Beginning on a Spiritual Path

To integrate the mind towards expansive knowledge, or for general health, or to better understand the mind. These and other themes may be a catalyst to begin a spiritual practice. I think it's best to become one's own teacher by finding meaning in every interaction. In this way everything may teach you, the rain and sun, and the wise and the young. 

Devour books on every spiritual or religious subject you can find, search high and low for clues. But mostly you are learning to study yourself, and eventually to know yourself. Keep a journal of dreams, and ideas, synchronicities, and themes you have studied. Be aware that you may start feeling very highly of yourself.

As for meditation... Sit with a straight back in a chair or indian style, let yourself relax, observe the natural rhythm of your breathing, let that go... Go through your body feeling from feet to the top of your head, or start with your eyes and see every body part just relaxing, then feel and see the whole "you" just breathing.

Try Hatha yoga, try all the yogas, there are a lot of them... Be careful with breath work, remember to stay with the natural breath, and let go of watching it all the time, it's impractical. Remember to exercise the body with the mind and spirit, walking meditation is a thing, but I would suggest to just go for a walk and drop all the themes.

Your mind may be open to outrageous suggestions, high falutin ideas about enlightenment and heavens beyond number, stay level. The most important thing for someone who starts searching the spirit, who opens their mind to new and foreign themes is to stay level, take it all with a grain of salt, and remember to laugh at it, especially to laugh at yourself.


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