How do you practice?

How do you practice your spirituality?
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but hve no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

I follow Unitarian Universalist beliefs. I side with the Unitarians because I believe all people are blessed, we all come from the same place, and end at the same destination. As for details, I realize I'm not really a spiritual religious person. The more I understand I'm "not like the others" the more receptive I am.

With that in mind,

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?

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Doing the week, I study (love knowledge and productivity in my classes), I do art sometimes, once in awhile I'll pray, and I go to church sundays. Most spiritual workshops I go to. I enjoy helping people. We paint the church together. Commune downstairs. Sing. Things like that.

Amanaki said:

Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to believe?

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Once in awhile I'll read some of the Dharma suttas. My bible is gathering dust as we speak. I do mostly reading for knowledge, novels, and ted talks. Holy scripture is pretty much everywhere. When I jog. When I chat.

It's not conventional, and, there it is.

Amanaki said:

Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?

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There is so much. I used to study Dharma. I'm going into communications. In this question, I'd probably be a motivational speaker or a teacher and "be someone else's scripture" type of thing. If someone can use the knowledge I have, that's scripture enough.

Amanaki said:

Or do you believe but have no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

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Speak of the devil. I should have looked down before I looked up. No. I don't have traditional scripture. I "try" to go with the flow outside of paying bills etc that has deadlines. Balance work.

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but hve no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

Click to expand...

I don't believe anything. I just trust in the mystery. And practice at being grateful for it's "grace".

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?

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I don't see myself 'practicing' my spirituality as much as having it as a prime mover in understanding my religious beliefs. It gives me conviction and a connection to God...like plugging into a power source.

Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?

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Not really, for me creation speaks of God as much as the Bible does. God's word fills in the detail and gives guidance in practical matters for me. It tells me what God has done in the past...what he is doing now...and what he will do with planet Earth and it inhabitants in the future.

Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but have no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

Click to expand...

To make sense of this life, the Bible is my "go to" for answers to all my questions. I've had lots of them over the years.
It tells me who my Creator is...why we are here....how the world got to be in the mess its in...and what God is doing about it. It tells me the outcome and takes the human race 1,000 years into the future, after which perhaps we will receive a new book of instructions concerning the next phase of God's purpose for his vast creation.
I think that he has only just begun.

Thanks for asking.

Deeje said:

I don't see myself 'practicing' my spirituality as much as having it as a prime mover in understanding my religious beliefs. It gives me conviction and a connection to God...like plugging into a power source.



Not really, for me creation speaks of God as much as the Bible does. God's word fills in the detail and gives guidance in practical matters for me. It tells me what God has done in the past...what he is doing now...and what he will do with planet Earth and it inhabitants in the future.



To make sense of this life, the Bible is my "go to" for answers to all my questions. I've had lots of them over the years.
It tells me who my Creator is...why we are here....how the world got to be in the mess its in...and what God is doing about it. It tells me the outcome and takes the human race 1,000 years into the future, after which perhaps we will receive a new book of instructions concerning the next phase of God's purpose for his vast creation.
I think that he has only just begun.

Thanks for asking.

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Thank you for taking part in the thread

I sit and scream like a monkey.

Nowhere Man said:

I sit and scream like a monkey.

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Does that mean your monkey mind (chatter mind) has not become silent yet?

Amanaki said:

Does that mean your monkey mind (chatter mind) has not become silent yet?

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The little bugger no doubt has his days. I figure it's not a big worry, he will eventually get tired. ;O)

Then....

PureX said:

. And practice at being grateful for it's "grace".

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Beautifully put.
But I also believe that it is this faith in Mystery that is echoed in Scripture.

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but hve no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

Click to expand...

The last two items worked for me, Christ Jesus:
"12For to the one who has, more will be given"

How do you practice your spirituality?: I try to follow my 'dharma'.
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?: Holy books are opinions of wise people, but it is not obligatory to follow all. They differ. So, finally, one has to make his/her own decision.
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?: Yeah I have studied the scriptures of my religion as well as some others too.
Or do you believe but have no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?: I basically follow the 'Advaita' Hinduism view with an 'Advaita'/Science mix.

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but hve no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

Click to expand...

There are obligatory prayers for Baha'is to recite daily as well as reciting the "Greatest Name" ninety five times a day. The prayers are recited personally not in congregation and we choose whether to recite a long, medium or short prayer. Baha'is also Fast Nineteen Days each year from solid and liquid foods from sunrise to sunset.

The prayers were revealed by the Manifestation of God for this day.
I study the revealed Writings and explore "what it really means"... The Baha'i Writings are online for anyone to explore...
Writings of Bahá’u’lláh | Bahá’í Reference Library

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but hve no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

Click to expand...

I rely heavily on holy books of paganism. I study them and if i hadn't them, i'd be lost.

Amanaki said:

How do you practice your spirituality?
Do you believe because the holy book/scripture tell you to belive?
Do you study the scriptures and try to understand what does it really means?
Or do you believe but hve no scripture to guide you to deeper wisdom of the truth?

Click to expand...

The scriptures I use are in clear American English, and yes they guide me, but I don't need to try to understand it, because it's not written in some vague obscure language.
My personal practice doesn't use much scripture at all. In daily sadhana, it's about a 5 minute reading. The rest is puja, japa, and meditation. That takes about 40 to 50 minutes. Every day. (Actually around 99% I suppose)

I also do the pancha nitya karmas to the best of my ability. (5 duties) Panch Nitya Karmas

For seva/charya, since I'm retired, in summer I am blessed to have a 20 to 30 hours per week volunteer landscaping position. Flowers and greenery uplift people as they enter the temple, and that's what I do. Move dirt, cut grass, plant flowers, maintain the outside of buildings, bring down dead trees, plant new ones. I am alone with that 90% of the time, like some reflective monk not speaking.

24 hours I attempt to follow dharma. You know you're quite reprogrammed in dharma when a temptation comes in a dream, but you willingly refuse it. Dreams of the regular variety are subconscious.