Look beyond your daily meditation to the longer rhythms of life. It is easy to get into a spiritual rut. You can avoid this by having at least one long meditation each week. With a little practice, you will find your meditations becoming deeper and your daily sessions will soon begin to seem short. A good rule of thumb is to have one period of meditation that is about three times as long as usual. If you normally meditate for a half hour, try once a week to meditate for one and a half hours. Build up to the point where you can comfortably sit for a long meditation of three hours.
A period of silence once each week or even once a day will greatly benefit your spiritual evolution. You will be amazed at how much mental restlessness is caused simply by making noise! Try regularly to spend a few hours, or even a whole day, without talking. During this time, avoid watching TV or listening to the radio. If you feel, out of force of habit, a need to have background sound, listen to uplifting and God-reminding music. Likewise, anything you read during this time should be spiritual. Let your thoughts “keep good company.”
It is extremely beneficial to have a few days of seclusion each year. Many have found this to be one of the most important factors in deepening their spiritual life. It is like an extended period of your weekly silence, an opportunity to stay in an uplifted state of consciousness for days at a time. Great insights can come during such a period. After a few days one begins to see old habit patterns in a completely new light. One develops a new sense of priorities. Yogananda often said, “Seclusion is the price of greatness.”
Consider taking a spiritual retreat. It will be an opportunity to spend time with others who share your goals, and give you a chance to ask questions and receive further instruction about your practices. Ananda Sangha offers such retreats at many of its centers, led by staff members who have been meditating daily for many years. A retreat can help you to reinvigorate your spiritual life.
