Spiritual practices

If singing actually makes you feel this joyful and peaceful, then why on earth are you only doing it once a week? I mean, seriously, start singing every single day—and honestly, probably more often than that if it works!

So, what you're saying is you're singing every single day?!

I didn't say I was "already joyful and peaceful"—I said that, in that specific moment, there was a sudden "burst of joy and freshness."

casualtiger2 said:So, what you're saying is you're singing every single day?!

I didn't say I was "already joyful and peaceful"—I said that, in that specific moment, there was a sudden "burst of joy and freshness."

You can vibrate a mantra inside your mind at any given second! I'll sing whenever the mood strikes! Joy and freshness—man, that sounds awesome! Take the moment you're living RIGHT NOW and turn it into a concrete experience where you stay joyful and totally refreshed ALL THE TIME! roflmao🤣

Walter Carter2 said:You can vibrate a mantra inside your mind at any given second! I'll sing whenever the mood strikes! Joy and freshness—man, that sounds awesome! Take the moment you're living RIGHT NOW and turn it into a concrete experience where you stay joyful and totally refreshed ALL THE TIME! roflmao🤣

For sure. Mantras are definitely part of my practice too (though not quite the kind of singing I was talking about earlier).
That said, the experience is totally different when I'm singing solo versus when there's a crowd—especially when someone actually knows how to play, or even better, a truly gifted musician (and I don't just mean technically proficient).
Me? Well, despite owning a guitar and knowing my chords, I wouldn't exactly call myself a "good" musician. 😢
So, I’m pretty grateful that once a week I get to sing with 10–20 people, maybe 30–50 once a month, and twice a year with a massive group of 80–100 fellow seekers from my spiritual community (and honestly, sometimes just listening is just as beautiful).
Every now and then, I'll drop in on other groups that meet to sing, too.

And thanks for the advice. 😉

It mostly revolves around meditation... frequent sessions of both meditation and Reiki. For physical maintenance, I practice Hatha yoga and Yantra yoga, while also spending plenty of time hiking through the wilderness, having quiet conversations with the trees and the wildlife 😁
If I’m not engaged in something more tangible, then I am simply lost in contemplation—striving to be truly present in the moment, which is an endeavor that is rarely easy, though meditation provides significant aid. I try my best to live this life with as much awareness as possible...

I do a little pranayama and some heavy lifting, both during meditation and just living my life. But honestly? I think the real key is staying positive and keeping things chill—just being present and aware of every single move you make. You want to see a reaction coming before it actually hits you, so you don't get caught off guard, but without suppressing anything or triggering a whole mess of unnecessary drama. And look, none of this should ever be forced. It’s gotta be natural.

Morning. First thought? Just pure gratitude to God. I start out with those little exercises the Jesuits use before prayer, then dive into some meditation—really focusing on my breathing and looping a specific Psalm from the Holy Bible that I feel like I need to hear that day.

It's all about tapping into God's presence through all five senses, you know? Or just that deep awareness of Him being there. A quick thanks to God, some quiet contemplation over the Word... and just like that, the day has officially kicked off.

Then, as the day goes on, I’ll do some walking prayer—mostly just thanking God while I move—and keep trying to stay aware of His presence. Plus, some meditation on what love actually feels like...

Emily Gonzalez51 said:But I’ve visited places that filled me with this overwhelming sense of joy—just pure gratitude to be part of all that beauty. It was always about nature—the mountains and rolling hills where my soul just sings. More than once, I've caught myself tearing up because of how intense and beautiful that untouched wilderness is. I feel lucky just to witness it.

I get it. Honestly, I’ve been spending a lot of time out in the woods and up in the mountains lately. All you really need to do is find a clearing, take a deep breath of fresh air, look at those snow-capped peaks, and let the peace and harmony of the world "out there" soak into the world "in here."
Even living in a lovely little town surrounded by forest, I can still feel the shift in atmosphere when I head out to those rare spots where the human noise—including that chatterbox of a mind 🙂—hasn't reached yet.

So, it might sound a bit silly—but for anyone surviving the madness of a massive US metropolis, making regular trips into nature is basically a spiritual survival tactic. Just... don't bring the radio, the TV, the grill, the news, or your phone. Leave the perks of civilization behind.

Spiritual practice only truly yields results if it is performed consciously. Now, for anyone to actually begin acting and practicing with intention, they must possess ATTENTION, because that is the very mechanism that shifts the entire organism into a conscious state. On the flip side, the sheer strength and duration of one's attention is entirely dependent on their current energetic state; this underscores why it is absolutely vital to engage in exercises designed to accumulate energy and develop the energy centers, while simultaneously guarding against any unnecessary leakage of that vitality.

