital or emotional in vital or emotional realms which are the lowest heavens, as well as the hells and the in-betweens or the midsts. The mental accesses and functions in the next level of heavens, still considered lower heavens. (Our more subtle bodies access and function in middle and higher heavens.) All of our bodies are accessing and functioning in their respective heavens, irregardless of our awareness of these heavens. (It is through our subtle bodies that we do become aware of beings of other realms, and of the other realms themselves - which becomes obvious as we spiritually awaken.)
Our emotional or vital body is reactive, at least in its bestial state. Emotions arising because of stimuli. They can react to physical or mental stimuli, which is easy for us to see the connection, but they can also react to stimuli from more subtle realms. For example angels vibrating in love might stimulate a more subtle body, our vital body reacting to that with an emotional reaction. And then we have a multiple-realm event, such as we experience something in the physical through our mundane senses, bringing an emotional reaction, attracting higher beings from subtle realms, stimulating us on a more subtle level, also affecting the emotional body, resulting in a very powerful reaction to something in the physical that seems rather simple on the surface.
This is what is so unique about humanity - their bodies span the entirety of creation - through all realms and worlds, and so can bring 'heaven' even the Highest Heaven, to earth.
And we really cannot separate ourselves in that way, put an emotional reaction here and a spiritual (or subtle) reaction or response over there. We are interconnected, within ourselves and in this way within and throughout all creation - all of creation being connected as One Body on the most subtle levels.
And so while in physical incarnation, it is impossible to have a spiritual reaction or response without an emotional, nor even a mental or physical reaction. So when we are touched by a testimony, or even a commercial, for example, it is because some notion of a deeper truth has been spoken through the event, touching deeper parts of ourselves which awaken and respond, resulting in what appears to be a nonsensical reaction on the emotional level.
Now the key is purification - as scripture tells us through denying self or through crucifying the 'flesh' (which means the physical, emotional, and mental bodies) we become purified so that we are no longer unconsciously reacting to stimuli on the various levels, but are aware, and thus begin to respond consciously, meaning we are aware of the stimuli and consciously permit the response by our will, as it comes, through purification, in alignment with the Will of God. Thus bringing heaven to earth through the response of our earthly bodies to heavenly stimulus. This is how Light is brought into the world.
So I would say that emotions and spirituality are confused when we are asleep spiritually - unaware of ourselves and the multiplicity of realms that we touch, unaware of our inner bodies. Thus the key to finding God and Truth is within ourselves, awakening to these subtle layers of self that already know God, our most subtle level being Eternal.
Peace be within you.
Sheryl