Of these, the first, Meditation, is generally considered a solo exercise to be performed in an arranged setting. True meditation, however, is not (only) sitting with one’s eyes closed and back straight, but rather constantly living and functioning in a state of awareness. In this way, it is an engaged exercise — i.e. the practitioner is engaged with the world — and yet it is anchored in the Self. That said, because the external world is not in perfect harmony with the rhythms of life, it is useful to take oneself aside for a while, daily, and let one’s attention rest just like a falling feather finally pendulums down to rest. Attention is that delicate. Letting it stay rested on an object — and then no object — is the art and the end.

01 November 2011: A Meditation Guide is now available. It shares what meditation means. You may then want to explore Methods of Meditation, a lively guide that will open your eyes to the various forms and applications of meditation.

Journaling is the practice (and art) of keeping a journal. Modern journals are kept in any form suitable for the one keeping such a journal: from pen-on-paper to brush-on-paper to electronic journals to artistic ones, anything qualifies as a journal. It is not an end in itself, it is a practice, a daily act of self-observation. In a journal, unhindered, uncensored flow of consciousness is arranged. Over time, one develops a capacity to observe that flow: the nature of it, the content of it, and the source of it. Eventually, one learns how they write their code, their inner software that is producing such a consciousness. With that awareness comes the right ability to write and re-write that code — a “self-mastery”.

Journaling is a solo, self-to-self exercise. Because a journal is to allow one to peek into their inner self, it presents that which can be dearly loved or deeply feared — and all this examination requires non-judgment. Therefore a journal is best viewed from a distance: don’t take what you’re writing, personally; view it as you will view a beautiful or a broken table. The journal will frighten or excite or tempt you initially, but in time, you will learn to separate what appears in the journal from yourself. The journey will become one of the journal commanding you, to you writing the journal. It is best not to share the journal with anyone, except a teacher or a friend who understands the science of journaling, and who will not judge or comment upon what appears in the journal — no matter what it is. An appropriate response to witnessing another’s journal is: “Carry on exploring.”

Journaling is a two-part exercise: the act of composing the journal, and the art of observing the journal such that it becomes a tool for self-awareness. A further guide to Journaling will be made available on The Changemakers Hub.

Conversations are the point where the practices move out from the individual to the community level. Conversations are the spontaneous exchanges between two individuals. Even in a gathering or a large circle, at any given time, the conversation is between two individuals: the listener, and the speaker. There can, of course, be as many listeners as the conversation setting can accommodate. Yet, from your point of view, the question is whether you can experience or establish that one-to-one connection? In this way, conversations become a tool to observe one’s own patterns of attention. Are you listening to what is being said? Are you considering what everyone else is thinking? The quality of your engagement in the conversation — whether you are speaking or not — reveals more about your attention than that of the other.

Conversations also begin to chisel those who engage in them such that, sooner or later, true intentions are revealed. When this occurs, one may be frightened by the exposition of their ill (or weak) intention. Yet this is exactly the point of further maturity in the conversation. What is this approaching conflict, this exposition teaching you? Perhaps it is teaching you to tune up your intention.

Whereas every single conversation has the opportunity within it for beauty and growth, we suggest a practice of arranging and taking part in deliberate conversation circles, in addition to paying more attention to everyday conversations. These deliberate, arranged conversations are a practice both for community and, first, for the polishing of the Self.

A guide to creating Conversation Circles (which may be called “Circles of Change”) will be published in time by The Changemakers Hub. These conversations can be carried out independently by inspired individuals and groups. Additionally, Discussion Themes from the Changemakers Academy will be published as conversation-starters on a dedicated Facebook group.

See: How to Hold a Conversation With Your Family?
Also available: A dedicated site for the Oneness Breakfast, a specialized kind of gathering. (The website is being developed. Possible launch in November.) 

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A Note on Fluidity:

These tools, or any other that one may choose to incorporate in their practice, may appear to be discrete (meaning ‘separate and distinct’ — not ‘discreet’, as in hidden). In truth, they are part of a practice that is fluid — that morphs easily from one tool or thing to another. One of the meanings of this is that these tools are interconnected and interdependent aspects of a single Practice. (In sum, whatever one does is their Total Practice.)

Take photography, for instance. For the one who ‘connects’ with a camera, it may become their meditation, journal, and even their form of conversation. It is not necessary for them to be a part of a conversation circle — it is only for the sake of moving stagnated social energy that we recommend such a practice. As long as they do photography with any degree of intention and consciousness, it is how they engage with the world.

Eventually, a perfectly spiritual life on Planet Earth would look like a very ordinary life with ordinary people doing ordinary things on an ordinary day. Trees would be swaying in the wind, and dry twigs would snap. Springs would flow, while beavers would conspire to dam the water here and there. A man would be haggling over prices in the market. A mother would be very upset with a child who spilled milk on the floor — but then she’ll take a deep breath and clean up while warning the child to never do it again. In the evening, the child would have done it again, this time with a co-conspirator who can be blamed. A neighbor would be taking soup to a sick neighbor, while another would be gathering their courage to deal with a particularly obnoxious and noisy couple next door. A 16-year-old, sitting in a dull classroom would suddenly be inspired: What if I go home and put a yellow bow on that white dress? Crazy, but awesome! That would be the beginning of their career as a fashion designer, and the end of their studies to become a chemical engineer like their dad. The family will be upset for a week, with tense conversation over dinner — until the ice will break and honest truths will be shared. Or not — and the young one will begin a tough journey to live their dream while braving the wrath of their loved ones. Somewhere, a badly-treated employee will confront their ex-employer in a court of law. In another court, someone will win a case against wrongful toxic dumping on their national shores.

Quietly, and without further ado, each soul will be pursuing the journey that is best for their evolution.

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Updated: 01 November 2011