Gathering Knowledge: Practical Tips to Actively Absorb Spiritual Wisdom

[Guest guest]

Gathering Knowledge: Practical Tips to Actively Absorb Spiritual Wisdom

by Tom

How can you get the seeds of knowledge past the intellect's filters so

they reach deeper ground, germinate, and grow?

Spiritual seekers tend to be far too passive, as though they can just

sit back and listen or read and let the knowledge transform itself. In

my experience, it doesn't work that way. Deep spiritual knowledge

requires initiative and effort, combined with a willingness to take

risks. No teacher, no matter how gifted, can drink the water for you.

Here are seven proven ways to plant the seeds of knowledge deeply

using such means as reading, personal instruction, discussion,

contemplation, and so on. With them, you can raise the profitability

and enjoyment of your study to entirely new levels.

1. Write your own journal of development

Dedicate a journal to capturing pearls of wisdom as you read, listen

to CDs, and attend talks. Summarize your insights and note your

questions. Create drawings or include photos. One good technique is to

leave lots of space around each journal entry so you can return again

and again, gradually filling the page with new connections and

insights. For example, reviewing an entry from, say, from five years

ago may arouse even more intensity than it did when you first made it.

This shows how spiritual insights are connected; they are not

separated by time.

Your journal will help you dig deep and mine the gold from rich veins

of experience around you and within you. By referring to your journal

often, you'll easily recall valuable lessons. When you have the

discipline to develop it, you'll find that, over the years, no other

reading is more profitable.

2. Contemplate for short periods and long ones

" Contemplation " is defined as the use of a single word, a concise

sentence, or perhaps a mental picture or parable. It's good to

activate your contemplative powers by probing with questions such as,

" What is here I have yet to detect? What connection does this idea

have to other ideas? " Or, " What am I afraid to see? What would disturb

me? " When your contemplation has carried you as high and far as

possible, let go and transition to silence. Author Vernon said

once, " Learn from books and classes, but most of all learn from silence. "

You may wish to keep a card or computer file of ideas you've used for

contemplation. Retain these cards and revisit them from time to time.

Keep adding new insights to your notes. Doing this can be like a

bounty in the garden as you see the seeds you planted years ago

continue to sprout.

Contemplation can be take place for extended periods when you're

alone, but it's also perfect when you only have a few, spare minutes.

3. Read aloud when you're alone

Read enthusiastically and with conviction. Stand and let yourself

gesture freely. Imagine that you're addressing a large audience, and

that people in it care about applying the wisdom you're conveying.

Those in your imagined audience can powerfully symbolize your own

thoughts as they receive new information and begin to change.

Reading silently involves your intellectual center, while reading

aloud adds to your speech center. The more dimensions of yourself you

involve in an activity, the greater the impact. Add to that your

kinesthetic awareness of muscles and tension, and now you have

activated three centers in a single activity. Put your whole heart,

mind, and spirit-the whole of your being-into this task. Start with

ten minutes and expand from there.

4. Stay with the same pages awhile

In addition to your other reading, select four or five pages from a

truthful, engaging book and read these same pages every night for a

week before going to sleep. After a week go to the next four pages.

This is an effective way to deeply plant the seeds of knowledge into

the fertile soil of your innermost mind.

5. Be a metaphor hunter

Doing this can be wonderful fun! Be alert to daily life experiences,

historical examples, and experiences with nature that resemble or

connect to a spiritual principle. For example, you walk past a

building site and hear a carpenter declare, " That's not done to our

standards. Let's take that door out and do it right. " This perks you

up; it's a sudden ray of rightness that reminds you of the high

standards you've set forth in your inner world.

As another example, while on a hike, you observe an old tree that has

fallen into a stream. The tree gets lodged, but the flowing water

gradually breaks it away and takes it downstream. You think with

delight how the movement of Truth, like the flowing water, clears away

old thinking that no longer serves your purpose.

6. Express the knowledge you gather

Art, music, and dance are healthy venues of creative expression.

Likewise, being a good parent, cooking, building a home, running a

business, and even honest salesmanship are some of the many ways to

express the knowledge you glean. If you instruct others in your area

of expertise, this offers more potential for gathering knowledge.

