What is an Inquiry?

Inquiry

What is one means of support that has helped you with your practice?

Do you find that your own individual passion for practice is enough to support you?  Do you need others for support, like teachers or friends? Have you found a particular practice plans or tools that have been useful to you? 

Please Log in to Vote.

4 out of 4 members found this useful.

I've found...

Posted August 28th, 2008 by Aaron Manier

...that in order to establish a solid practice, it helps to reconnect with the intention of the practice daily in post-meditation or non-meditation. By doing so, I extend the practice out into the real world, experiencing more openness and fullness, richness and vibrancy, and liberated workability with form as it arises. With this extension of meditative awareness into the "real world", there is a constant reminder of what I am working towards and what my Self really is. By working with the world and noticing the impact of practice on my day to day doings, I am able to remind myself of the value of practice and the brilliance and fullness it is opening within my own experience.

On a more mundane level, I've found a couple of supports really help. One is to have a space in which to practice that is used daily. Having the same space provides a sense of continuity to the practice, and helps build an energy to that space via the intention and effort one exerts during a meditation session. Another helpful practice is to have some simple little ritual before meditating, such as lighting a candle or some incense, doing some yoga stretches or other physical discipline, or whatever rituals might be befitting to one's spiritual path/beliefs. This activity can help the mind to separate from its own business and prepare for a period of stillness.

One other important support is a community, group of practitioners, sangha, discussion group, or some other communally driven forum that is personal, honest, and open. Sure the internet and these postings are great, but they don't serve to truly transform as well as other living, breathing people. I've found that the experiences of others following a spiritual path can be incredibly informative, and seeing others progression and ideas helps me veer away from thinking I know alot, that I've figured something out - the coopting of spiritual intention by one's own egoic identity.

 

VIVA LA INTEGRAL (whole wheat in some languages)!

 

A

Please Log in to Vote.

1 out of 1 members found this useful.

Epistomologically

Posted October 14th, 2008 by Bill Kilburg

Practice knowing nothing exist. Nothing exist in deep dreamless sleep, nothing exist Now as a transcendecy to time, and practice creating these distinctions. Coming from nothingness creates the possibilty of bringing something new into existence. Practice creating the people in my life who I have "known" for years , practice giving up how I put" them" together in the "past" and practice creating them newly, nowly, appreciatively ,unconditionally from nothing, and bath myself as "these" wonderfull creations. And when I dont , I practice giving up making myself wrong and CHOOSE enjoying my humanity, and the fun of dys"fun"ction. lol  

Please Log in to Vote.

1 out of 1 members found this useful.

here here

Posted October 17th, 2008 by Eric Grace

Having a community that hold you accountable, and support you in the good and hard times is so key for me. And helps me see more and more of the places in myself that I hide both great and small that I get a chance to embrace and walk right into.

here here to the way that have heart-consciousness friends and teachers around that can walk their talk, inspire, and show me my greatness and that I am not as perfect as I think I am or think I need to be to be loved and real.

Eric

Please Log in to Vote.

2 out of 2 members found this useful.

I need a We-Space

Posted August 4th, 2009 by Jennifer Grove

Yes, I need people to share awareness with. I need others to hold space for me when I am too weak to do so on my own, and I need to be able to hold space for others and see them grow into it. I need confirmation that life is NOT shame and terror and then you die.

I have not found this magical We-space. Nor do I know how to make it, tho I've tried mightily.

--

The scientific community is still using deterministic language that it inherited from alchemy and magic. Of all the lines of development to still be using magical thinking, I would have never thought science would be one of the most prominent.

 

Please Log in to Vote.

2 out of 2 members found this useful.

What supports me in my practice?

Posted November 26th, 2009 by Stacie Hardison

-- I have found that what supports me in my practice is to type up my goals and intentions and I place them into a binder.  It gets my visions, plans, aspirations outside of my head.  I feel much freer after doing this.  I can let life unfold.  Also I create seasonal themes for my life plan.  This season it is called "Winter Wonderland: Giving Birth to Beauty and the Christ Presence."  I try to tie my life experiences and activities to correspond with the themes I am intending to manifest.  Some of my other themes were "finding my voice" "digging a path" and "visioning."  My life is my creation and I enjoy the active role of creating it.  The challenge is to then engage in it and fully experience it as it comes into view and is realized.

Also I put in my binder articles, art collages, and various literature related to my life plan or howI envision my life unfolding.  This practice helps me to get organized and to move forward in my life. 

I am so grateful for the Integral Life Practice.  It allows me to grow, expand, and experience balance and a sense of wholeness in my life.

IBWY always-already

Windancer