Here is a bit of advice that can be "practiced on the go," something that has personally been quite effective for me.

Repeat this daily:
"When my thoughts become overwhelming, I will direct my ATTENTION to the nearest object and feel the state of presence in the present moment."

The key here is to catch that sensation of presence within the first few seconds, as that is when the intensity of attention is at its peak, and by extension, so is that sense of the present moment (in which the organism resides in a conscious state). You shouldn't attempt to analyze, label, or interpret the object you are focusing on; it serves merely as a focal point and nothing more.

By constantly repeating this sentence, you are cleverly hijacking the mind's incessant need to chatter away and trap itself in endless "logical loops," eventually allowing this phrase to slip through the noise. Since there is an identification with the mind, the individual will mechanically act in accordance with the sentence's content, with the ultimate goal being the induction of the organism into a conscious (awake) state. The more frequently this mantra is repeated and the more significance it is assigned, the stronger it becomes, until it eventually overwhelms (read: completely crushes 😁) all other wandering thoughts in the mind.

Another technique I employ is identifying with the sensation of the present moment, as that feeling acts as an indirect realization of the true SELF. Through frequent identification with the "now," one becomes increasingly aware of those other egoistic selves—the various "me, me, me, me..." versions of the self—and their reflexive reactions.

EDIT: During those initial few seconds when you redirect your attention (when it is most intense), there occurs a "break in the flow of thought"—an absence of thought, so to speak—where you briefly enter a state of inner mental silence.

A truly superb piece regarding the essence of mindfulness.
Paññavaro’s take on the Art of Attention (translated by Ninoslav Molnar) — link

steelskipper4 said:Spiritual practice only truly yields results if it is performed consciously. Now, for anyone to actually begin acting and practicing with intention, they must possess ATTENTION, because that is the very mechanism that shifts the entire organism into a conscious state. On the flip side, the sheer strength and duration of one's attention is entirely dependent on their current energetic state; this underscores why it is absolutely vital to engage in exercises designed to accumulate energy and develop the energy centers, while simultaneously guarding against any unnecessary leakage of that vitality.

Here is a bit of advice that can be "practiced on the go," something that has personally been quite effective for me.

Repeat this daily:
"When my thoughts become overwhelming, I will direct my ATTENTION to the nearest object and feel the state of presence in the present moment."

The key here is to catch that sensation of presence within the first few seconds, as that is when the intensity of attention is at its peak, and by extension, so is that sense of the present moment (in which the organism resides in a conscious state). You shouldn't attempt to analyze, label, or interpret the object you are focusing on; it serves merely as a focal point and nothing more.

By constantly repeating this sentence, you are cleverly hijacking the mind's incessant need to chatter away and trap itself in endless "logical loops," eventually allowing this phrase to slip through the noise. Since there is an identification with the mind, the individual will mechanically act in accordance with the sentence's content, with the ultimate goal being the induction of the organism into a conscious (awake) state. The more frequently this mantra is repeated and the more significance it is assigned, the stronger it becomes, until it eventually overwhelms (read: completely crushes 😁) all other wandering thoughts in the mind.

Another technique I employ is identifying with the sensation of the present moment, as that feeling acts as an indirect realization of the true SELF. Through frequent identification with the "now," one becomes increasingly aware of those other egoistic selves—the various "me, me, me, me..." versions of the self—and their reflexive reactions.

EDIT: During those initial few seconds when you redirect your attention (when it is most intense), there occurs a "break in the flow of thought"—an absence of thought, so to speak—where you briefly enter a state of inner mental silence.

To provide some necessary context regarding what exactly one should be identifying with here, allow me to point toward this subsequent passage:

keala said:"However, if you desire, you can slip behind the role for a mere fraction of a second. As you read these pages, simply turn your attention toward the one who is reading. Instantly, you will feel that awareness which is alert, observant, uninvolved, silent, yet intensely alive; what have you actually done? You have interrupted the act of observing in order to perceive the observer. This little trick offers us a glimpse into the absolute certainty of existence, because above every observation sits an unchanging observer. That witness is the nameless agent behind every temporal event; that witness—that is you."
from Deepak Chopra's The Way of the Wizard

What we are discussing here pertains to visual attention, though it is quite easy to apply this same principle to any of the other senses—hearing, taste, smell, or touch.

By the way, keala, that was an excellent post; you hit the nail right on the head! 🙏🙏🙏 ... and, interestingly enough, many other spiritual traditions also describe consciousness as the "silent observer."

A six-step process for awakening your emotional self

Step 1: Document the event or the specific behavior of the other person involved. For instance, maybe you were stuck in gridlock on a Los Angeles freeway, or perhaps your spouse snapped at you. The first step is simply to record what happened externally, objectively.

