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THE DIVINE SCIENCE Daily Spiritual Practice 2011

Daily Spiritual Practice

Itisoftenstatedonourwebsitethatourschoolputsthegreatestemphasisonactualpracticeand
directexperience,insteadofsimplytheoreticalknowledgeandthedevelopmentofopinion.Inthe
divinescienceoftheurgythereismuchtolearnandstudy,itistrue;butintheend,onlydirect
experiencecaneverserveasthevehiclewhichcarriestheaspiranttowardsGod.Inordertocreatethe
properconditionsrequiredtocausetheseexperiences,spiritualpractice(calledaskesis)isrequired.

Ideally,spiritualpracticesshouldbelearneddirectlyfromateacherwhohasacceptedyouasa
student.Therefore,wemustalwaysstronglyencourageourreaderstoseektutelageundertheguidance
ofaninstructor,evenifthatguidanceisnotwithus.Nogeneralcourseofinstructionorlistof
techniques,nomatterhowgreatorthorough,iseverareplacementforalivingteacherwhocan
observetheprogressofthestudentwithspiritualeyesandthewisdomofpersonalexperience.Eventhe
basiccourseofpracticetobegiveninthisarticleisonlyacornerstone,roughandunspecific.Itisgeneral
enoughthat,forthemajorityofreaders,itshouldworksufficiently.Eachpracticegivenhereis
foundational,andmustbepracticedinsomeformoranotherinanylegitimatespiritualpath.Nonethe
lesstherewillbesomewhofinditverydifficulttopursueandmaintainevensosimplearoutinewithout
thedirectguidanceofateacher.

Thepurposeofthisarticleisnottoreplaceateacher.Thepurpose,instead,istoprovidethereader
withabeginningpracticeroutinethatwillintroducehimtotheconceptofdailymeditation,and
familiarizehimselfwiththepracticeswhichareessentialtoanytruepath.Thatway,whetherthereader
shoulddecidetopursuetheurgyorsomeothersystem,theexperiencegainedfromthesepracticeswill
assisthiminproducingresultswhereverhemaygo.Inotherwords,thesepracticesdonotreplacea
teacher,butaremeantinsteadtosimplysatisfythewouldbestudentandgivehimavalidmeansof
makingprogressuntilateachercanbeobtained.

Preliminaries:TheAltarandMeditationSeat
Beforebeginningthepathofspiritualevolution,theearnestseekershouldtakethetimetoacquire
whatmightbeseenastheonlytwopreliminariestothepracticeofmysticism:analtarandaseat.

Thealtar,orbomos,isthePlaceofPower.ItwastraditionallyalsocalledtheHieron,orHoly
Place,atermwhichcouldbeappliedtothealtar,ortoaplacewheremeditationisdone(thespace
surroundingthealtar).Thealtercanbeassmallorlargeasonewishes,andasdecoratedorbareasis
preferred.Uponit,theaspiringmysticwillplaceastoreofincense,somecandles,andrepresentations

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ofthedivinewhichsynchronizewithhisunderstandingofGodandtheuniverse.IfyouareChristian,for
example,apictureofJesusshouldbeputasthecenterpieceofthealtar,andshouldhavethemost
prominentposition(slightlyraisedaboveanythingelseonthealtar,andwithitsviewunobstructed).If
youareHindu,picturesofShiva,Vishnu,Krishna,etc,accordingtoonessect.IfBuddhist,thenGautama
Buddha.Whateverthereligionortheologicalpreference,themainrepresentativeofdivinityshouldbe
centeredandraised.IfonedoesnothaveapreferrednameorimageforGod,thensomething
consideredaformlessrepresentationshouldbehad,suchasalingam,animageofsacredgeometry,
thesun,etc.Somethingshouldbehad,sothatthemindcanproperlybetrained.Withoutadepictionof
somekind,thelowerselfwillhaveahardtimefollowingyourwilltowardsGod.

Flankingtheprimarysubjectofthealtar,oneisatlibertytodisplaywhathepleases.Traditionally,
imagesofsaintsandmastersfromoneslineagewouldbeuponthealtar,inordertohoneinonthe
evolutionarycurrentwhichthoseadeptsarestillprovidingformankind.Holyobjects,relics,sacred
offerings,andthingswhichhavebeenblessedcanalsobekepthere,tohelpsaturatethespacewith
spiritualizedenergy.Takeasmuchlibertywiththecreationanddesignofyouraltarasyouwant,and
makeitsomethingmeaningfultoyou,whichisthemostimportantthing.Imightalsoaddthatanytable
orsurfacespacecanbemadeintoanaltar;thereisnoneedtoconstructonefromscratch.