See yourself as a conduit of information, similar to a lake that stays

pure by taking in fresh water on one side and releasing it on the

other. This is a master key for a rich and purpose-filled life. Refuse

to be a stagnant pond! Find ways to live what you learn and expand

your horizons to step out of familiar zones of competence. This

includes finding ways to do much better what you now do well. The

discomfort of pushing the envelope, of trying new things, of being a

beginner greatly benefits your spiritual growth.

7. Participate in discussion groups

People who gather to discuss books can use a simple format with

surprisingly good results by arranging chairs in a circle and letting

participants take turns reading. The facilitator should allow frequent

pauses for contributions and ensure all the attendees participate. It

helps have someone summarize the discussion at the end of the meeting.

In addition to a book, your group could discuss a CD or DVD. Just sit

close to the player so you can hit the pause button often for

discussion. Contributions that include experiences about applying the

principles and lessons learned are especially helpful and welcome.

Enjoy the endeavor

Gathering spiritual wisdom is one of life's most enjoyable endeavors.

Our work is to collect all the facts we can about ourselves and our

inner development. When we place this treasury of life-changing facts

inside our minds, higher spiritual forces activate them-like the

morning sun shining on a garden of rare and beautiful flowers.

Copyright 2006 Tom

Much love to you,

http://www.myspace.com/rarebreeze

http://www.myspace.com/asundayinjune

http://www.myspace.com/dnjazz

http://www.intentionalone.com

http://intentionalone.com/yabb/YaBB.pl

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

" Breathe deep, walk slow, hold tight to those you love, for the sun is

setting and it will be over so fast. "

-- Ken Pierpont

[Guest guest]

Love this ! Thank you so very much for sharing this fabulous information! I learn from you - each one of you - and I adore that! Thanks again, Beloved Lady ! This article drives home the point I drone on and on and on about. *grin* And here comes some more of that droning for you! (Danger Will ! Danger! Warning - plea for posts dead ahead! *siren noises* )I think all too often we fear that we have nothing to add or that if we do someone will either dismiss us, berate us or think we feel we are somehow better or more enlightened. Those are baseless fears and, at least in here, I pray one and all feel

safe to post as they feel, think, postulate, have learned, hope for, etc... We (HH) honestly LOVE to hear what you have to say even if it is, "Um...Ali? Can you please shut it for a bit, Love?" *grin* I cannot possibly stress enough (so much so you shall wish to board a plane and come flail me with wet noodles hehe) that you are equal here and this is a forum for YOUR voice/s to add to the growth and development of this Family and is reaching far-beyond just this little wellspring of Love and Compassion into a greater movement for Humanity Healing. So, to cheerlead one moment further as I wait for my caffeine to kick in....Shout Out or Whisper Softly, but please do share when you can feel comfy, aware you are loved and accepted here

- not judged. *soft smile*One last note...there are those who choose to stay in the "shadows" and we appreciate that, too; we respect it and all choices each of you make. Yet if the single reason you are not sharing fits any we have discussed, then please put aside your fears and reach out your hand for we shall grab hold. With so much gratitude to for bringing this to the fore (yay ! *big hug*) and to each one of you....Love, Light, Peace, Joy & Unity...~Ali~ <ASundayInJune@...> wrote: Gathering Knowledge: Practical Tips to Actively Absorb Spiritual Wisdom by Tom How can you get the seeds of knowledge past the intellect's filters so they reach deeper ground, germinate, and grow? Spiritual seekers tend to be far too passive, as though they can just sit back and listen or read and let the knowledge transform itself. In my experience, it doesn't work that way. Deep

spiritual knowledge requires initiative and effort, combined with a willingness to take risks. No teacher, no matter how gifted, can drink the water for you. Here are seven proven ways to plant the seeds of knowledge deeply using such means as reading, personal instruction, discussion, contemplation, and so on. With them, you can raise the profitability and enjoyment of your study to entirely new levels. 1. Write your own journal of development Dedicate a journal to capturing pearls of wisdom as you read, listen to CDs, and attend talks. Summarize your insights and

note your questions. Create drawings or include photos. One good technique is to leave lots of space around each journal entry so you can return again and again, gradually filling the page with new connections and insights. For example, reviewing an entry from, say, from five years ago may arouse even more intensity than it did when you first made it. This shows how spiritual insights are connected; they are not separated by time. Your journal will help you dig deep and mine the gold from rich veins of experience around you and within you. By referring to your journal often, you'll easily recall valuable lessons. When you have the discipline to develop it, you'll find that, over the years, no other reading is more profitable. 2. Contemplate for short periods and long ones "Contemplation" is defined as the use of a single word, a concise sentence, or perhaps a mental picture or parable. It's good

