Question: What is a spiritual practice, and how can I develop one in my busy life?  First: It begins with having an intention to create more space to explore and experience your spiritual essence. A spiritual practice can be formal such as attending spiritual groups and learning to meditate, or it can be informal, something explored while living our normal, every day lives. Simply having an intention to know this part of your self is the beginning. So if you have this already, you’re already on your way! When we live with an intention to bring greater spirituality into our lives, this serves as the catalyst to observe when we feel spiritual and when we don’t. You may choose to bring greater awareness to how you relate to others, or even yourself, such as living with greater compassion, tolerance, and openness. Yet, even when we don’t feel spiritual, there is no reason to feel shame as if you have already failed in your spiritual practice. Our spiritual essence is ever present and never goes anywhere. (Don’t worry if you don’t grasp this yet, this will come in time). Second: Begin to focus on the sensations you already experience. You don’t need to pick and choose. Allow yourself to get to know the full array of what you experience, without pushing away anything. Follow your breath with attention, simply feeling the expanse of your chest rising, or the sense of your heart space. Feel your body, simply being present with whatever you are experiencing. Do this several times a day, as often as you can remember. This is bringing present moment awareness into your life. This one spiritual practice can be life changing. As you open to the limitless space of your true nature, your very own breath will lead you to deeper states of Awareness, otherwise known as Consciousness. Third: As your present moment awareness deepens, you develop a greater comfort in being present (or witnessing) whatever you are experiencing. This helps you realize what within you remains unchanging. If thoughts, sensations, and emotional reactions come and go, then what remains? This is your spiritual essence. The more you are able to know this part of yourself, the more you will be resting in your true nature. And, the more we realize this aspect of ourselves, the more we recognize all of life is made of this same spiritual essence. This is attuning to your spiritual essence. This same spiritual essence runs through all of us, just waiting to be recognized. ~Namaste' Add Comment Love is where the Heart is. And, this means it is everywhere and in everything.  The space of the heart is difficult if not impossible to describe. But, I will do my best at doing so as numerous others have attempted. What I refer to is far beyond the physical organ and function of what we typically understand the heart to be. What I am referring to is the spiritual heart, the true essence of who we are, and if I am so bold, I will also include the soul in this definition. It is the sensed perception of ourselves, how we know we indeed exist. But what is this space? It is present before and after our thoughts pass, so it cannot be our thoughts. However, it does not exclude them either. All can come to be- thoughts, feelings, sensations- without us needing to change or exclude anything. No matter what manifests into being, the soul or unchanging part of oneself remains. The spiritual heart stays the same. So, what of the boundaries of this space- and I use "space" loosely. Can we feel the boundary; can we see it; can we know it within ourselves? Is the boundary of the heart contained in the body? Is it something that is beyond the body? As we go about our lives, feeling the emotions we do, we can simply start to observe. And, why does it matter for us to know if there is a boundary or not? Ultimately, it doesn't change anything, as the limitless space of the spiritual heart contains everything whether we attune to it or not. The value and potentially life changing discovery we can make is we are not separate from life and others. If the heart space has no boundaries, then life and the potential for happiness is also limitless. Freedom is available Now, in the open heart of our very own awareness. And, all we need to do is let our own hearts guide us home. |
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