getting started

I simply present what I have found that works for folks who do not have the luxury of  full-time, or even part-time, spiritual practice. I address my comments and insights particularly to those who work, take care of family, and are fully steeped in a life which is not necessarily privileged. This is working class spirituality, blue collar dharma.

I am very aware of the time constraints many of us are under and make no suggestions that one should meditate a certain number of hours a week, or otherwise make changes in one’s life. Changes may or may not come about as a result of engaging creatively with a portable spiritual practice. I have much more to say about this, and my thoughts can be found in this blog.

Let’s start with mindfulness–it is simply the single most essential first skill to develop.

I have also found the teachings related to nonduality found in many of the world’s mystical religious traditions to be critical aspects of spiritual life. I have an eclectic background, and continue to present a variety of texts from Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic mystical luminaries. Our work is to break through the outer shell of these teachings to find their ambrosial nut. This work ideally will take a very personal dimension, challenging us to grow in ways we may have never considered

Please take these suggestions as simply ideas from what has worked for me. 

Here is one way to get started:

 

PHASE ONE

BOOKS

If you are new to the practice of meditation,  I would suggest that you purchase the following book:

Mindfulnes in Plain English, by H. Gunaratana. You can also read it online, or even download it, for free here: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma4/mpe.html.

This is a very user-friendly book which covers all the basic points that you need to get started with mindfulness meditation.

You may also view the anapanasati category on this blog. I present a four week self-guided set of introductory instructions in the basic practice of breath awareness, the quintessential Buddhist mindfulness meditation practice.

Please also have a look at the meditation basics and the mindfulness in daily life categories for suggestions on how to feed and water the creeper of mindfulness (an allusion to the description of the development of bhakti yoga in the Hindu tradition–as a creeping plant which grows seemingly under the radar of conscious awareness). 

If you only buy one additional book, I would highly recommend:

Coming to Our Senses: Healing Ourselves and the World Through Mindfulness, by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

You may also consider watching an excellent series of online video presentations on You Tube on the fundamentals of mindfulness as taught by Jon Kabat-Zinn  here.

GUIDED MEDITATION CDs

I would be very happy to provide you with a number of excellent mindfulness meditation CDS. When you come to a meeting, just ask. 

 

PHASE TWO

After you have become familiar with the process of meditation, which for a beginner could take a few months to a year,  I would then highly recommend that you take up an exploration of the writings or biographies of authors aligned with mystical aspects of traditional religion. I offer occasional series of evenings dedicated to a particular text. This fall and winter 2009 we will be examining the 14th century anonymous text The Cl0ud of Unknowing and perhaps aspects of The Interior Castle by Saint Terese of Avila.

Please read Joel Morwood’s excellent summary of the “mystical core” of the world’s religions here. In this article Joel proposes six underlying characteristcs of the nature of realty described by mystics that are surprisingly consistent despite the differences of time, geography and culture, and which challenge us to re-think our tendency towards purely material or scientific responses to the great quetsions of life. I have found that a close study of these characteristics can refine our understanding of our own life, its infinite potential and offer us a steady stream of encouragement and, yes, blessings.

I would also highly recommend Huston Smith’s Why Religions Matter and Frithjof Schuon’s  The Transcendent Unity of Religions.

Please refer to the resources page on this blog for more comprehensive suggestions on studying the treasures of the world’s mystical traditions.