In most spiritual traditions, psychology and spirituality are treated as one integrated body of experience, of phenomena and/or of forces. This perspective is problematical given that it blurs the lines between these two distinct areas of knowledge and study. What happens is a mixing of methodologies that serves neither the psychological, nor the spiritual very effectively. Spirituality and psychology are two separate areas of study and knowledge, each with different methodologies leading to very divergent experiences. This is why we must study each with their own theoretical framework and practical methodology. Although, this is true from the standpoint of knowledge, the fact remains that the only real distinction experientially between psychology and spirituality is awareness focus: focused awareness is psychological awareness and defocused awareness is spiritual awareness. In other words, focused awareness is "conscious awareness" and unfocused awareness is "enlightened awareness."
With all of that in mind, the question becomes one of how does one distinguish these two disciplines? What are the general principles? Well, I made a blog and a vlog about the spiritual at: http://identitywhatisit.blogspot.com/ and http://themethodologyofenlightenment.blogspot.com/
In these blog-vlogs I have attempted to spell out a methodology of Enlightenment, to the best of my intellectual and linguistic ability. What I am pointing out in this blog through the theory of a physics of psychology is what I think is the correct way to approach the question of a valid theoretical methodology for the scientific study of psychology. Spirituality can only be experienced directly, whereas psychological forces and substances can be measured objectively. My basic contention is that ALL psychological processes can be described or defined by 3 forces and 4 substances. These are all forces and substances known to the science of physics. The three forces being magnetism, electricity and frequency, with the the four types of substances being solid, liquid, gas and plasma.
Through the correct separation of these two knowledge systems, we can better understand each and integrate both together. My theories may not be final but they are a very useful starting point!
For modern texts that are foundational to this type of theoretical perspective, please read these three books:
"In Search of the Miraculous," By P. D. Ouspenky - The basic introduction to the conceptual model for a physics of psychology.
"Energy Transmutation, Between-ness and Transmission," By Richard Rose - With Rose's term for "psychic energy" as a neural energy, there is an even more direct movement towards a physics explanation for so-called, "psychic phenomena."
"Magnetism and Its Effects on the Living System," By Albert Roy Davis and Walter C. Rawls, Jr. - Probably the only book ever written that provides a model of magnetism, as the basic organizing force of life. This perspective is founded on the theory of magnetic currents, based on scientific experiments. The explanation for bilateral symmetry becomes self-evident when these two distinct magnetic spins are over-layed onto the physical body. The left and right hemispheres of the physical form make sense when accounted for by a clockwise spin and a counter-clockwise spin. Finger-print whorls become comprehensible when magnetism is viewed in this relationship to the human body, as do the maps of Acupuncture if they are understood as points along definite magnetic currents and/or as locations of electrical charge. The following video illustrates the influence of magnetic spin on a plasma. Where there is movement; there is spin. Where there is spin; there are currents!