Withthebomoscreated,thestudentshouldseetosettingupakathedrosorseatofpower.
Theurgistsholdthatthistermhasadoublemeaning,basedonahiddenetymology.Intheonesense,it
issimplytheplaceonesitsdown(kata)totakeaseat(hedros).Butbymovingtherand
introducinganiwhilestillkeepingthesound,itbecomestheplacewhereonepurifies(kathar)his
ownspiritualimage(eidos).

Thekathedroswillbetheseatthatthestudentwilluseforhismeditations.Itmaybeeitherachair,
oruponthefloor;neitherpreferencewillmakeagreatdifference.Betweenthemeditatorandthechair
orfloorshouldbeeithercotton,linen,orsilkcloth.Ifmeditatinginachair,forexample,drapesilkover
theseatandinfrontofit,sothatwhileyouaresittinginit,nopartofyouisdirectlytouchingthefloor
orchair.Thiswillhelpinsulatetheenergiesofyourmeditations,whichwhilenotveryrelevantinthe
beginning,isagoodhabittodevelopforlateron.Intime,justtouchingthispieceoffabricwillsenda
burstofspiritualenergyintothebody,puttingtheaspirantintoahigherstateofawareness.Thiscloth
is,intruth,thekathedrositself.Whereveritis,thebenefitsofyourpastmeditationwillbealso.
Thereforekeepitsacred,andoutofthesightandreachofothers.Thosewhoarenotpracticing
spiritualityactivelyshouldneitherseenortouchit.Thosewhoare,mayseeit,butshouldnottouchit.

Theseatshouldbesetupcomfortablyinfrontofthealtar.ThepicturesorimagesofGodandsaints
onthealtarshouldberoughlyheadlevel,neithertoofarlow,norhighenoughtoobstructyourvisionof
itall.Donotworryaboutgettingitallperfect.Thereisnosingledesignwhichgovernswhattheideal
altarshouldlooklike.Fromthemosthumbletothemostelaborate,allarelovedbyGod.Whatmatters
is,firstly,thatthealtarmakessensetoyouandyourreligiousbeliefs.Secondly,thatyoufeelconnected
toitandwhatitrepresents.

Theseatshouldbecomfortable,butnotsocomfortablethatitwouldencourageyoutofallasleep.
Ideallyyoushouldbesupportingyourownbodyweightasmuchaspossible,meaningyouarenot
sinkingintoacushionorreclinerorthelikes.Havingbacksupportisperfectlyfine,aslongasyoudonot
slouchsignificantlyagainstit.Thespinedoesnothavetobeperfectlystraight,butgoodpostureshould
bemaintainedasfarasiscomfortable.Whensittingtomeditatethehandsshouldrestcomfortablyin
thelap,orinsomepreferredhandgesture.Thechinshouldbegenerallylevel,sothatyourneckisnot

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slouchingforwards,butneithershoulditberigid.Stayrelaxed.Whensittinginyourmeditativeposture,
itisgoodtoridealinebetweencomfortandattention.Berelaxedenoughtobeabletosinkintoa
meditativestatewithoutbeingdistractedbyyourbody,butbealertanderectenoughthatyoudonot
becomedrowsyorlean.

StartingtheDay:TheSecretsoftheSun
Whenfirstsettingfootuponthespiritualpath,themajorobstaclewhichconfrontstheaspirantisa
matterofselfperspective.Theaspirant,whohithertohasbeenenamoredbytheworld,andhasbeen
bothinandoftheworld,mustnowdefinehimselftobeinit,butnotofit.Inotherwords,aparadigm
shiftisnecessary.Thespiritualseekermustdoawaywiththeimagethatheisamundanepersonliving
inamundaneworld,leadingamundanelife.Instead,activestepsmustbetakentowardsrealizingones
selfasaspiritualbeingtemporarilyencasedwithinabody,whoselifeismuchlargerandgreaterthana
physicallifespan.Realizingthis,itwillbeabsolutelynaturalforthestudenttodevotegreatattention
andtheutmostcaretotheserviceofhisimmortalsoulanddivinespirit.Untilthisisexperienced,
however,theadjustmentwillbeadifficultoneformostpeoplejuststartingout.

