Spiritual practice.

What is spiritual practice?

Probably you are already dying of curiosity about what secret practice you will get to know here. In your imagination you already see yourself sitting in a lotus position, wearing kasaya with a shaved head like a Buddhist monk or some other hermit in a cave far from people… And you are only wondering how your full makeup will go with it. Do you need to change the lipstick color to match it the saffron color of your outfit?

You always thought that spirituality is not for you. It always connotes some mystery techniques, needing years of practice, mortification, fasting, and some incredible skills. 

Conscious.

Meanwhile, real consciousness unconditioned with ego activities as a gift is available for everybody, little kids, graybeards, monks and murderers, and possibly also animals. It could be accepted or ignored. Usually, it is a passing activity, which however leaves an indelible mark on us. 

It lasts forever in our memory as a time-out experience. It is erroneous to assume that only mature people experience such revelations. They do not appear as a result of the fact that the person sits for hours in meditation or prayer. These are also not experiments reserved only for Buddha or Jesus. Spiritual practices carried out consistently, however, help to develop the ability to recall this state and extend this experience every day.

There are many techniques and practices developed by various philosophical systems or religions. None of them is better or worse. 

If you are a religious person, you certainly know some methods that are related to your religion. It doesn’t mean that you have to reject or deny them. Follow the instruction you know but do it honestly and sincerely. In order to delve into yourself, not just repeat some boring habits, which are necessary, because this is a tradition. Come into this practice with all of yourself. 

Spiritual practice is your personal journey inside, beyond your five senses, mind, and intellect in order to experience the soul (god) in yourself. One of the features of god is eternal bliss, so by touching the soul, you also experience bliss.

If you are looking for inspiration, below you will find a list of the best-known practices used in various philosophical systems or religions. Maybe one of them will be right for you? Or maybe you will find something else, more suitable for you. 

My advice – listen to your heart. Read, explore, experience, and choose what suits you best.  Something that feels best for you.

Meditation.

This exercise is derived from Indian spiritual traditions and consists of controlling one’s attention, and calming the mind. On observing emerging thoughts without engaging in the thought process.
There are many schools that teach meditation, you can go to one of them and see if this form suits you. You can also try it yourself at home. There are lots of guided meditations on YouTube which could be helpful.

Practicing gratitude.

It is based on the regular practice of gratitude, by devoting time during the day to realizing things for which we are grateful. In order to experience positive emotions, sleep better, express more sympathy and kindness, and even have a stronger immune system.

Sit down every day and think of five to ten things you are grateful for. The trick is that you have to imagine it and sit with a feeling of gratitude in your body. For a better result, you should notice new things every day for which you are grateful.

Doing it every day will make your brain naturally more grateful and you will start to feel happier after each session.

Praying.

The word prayer means pleading fervently. It is a request addressed to a god for something, usually with intense longing. By praying, you express the helplessness and endow the doer ship of a task to god in this way reducing your ego and increasing your faith. Over time, frequent prayers help to dissolve your mind and intellect, and through them, you gain access to the higher self. Intense prayer also allows you to experience communion with God and bliss.

Mindful Breathing.

There are specific methods of working with the breath and transferring attention to the body. They are often accompanied by visualization or repetition of sounds (mantras). Your breath is your source of life. Try to be more aware of your breathing. Note how you breathe in stressful moments and how you breath when you take a deep breath.

Practicing a full, deep breath is a great way to everyday stress. It works healthily, oxygenates the body, energizes, clears the mind, and calms.

The simplicity of life.

The key to this practice is the idea of simplifying life in order to get rid of unnecessary, inauthentic, and obstacles. Understanding what is necessary and what is not. It is about the difference between our real needs and socially suggested wants. Because we live in a collective trance of consumerism and mass media, sometimes we do not realize what we really need. When things cease to have power over us, we can experience great inner freedom, and have a sense of space and peace. Will, heart, and mind, freed from the obsession that ruled us, can then turn to goals corresponding to our deepest being.

Somatic techniques.

Exercises consist of taking body postures, and movements for developing health, increasing body awareness, and releasing energy flows, e.g. asanas of yoga, tantra, and tai chi.

Contemplation.

This is a practice based on constant thinking about something, studying something, thinking about something important, and worthwhile pertaining to life and its meaning. When this activity deepens, when a person becomes still and highly focused as they ponder, it dissolves the ego, sometimes even bringing spontaneously a solution to life problems.

Mindfulness.

It is a psychological process consisting of focusing attention on internal and external stimuli present at a given moment. The practice of giving attention to the present during objective observation of yourself and others.

The art of giving.

Conscious participation in the Law of Circulation, circulating universal good. This is a simple practice that cultivates the habit of giving without thinking about what you might get back. The ego-less giving leads to the release of strong vibes of happiness between the giver and the receiver.

You can practice it by helping or giving to others, donating to charity, or even volunteering for service.

Chanting.

This practice consists of singing the god’s name in a chant by means of a formula, verse, or syllable. Its repetition helps in mastering the mind and activating specific energy. Chanting destroys negative impressions in the subconscious and clears it internally. It helps to focus the mind.

Affirmations.

Simple, positive statements in the present tense focus on the good that causes the mind to start perceiving reality differently. Focusing on the positives and seeing the good in all things. A positive attitude creates energy that changes our reality.

Writing a spiritual journal.

These are just a few of many existing practices for sure you will find something for yourself.