As a child and teenager, I never had any interest in religion—yet later on I discovered that I had in me the inclination to become a deeply spiritual man. That inclination was not being triggered by the religious dogmas and practices ...
Meeting Your Shadow Self Through Meditation
People practice meditation for different purposes. Some seek one of meditation’s many benefits for the body, mind, and relationships; others are seeking personal growth, emotional healing, or spiritual development. Regardless of what your initial intention was for starting the practice, if ...
Sufi Meditation and Breathing Practices
Sufism is the esoteric path within Islam, where the goal is to purify oneself and achieve mystical union with the Supreme (named Allah in this tradition). The practitioners of Sufism are called Sufis, and they follow a variety of spiritual practices, ...
Spiritual Clichés and New Age Spirituality
A cliché is “an expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has become overused to the point of losing its original meaning or effect, even to the point of being trite or irritating” (Wikipedia). So a spiritual cliché is a teaching ...
Mantra Meditation – The Why, the How, and the Methods
A mantra is one of the most common objects used for meditation - and one of the most powerful ones too. The practice of mantra meditation is found in many of the world's contemplative traditions, and also in the practice of ...
Desires, Suffering, Achievements and Transcendence
Most spiritual traditions, especially the Eastern ones, tells us that personal desires are doors to suffering. These teachings ask us to let go of desires and develop nonattachment, so we can be truly happy and at peace. Something inside us realizes that ...
