Society helps people develop spiritual side

Founder Vince Lisi uses study groups, yoga and
meditation as ways
to enlightenment.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Spiritual Society benefits participants in three ways — mind, body and soul. As participants engage in study groups, they nurture and develop their spiritual sides. Yoga acts as a physical destresser and meditation uplifts the soul.

“It’s about enlightenment,” said Vince Lisi, who founded the Youngstown Spiritual Society (YSS) 11 years ago. “It’s understanding how you are part of God’s energy and the life force of the universe. Our life force is part of the life of God and we are privileged to manifest him through our human lives.”

Lisi began the society in a casual way through an invitation to a few people to participate in a study group. “I called together a group of people who I thought would be interested in developing greater understanding of themselves,” he said.

The participants have changed over the years, he said, and the study groups have expanded. Lisi now oversees weekly study groups in Youngstown, Akron, Ashtabula and Strongsville and monthly study groups in Indianapolis, Columbus and Pittsburgh.

“I’m interested in helping people understand who they are,” Lisi said, noting that such knowledge helps people improve their daily lives and how they interact with people. “We’re part of each other’s growth and development. But it’s not about the event, it’s about the soul level. It’s not the dream lived, but the meaning for the soul,” he said.

Through its inspirational teachings, meditations and study groups, the society’s strives to help people better deal with life. “It’s how we can better respond to external circumstances,” Lisi said. “It’s developing our own self-awareness so we create our world from within. And that makes life easier.”

Lisi said that the society wants its participants to attain “enlightenment and understanding of our purpose on the planet.”

YSS participants do that by being involved in study groups, yoga and meditation. “Regular practice helps people to develop principles to solve problems in life, work and relationships. It’s spiritual, but it helps people deal realistically with life and resolve things in a better way,” he said.

Lisi selects books for the study groups that help readers work toward spiritual enlightenment. Among selections were “Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, which focuses on spiritual enlightenment, and “Eye of the I” by David Hawkins on how levels of consciousness give rise to different life experiences. YSS has just begun a study of “Ultimate Journey” by Robert A. Monroe, which involves out-of-body experiences.

Study sessions are from 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. Thursdays at the Ursuline Center in Canfield. “That’s our niche,” said Lisi about the book study. “It helps people grow and develop.”

“It takes time to get the meaning out of the passages,” said Bob Cene Jr., a YSS member and partner with Lisi in Now Creations.

The society doesn’t espouse any religion and isn’t a religion itself. Participants come from various denominations or simply want spiritual camaraderie. The society serves as an avenue to help people open up to and develop their spiritual sides, Lisi said.

“We’re made in the image and likeness of God. Few believe it and even fewer access it,” Lisi said. “Without a doubt, when you start to conduct yourself in his image, it has a telling effect.”