Themastersofthetruehermeticsciencehavetaughttheirdisciplesformilleniathatthemorningis,
psychologically,ofthegreatestimportance.Justastheaspirantisinthedawnofhisspiritualpath,so
thedawnofthedayholdsgreatswayoverhissuccess.ThesunisourimmediateArchonorspiritual
king,andoverseesourdevelopmentduringourentirejourney.Inthedawnofourspiritualcareer,itis
themorningsunintheEastwhichholdsthegreatestpoweroverus,andwhoseenergieswemustmost
carefullytendto.Asweadvance,thearcofthesunasitpassesthroughtheceilingoftheskyinthe
hourssurroundingnoonbecomerelevant,wheretheaccomplishedaspirantbeginstounderstandthe
sunsimpactonourlives,andtheimportanceofitsraysinspiritualevolution.Passingintothegatesof
initiation,theInitiatelooksoutatthesuninitssettingintheWest,thedirectionoftheHeroesasthe
ancientsreveredit.TheInitiatehaspassedintothesunsetofhisouterlife,andprepareshimselfforthe
greaterinitiationswhichoccurinthegreatestsecrecy,andholdthegreatestpower.Finally,whenthe
sundivesbeneathitshorizon,theadeptstudentofmagicdelvesintotheabyssofpureconsciousness,
achievinghisliberationandunveilingthesparklingraysoftheMidnightSun.Yesindeedthisisa
metaphor,aparablehandeddownbyourteacherscontaininghigherteachings.However,inaliteral
sense,thestudentdoeseventuallylearnhowtointeractwiththeraysofthesuninitsdifferentstations
asheadvances,allthewayuntilliberationisachievedandbeyond.

Westronglyrecommend,inthebeginning,thatthestudentbeginthispsychologicaladjustment,
andpreparetomeetthesun,byrisingoutofbedearlierthanheisprobablyuseto.Thehourbeforethe
momentofsunrise,andthehouseimmediatelyproceedingit,havealwaysbeensacredtotheinitiates
ofallmysteriesinallplaces.Itwillthereforebenefittheaspirantgreatlytoariseinthemorning,anhour
beforethesunappearsonthehorizon,andjoininthetraditionofthemysticsofallculturesand
religions.Insodoing,heshouldconstructasuitablemorningritualforhimself.Thismaybeassimpleas
gettingupfrombed,stretchingforafewmoments,takingashower,thensittingdowninapersonal
prayerormeditationspace.Thosemoreinclinedtodosomaytakethisfurtherandwriteapersonal
prayerforbeginningtheday,directedtowhatevernameyouuseforGod.Tomakethetasksomewhat
easier,Iwillprovideasimpleformula,whichthereaderisbynomeansconfinedto:

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1.) Wakeup,immediatelytakingamomenttositupinbed,closetheeyes,andspendamoment
orientingonesselftoaspirituallife.Themindisrampantinthemornings,havingbeenthe
subjectofanightslengthofdreams.AnextramomenttothinkaboutGodandyourdesire
forselfrealizationwillhelptrainthemindinthesehighlyimpressionablefirstfewmoments
ofwakingconsciousness.Whatyouthinkherecanhaveadramaticimpactonyourentire
day.

2.) Cleanlinessandpurityhavealwaysbeentheattendingmaidensofspirituality.Arisingfrom
bed,theaspirantshouldevacuatethebodyofitswastes,shouldtendtoallmattersof
hygiene,andshouldbathe.Ifyourbathroomistobeapartofyourmorningritual,asthis
stepwouldmakeit,thenyouwillnaturallywanttokeepitclean.Analogyisalwaysanaid.

3.) Whentheaboveisalltakencareof,thespiritualseekerwillprepareforthemorningpractice
session.Inancienttimes,asmallspoonfulofhoneywastakenasthefirstthingtotouchthe
aspirantslipsandenterthebody.Asmallamountofhoneymixedinequalproportionwith
hotwatercreatesagentlesalveforthethroatandhelpsopentheairways,preparingonefor
prayerorintonations.Aspirantswhoareinitiatedintothemorningsolarpracticeswould
oftenmixthisdrinkwithasmallsprigofmint,oradropofmintoil.Thiswouldcoolthe
bodysenergies,sothatthenervesstayedcalmwhenthesolarenergyfloodedthem.Those
whodonotknowsuchpracticesmaystillfindtheeffectsofthemintverycalmingand
soothing,whilealsochasingawaydrowsiness.Thiswouldallbepartoftheaspirants
preparationofthebody,whichcouldincludelightstretching,simplephysicalpostures,
and/ortheconsumptionofalchemicaltinctures.