Step 2: Objectively record your own response to the event or the person. For example, your reaction to that traffic jam might have been impatience and rage. Your response to your partner might have been defensiveness and anger. The second step is to merely write down how you reacted, whether that reaction was appropriate or completely out of line.

Step 3: This is the pivot point. Choose to view the event or the other person's behavior as your master teacher, presenting a lesson you are required to learn. Imagine that this situation or individual is an instrument God is using to instruct you, providing a vital opportunity for spiritual growth. Your negative reactions always stem from the fact that you aren't viewing the situation as a teaching moment, a challenge, or an opportunity to evolve. That traffic jam? That's your master teacher. Your partner's outburst? That is your master teacher.

Step 4: List all the psychological and spiritual qualities you have the chance to master today. Often, the first thing people teach us is "how not to be" (much like a partner setting a poor example). This is actually a useful lesson. Some people provide excellent models, while others provide terrible ones; you can learn from both. You know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end when someone loses their temper and attacks you, and that experience teaches you not to behave that way yourself. That is usually our primary lesson. In the case of the traffic jam, you are learning patience, detachment, seeing things as lessons, surrender, and more.

In the scenario with your partner, you are being taught to: Remain centered; Maintain your own inner strength; Establish a protective bubble so that their overwhelming reaction slides off you like water off a duck's back; Generate your own emotions rather than allowing your partner to trigger them; Refuse to let your partner force you into a defeated position; Communicate with your partner in a strong, love-filled manner rather than through defensiveness or aggression; Engage in discussion rather than quarreling; Respond instead of reacting; Act as the master rather than the victim; Stand up for yourself; Make wise choices about when to speak and when to remain silent; Practice forgiveness, unconditional love, detachment, and seeing everything as a lesson; Achieve transcendental indifference; Transcend the ego; Seek love and worth within yourself and from God first, rather than searching for it primarily from a partner; Exercise patience and set a better example; Protect yourself from absorbing your partner's psychological issues so you can be a healer rather than a patient; Be spiritual rather than ego-driven; Practice detachment; Maintain objectivity.

Maintain a proper relationship with yourself and a proper relationship with God—these are the two most critical relationships in your life, even above your relationship with a partner.

I highly recommend utilizing this list of qualities when examining future lessons. So many of the lessons we face are actually the exact same lessons from this list, repeated over and over again.

Step 5: After listing all these beautiful lessons and nuggets of wisdom you've gained, offer a blessing or express gratitude to the other person in your mind (or in person) for providing the opportunity to learn. Make a firm resolution that when you are tested tomorrow, next week, or next month, you will be mentally resilient and prepared to respond appropriately. Be certain that you will be tested again—whether by the same person, the same event, or a new person and a new situation—but the underlying lesson will be the same.

Step 6: Keep in mind that if you truly extract the lesson from an experience, you will never be forced to endure those negative emotions or that abuse again—whether it stems from the same person, the same event, or anything remotely similar.

I stumbled upon this online and found the concept intriguing. However, I find it incredibly difficult to accept the idea that certain individuals are acting as instruments of God to teach me a lesson... it's a hard pill to swallow.

Most of my spiritual routine looks like this:

Reading, listening to, and singing spiritual songs.

Watching the classic 70s hit series Ramayana 😁😁😁
(one of the biggest shows ever. Cities would feel empty, trains would
literally stop running whenever it aired. All of America was glued to
small screens. The legendary Dr. Sagar managed to bring the epic Ramayana to TV with the help of many great sages and bhakti actors—there’s a newer version out, but it doesn't come close to being that good—along with other spiritual films.

A little meditation here and there, chanting, and pranayama techniques. 😳

Spending time with people who share a spiritual vibe or potential. ☕

Observing living beings without any judgment or bias. (working on ego control). 😠

Taking action without getting attached to the outcome. (I really struggle with this one;
I'm still pretty green. 🙄)

Loving everyone and staying mindful of the present moment. 🤷

Oh yeah... and talking with God (just nothing about my own problems, since He already knows them anyway). 🙏

Best, 👍

Starting a thread... 🙂

I am specifically interested in developing the kind of skills that would allow me to strengthen my focus and
sharpen my concentration on a single task.
How does one ensure that all their energy flows into one specific area while simultaneously building up a defense against those constant, distracting influences
coming from the outside world?
I have been attempting to practice this purely through mental exercises, much like meditation, though this isn't really about
finding relaxation—it’s more about disciplined, targeted work. Even so, I can only seem to manage to hold that intense focus for maybe a couple of minutes
before it slips away...

