Practices from your religion that helps one's mind...

[illykitty]

Today I was thinking about how various religions have ways to deal with the mind, the ego and certain things resulting from them such as suffering, anguish, negative thinking, endless chatter that keeps you up at night, self-consciousness, worry and so on.

I am most familiar with meditation, since it can help you identify your thought patterns and realise you are not your thoughts. It has been helpful to me in the past but I've failed to keep up the habit, it's something I've recently started again. I also try to focus on positive virtues which I aspire to cultivate and try to not dwell on the negatives, otherwise I obsess over them and fail to grasp the opportunity to become a better self.

So is there any way your path deals with such matters? Be it prayers, magic, embracing the darkness within... It would be interesting to know and share how each path deals with such matters... Or maybe it's not something explicitly talked about in your religion, that's fine too.

I'm looking forward to what you have to share.

 

[StarryNightshade]

Well, there's meditation (like you mentioned), but yoga and Japa/mantra chanting help me when I do them.

 

[illykitty]

Well, there's meditation (like you mentioned), but yoga and Japa/mantra chanting help me when I do them.

Does chanting and yoga help because essentially, you can't think of anything else while practising it? Do you think there's more to it?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Today I was thinking about how various religions have ways to deal with the mind, the ego and certain things resulting from them such as suffering, anguish, negative thinking, endless chatter that keeps you up at night, self-consciousness, worry and so on.

I am most familiar with meditation, since it can help you identify your thought patterns and realise you are not your thoughts. It has been helpful to me in the past but I've failed to keep up the habit, it's something I've recently started again. I also try to focus on positive virtues which I aspire to cultivate and try to not dwell on the negatives, otherwise I obsess over them and fail to grasp the opportunity to become a better self.

So is there any way your path deals with such matters? Be it prayers, magic, embracing the darkness within... It would be interesting to know and share how each path deals with such matters... Or maybe it's not something explicitly talked about in your religion, that's fine too.

I'm looking forward to what you have to share.

Well, I try meditating five minutes a day after exsercise. I realised my spirituality is taking care of myself. So, I try and find healthy and inexpensive seasonal foods to eat. If I do spell work, I usually do so with herbal teas. Each for a different goal in mind. It helps me and it helps whomever I do the prayer for. I find acting my prayers give me a peace of mind and reverence than mindful prayer or silent meditation. I also find that silent while doing everyday activities clears the mind as well.

Another thing Im trying to do more often is talk with my ancestors and family. I know their spirits exist but I dont know how to contact them other than conversation. I try to be more of a family person even though Im not (Im told it runs in the family); so, that could be why its hard to communicate.

Religiouswise, the closest I do that is not directly related to myself, others, and environment is bowing. I bow to the Buddha for wisdom. I bow to the sun for energy. I bow to the moon for guidence. Lifting my arms and bowing is sacred to me. I learned this both when I practiced Nichiren Buddhism and Catholicism. I cant connect how it relates to those three things I mentioned, and it works.

 

[Quintessence]

There's a pretty large toolkit in my path for things like this.

First and foremost, the general mindset towards life that is cultivated through my path sets a ground for robust mental health. Anyone who has a life-affirming religion – a religion that sees beauty and sacredness in all things, including oneself – receives that grounding. There is an inherently positive tenor to it, and we all know that negative or cynical worldview tend to produce mental unease in anyone. The vast majority of the time, this alone is enough to keep me in the right headspace as I go through life. Nothing else is needed.

For when things go awry, or even when they aren't and you just want an extra hurrah in life, there is, as mentioned earlier, a large toolkit.

 

[illykitty]

Well, I try meditating five minutes a day after exsercise. I realised my spirituality is taking care of myself. So, I try and find healthy and inexpensive seasonal foods to eat. If I do spell work, I usually do so with herbal teas. Each for a different goal in mind. It helps me and it helps whomever I do the prayer for. I find acting my prayers give me a peace of mind and reverence than mindful prayer or silent meditation. I also find that silent while doing everyday activities clears the mind as well.

Another thing Im trying to do more often is talk with my ancestors and family. I know their spirits exist but I dont know how to contact them other than conversation. I try to be more of a family person even though Im not (Im told it runs in the family); so, that could be why its hard to communicate.