4.) Withthebodynowemptied,cleansed,andopened,thestudentwillturnattentiontothe
careofthemeditationspace.Incenseshouldbelit,andasmallcandleifthesunslightisnot
yetcominginthroughthewindows.Thealtershouldbesetintheeastifpossible,butthisis
notofgreatimportanceifitcannotbedone.Theaspirantshouldperfumetheentire
meditationspacewiththeincenseofchoice,butpreferablyfrankincenseormyrrh,ora
combinedfragranceusingthetwo.Theseatofmeditationshouldbespreadoutand
perfumedalso,ifitisnotalreadyout.

5.) Havingdoneallofthis,theaspirantshouldnowopenhismeditationsessionwithaprayer.
Traditionally,onewouldfirststartwiththeopeningprayerofhisparticularsystemortemple,
andthenmoveontoahymntothesun.Inplaceofanopeningprayer,itisperfectlyfine
simplytopraytoGodintheuniversalform,askingforguidanceinyourspiritualjourney.This
done,theattentionshouldbeturnedtothesun.Forgreetingthesun,botharmsareheldout
totheside,makingacross.Theaspirantinhalesdeeply,feelingthattheraysofthesun
permeatehimdeeply,andthenrecitesaprayergreetingandpraisingthesun.Thishymnmay
beoftheaspirantsownconstruction,or,ifpreferred,maybeatraditionalhymnsuchas
thoseprovidedintheOrphicHymns.Intheancienttimesofthistradition,eitherbeforeor
aftertheprayer(oroftentimesboth),themysticwouldsalutetherisingsunwithIePaean,
IePaean,IePaean.Todothisthreefoldsalutationatthebeginningandendwouldcreatesix
repetitions,themysticnumberofthesun.ThisphrasemeansHail,greatHealer!Itinvites
thehealingandwoedissolvingpowerofthesunintoourlives,andspecifiesthesolarrayswe
needasthosewhichreleaseusfromsuffering,unchaintheclaspsofignoranceandillusion,
andhealoursoulofthedamagedonetoitbyalifeofmaterialexistence.Whentheprayer
andsalutearefinished,bringthearmsinandgentlytouchthesternum,attheapexofthe

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solarplexus,andbowyourheadinreverencetoGod.

6.) Havingthuscleansedthebody,cleansedthemeditationspace,andconnectedtoGod
throughthevisiblelightoftheSun,theaspirantwillbeginhismeditations.

Theabovesixstepformulaforbeginningthedayisbynomeansnecessaryinitsentirety.Idofeel,
however,thattheaspirantwillbenefitfromthisprocess.Itistimetested,anditspracticewilluniteyou
withthetimelesscurrentofpowercreatedbythemanywhohavegonebeforeyou,thathavebegun
theirmorningsthesameway.Anyaspectisofcoursechangeable.If,forreligiousreasons,onedoesnot
wanttousethesolarpraiseIePaean,thiswillnotdetractfromtheexperience.Simplyemploya
suitablesalutationofyourowncreation.Paeanwastraditionallyusedbecauseofitsassociationwith
thatpartofthesunwhichcleansesusofdarknessbyrisinginthemorning,andhealsusofthesorrows
ofaworldlylife.Anythingwhichcapturesthisbasicideaisinterchangeablewithit.

FourPointsofTraining:Thought,Emotion,andBreath
Thisarticleisnotintendedtoprovideafulllineoftraining,byanymeans.Itisinsteadfocusedon
preparingyouforreceivingactualmysticalmeditations,andforreceivingagoodteacherwhowill
providethem.Therefore,whatwemustfirstfocusonarethosethingswhichshouldbepreliminaryto
anytruespiritualpursuit.AsIamwritingthisarticlefromtheperspectiveofthelineageIamapartof,
andwhichIammakingapieceofavailabletoyou,Iwillprovidethreepointsoftrainingwhichare
preliminaryforallstudentsofthisschool.Forthemostpart,thefollowingfourexercisesarethefirst
techniqueslearnedbyaprobationertothisschool.Bethatasitmay,Iamabsolutelyconvincedthat
theywillservethestudentinhisapproachtoanyvalidsystemoftrainingandmysticalinitiationinthe
world.Theyaresosimple,thattheirprinciplescannotbebasedonanythingotherthanthemost
fundamentalanduniversaloflawswhichmustbeappliedinallsystems.

