Eclectic Spiritual Tastes
"As Westerners, we live in a multicultural world. By definition, our spiritual tastes are going to be eclectic. It doesn't make sense to deny our experience or our feelings. This more open approach to matters of the spirit doesn't weaken either our commitment to a peaceful, compassionate way of life or our resolve to act ethically and appropriately. Moving from the outer forms and institutions of religion to the more essential principles of spirituality is a good and significant option.
"In all truly sacred traditions there is an essential resolve to cherish life and treat others ethically and kindly. All these traditions encourage us to be open to divine presence, both within and without, and tell us 'to practice what we preach' without hypocrisy or sleight of hand. For many, this message is of essential importance no matter who is carrying it."
— Awakening to the Sacred: Creating A Spiritual Life from Scratch
Spiritual Practice
"All forms of spiritual practice share a common essence and purpose. They help us distinguish reality from delusion; they help us experience the clear light of understanding and divine wisdom. A great Zen master once said that when enlightenment experiences happen, they are accidents. He then added, but spiritual practice makes us accident prone.
"Maintain a spiritual practice; even if you don’t get enlightened in this lifetime, you'll get lit up. As they say, practice makes perfect. Or even better, practice is perfect."
— Awakening to the Sacred: Creating A Spiritual Life from Scratch
A Mindfulness Practice
"Tibetan monks, for example, frequently practice a moment of mindfulness each and every time they walk through a door. Sometimes they do this by remembering to recite a certain verse or mantra as they do so. Try this yourself for a day. Every time you walk through a door, pause, take a moment, breathe in and out. Bring yourself back to the moment. Then cross the threshold and walk on."
— Awakening to the Sacred: Creating A Spiritual Life from Scratch
The Quest for Meaning
"Historian Daniel Boorstin calls humans 'the asking animal.' Spiritual seekers particularly are on a quest to understand life; we want to examine our own lives and find meaning in what we do and who we are. We ask, 'Who am I and why do I exist?' Like the Buddha, we want to find the lessons that lie buried in suffering and pain. Questioning is an essential part of the spiritual path: self-inquiry, introspection, philosophy — all involve genuine doubt and skepticism as propellants fueling the spiritual journey. We find meaning in the seeking itself."
— Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation
The Toddler's Creed
"If I want it, it's mine.
"If I give it to you and then change my mind, it's mine.
"If I can take it away from you by force, it's mine.
"If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
"If we are playing with something together, then all the pieces are mine.
"If it looks just like the one I used to own or have at home, it's mine.
"When it comes to attachments, in many ways we are all still two-year-old toddlers. 'Mine' translates into 'me, myself, and I' pretty soon in human development. This self-centered attitude is the root of evil and unhappiness."
— Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation
More to Do on the Path
"There is a wonderful Zen story about a monk who was promoted to the rank of teacher. Feeling proud of his accomplishments, the monk went to visit a Zen master. When he arrived he took off his wooden clogs and left them, along with his umbrella, at the front of the door. 'Tell me,' the master asked of the young teacher, 'when you removed your shoes, did you place them to the left or the right of your umbrella?' Of course, the monk didn't remember. When he heard that question, he realized that he still had a lot to learn. Why wasn't he paying attention to his shoes as he removed them? What was he thinking about? Why wasn't he being attentive in that moment? As far as he had travelled on the path, he still had farther to go."
— Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation
