Divine reading is a well-established staple of the spiritual diet: a reading from scripture to focus the mind on matters of abiding meaning.
All it takes is a quiet 15 minutes to clear the mind of all clutter by gently pushing it off to the side.
Then, read a passage slowly and with full attention. After reading, be still for another 60 seconds to let the words sink in, and then jot down some spontaneous thoughts that the words inspire.
After this brief time set aside for the purpose of “prayerful reading,” just 30 to 60 seconds of quiet breathing and then one can go off to the next scheduled meeting or task.
What reading to choose today?
Well, one can establish a preset schedule of reading, or, go about it as did St. Francis: choose randomly and spontaneously.
I do believe that synchronicities abound (meaningful coincidences that appear purposive and strongly connected especially on reflection). So, I tend toward a random walk through my library that finds me this morning grabbing the Dhammapada ( according to Eknath Easwaran). It is something of a Buddhist equivalent of the Sermon on the Mount.
I read from the Twin Verses: ” Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it.”
This short verse really captures my imagination today. We are told that we are what we eat. No problem seeing the truth of that. We digest our food and it is converted into needed energy. If we eat overly rich food in quantities too great, we get stomach sick, bloated, listless.
Since mind and body are inseparable and the body is the stage on which Mind presents its inner drama to the world, we are what we think even more surely and immediately.
A daily diet of angry thoughts will certainly do more than render our facial non-verbals unfriendly. It will take a toll on the whole body in time. Pessimism and cynicism sour the air around us and draws down the light.
In ancient times, the word for priest was “phoster,” or light-bringer. Under the weight of dark thoughts our inner light is dimmed diminishing ourselves and those around us.
May today be one in which our thoughts give testament to the Light and in so doing act as catalysts for the well-being, Light and joy of everyone we meet!
© The Harried Mystic, 2009. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
The Harried Mystic 