ThoughtObservation
Thepracticeofobservingthethoughts,andthemechanismsofthemindingeneral,hasbeenthe
firststeppingstonetowardsspiritualitysincetimeimmemorial.Itisfoundinallcultures,inallformsof
mysticism,whicharerootedintruth.Inoursystem,itisgiventhehonoredpositionofthefirstandlast
meditationeverdone.Inotherwords,itissaidthatthefirstmeditationtheaspirantwilldowhen
beginningthepathtowardsenlightenmentisthoughtobservation,andthatthelastmeditationhewill
bedoingwhenhefinallyentersintoenlightenmentisthoughtobservation.Inaway,allother
meditationsinbetweenaresimplymeanttocomplimentandenrichwhatoccurswhenweturnour
mindsinwardsuponourselves.

Theactivityitselfisdifficultlysimple.Inotherwords,itissosimple,thatitwillbeoneofthehardest
thingsformostpeopletodo.Sitdownonyourkatherosandcloseyoureyes,facingthealtar.Fora
moment,justpayattentiontotherhythmicpatternofyourbreath.Thistendstohaveahypnoticeffect
onthemind,andwillhelpcalmitdownfromtheday(or,ifinthemorning,fromthenightsdreams).
Afteraminuteortwo,whenyourbodyfeelsrelaxed,turnyourselfinwardsbytryingtowatchyour
thoughts.

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Thisisaradicalchangeinperspectiveformostpeople.Mostofourlives,weareaninternalwatcher
observingexternalthings.Therefore,allofourmentalenergieshavebeentrainedtolookoutwardsand
engagetheenvironmentandthesenses.Haveyoueverhadadreamabouttheinsideofyourmind,
whereyouwerewatchingthoughts?Notlikely.Buthaveyouhadadreamwhereyouwerewatching
somethingexternalhappen?Ofcourse.Yourmindissotrainedtoobserveitsenvironment,always
lookingoutwards,thatevenintheobscurityofdreamsitdoesnotoccurtolookinwardsuponitself.In
thepracticeofthoughtobservationweareturningtheenergiesofoursensesinwardsandinstead,are
watchingourinternalmentalprocesses.

Letthethoughtscomeandgo.Takeapassiveattitudetowardsyourmind;donottrytoforce
thoughtsout,orforcefullyenterintoastateofquietness,atfirst.Justwatch.Thoughtswillrise,andas
theydo,recognizethemastheirownseparatethings,anddetachfromthem.Detachfromthedesires
whichwerebehindthosethoughts,also.Atfirstthiswillbedifficult,becauseyoursensesandenergies
arenottrainedtoinspectthemind.Therefore,youmayinitiallyfeellikeyourmindisveryquiet,orlike
nothoughtsarebeinggenerated.Itisjustbecauseyouhavenotdevelopedyourintrospectivefaculty
enoughyet.Withpractice,youwillbegintobeabletodetectthewavesofthoughtswhichstirinthe
mind.

Asyougooninthisway,watchingthethoughtspassby,anddetachingfromtheminsteadofbeing
caughtupinthem,youwillalsonoticethattheywillbegintosubsideandquiet.Thethoughtswillcome
lessandlessoften.Afterfifteenortwentyminutes,youmayevenhavecomparativesilence.Whenthe
silencecomes,baskinitforaslongasyouwish.Thiswilltrainyourmindtounderstandmentalsilence,
whichitwillnaturallyprefertothenormalnoise.Theentirepracticesessionneedonlylasttenminutes
orsotoseedailyresults,butitisgoodtotryandextendthepracticetotwentyorthirtyminutes,as
onesschedulepermits.Afterseveralmonthsofpractice,youmaybegintotryandshortentheamount
oftimeyouspendwatchingthoughts,bygainingcontrolofyourmindandsilencingit,andthensitting
foranextendedtimeinthatsilence.