Does anyone happen to know a trick or two? 🙂 😉

It works pretty effectively for me when I pick something pleasant—though nothing too intense, maybe just that warm nostalgia you get from a childhood memory—and then I just carry that sensation through my breath (focusing on one single point, of course). After a while, I guess my concentration just starts to develop on its own.

Once it feels like I’ve stopped breathing and my entire intention has merged with the breath, I know I’ve finally settled back into a solid state of concentration.

driftingraven122 said:It works pretty effectively for me when I pick something pleasant—though nothing too intense, maybe just that warm nostalgia you get from a childhood memory—and then I just carry that sensation through my breath (focusing on one single point, of course). After a while, I guess my concentration just starts to develop on its own.

Once it feels like I’ve stopped breathing and my entire intention has merged with the breath, I know I’ve finally settled back into a solid state of concentration.

People often suggest focusing on a pleasant thought as a way to kick off meditation. However, if the goal is true concentration, those kinds of thoughts can actually become quite redundant. Generally speaking, the thought itself should ideally be absent...

Focusing on an object in your immediate surroundings is actually a great way to anchor your attention; I gave it a shot yesterday. It was almost funny how quickly thirty minutes slipped by, with nothing more than the occasional stray thought being exhaled away on a breath...🙂

Don't force the flow... I try not to, as much as I can.

As for meditation techniques... candles (haven't done that in a week), breathing exercises (also haven't), chakras (same thing)...
The TECHNIQUES only seem to stick when they align with the FLOW, making them happen spontaneously.

But honestly, my growth didn't come from those methods listed above; it came from actually living life. Only then did the desire to meditate follow.
I view it more like a hobby on the path toward something higher, rather than a roadmap.

It has definitely helped that I don't watch TV anymore and I quit smoking; I am living proof of just how much of a brainwash that all is.

casualtiger2 said:This really ought to be one of the most important threads on this spirituality forum.

If we set aside the tiny handful of people who are already enlightened—though I suspect even they have their own routines—and the massive group of people everyone *claims* is already enlightened (where any attempt at effort might actually just pull you away from your true nature, which can happen), then this topic is specifically for those who actually want to work at it, or are already in the middle of doing so.

The basic premise here is that spiritual seekers, if they weren't just born that way, reach certain milestones through some kind of Sadhana.
Even Zen practitioners, who tell stories about sudden insights and satori, spend hours sitting in meditation almost every day (essentially doing nothing). Raman, after his near-death experience, spent years meditating in a temple or a cave. Ramakrishna reached nirvikalpa samadhi through intense devotion to Kali. Even all those others who experienced spontaneous enlightenment were usually doing *something* beforehand—of course, you could argue whether that effort actually caused the enlightenment, but I think we’ve chewed that one enough over at the Great Master School.
Even Jesus went out into the desert for 40 days for some reason, and Buddha is probably the ultimate example of what a person is capable of when they are truly committed to self-realization.

So, this is a space for those engaged in practice. We can discuss—or cite examples regarding—the theoretical foundations, the different types, the effects, the roadblocks, and the practical successes of various "techniques." By techniques, I mean the more classical definitions: meditation, prayer, japa, kirtan, pranayama, asana... but hey, if watering your plants serves the same purpose for you, I'm all for it.

Personally, I’m drawn to the path of yoga; it seems like the most systematic and clear-cut route for self-development (admittedly, I'm not as well-versed in Western systems, but if anyone knows more about them, please, jump in). In his book "Sadhana," Swami Sivananda provides a solid overview of the various types of Sadhana and the conditions needed to practice them, so I'll likely quote from it occasionally—much of it translates pretty easily into the language of Western systems anyway.

And here is what Patanjali says about the practice:

I, 12:
Practice and [spiritual] clarity leading toward that stillness (nirodha) [which was mentioned earlier in YS, I, 2].

I, 13:
The effort to remain [steadfast in that stillness] is what defines [the essence of] "practice" (abhyasa).

I had been thinking about this quite a bit lately, so I figured I’d go hunting for it—assuming someone else had already pulled the trigger on a thread like this... and sure enough, here it is! 🙂

It isn't exactly a bustling conversation, but I noticed the moderator has started breathing some life back into these ancient threads, so perhaps reviving this one makes sense too.

To give you a little context, for the last two years or so, I’ve been sitting (Burmese style) for about two hours every single day. I usually get up around 5:30 AM, have my black tea with milk, and then sit from 6:00 to 7:00, followed by another session from 10:00 to 11:00 PM. Lately, my practice has mostly consisted of repeating 'Thy will be done,' pausing for a few minutes after each repetition, and then just listening very intently.

In the gaps between my sessions, I spend my time reading—mostly A Course in Miracles, along with the Bible, Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and a few other texts.

Metta meditation. Honestly, I don't really know what else I could turn this external madness into.

middle pathan 24/7