What is practice?
"A spiritual or reflective practice has three characteristics:
1. It connects us to the presence of the sacred or that which has great meaning in our lives.
2. It is something we do regularly (ideally on a daily basis) and without interruption.
3. It grounds us in the present moment, bringing us into awareness of what is happening right now.
"A practice is simply a habit that gives us energy and reminds us of what matters most. Every moment in our lives is a chance to be present and to open our hearts. How do we take advantage of this? How do we live each moment to the fullest? One way is by taking concentrated time each day to notice the peaks and the valleys with a tender awareness and without added drama. We can acknowledge suffering in our lives — doubt, fear, anger, sadness, or anxiety — without having to identify with them completely. This detachment can help us transform the energy of pain into strength. And it provides us with a wellspring of clarity when a difficulty or crisis arises.
"There is so much competition for our attention. The television blares, a child tugs at our leg, colleagues make their demands known. There will always be plenty of reasons for our attention to be elsewhere. We spend so much of our mental energy evaluating or rehearsing. We're sure our happiness lies in a memory of the past or what is just around the corner, but contentment lies in our ability to appreciate whatever truth is unfolding in the present. Spiritual practice brings us into the fullness of the here and now. It is a reprieve from the mind's fascination with rehashing the events of the past or preparing for the future. It is a relief to be where life does not need any alteration.
"Having a practice helps us pay concentrated attention to the inner voice — a presence that has the power to continually reinform the activities of our daily life. So while spiritual practice can seem like a selfish activity, in fact it helps to dissolve our preoccupation with self. Through practice we cultivate a sense of peace and compassion that pervades the rest of our relationships and activities."
