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STARTING A SPIRITUAL PRACTICE:
Foundational Practices
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| 1) |
Sitting Meditation (daily) – begin with 5
minutes in the morning and/or evening, then gradually add minutes
until you are able to meditate for 30 minutes or more.
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| 2) |
Walking and Eating Meditation –
practice this anytime you think of it; you can also
practice hugging meditation, washing dishes meditation, etc.
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| 3) |
Spiritual Reading – when doing
spiritual reading, read slowly and reflectively;
this is not about speed reading or the collection of mere data,
it is about listening to the Great Wisdom of the Universe finitely
expressed through human words.
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| 4) |
Nature – take time out at least one day a week to get in
touch with the beauty of Mother Earth – the green grass,
trees, flowers, lakes, hills, sky, animals, birds, etc.
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| 5) |
Loving and Being Loved – give and receive kindness with
an open heart everyday; service is "karma yoga."
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Supplemental Practices
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| 6) |
Journal-writing – write from the heart, in
stream-of-consciousness style, without judgment or the need to write
perfectly.
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| 7) |
Creative Arts – express yourself through music,
painting, dance, gardening, cooking, or whatever form of creative arts
that resonates with you.
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| 8) |
Ritual – create an altar at home, light candles, burn
incense, pray, chant, bow, or do whatever form of ritual that most
helps you to open your heart to the Divine.
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| 9) |
Yoga, Tai Chi, etc. – get grounded in an embodied
spirituality through physio-spiritual exercise practices such as yoga
or tai chi, etc.
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| 10) |
Spiritual Counseling – develop spiritual relationships
that are nurturing; this can be individually with a therapist,
minister, friend, meditation coach or spiritual counselor; and it can
also be in a group context as well, such as a support group, sangha,
church or other spiritual community.
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