Making spiritual progress during daily circumstances

One must always try to be aware that their spiritual progress is a continuing process, irrespective of circumstances and surroundings. Apart from sitting in meditation progress can also be made when walking down the street, standing in a queue, at work, having a conversation with someone or shopping.

So how is it possible to remain focused so as to maintain one's spiritual aspiration in these circumstances? The most important point to remember is not to be distracted by outer events. One can relate this to the very process of meditating, where the meditator is the observer to passing distractions from the active thinking mind. Noticing but not attaching themselves to the passing thoughts or sounds the meditator is able to remain in the moment of the quietude of the spiritual heart.

Similarly when one is going about their daily activities they are the observer. Many things will happen around them but using inner discipline they remain unattached to the outer activities remaining focused instead on the spiritual heart. This all takes practice, but with time you shall certainly succeed.

Another method to remain focused within the spiritual heart is to look for inspiring things around you. In many instances the simplest moments bring the most inspiration. Even in the hustle and bustle of city life there are many inspiring objects around you. Next time you are out for a walk at lunch-time: go to a park and sit under the cool shade of a tree, take your shoes and socks off and go for a walk in the soft grass, look for flowering trees or shrubs or the patterns of the shadows from larger trees or the sounds of birds calling, or take a book of inspiring poetry and read its wisdom words - all of these shall keep you in the spiritual heart.

Next time you walk down the street look ahead at a forty-five degree angle, instead of looking directly at the faces of the approaching crowds, this will prevent you from being constantly distracted and keep you focused on the spiritual heart. Similarly at work keep an inspiring picture in front of you, every half an hour or so glance down at the picture and draw the inspirational qualities that you see into your body through your incoming breath.

In conversation with a friend, family member or work colleague once again keep your focus on your spiritual heart by listening with empathy to what they are saying then offer compassion, concern, sympathy, support or humour at the appropriate time. Try to also remember that this may be the last time you ever talk with this person so take the time to be sincere and kind, they will never forget you for this. So many conversations are taken in a hurry will little sincerity, understanding or patience.

Choose friends who are like 'hearted' those that follow a regular meditation program and are aspiring seekers, they shall keep you inspired and help you to maintain your focus. If today you are feeling disappointed or disheartened, a friend who is near you will be able to lift you up. Then tomorrow, when your friend is down, you will be able to lift him up.

And so you see there are many opportunities to make spiritual progress during the day, ever day, these are just a few. It only takes a shift away from the normally distracted mind, to keep the focus on the deeper and more meaningful realities of the spiritual heart's compassion, kindness, love, concern and joy.

Sri Chinmoy the meditation teacher says (1) " We have to know how hard we are trying to make spiritual progress, how many minutes of our daily life we are dedicating to our spirituality, how sincerely we are struggling to see the light within ourselves and within others. If we are wholeheartedly trying, then our divine qualities are bound to increase".

Ref: (1) From Sri Chinmoy's book - Yoga and the Spiritual Life

Biography - Sahayak Plowman by nature is a calm, positive and happy person. He attributes this to the growing experiences gained through his own meditation practice with the guidance given by his meditation teacher, Sri Chinmoy. He is a writer on spiritual topics, compiler of a published book of poetry Sri Chinmoy's Heart-Garden, meditation teacher and web master for Sri Chinmoy Books.com