Use code SUMMERPRACTICE for a 25% discount on all On Demand Courses through August 31.

Depth of Spiritual Practice – Even in a Chaotic World

With Ronya Banks recorded on November 3, 2019.

Found our teachings useful? Help us continue our work and support your teachers with a donation. Here’s how.

“Practicing systematically, taking the time to go into deep practice and making it the number one priority, leads to a state where the mind is very still and malleable and can investigate.” – Nikki Mirghafori

As the human race’s daily living pace continues to speed up and an increasing sense of insecurity and doubt arise in response to the complexities of modern human life, many are turning to their spiritual lives for stability and support.

So, how can you get the most out of your spiritual practice when the world appears to be falling apart? By digging deeper into your practice. Typically, the more chaotic one’s life, the more dispersed their spiritual practices, when actually depth of practice is what is most needed during challenging times.

Join Buddhist teacher Ronya Banks as she provides us with the tips you can use to plumb the depths of your spiritual practice, especially during chaos.

Some of the things she will cover will include:

What is depth of practice?
What are examples of shallow practice?
Buddhist teachings on deep practice.
Employing “curiosity” and “not-knowing” as tools for deep practice;
Inquiries that will support greater depth and wisdom

Listen to the audio version below, or click here to download the mp3.

Discussion

Leave a Reply

Discover more from the Dharma Library

  • Wisdom and Heart Together

    The connection between wisdom (paññā) and the heart qualities, such as goodwill (mettā) and compassion (karunā), can be a delightful discovery in Buddhist practice. The clear, nonjudgmental awareness of wisdom can feel like warmth, inclusion, and safety when fully received. In turn, the truly open heart is free of the distortions of ill will and…

    Read More

  • Mindfulness of sympathetic joy.

    Sympathetic Joy (mudita) is one of the four noble qualities recommended by the Buddha on the path of awakening. Such joy arises from appreciating the good fortune of self and others.

    Read More

  • Ronya Banks

    Practicing with Varying Viewpoints

    Because today’s world appears to be reflecting times of great polarization and divisiveness, you probably have felt disturbed after hearing varying viewpoints that do not align with your priorities and values. In fact if you’re like most people, you have most likely felt rather emotionally triggered and incredulous when faced with radically different views. Join…

    Read More

  • Yahel Avigur

    The Necessity of Trust

    The qualities of trust, faith, and confidence are essential for mental health, profound spiritual explorations and the depth of relationships. To serve well, trust needs cultivating in conjunction with qualities of discerning wisdom and conscious intention. This session explores how this can be encouraged in both meditation and in our heart’s countless daily actions. 

    Read More

  • Norman Blair

    The Practice is Earthed Through Our Body

    Wherever we go, here is our body. Finding a sustainable shape when meditating is crucial for our practising. We can then use our bodies as ways of experiencing change and kindness. In this session, we will look at various forms of meditation (including standing and sitting) and do various techniques that can help our meditating.

    Read More

  • Sangha: You Are Not Alone!

    The Buddha’s insight that all things arise dependent on something else points to a universe in ongoing relational flow. When experienced directly, we know this flow to be love. Together we will open to receive the many ways we are touched by life through our connections to each other and the Earth, our ancestors and…

    Read More

  • Nirmala Werner

    Daily Meditation Recordings, with Nirmala Werner – Week of May 27 – 31, 2024

    This week’s topic is “Mindfulness of the nervous system: transforming fear, struggle and separation into love and connection”. We humans are social animals and need each other to feel safe and secure, to grow and to nourish ourselves. How can we live with a sense of connection, loving-kindness, and inner family? Our meditation practice allows us to take a break between stimulus and response. When we come into contact with our loved ones, we all too easily lose the inner freedom we think we have achieved and avoid our difficulties, also called spiritual bypassing. This week we explore what supports us to react flexibly to the internal and external world, to relax and to allow closeness and real intimacy. We will look into the first foundation of mindfulness, mindfulness of the body, including harmonizing the body formations and nervous system to meet our difficulties with gentleness.

    Read More