What are your regular spiritual practices?

[Treks]

What's your daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, yearly, (insert time period here) spiritual routine?

Do you get up at a certain time of morning to say a certain prayer or do a meditation or ritual?
Do you pray before you eat?
Do you wash before praying or just washing your hands is enough?
Do you wear certain kinds of clothes?
Do you worship every evening with your family?
Do you attend a place of worship regularly or semi-regularly?
Do you try to read x number of pages of scripture a month?
Are your practices guided by the moon phases and/or the seasons?
Do you do, or not do, whatever you're inclined to do at whatever time you're inclined to do it?
Do you not care?

Keep in mind religion and spiritual practices are different for everyone and we're all at a different stage on the journey. Your religion might tell you to say 5 prayers a day but at the moment you can only manage 2 - that's ok.

I hope people aren't too self conscious to share their daily and otherwise regular practices here.

Thank you.

 

[Breathe]

I do as I feel compelled by my my love for God at that time. What and when I can.

Sometimes I sit in silence, or chant, or read scriptures, or read religious materials; sometimes meditating to experience God.

I try not to get bogged down on washing before praying, or worshipping at set times, but only do them if they are of benefit to me (e.g., dirty feet = wash feet, dirty hands = wash hands); this helps with avoiding becoming bogged down with rituals, and turning them into my own idols and superstitions.

Despite not being Pagan, I do follow some festivals of the Wheel of the Year; feel closer to nature by doing it.

I have a problem with Divine rules and regulations simply 'because'. I don't care for dietary restrictions, for fasting, for using or avoiding icons.

I do not do things to get into Heaven, or to avoid Hell.

I go with the flow and do what makes sense.

 

[Straw Dog]

Let's see...

To begin with, I accept "spirit" in its original Latin meaning as "breath" with naturalistic associations rather than supernatural. To be spiritual involves awareness of one's breath, vitality, interbeing, and impermanence. We are interconnected with the greater ecosystem and every individual represents an unique expression of life worthy of respect within the dynamic web of being. This forms the basis of my "spirituality".

I mostly practice equanimity, mindful breathing and living, appreciating natural beauty and brilliance, perceiving that which is profoundly funny, and contemplating the cosmos. Deep, tranquil contemplation is a form of meditation and I've had more success with it than some other forms. Other than that, I don't follow any formal practices. I prefer my spirituality to be spontaneous like nature.

 

[TommyDar]

I do not pray, perform any rituals, nor attend places of worship. I do wash my hands because it is hygenics.

I think at the moment the closer thing to religion in my life is to go out to the nature parks and see nature as it is, to ponder about the deep thoughts of life, and to above all be kind to others.

 

[rusra02]

My worship involves regular,daily prayers, and daily Bible reading ant study. Also, I attend Christian meetings twice weekly. Once each year, (this year march 26) we remember the anniversary of Jesus Christ's death. Three times annually we gather for large conventions to study the Bible together. We regularly preach and teach the Bible to interested neighbors.

 

[Treks]

This is great so far, thanks everyone for your comments.

 

[Secret Chief]

Zazen and kinhin. (Simplest response)

You're doing well at not arguing.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I usually think about dharma often and weigh it with life in general. At times I will reflect and pause and give a bow of respect. Light incense and or consume a hot beverage. Once in awhile ring a mindfulness bell. Practice Zazen continually whither sitting or not.

 

[StarryNightshade]

My practice? Lets see:

- I'm more aware of the suffering in the world and try to be more compassionate to others.

- I'm slowly, but surely, adapting a more green diet.

- I'm currently searching for a temple.

- I've begun meditating more.

- When I can, I go to my towns Unitarian Universalist church for services.

 

[Gaura Priya]

I read spiritual things... about a half an hour a day.

I do mantra meditation.

I pray.

Puja.

Religious service once a week.

I light a candle, light some incense, and make a good piping cup of herbal tea.

 

[Windwalker]

I practice 60 minutes sitting meditation each morning surrounded by 15 minutes on either side with a ritual closing and opening to meditation, with candles, mantra, offerings, etc. The rituals create the space and focus devotion and intention, and ground the experience afterward to carry with into the day and transform the mind and life.

