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Spirituality

By Andy Gregory on January 24, 2014

UBC Nitobe Garden

By Carol Young, Student Housing and Community Services

What is spirituality?

Spirituality can be defined in many ways. Broadly, it is seeking self-awareness, meaning and understanding of our experiences in the world. It is searching for a connection to something bigger than ourselves.

Often university is a time when you become more aware of what has formed and informed you as you connect with others who hold similar and different views. As your perspectives are affirmed and challenged, you sift through those exchanges to discover what it is that you value and what gives your life meaning.

Exploring your spirituality

No matter how you choose to explore spirituality, it is an opportunity for self-reflection about yourself and how you connect to the world. Some questions to consider include:

  • What influenced how I was formed and how does that impact the way in which I see and engage others?
  • Do things happen for a reason?
  • How do I extend gratitude to the world?
  • How am I called to improve the lives of others?
  • How have my experiences from the past couple of years changed me? And what learnings will I carry forward from this time to help navigate future challenges and circumstances that come my way?

Ways to explore spirituality

At UBC, you have many options for exploring your spirituality, if you choose to. How you practice is entirely up to you. Here are some ideas:

Connect with nature

Take a walk in Pacific Spirit Park, Nitobe Memorial Garden or on Tower Beach.

Connect with people

Engage people in discussions that deepen or challenge your ideas. Seek out spiritual resources and amenities on campus.

Volunteer

Take part in a service learning or volunteer opportunity to experience the joy of giving back.

Start a journal

Record thoughts and feelings, express gratitude and reflect on big decisions and everyday encounters.

Reflect

Meditate, pray or worship—alone or with others. Exploring spirituality for some students may come through an association with a church, temple, mosque or synagogue. Other students may choose to pray, meditate or find comfort in a personal relationship with God or a higher power. Every student’s spiritual journey is unique.

Spirituality is concerned with those qualities of the human spirit—such as love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony—which brings happiness to both self and others.

Excerpt from Ancient Wisdom, Modern World: Ethics for the New Millennium by Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Published by Little, Brown and Company, United Kingdom.

Chaplains at UBC

Another way some students explore their spirituality is with Chaplains at UBC, which helps members of the UBC community engage with their spirituality and faith.

The word chaplain was originally associated with the Christian faith, but is now a widely used and accepted term to refer to men and women who represent many religions or philosophical traditions.

The current membership includes Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Bahá’í representation. Among Christian denominations you will find representatives from the Anglican, Baptist, Brethren Tradition, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, and United Churches.

Most chaplains offer one-on-one pastoral or spiritual counselling and other opportunities to explore the faith that they represent, like fellowship groups, meals, worship, faith exploration and training, or study. These groups are a good way to have fun, make friends and explore some of the big questions of life.

Learn more

Religion and spirituality
Learn more about religion and spirituality at UBC, including spiritual practices and spiritual resources—such as Chaplains at UBC, multifaith prayer rooms, and student-run organizations.
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  • Home
  • Getting Started
    ▼
    • Prospective Students
    • Returning Students
    • Graduate Students
    • Parents, Guardians and Families
    • Important Dates
  • Residences
    ▼
    • Residences Overview
    • Residences
      ▼
      • Acadia Park
      • Brock Commons
      • Exchange
      • Fairview Crescent
      • Fraser Hall
      • Graduate Colleges
      • Iona House
      • Marine Drive
      • Orchard Commons
      • Place Vanier
      • Ponderosa Commons
      • Ritsumeikan-UBC House
      • tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ
      • Thunderbird
      • Totem Park
      • Walter Gage
    • Rooms & Suites
      ▼
      • Shared Room
      • Connected Single Room
      • Single Traditional Room
      • Six Bedroom Suite
      • Four Bedroom Suite
      • Three Bedroom Suite
      • Two Bedroom Suite
      • One Bedroom Suite
      • Studio Suite
      • Nano Suite
      • Townhouse
      • Student Families
    • Residence Map
    • Indigenous Names
      ▼
      • Musqueam Names at tə šxʷhəleləm̓s tə k̓ʷaƛ̓kʷəʔaʔɬ
      • Indigenous Names at Totem Park
      • Musqueam Plants
  • Applications
    ▼
    • Essential Application Facts
    • Important Dates
    • How To Apply
    • Fees & Payments
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    • Residence Contracts
    • Cancellations
    • Refunds
    • Subletting
  • Dining
    ▼
    • Meal Plans
      ▼
      • Orchard Commons, Place Vanier & Totem Park
      • Suite-Style Residences
    • Where To Eat On Campus
  • Residence Life
    ▼
    • Residence Life Blog
    • Meet the Team
    • Community Living
      ▼
      • Rights and Responsibilities
      • Solving Problems
      • Living With Roommates
    • Residence Standards
    • Health & Safety
      ▼
      • Safety & Security
      • Health & Wellness
      • Counsellor in Residence
      • Fitness in Residence
      • Renter’s Insurance
      • Emergency Preparedness
      • COVID-19 Residence Rules
    • Services & Amenities
      ▼
      • Bed & Bath Linens
      • Sustainability Features
      • Residence Parking
    • Moving In
      ▼
      • Before You Leave Home
      • What Should I Pack?
      • Move In Day
      • Move In Market
      • Move In Day Volunteer Registration
      • Switches & Transfers
    • Get Involved
      ▼
      • Residence Programs
      • Professor in Residence
      • Grad Student Programs
    • Events
    • Student Family Housing
      ▼
      • Get Involved at Acadia Park
      • Moving In & Out of Acadia Park
    • Winter Break Residence Closure
      ▼
      • Welcome to your holidays in residence guide!
      • Your holidays in residence self-care guide!
    • Mindful Move Out
      ▼
      • Cleaning and departure checklists
  • Other Housing
    ▼
    • Living Off Campus
    • More Campus Housing
    • Visitor Housing
    • Commuter Student Hostel

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