According to the American Heritage Dictionary, "Metaphysics" is defined, in part, as "The branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, including the relationship between mind and matter. . ." Metaphysicians are, therefore, people who investigate the nature of reality. There are many ways of doing this. Since philosophies about life vary from person to person, you could say there are as many ways as there are people. This is what many spiritual people in India believe--that there are "gods" for every individual, which is a metaphoric way of saying that we all must find our own paths.

We Are All Metaphysicians

In the sense that every life is a spiritual journey, from birth through death, we are all metaphysicians. That is, we are all learning more, every day about life and the nature of reality. Most people generally confine their observations to what Western philosophers would call "the world of phenomenon." This world is the observable world, the world of gravity, parents and children, life and death.

But what happens when we start asking questions? Even children have philosophical questions that many parents find difficult, if not impossible to answer. "Where did my little sister come from?" "Where did my pet goldfish go when he died?" While different religions and philosophies might answer these questions differently, none of the explanations bear any relationship to the world of phenomenon, except perhaps the most obvious ones. "That's just what happens," being an example of the sort of answer that probably wouldn't satisfy even the youngest child.

Looking beyond the physical, phenomenological world is the only way to engage these questions. Even if you choose to believe and repeat to a child the reasons you might have learned--from religion, school or your own parents--these reasons have come from someone's mind. The person who engages in such questioning in hopes of finding an answer would be a metaphysician. Most hope for some direct experience--of God, Buddha-mind, Life--to set their own hearts at ease. This engagement of the Big Questions is an active one and generally, the most satisfying answers come directly from the individual's own experience or spiritual practice. So whether you choose meditation, prayer, music, nature or any one of a thousand spiritual practices, by choosing such a metaphysical exploration, you are on the path to answer those questions for yourself.