Additionally I practice walking meditations throughout the day. Am involved in many discussion of the teachings of great teachers, read materials involving the spiritual, create music, garden, and otherwise live mindfully.

 

[Nyingjé Tso]

Vanakkam,

All the week I worship Panchmukhi Ganapati one day and Murugan on the other, and it goes like this each day. I worship at the evening, after cleaning and before eating:

-Light candle and incense and offer them
-Offer ash and kumkum
-Pray and praise
-I rarely offer food, but it happens, like fruits or cakes for Ganesha
-Eventually recite the names of the deities I am worshipping (Murugan or Ganesha)
-Silent Japa
-Bow and meditate

Saturday is an important day for me, I dedicate it to Lord Shiva. I bathe Him with sacred items (gangajal, kumkum, coconut water, milk, water...) I smear Him with ashes and offer light and incense.

I try to be consistent in the rituals, but less formally, I always pay attention to everything around me. When I'm outside and see nature or a patch of beautiful flowers, I always mentally offer them to Shiva, or praise about how these flowers adorn so well his earthly form. I also recite mantras or sing names of the deities in my head and heart every day.

Aum Namah Shivaya

 

[Vinayaka]

I do nothing. Nothing at all. It is all His work.

 

[Dena]

Do you get up at a certain time of morning to say a certain prayer or do a meditation or ritual?

I try to remember the Modeh Ani when wake up but I often forget. I have a print of it next to my bed to help me remember.

Do you pray before you eat?

Sometimes but again, I often forget.

Do you wash before praying or just washing your hands is enough?

No, I don't.

Do you wear certain kinds of clothes?

I just make sure I'm modestly covered.

Do you worship every evening with your family?

Well, that would be a little weird but it's also just me and my husband, who is an atheist.

Do you attend a place of worship regularly or semi-regularly?

I average 1-2 times per month.

Do you try to read x number of pages of scripture a month?

No. I tend to read when I want to know the answer to a question or explain a concept to someone.

Are your practices guided by the moon phases and/or the seasons?

Judaism does correlate holidays with seasons and such.

Do you do, or not do, whatever you're inclined to do at whatever time you're inclined to do it?

Huh?

Do you not care?

About?

 

[Treks]

More thanks to everyone for their replies.

Do you do, or not do, whatever you're inclined to do at whatever time you're inclined to do it?

Huh?

Do you not care?

About?

The first one = do you just do whatever you feel like, whenever you feel like it (or don't do anything at all if you don't want to)

The second one = Do you not care about any spiritual practices at all.

*whispers* They were catch-alls so the atheists didn't feel left out... hehehe j/k

 

[Iti oj]

I like to greet and meet weather spirits.

 

[Jainarayan]

Do you get up at a certain time of morning to say a certain prayer or do a meditation or ritual?
No. I offer incense and light in the evening along with mantras and prayers, when I do it, which hasn't been very often. My thoughts are almost always on God, doing what's called antharyagama puja, internal puja. I have not done japa in a long time, and I don't sit for a specific time in meditation.

Do you pray before you eat?
Sometimes.

Do you wash before praying or just washing your hands is enough?
If it's a normal day in which I've showered for work, I only wash my hands for prayers at the altar. If I've been at the gym, am sweaty or otherwise grungy I will shower.

Do you wear certain kinds of clothes?
Not really. When I'd go to temple on weekends I'd wear a dhoti.

Do you worship every evening with your family?
No. I'm the only one who holds the beliefs I do.

Do you attend a place of worship regularly or semi-regularly?
No.

Do you try to read x number of pages of scripture a month?
Yes.

Are your practices guided by the moon phases and/or the seasons?
Not usually. I occasionally do an Ekadashi fast (11th day after the full or new moon) or another important fast, if I can.

Do you do, or not do, whatever you're inclined to do at whatever time you're inclined
to do it?
Yes.

Do you not care?
I care, but I'm not very good at consistent practice or rituals. My spiritual practice is somewhat lacking of late.