Spiritual Exercises Retreat – The Right One For Me
Spiritual Exercises — this could describe putting on gemstones and doing calisthenics in time to yogis chanting om, but actually it’s a term John-Roger coined for meditation as an active positive practice.
I have been doing some kind of meditation for the last twenty years or so. It has changed my life. Recently, I attended the spiritual exercises retreat at Prana, the headquarters of MSIA located in Los Angeles. And I was catapulted into another level of appreciation that I continue practicing.
The amazing thing about Spirit is that it’s always new. During the retreat I sensed something subtly different than what I’ve felt before. A level of devotion came in that was sort of like falling to my knees in gratitude and awe. I have felt gratitude and awe before, but in the past it was more of a yearning. Sort of like the George Harrison’s song, “My Sweet Lord,” with me longing to know, to serve, to give in some way and asking for direction and guidance.
This time, I felt more contained within the experience, like I was wrapping myself in loving and opening myself up all at once, a gift on Christmas morning, a filling up of the sacred cup. And there wasn’t such a yearning, more of a reverence for what was taking place and a wonder at the mystery of it all.
I say mystery because my awareness was something like, “Gee, this is way bigger than a bunch of people sitting in a room together listening to recordings and silence. There’s something going on here way more magical than what I am even aware of. And I don’t know what it is exactly, but it sure is wonderful!”
And on the breaks, and during the meals, the feeling of loving that was shared by participants felt like a sign of what was going on in more refined levels. And I was reminded of that great line of Jesus’s – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
There are many ways to do meditation, but I think the best way is the way that works for you. There are many spiritual groups and churches and thought systems on the planet, but I’d say the best one is the one you’re studying.
Often I have a sense that I have found the Harvard or Yale of spiritual schools. But then I remind myself that lots of people have that experience with their spiritual or religious practice. So then I just let go of the comparison game and remember to count my blessings that I’ve found the right place to learn and grow in loving. The right one for me.