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When we in the Western civilization think of "spirituality," we often habitually return to our Christian beliefs and get mired into thinking in terms of religiosity.

Most of us believe in the human "soul" or "spirit." We speak of it as some unknown part of ourselves that we "hope" we have that might transcend us at the time of death. Some of us have "faith" that our spirit will survive us.

Let's transcend (or sidestep) those thoughts and beliefs and create a new system of reality. We know that something exists outside of our physical bodies. What is the difference between life and death? What energy or force makes the body move and think, and then stop? Who is the thinker behind the thoughts?

I am going to borrow terms from Dr. Wayne Dyer, the internationally-recognized speaker and author of 30 books about self-development with a Ph.D in psychology who recognizes our spiritual nature as the "higher self" or the "inner being."

Dyer is a great friend of Dr. Deepak Chopra, M.D., one of the world-renowned advocates of mind-body connections and Ayurvedic medicine, and he is the author of over 50 books. Chopra has a Wellness Center in California based on spirituality, meditation, massage, herbal cures, and non-medical interventions to create centeredness and healing.

In their cassette-taped discussions (Living Beyond Miracles, 1993; Living Without Limits, 1996; and Creating Your World the Way You Really Want It to Be, 1998) about mind-body connections, the men bring up many natural life experiences and discuss how different cultures/individuals deal with them.

Chopra asks the simple question of doctors/surgeons who don't believe in the mind-body connection, "How do you wiggle your toes?" Although you can describe the results with electrical thought patterns and synapses and motor effects and say, "I am moving my toes," then the question becomes: "Who is the thinker behind that thought that makes it happen?"

We have a consciousness that controls our thoughts and movements, beliefs and emotions. In fact, Deepak insists that every cell is a thinking cell. It controls the hormones and chemical balances to make itself work. If it "forgets" how to work efficiently, Deepak says this leads to cancer where new cells go wild in re-growth. But "happy" cells receive chemicals like adrenalin and cortisol, which excited, happy people feel when they are on a roller coaster - if that is a positive experience for them.

If the riders are terrified of roller coasters, they will create

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