Seven Spiritual Practices
Embed Meditation and Contemplative Practice in a Holistic Spiritual Life
Roger N. Walsh (b. 1946), professor at the University of California, Irvine, wrote Essential Spirituality in which he documents seven core spiritual practices found among all of the world’s great religions and wisdom traditions. In his introduction to the book Spiritual Growth with Entheogens, he summarized the seven practices like this:
The great religions all recommend seven kinds of practices… living ethically, transforming emotions, developing concentration, refining awareness, purifying motivation, cultivating wisdom, and engaging in service. — Roger Walsh
I could easily see the contemplative heart of this model:
Practice goodness and compassion (live ethically);
Heal your heart and foster the fruit of the spirit (transform emotions);
Meditate (develop concentration);
Contemplate (refine awareness);
Foster a spirit of non-attachment (purify motives);
Foster understanding and empathy (cultivate wisdom);
Be generous, especially with those in need (engage in service).
Of course, the tricky part is putting all this into practice! Facing that challenge, I am reminded of the Buddha’s eightfold path (the key to reduce or even eliminate suffering): we grow toward enlightenment as we foster in our lives the qualities of intention, clear seeing, honest and compassionate speaking, skillful action, right livelihood, mindfulness and concentration (these last two, again, can be equated with meditation and contemplation).
What I like about the Buddha’s path is that it is action oriented: make a commitment, watch where you’re going, be kind, speak words that help rather than hurt, earn money ethically, and so forth. Spirituality, ultimately, is never a spectator sport, and while practices like meditation and contemplation may involve silence, solitude and stillness, they are paired with other commitments that are relational, activist, and take place “in the world.”
Poet Antonio Machado said “we make the path by walking” — so it is with a spiritual practice. We do it by doing it. We may make mistakes and it may take us time to get it right, but that’s all the more reason to get going now.
Quotation source: Roger Walsh, “The Varieties of Mind-Enhancing Practices,” in Spiritual Growth with Entheogens edited by Thomas B. Roberts (Park Street Press, 2012), p. xx.