Implementing Spiritual Practices – Part 1
Two Wolves
An old Cherokee chief is teaching his grandson about life:
“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
“One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.
“The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
“This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old chief simply replied, “The one you feed.”
There are many, many things that implementing and consistently engaging spiritual practices can do for your body, mind and spirit. When you begin any spiritual practice, you must deliberately set the intention to do the practice. We are not born doing spiritual practices, so you must gear yourself up to do them. Once your mind is in tune with the practice, then it becomes second nature. Think of some of the routine rituals you engage in everyday without giving it a second thought – brushing your teeth, showering, putting on your clothing, and the like. You may think these aren’t spiritual practices, they are just routine hygiene activities that we must do. On the contrary! These routine activities are spiritual practices, you just do them mindlessly.
So, what is a spiritual practice? My definition of a spiritual practice is anything that you do consistently, mindfully that produces more life to all and less to none – to borrow from Wallace Wattles. What does that mean? When you are brushing your teeth, you may do it consistently, like every day or even twice a day; but you aren’t doing it mindfully. Usually you are thinking about something else when you brush your teeth – like, the day’s activities, that not-so great meeting you had with your boss, the way that guy cut you off in traffic, blah, blah, blah. You get the picture?
Although there are a slew of things you do consistently, most are not done mindfully and definitely without the intention of bringing more life to anyone. More life to all and less to none simply means for the greater good of everyone without doing harm to anyone. How often do you think about other people in your daily planning? When you give more life to all, you do what is best for yourself which in turn is for the good of all. When you are being less than, you are potentially harming those around you. When you don’t bring your best to the table, others do suffer for it.
So, back to spiritual practices. Spiritual practices help you to not only be consistent, but also to be mindful, focusing on this present moment. When you can focus on this present moment, you stay out of the unsettling places, like fear, shame and guilt. When you are not engaging in any spiritual practices, then you are likely living out of your false self, or your bad wolf. When you operate out of your false self, or your bad wolf, the chances for meaningful relationships, harmonious work environments, a stable family life, or a nourishing social life are slim to none.
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.
Be melting snow. Wash yourself of yourself.
Do you pay regular visits to yourself?
Don’t argue or answer rationally.
Let us die,
and dying, reply.
Most people guard against going into the fire,
and so end up in it.
I saw you and became empty.
This emptiness, more beautiful than existence,
it obliterates existence, and yet when it comes,
existence thrives and creates more existence!
To praise is to praise
how one surrenders
to the emptiness.
~ Rumi
Self-Assessment Reflection Questions:
1. “Do you pay regular visits to yourself?
2. “Are your spiritual practices consistent, mindful and give more life to all and less to none?”
3. “What is one small action I can take right now to create these kinds of spiritual practices?”
