If you would like to try a contemplative practice, but you’re not sure how to begin, we suggest you check out the Tree of Contemplative Practices. The Tree shows many examples of contemplative practices, and you may feel drawn to one or more. Follow your instincts and explore one or two practices that you find intellectually interesting and spiritually comfortable. Each practice listed on the Tree links to a page full of links and resources for learning more.
Cultivating a Regular Practice
Try to commit to regular, perhaps daily, practice sessions. If you cannot stick to a regular schedule, persevere as best you can. As with most activities that have not yet become familiar and routine, it’s common to postpone engagement with contemplative practice because circumstances are not to your liking. It’s easy to make excuses about lacking materials, supplies, or adequate time and space (“if only I had a nice meditation cushion; if only I had a dedicated yoga room, and an hour free after work–then I could really do this…”). If you notice yourself doing this, try to use the situation as an opportunity to face your discomfort. Begin your practice. Really, you probably already have everything you need!
You can make things easier for yourself by committing to brief but regular sessions. For example, if you decide to take up a silent meditation practice, it is perfectly fine to begin with just a few minutes per session. After you’ve become accustomed to your short sitting periods, honestly and gently assess how that amount of time is serving you, and increase your practice time if it feels right to do so.
It is common to feel twinges of guilt or self-indulgence when you’re beginning a practice. For many of us, time is precious, and we face many demands from family, friends, and our jobs. In those moments when you question your priorities, remember that contemplative practices are not distractions or diversions from our daily activities, but are opportunities to get in touch with what is deeply meaningful to us. Have we lost the ability to be at peace in our moments of rest? Cluttered schedules not only constrict the time we have, but also manipulate our understanding of value and worth. It is crucial to remember the simple value and beauty of life as it is, not as it is used. The simple awareness cultivated by contemplative practices can bring us back in touch with this beauty, enriching our interactions with others.