Religiouswise, the closest I do that is not directly related to myself, others, and environment is bowing. I bow to the Buddha for wisdom. I bow to the sun for energy. I bow to the moon for guidence. Lifting my arms and bowing is sacred to me. I learned this both when I practiced Nichiren Buddhism and Catholicism. I cant connect how it relates to those three things I mentioned, and it works.

Those are really lovely practices and I really admire that. I love your examples of taking care of yourself and bowing.

About ancestors, I was wondering, what if one doesn't know theirs, then do you still address them? I don't even know the names of mine and all of my (related) grand-parents are still alive. I got curious because it is a fascinating practise but I've never done it because I don't know how to adress them, nor would I want to offend.

Also I'd like to know how does it, for you, help keep a good mindset?

There's a pretty large toolkit in my path for things like this.

First and foremost, the general mindset towards life that is cultivated through my path sets a ground for robust mental health. Anyone who has a life-affirming religion – a religion that sees beauty and sacredness in all things, including oneself – receives that grounding. There is an inherently positive tenor to it, and we all know that negative or cynical worldview tend to produce mental unease in anyone. The vast majority of the time, this alone is enough to keep me in the right headspace as I go through life. Nothing else is needed.

For when things go awry, or even when they aren't and you just want an extra hurrah in life, there is, as mentioned earlier, a large toolkit.

Could you elaborate, even if slightly (because I understand it might be a huge subject) about this toolkit... You sound like such a tease for mentioning it.

And you sound like you have a really positive outlook, that's great. I'm trying to find mine... Well, it makes sense rationally but it hasn't "clicked" yet.

 

[Satyamavejayanti]

Namaste,

In Hinduism we have many various texts and practical methods of understanding the Mind and overcoming or controlling the "Vritti", in our Mind, Yoga of Patanjali describes Yoga as removing or countering the modifications in the Mind or "Yogasha Chitta Vritti Nirodhah", which results in the observer knowing the observer rather then associating with the objects of what is observed, this can be achieved by Practice of non attachment and control of the senses in relation to the object of the senses, the physical aspect is the Hatha Yoga we practice, but Hatha is only for keeping the Physical body up to date before we concentrate on the Mind.

In the Gita Krishna advises that a person of stable mind and control senses does not come under delusion or does not suffer from the problems and modifications arising in the Mind, this is done by turning ones gaze within oneself rather then looking at the outward world to find mental peace.

Krishna says to Arjun:

Yogasthah kuru karmaani sangam tyaktwaa dhananjaya;

Siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhootwaa samatwam yoga uchyate.

48. Perform Karma, O Arjuna, being steadfast in Yoga, abandoning attachment and
balanced in success and failure! Evenness of mind is called Yoga.

The Amrta-Bindupanishad has this to say about Mind and its Vrittis.

The Mind has indeed been described as two-fold, the pure and the impure ; the impure (variety), as affected with desire and the pure, as devoid of desire.
The mind alone is the cause of the bondage and liberation of human beings ; when attached to the objects of desire (it) is characterized as leading to bondage ; when not influenced by the objects of desire, as leading to liberation. (1, 2)

There is so much more that it is not fit to post in any forum, the Mind is a well researched subject in Hinduisms many traditions.

Dhanyavad

 

[Servant_of_the_One1]

For me reading Quran helps a lot. I feel my mind and heart are at peace.

 

[StarryNightshade]

Does chanting and yoga help because essentially, you can't think of anything else while practising it? Do you think there's more to it?

I'm a bit biased, as I think they do work. However, in my experience, the goal is to eventually clear your mind while practicing either. There are many times where my mind was running a mile-a-minute at the beginning of a yoga/chanting session, but soon gave way and my mind cleared. At least, I believe that's a viable way of doing it too.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Also I'd like to know how does it, for you, help keep a good mindset?

Thank you.

To tell you honestly, Id havent thought or ancestral veneration until after my secons grandmother passed away last year november. I was prevented from talking with her and only got to once in my life. Both grandmas moved on and still watching over us.

My mothers side of the family, outside my intermediate ever since my mothers mother passed, are more family minded. Down south south carolina, it felt like home. It was the first time meeting the rest. That really got me wanting to know my fam but the "secrets" of our history and family pictures that no one wants to give up and thes pictures were from thr 1900s! put a crux in knowing family.

