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Spiritual Development: Resources for Your JourneySpiritual development holds a central place in your personal growth efforts.As you grow consciously and develop further abilities to for connection, meaning-making, and taking higher perspectives, you will inevitably confront existential and spiritual questions, such as:
In discussing your spiritual development, we will consider both the universal timeless nature of your existence; we will also examine how this affects your apparently individual life. To illustrate this, throughout this site we use the metaphor of the Ocean and the Wave. The Ocean represents your connection to everything that is; the wave represents your individual existence. Let us note, however, that although seemingly individual, the wave is still connected perfectly to the rest of the ocean. (See the page on inner-self for more.) In discussing spirituality on this site, I'll make a distinction between spirituality and religion. Religion I understand as the created systems and rules surrounding spiritual practice; spirituality I understand as the personal connection with that which is beyond us.  Many paths of spiritual growth exist, and many wonderful practices from the world's wisdom traditions can help you on your spiritual development path. Although this site aims to identify the best resources for your growth, here I will of course not get into a discussion of the best spiritual path. That's just silly. Why silly? Because those far along the path of spiritual development and spiritual awakening seem to acknowledge the same universal truths. Or, said another way, there are many paths up the mountain; once you reach the top of the mountain, the view is the same:
Now, to be clear, I am certainly not an enlightened sage or an awakened mind. Far from it, unfortunately, and that is why I study personal growth so much :) But, in my own seeking and spiritual hunger I have stumbled on some helpful pointers and resources. I want to share them with others, and I hope they may be helpful for your spiritual development and spiritual health. Most of these resources and practices are non-denominational and their practice can be universal. They come from the worlds wisdom traditions, ancient Western Philosophy and Eastern philosophy, and the domain of Transpersonal Psychology. In speaking of spirituality, I will lean toward the enlightenment or nondual teachings, which advocate "waking up" to the reality that there is no separation from God; God, or Consciousness, or Universal Mind, or whatever you want to call it, is everywhere. In fact, that's all there is. Resources For Your Spiritual Development Below are some of my humble recommendations for spiritual development practice. When investigating these, I recommend emphasizing whole-body practice, as opposed to intellectual knowledge. As my teacher says, "An ounce of practice is worth a ton of theory." Meditation As you pursue spiritual growth and wellness, many traditions emphasize devoting silent time to connecting with God, Consciousness, Universal Mind, or What is. Some emphasize meditation, prayer, labyrinth walking, yoga (which means union) and many other practices. Meditation has been emphasized as a method by wisdom traditions and Western developmental psychologists as a method for accelerating adult spiritual development. There are many wonderful forms of meditation. If you're interested in beginning, please see my pages on
Connecting with others in a spiritual community can help the process of spiritual development and spiritual awakening. Whether that's church, an Ashram, a mosque, a yoga class, or meditation group, spending time with others as you connect with God/Consciousness/Universal Mind, can deepen you in many wonderful ways. That said, choose your group for practice wisely. Particularly when moving into more esoteric and non-traditional realms, be careful to avoid cults. Any time people ask you to believe something, do something, or say something - and ostracize you if you do not do it - leave immediately. True teachers will teach from a place of acceptance and non-judgment. They will challenge you to be quiet, listen to your heart, and see the truth for yourself. (Please visit my page on Spiritual Sayings for more thoughts on looking inside and all around you to find the divine.) Daily Practice Whatever practice you choose - prayer, meditation, yoga, tai chi, aikidio, or any number of other wonderful practices - consistency is important. Learning to return to center and reconnect with the spirit within on a daily basis will transform you. The effects are cumulative. Not every day will bring a spiritual insight or amazing experience. Yet, over time, your heart will unfold from the inside out. Websites Two websites I recommend: The Awakened Heart Center for Conscious Living
Books There are many wonderful books on spirituality from all kinds of traditions. Please visit my spiritual books page for a list of some of my favorites on spiritual practice, development, and wisdom. These are only a few of many wonderful resources out there. I hope they may be helpful to you on your path of spiritual development. Namaste. Leave Spiritual Development and Return to BPGR Home Related Articles
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