What would be most beneficial to the seeker is a first level concept of spiritual growth that is more formal and more relativizing, thus allowing room for all aspects of spiritual growth and taking seriously the various concepts of spiritual growth, as derived from the various worldviews, and as found in various seekers. In this case concepts of growth in psychology may help, as that discipline more or less investigates at a distance from specific religious traditions.
Personal growth is a process in which the image of self, and the image of ideal self, become increasingly similar –
In this approach, the first level definition understands spiritual growth as a process in which the image of self as a spiritual person, and the image of ideal self as a spiritual person, become increasingly similar. This can be applied to various aspects of spirituality –
• Ethics: Spiritual growth includes a process in which my behavior and my thoughts about how I should behave become increasingly similar.
• Practical theology: Spiritual growth includes a process in which my religious practice (prayer, worship, etc.) and my ideal religious practice (e.g., should I pray? How should I worship?) become increasingly similar.
• Systematical theology: My actual belief system becomes more in agreement with what I think my belief system should be, e.g., be coherent, guide me to be a better human, give proper place to my ultimate concerns and so on.
• Divine: How my own self becomes increasing similar in nature to my chosen spiritual idol (Concept of ‘Ishta Deva’)
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