The best I can do for my first grandma is give her foods she enjoys. I found out my other grandmother was part or the Eastern Star, so using ES symbols helps in prayer.

As for my ancestors who no one wants to talk about, I dont like doing rituals that have no connection to what or who the ritual is for. Basic conversation with my grandma kinda is a buffer. I was told we are Cherokee, I dont know how much of that is true. Mayve I can try something there, who knows.

As advice

Do you have a culture or cultural customs in your family? Maybe use those customs (if, say praying a certain way) to talk with your ancestors? Ask your grandmothers more about them: where you and they are from? Get involved in the land you live on. Is it family property? I believe spirits stay on the land they passed especially if it was there family home. Offering prayers to the earth can acheive this goal.

Also, what does NHP stand for? Maybe theres something in that you can find.

 

[Treks]

I'm surprised to find that visualisation meditation is helping me a lot lately. I've never been much into it, but now I can lie in bed and visualise walking through beautiful places in my mind and feel safe and like I have ownership and control in that place, and it makes me feel calm. I also have an area set aside as a temple at the moment, in my head, and it's nice to know it's there.

 

[arthra]

Today I was thinking about how various religions have ways to deal with the mind, the ego and certain things resulting from them such as suffering, anguish, negative thinking, endless chatter that keeps you up at night, self-consciousness, worry and so on.

I am most familiar with meditation, since it can help you identify your thought patterns and realise you are not your thoughts. It has been helpful to me in the past but I've failed to keep up the habit, it's something I've recently started again. I also try to focus on positive virtues which I aspire to cultivate and try to not dwell on the negatives, otherwise I obsess over them and fail to grasp the opportunity to become a better self.

So is there any way your path deals with such matters? Be it prayers, magic, embracing the darkness within... It would be interesting to know and share how each path deals with such matters... Or maybe it's not something explicitly talked about in your religion, that's fine too.

I'm looking forward to what you have to share.

Baha'is generally are encouraged to pray and meditate daily... Abdul-Baha encouraged us:

This physical universe is infinite, and if material existence is endless, how much more so are the worlds of God! When we think of the visible worlds as infinite, how can we think that the worlds of God are limited? There is no beginning and no end to the material or spiritual worlds. Man passes through different phases and when in a lower consciousness he cannot comprehend the consciousness above. When we were in the state of the unborn child we had no knowledge of the world of man. If the vegetable kingdom could speak it would cry out, "Where is the world of man?" We cry out, "Where is the kingdom of the spirit?"

My hope for you is that as you travel through the universe of existence you will ever become acquainted with new and wonderful significances; that your knowledge will ever be increased - knowledge without limitation; then you will understand the realities existing in all kingdoms. Capacity is in accordance with striving and sincerity.

I pray that your inner sight may become clear, that you may be able to perceive things the heedless do not see, that you may understand the infinite worlds of God. A man who has no knowledge of the heavenly universe has missed a portion of his heritage and is like unto 119 a stone which knows nothing of humanity. May God open your inner sight, so that you may know his secrets, attain to the highest degree of existence, become manifestors of a spiritual humanity and have your share of the heavenly wisdom that BAHA'O'LLAH bestows. These divine effulgences have enveloped the Orient and Occident, but the eyes know not how to perceive, the intelligences are weak and so men are deprived and are in manifest loss. I commend you to turn towards the kingdom of El-Abha, so that the divine mysteries may be revealed.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 117

 

[Levite]

There are various kinds of Kabbalistic meditation that I find helpful. And there is a sort of solitary meditation/prayer practice called hitbodedut that Rebbe Nachman of Breslov taught, variations of which I also find helpful. Of course, I tend to find prayer in general a meditative experience....

 

[DawudTalut]

Today I was thinking about how various religions have ways to deal with the mind, the ego and certain things resulting from them such as suffering, anguish, negative thinking, endless chatter that keeps you up at night, self-consciousness, worry and so on.....................I'm looking forward to what you have to share.

