When I first read Pierre de Chardin’s words many years ago, I felt I had found the answer to my biggest spiritual question. Although it took many more years to reach where I am now, his statement gave me important support and guidance.

In understanding what it means to be human (body-mind-spirit), the spirit is the least understood part. What is the spirit or soul? The spirit clearly has different qualities than our bodies or minds, even though we struggle to explain it. A simple way to think about it is that the spirit is what makes us who we are, separate from our body and mind.

So, did we exist as spirits before we became human, and will we return to being spirits when we leave our physical bodies? If we think this way, it suggests that the spirit is connected or identical to something greater, which many call the Source, the One Creator, God, Brahman, Christ Consciousness, Buddha’s Mind, and so on.

Sadly, our spiritual essence has been held back for too long. Most discussions about spirit have been limited to religions and, to a lesser extent, philosophies. Neither have offered real solutions to the serious problems humanity has faced. In fact, religions might have helped reinforce an old way of thinking that makes us feel powerless and helpless.

I believe that this simple but profound statement—we are spiritual beings having a human experience—will serve as a powerful catharsis in shaking up the old system. Yes, that same old (and current) system that has convinced many of us that life must be difficult, challenging, and full of struggles. Come to think of it, our spiritual nature may have been deliberately suppressed for thousands of years to preserve the interests of the ruling elites of any given society. If enough people awaken to their own spirituality and divinity, the hierarchical structures we’ve seen throughout history could not continue.

Then, the most important question to ask is: How can we bring out our spirituality (or our divinity) to the center of our lives? Perhaps if enough of us recognize and embrace our divinity, we can achieve freedom from all sorts of bondages, let go of the convoluted mindset that values money and power over human dignity, and take control of ever-growing power of AI in our lives.

It all comes down to one question: Do we see ourselves as aging and fragile bodies with scattered thoughts and many personal labels, or do we view ourselves as spiritual beings with a broader awareness? Only when we fully integrate the concept of “we are spiritual beings having human experiences”, can we see our lives as a brief journey on this planet.

It clearly is a strange notion, but it is very doable.