EmotionalCharacter
Intheurgyitistaughtthatourcharacteriscomposedoftheinfluencesofmanyfactorsuponour
souls.Theraysoftheplanetsandtheirrelationstothestarsproducepeculiarinfluencesuponus,as
doesthesuninrelationtotheconstellations,theseasons,thewaningandwaxingofthemoon,etc,to
makementionofjustafewesotericfactors.Tothiswemustaddtheevenmoresizableinfluenceof
othersaroundus,ourfriendsandfamily,andthosewhohavebeenrolemodels,goodorbad.Starting
out,theaspirantisameltingpotofdifferentemotionalenergies,throwntogetherbypeopleand
psychicforcesalike,andsculptedbythepassingofyearsandtheactivityofrawhabit.

Theancientsinstructedthatthesecollectiveemotionalforcescloudourinternalintellect,andour
abilitytoaccesspureconsciousness.Collectively,theyweredepictedasagreatstorm,alwaystossing
andturningthewavesoftheocean.Herethestormrepresentsourpassions,andtheoceanrepresents
ouremotionalnatureasawhole.Becauseoftheseverityofthestorm,tossingwaves,kickingupdust,
andstirringeventhedepthsofthewaters,wecannotpossiblyunderstandtheoceanitself.The
aspirant,subjectedtothesemanyinfluences,andunconsciousofhisownemotionaldevelopmentover

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hislifetime,haslittleideawhohetrulyis.Oratleast,littleideaofwhohewouldbeifheactedashe
chose,insteadofactingaccordingtohabitandconditioning.

Therefore,oneofthefirstthingstheaspirantmustsetouttodoisknowhimselfintheemotional
context.Inotherwords,tohaveanideaofhisactualcharacter.Mostpeople,busyturningtheirenergies
outwardsandexaminingothers,haveneverthoroughlyexaminedthemselves.Thoughtheycouldlistoff
fiftythingswrongaboutsomeonetheydontlike,theycouldnotcomeclosetofindingthesamenumber
ofthingswrongwiththemselvesfromanobjectiveperspective.Ifyouaredesirousofaspirituallife,
thenoneofthefirstthingsthatmustbedoneistoinspectyourselfforachange.

Foralifetimeyouhaveletotherpeopletrainyoutobewhotheywishyoutobe,andacthowthey
wishyoutoact.Now,youmustmakethechoicetobewhoyouwanttobeforachange,andtrain
yourselftobecomewhoyouwanttobecome.Ifyouwishtobecomeathief,thenyouwillemulatethe
qualitiesofathief,anderadicatethosequalitieswhicharecontradictory,suchascompassionand
selflessness.If,however,youdesiretobecomeasageandatruemystic,thenyoumusttargetthenoble
virtuesandcharactertraits,andworkonerasingthosewhichcontradictaspirituallifestyle.Decidewhat
youwouldbe,andthendowhatyoumust.

Inbeginningthistask,wehavethepracticesofintrospectionandretrospection.Thinkabout
yourself.Howdoyouact?Whatareyourcharactertraits?Ifyouhadnopreviousknowledgeofyourself,
butwerethenforcedtospendadaywithyou,howwouldyoudescribeyourself?Whatmightbe
someonesfirstimpression,ifthatpersonwasjudgmentalandcritical?Youmustbecomeyourown
critic.Writedownonapieceofpapereverythingyoufindthatisgoodaboutyourself,andeverything
youfindwhichisbad.Breakthemdownintospecificqualitiesandsubqualitiesifyoucan.Ifyounotice
thatyouareselfish,areyouselfishasageneralrule,oronlyinsomeparticulars?Whymightthisbe?
Scribblethisdowninnotestoyourself.Itisnotenoughjusttolistvirtuesandvices;wemustgothe
extrasteptotryandunderstandhowtheyactwithinus.

Onceyouhaveasuitablelistofatleastfiftyqualitieswhenyouaddupbothgoodandbad,thenset
yourselftoslowlytransformingbadintogood.Gradually,aimtoaddonetoyourvirtues,andremove
onefromyourvices.Thisisalifetimeswork!Sodonothurry,oryouwillmissthegoal.Pickavice,and
workonitsteadily,whetheritbeweeksoryears,untilitisthoroughlyundercontrol,andyouhave
acquiredtheopposingvirtue.Gradually,youwillsublimateyourpassions.Bydoingthis,becausevirtues
areinclinedtonobleandintellectualthings,whilevicesareinclinedtothesensualandworldly,your
energieswilltakeonamorespiritualcharacter.Theenergieswithinyourbodywillflowmoresmoothly
andwithgreaterpurity.Yourmindwillbecomenaturallyquieted,becausethestormofthepassionswill
havesubsided.Inallareasofyourlifeandyourmeditation,youwillseeprogressandevolution.Slowly
youwillbecomewhatGodwishesyoutobe,insteadofwhattheworldhasmadeyouinto.

