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Spiritual Practice When Times are Good

“If you don’t have a spiritual practice in place when times are good, you can’t expect to suddenly develop one during a moment of crisis.” ~ Douglas Coupland

The Beginner’s Mind

In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities,
but in the expert’s mind there are few.
~ Shunryu Suzuki

“If one is a true learner of the Way, one does not search for the faults of the world, but rather speedily applies oneself to attain genuine insight. If one only can see with perfect clarity, then all is completed.” ~ Rinzai

The Friday Affirmation

I abide in the perfect wholeness of creation.

Inspiration Will Peek Through the Ordinaries

“Simply repeating “I don’t understand anything I see” will open you up to creative vision. Initially, when you practice, you might feel a sense of uncomfortable bewilderment; however, if you stay with this practice, inspiration will peek through the ordinariness of what you normally see.”
― Shelley Klammer, A Course in Creating Confidence: 365 Self-Love Practices Inspired by A Course in Miracles

Not a Grim Duty

Spiritual practice should not be confused with grim duty. It is the laughter of the Dalai Lama and the wonder born with every child. — Jack Kornfield

I love this quote. I know I am getting off track when my daily practice gets too serious and seems like a duty or even a burden. It can be easy to forget that spending time playing with the girls (our cats Lizzie and Beth) or in my studio playing with my art are an important part of life and spiritual practices.

How do you lighten up when your practice starts seeming a little grim?

Awareness

“Awareness is more essential than a hundred skills. To be aware is to be open. And to be open is to know the path of every master who has roamed the earth.”
― Thomas Lloyd Qualls, Painted Oxen

The Heart Makes it Whole

“The mind divides the world into a million pieces. The heart makes it whole.”
― Stephen Levine, Embracing the Beloved: Relationship as a Path of Awakening

Putting Teachings into Practice

“You should understand the whole purpose of listening to teachings, taking teachings and studying them is to put them into practice. What you know should be put into practice immediately; you can thus derive the benefit of having some transformation within your mind. Even though it might be a very minor effort, a very small practice just leaving imprints within your mind, still you must think that it is worthwhile to do. Otherwise your knowledge of dharma will be quite fruitless.”
― Dalai Lama XIV, Path to Bliss: A Practical Guide to the Stages of Meditation