What Is Spiritual Power? Everything You Need to Know

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Exploring life force energy in spiritual and religious practices

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: December 13, 2023 Fact Checked

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Spiritual Power Meaning

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The 5 Spiritual Powers

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How to Find Your Spiritual Power

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Expert Interview

No matter who you are or what you believe in, spiritual power can play a big part in your life. Spiritual power is your life force, or the energy that moves you every single day. But what does this mean religiously and culturally? Keep reading to learn about Buddhism’s 5 spiritual powers and how you can develop yours.

Things You Should Know

Spiritual power is your inner strength or the invisible force that lets you live.
In Buddhism, there are 5 spiritual powers: faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom.
Find your spiritual power by meditating, asking yourself difficult, introspective questions, and practicing gratitude.

Section 1 of 3:

Spiritual Power Meaning

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Spiritual power is the life force that keeps you going. In many religions and spiritual practices, spiritual power or energy is the essence of life, harnessing the qualities of your mind, body, and spirit. Spiritual power can come in many forms. For yogis, it can be prana or the life force that energizes chakras.^{[1]
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Research source} For Christians, it may be faith in the Lord.^{[2]
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- Your spiritual power is the energetic force within you that drives you to be yourself and be faithful to your beliefs. It’s your inner strength.
- In other cultures, customs, and spiritual practices, spiritual power may also be called “chi (qi),” “ki,” “mana,” “reiki energy,” “kindalini energy,” or “divine light.”

Section 2 of 3:

What are the 5 spiritual powers in Buddhism?

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The 5 spiritual powers are faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. In Buddhism, it’s believed that there are 5 spiritual powers or “priceless jewels” of the heart and mind. These qualities are said to bring peace, comfort, and strength when balanced.^{[3]
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Research source} Buddhists practice harnessing these 5 spiritual powers to expand their mind and tap into their spirit’s true potential:
- Faith: To have an open mind and heart to trust the unknown.
- Effort: To put energy into your spiritual practice and control a wandering mind.
- Mindfulness: To acknowledge and be aware of the world around you.
- Concentration: To focus on one task or thought at a time.
- Wisdom: To have an intuitive understanding of reality and nature.
- Each of these powers works as one. For example, you can’t have faith without putting in effort to cultivate it.^{[4]
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Section 3 of 3:

How to Find Your Spiritual Power

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Embark on a journey of self-discovery to find your spiritual power. Your spiritual power is your inner strength, and no one can find it except you. Finding your spiritual power starts from within, which can mean different things to different people. Start a spiritual journey to discover the lengths of your power by:^{[5]
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- Meditating.
- Practicing yoga.^{[6]
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  Cleveland Clinic
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- Journaling.
- Asking yourself introspective questions and being honest.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jennifer McVey, Cht
  Spiritual Director
  
  Expert Interview} Start with “What is my life goal?” or “What gives me purpose?”
- Writing down your goals and intentions.
- Spending time in nature by going on walks, sitting near a body of water, or watching the sunset or sunrise.
- Reading.
- Practicing gratitude, kindness, and compassion.