We always have the choice to experience a greater life. We can either keep repeating the same self-limiting patterns, or, we can move more deeply into the spiritual practices that change us on a core level. Peace, joy and abundance are our birthright and are achieved as we practice quieting and centering our mind. This however, is often challenging in our attention-diverting society. Amidst the noise and confusion of the world, the voice of our deepest self, that "still small voice," is easily drowned out. It's akin to listening for a songbird's harmonious melody against the backdrop of a busy highway.

However, meditation and prayer provide a gateway to calm our minds and access answers beyond the level of the problem. Just as our bodies require regular workouts to maintain its strength, our minds need consistent practice in order to quiet its erratic thoughts and feelings. Silencing our minds through prayer and meditation allows us to connect with our core being so we may experience the peace and fulfillment within.

Prayer is most useful for communicating with our Source, for expressing ourselves. A Course in Miracles teaches, "Prayer is the medium of miracles. It is a means of communication of the created with the Creator. Through prayer love is received, and through miracles love is expressed." Prayer allows us to talk, to ask that we be aligned with a Divine Will and be used by a Divine Instrument. Ideally, it's a time to ask for clarity about a situation, or for sending light and love to someone in need.

In Illuminata, Marianne Williamson explains, "We can learn to speak to God as we would speak to a combination therapist / lover / teacher / best friend / One-we-trust-more-than-anything / One-who-loves-us-no-matter-what / One-with-all-the-power-to-heal / One-with-the-power-and-desire-to-help, for that's what God is."

Meditation, on the other hand, involves quieting the mind so we can receive inner-guidance. Sogyal Rinpoche, in The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, teaches meditation by emphasizing, "Bring your mind home," and clarifies, "In its deepest sense, to bring your mind home is to turn inward and to rest in the nature of mind. This itself is the highest meditation."

>>> Continue Reading "Deepening Your Spiritual Practice"

© Copyright Laura V. Hyde. This article was originally published at our website, SoulfulLiving.com, in June 2004, as part of our "Spiritual Practice" Issue.

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