to activate your contemplative powers by probing with questions such as, "What is here I have yet to detect? What connection does this idea have to other ideas?" Or, "What am I afraid to see? What would disturb me?" When your contemplation has carried you as high and far as possible, let go and transition to silence. Author Vernon said once, "Learn from books and classes, but most of all learn from silence." You may wish to keep a card or computer file of ideas you've used for contemplation. Retain these cards and revisit them from time to time. Keep adding new insights to your notes. Doing this can be like a bounty in the garden as you see the seeds you planted years ago continue to sprout. Contemplation can be take place for extended periods when you're alone, but it's also perfect when you only have a few, spare minutes. 3. Read aloud when you're alone Read enthusiastically and

with conviction. Stand and let yourself gesture freely. Imagine that you're addressing a large audience, and that people in it care about applying the wisdom you're conveying. Those in your imagined audience can powerfully symbolize your own thoughts as they receive new information and begin to change. Reading silently involves your intellectual center, while reading aloud adds to your speech center. The more dimensions of yourself you involve in an activity, the greater the impact. Add to that your kinesthetic awareness of muscles and tension, and now you have activated three centers in a single activity. Put your whole heart, mind, and spirit-the whole of your being-into this task. Start with ten minutes and expand from there. 4. Stay with the same pages awhile In addition to your other reading, select four or five pages from a truthful, engaging book and read these same pages every night for a

week before going to sleep. After a week go to the next four pages. This is an effective way to deeply plant the seeds of knowledge into the fertile soil of your innermost mind. 5. Be a metaphor hunter Doing this can be wonderful fun! Be alert to daily life experiences, historical examples, and experiences with nature that resemble or connect to a spiritual principle. For example, you walk past a building site and hear a carpenter declare, "That's not done to our standards. Let's take that door out and do it right." This perks you up; it's a sudden ray of rightness that reminds you of the high standards you've set forth in your inner world. As another example, while on a hike, you observe an old tree that has fallen into a stream. The tree gets lodged, but the flowing water gradually breaks it away and takes it downstream. You think with delight how the movement of Truth, like the flowing water,

clears away old thinking that no longer serves your purpose. 6. Express the knowledge you gather Art, music, and dance are healthy venues of creative expression. Likewise, being a good parent, cooking, building a home, running a business, and even honest salesmanship are some of the many ways to express the knowledge you glean. If you instruct others in your area of expertise, this offers more potential for gathering knowledge. See yourself as a conduit of information, similar to a lake that stays pure by taking in fresh water on one side and releasing it on the other. This is a master key for a rich and purpose-filled life. Refuse to be a stagnant pond! Find ways to live what you learn and expand your horizons to step out of familiar zones of competence. This includes finding ways to do much better what you now do well. The discomfort of pushing the envelope, of trying new things, of being a

beginner greatly benefits your spiritual growth. 7. Participate in discussion groups People who gather to discuss books can use a simple format with surprisingly good results by arranging chairs in a circle and letting participants take turns reading. The facilitator should allow frequent pauses for contributions and ensure all the attendees participate. It helps have someone summarize the discussion at the end of the meeting. In addition to a book, your group could discuss a CD or DVD. Just sit close to the player so you can hit the pause button often for discussion. Contributions that include experiences about applying the principles and lessons learned are especially helpful and welcome. Enjoy the endeavor Gathering spiritual wisdom is one of life's most enjoyable endeavors. Our work is to collect all the facts we can about ourselves and our inner development. When we place this

treasury of life-changing facts inside our minds, higher spiritual forces activate them-like the morning sun shining on a garden of rare and beautiful flowers. Copyright 2006 Tom Much love to you, http://www.myspace.com/rarebreeze http://www.myspace.com/asundayinjune http://www.myspace.com/dnjazz http://www.intentionalone.com http://intentionalone.com/yabb/YaBB.pl *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Breathe deep, walk slow, hold tight to those you love, for the sun is setting and it will be over so fast." -- Ken Pierpont