談靈性

Spirituality

本文旨在以淺顯例子闡述靈性、宗教與心理精神之差異及相關緎，以澄清一般人的誤解。靈性的追尋不是未期病人才特有的需求，在一般疾病調適的三階段過程中，其第三階段就關係著靈性的成長。而Maslow人類五大基本需求最高層次「自我實現的滿足」，也是靈性的表現。靈性是「個人對生命最終價值所堅持的信念或信仰」。靈性其實是一種人生的哲學觀、使值觀。靈性說明了個人生活、社會及精神（理性與知性判斷）之意義與目的。這種堅信的理念會影響個人處事的態度及行為表現，例如九一一紐約世貿大樓事件就是一例。它也會影響個人生活的調適技巧與人際關系，甚至身心健康等等。宗教是特別的信仰及崇拜體系，有其特有規距習慣。因此，教團內的個人或團體會有共同分亨之信念及行為規範與約束，而其信仰就是忠實教陡行為的依據，靈性的準繩。沒有健全「生命價值觀」的人，內心資源缺乏，其人際關系、壓力調適過程及精神狀況都比較容易發生問題。本文對於靈性、宗教及精神問題觀念的澄清，有益於護理人員對靈性照顧的執行。

Spiritual care is extraordinarily important for both hospice and holistic care, but it is always interwoven with psychological reactions and religions. The theme of this article is an attempt to use simple examples to demonstrate the differences and relationships among spirituality, psychological problems and religion to clarify people's misunderstanding. Spiritual growth does not only occur in terminal cases, but it also happens in the third stage of disease adaptation in non-terminal patients. Self-actualization, the top level of Maslow's hierarchy of human needs, is a manifestation of personal spirituality. Spirituality is a dimension of a person that is concerned with ultimate ends and values. It is also a personal philosophy and a value system. Spirituality tells us what meanings and purposes people are concerned about in their lives, social activities, and psychological responses. This kind of firm belief will influence personal attitudes and behavior, such as reactions to the 911 tragedy of The Worcd Trade Centeo, NY. buildings. In addition, it will affect an individual's coping skills, interpersonal relationships, and psycho-physiological health. Religion is a particular belief and worship system, having its own value system and rules. So, a religious individual or group shares the same beliefes, and behaves under the same constraints. Religious faiths are the only bases for loyal disciples, and they are the standards of spirituality. A man without healthy value systems in life will be lacking in spirituality, easily resulting in spiritual sufferings such as interpersonal conflicts, coping disabilities, and psychological distresses. This clarification of spirituality, religion and psychological problems will help all walks in spiritual care.