Peace be on you.
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[SalmaSalma]

In Islam we are encouraged to pay respect to 3 things: God's rights (such as praying), other people's rights (that is all other human beings other than ourselves) and the rights of the self or the individual (our spirit and our physical body). The last right indicates that you should not do any act that harms your spirit, soul or your body, any harm is considered as forbidden and if you do so you will have to respond back in the day of judgement to your body parts which you are responsible about. That is why suicide and drinking alcohol as an example is forbidden in Islam, coz it harms the body.
In terms of the spirit and the soul, its is believed that the right of God, which is our praying to God, bears within it the right of the self as well. In the sense that that once you pray you are advised to think about nothing but one God, so by itself it is a kind of meditation that teaches you how to let aside to different matters and focus on one spiritual entity (Allah) that is the soul solver of you problems, as it is God who created us and so God is the ultimate medication and is aware of our pains and needs.

To make it short, the thing in Islam that has helped me to not think about the negatives and focus on the positives is the belief that if you pray to God (Allah), to give you the best in life, whatever happens in life, good or bad, is for your own sake and benefit. If its a bad thing, then it is a blessing in disguise and so we accept it as we know that hardships are characteristics of this world and the world is created on the basis of right and wrong or truth and falsehoods. And there is a verse in the Quran which says "Verily, along with every hardship is relief".
All negative acts such as suffering, anguish, negative thinking, endless chatter that keeps you up at night, self-consciousness, worry and so on as you said, has been advised for Muslims to stay away from, unless it serves a better and bigger goal, which is to get more spiritual or to gain more positive attributes.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Today I was thinking about how various religions have ways to deal with the mind, the ego and certain things resulting from them such as suffering, anguish, negative thinking, endless chatter that keeps you up at night, self-consciousness, worry and so on.

My path, Advaita Hinduism, is a huge 'Occam's Razor' that removes all fluff and leaves just one entity, Brahman; even that is not a God. No creation, no soul, no birth, no death, no judgment, no savior, no grace, no heaven, no hell; just understanding.

 

[SilverOrb]

I was raised Christian and have always felt that when I pray about being a stronger and better person. I do seem to feel better and that's probably because it's very good self talk. It also helps you to have goals in life. I feel a little bit more positive after praying.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I'm looking forward to what you have to share.

For me the natural world always works, whether it's walking by the sea, or on hills and mountains, or through forests, whatever.

 

[Quintessence]

Could you elaborate, even if slightly (because I understand it might be a huge subject) about this toolkit... You sound like such a tease for mentioning it.

Yeah, I know. Sorry.

As you say, it is a huge subject; the toolbox is hypothetically infinite. What the practices and philosophies of my path do (and what is true of contemporary Pagan religions more generally as well) is lay a foundation for self-help by developing proficiency in certain skills, practices, and ways of thinking about the world.

To use an example, we can think about spellcraft, or what some just call the practice of magic. The general principle of it is coming in to your own power to make desired changes in your life or the world around you. The possible methods for doing this are countless, but will be grounded in your own personal metaphysical perspective and understanding of the world. One spell might operate on the principle of "like attracts like": an individual hoping to attract positivity into their lives may craft a charm bag filled with things they find beautiful and wonderful, then carry that around in their pocket or wear it about the neck. Another might operate on the principle of "power of symbols": they may select a word of power, perhaps an image, to chant or meditate upon that evokes the desired thoughts.

There's stuff that's even more basic than that. Cultivating the practice of meditation - specifically those which evoke non-judgemental awareness - can help one impartially watch one's thought patterns and, instead of chiding oneself for it, simply notice that it is happening. And in the noticing, the impartial, non-judgmental noticing, one can slowly start tipping things in a different direction. Merely acknowledge that the thoughts are happening, and let them go. Move past them. Energy work can be another basic one. Some might work through the chakra system, checking in with the seven major centers to diagnose problems. From there, burn some incense corresponded to the chakra and work on opening that through meditation. Maybe chant affirmations related to that chakra, or do activities that will help open it more (or closing an over-active chakra, as the case could also be).

Lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of possibilities. It's one of the things I love about this path. There's virtually no limit to the sorts of self-help techniques you can use. And much of the time, you don't need to use them, or it becomes used for the fun of it.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I like the practice of quieting the mind.

It's like whenever something is heard but not clearly enough, yet not sure what to make of it, people at times go sssshhh......simply in order to hear better.

It seems to help overall as there is a tendency to pick up on things a noisy mind obscures , for which a person notices this and that, and whatever.