Why Pray or Meditate?

Weblog October 28, 2007

By Chris DiGiorgio

“To me mindfulness is very much like the Holy Spirit. Both are agents of healing.”  Thich Nhat Hanh

I have been re-reading the Book Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh.  He makes a wonderful comparison between mindfulness and the Holy Spirit. What he says is that both are agents of healing. He goes on to say when we have mindfulness we have love and understanding.  Thich Nhat Hanh goes on to say “In the Bible when someone touches Christ, he or she is healed.  It is not just touching a cloth that brings about a miracle. When you touch deep understanding and love, you are healed.”

Recently, we had a discussion in church whether or not prayers are answered and is it even useful to pray. One church member felt, many times prayers were not answered, so why bother?  There are many answers to this question. Here are a few thoughts.  When we pray or meditate, we are changing our thoughts.  For me, I know that I am more at peace when I do this practice.  It is a chance for me to touch the Holy Spirit or create an atmosphere when love and understanding come in.  For the last forty days, I have increased my spiritual practice including prayer and meditation.  I know that I have been more at peace.  I also know that love and understanding have come into my life in unexpected ways.  I believe that the meditation and prayer I have been doing has allowed me to be more receptive to it.  Another answer that my clergy person offered is even if prayer does not work it can uplift the person you are praying for.  By doing this prayer can foster community.  In many Christian Churches for example, we pray for the sick as a church community.  A person in that community who is sick or has a loved one who is sick feels a measure of support and comfort knowing that their spiritual community is thinking of them.

Prayer and meditation are important parts of any spiritual practice. Many spiritual traditions have various prayers and meditations.  Using these spiritual tools can bring greater love, peace and understanding into your life.  Take the time to investigate the different prayers and meditations that will work for you.

Weblog- Bringing Joy to Spiritual Practice

October 21, 2007

By Chris DiGiorgio

“Spiritual Practice should bring you joy!  If it does not bring you joy, find another spiritual practice.”   Her Holiness Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi

Too often I get into a rut with my spiritual practice.  I get listless and I lack motivation.  Lately, I have found my motivation because I have taken to heart my guru’s words above.  I have a renewed passion for my spiritual practice because I have found ways to keep my spiritual practice fresh and new. One way I have kept my spiritual practice more vibrant lately is by chanting.  Recently, I have gone to two retreats where we chanted.  I found it to be great just to let loose words of GOD’s inspiration.  The act of just letting the words continue to touch my soul is so liberating.  Sometimes I am at a loss of what to say to GOD.  What I have learned about chanting is, the words can be repetitive and simple, but they have intention. After a while, it becomes a meditation of my soul. I find it to be a harmonic healing of my heart.  Chanting allows me to give heartfelt love to the GOD of my understanding.  I believe part of any spiritual practice should be just the calling to GOD.  Chanting to me is the most energizing because I have attached it to music.  In the last few years, I have purchased a number of CDs that I chant to. Generally, what I do is stick the CD in the car stereo system and chant my way to work or wherever else I am headed to.  Many times I get to my destination in a more joyful state of mind.   Mostly they are Hindu chants; however there are many CDs on the market that cross the various religious and spiritual barriers.  Find the CD’s that bring joy to your heart!

Here are three CD’s I chant to:

Title:  Pilgrim Heart   Artist:  Krishna Das

Title:  Inside Chants  Artist:  HARC

Title:  Shma Israel    Artist:  Sai Maa Lakshmi Devi

Blessings!

Weblog October 14, 2007

Creating Spiritual Practice

Keeping Spiritual Practice fresh and new can be a challenge.  Many times I have lost motivation for doing spiritual practice because I used the excuse of being too busy.  For me taking the time to put in my mind that this is an important was key. Also, keeping the spiritual practice fun was also a part of it.  My guru has said to me that if spiritual practice does not bring you joy find another spiritual practice.  This is great words of wisdom.  That has been part of the problem with me not keeping my spiritual practice in the past. 

So here are some ideas:  Have a basic template of what your spiritual practice entails.  Recently, I have decided my spiritual practice has morning meditation with breathing and chanting.  Also during the day, I take a minute or two to think of GOD and then do it another four times a day to center myself. To accomplish this I have started going to bed earlier and waking up at 6AM.  I start my meditation time by circular breathing and consciously trying to clear my mind.  I then go through the Chakras and consciously breathe through each Chakra.  I then go through Priyama breathing which is a breath that focuses on the exhale and becomes progressively rapid.  From there, I just meditate and try to clear my mind.  Enviably thoughts pop up in my mind, I try to clear those thoughts and focus on my circular breathing.  I then do some chanting with some mantras that speak to me.  All three mantras I chant speak to me about things that I want to focus in my life.  After I am done with my morning meditation, I go through the day at particular times during the day I stop what I am doing and think of GOD.  I then focus on giving love to GOD, I do this by focusing to my heart center and focusing in my mind love and giving that love to GOD.  The main thing is finding a practice that is comfortable for you and making it a part of your daily life.  Blessings!