Breath
Priortobeginningaspirituallife,breathseemstobeoneofthemosteasilyforgottenpartsoflife.It
happensvirtuallyautomatically,andsoweneverbothertothinkaboutit.Afterbeginningtruespiritual
meditation,however,breathbecomesoneofthemostimportanttoolsontheroadtosalvation.

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Breathisthegatewaytoourinternalenergies,ourorgans,ournervoussystem,ourbrain,andvia
ourbloodtoourentirebody.Bylearninghowtocontrolandpurifyourbreath,wepurifythebodyand
itsenergeticcomponents.InancienttextssuchastheOrphica,orintheteachingsofancientEleusis,
breathcontrolpracticeswereverycomplex.Bypurifyingthebreath,theinitiatesareabletoholdtheir
breathsforoftenincrediblelengthsoftime,andthereforesometraditionalbreathingtechniques
requireratiosoftimeimpossiblefortheaverageperson.Theyteachthatitisonlytheimpuritiesofthe
organsandthebloodwhichforceustobreathesomuchandsoquickly,andthatthereforeas
meditationprogressesandthebreathwithinuspurifies,itbecomeseffortlesslyextended.

Inthemeantime,itwouldbeagoodideafortheaspiranttobegintoacquainthimselfwiththe
powerofbreathcontrol.Forthis,asimpleexerciseissufficient,anditisquitepowerfulinexpandingthe
consciousnessandcalmingthemind.Takingupthemeditationpostureontheseat,andfacingthealtar,
closeyoureyes.Withyourbackstraightbutcomfortablyrelaxed,andyourshouldersrelaxedsothat
theyarejustslightlydownandforward,restyourhandsinyourlap.Atfirst,justconcentrateonabasic
breathingratio.Inhaleforsixseconds,holdthebreathforsixseconds,andexhaleforsixseconds.There
isnoholdingthebreathbetweentheexhaleandtheinhaleonceyoufinishexhaling,gostraightbackto
inhalingagain.Six,tosix,tosix.Formanypeoplethiswillbesurprisinglydifficultatfirst,andthatis
perfectlyfine.Withpractice,yourbreathwillpurifyandyourbodywillcalm,sothatthebreathing
becomeseasier.Performthisthreefoldevenbreathforjustfiveminutesatfirst.Asitbecomeseasierto
doso,trytoextendthebreathingpatterngraduallyto777,then888,etc.Whenyoucanreach1212
12comfortably,makingforathirtysixsecondlongrepetition,youhavereachedtheidealbreathratio.
Again,forsomethismaybecomparativelyeasy,forothersquitehard.Doyourbest,andasthe
breathingbecomeseasier,alsobegintoextendhowlongyoupractice.Pushthepracticetotenor
fifteenminutes,orlongereven,asyourschedulepermits.

Youwillnoticethatyourbodywillbegintosweatprofusely,orwilltingleallover.Thisistheadded
oxygenationofthebloodwarmingthebodyandbreakingapartmorecellularenergymolecules.More
energywillbereadilyavailableforyourcellsandforyourbodilyprocesses.Thebrainwillreceivemore
oxygen,aswillthemusclesandorgans.Inshort,yourentirebodybenefitsjustfromthissimple
breathingpractice.Inaddition,afterseveralminutesofpractice,youwillnoticeyourmindbeginningto
calmdown.Theancientstaughtthatbreathfollowsthought,andthoughtfollowsbreath.Whenone
becomesstill,sodoestheother.

Whenyouarecomfortablewiththispractice,itistimeyouaddamoredirectlyspiritualdimension
toit.Asyouinhale,imaginethatyouareinhalingallthatwhichisdivine.Youdonothavetovisualize
anything;justfeellikethebreathitselfischargedwithpuredivinityandsacredness.Whenyouholdthe
breath,havethefeelingthatthisinhaleddivinityisexpungingyourentirebodyofitsnegativities,
includingnegativepassionsandemotions.Finallywhenyouexhale,affirmtoyourselfthateverything
whichisnotdivineisleaving.Inotherwords,inhaleGod,andexhalenotGod.Thisisassimpleastrue
transmutation,asinneralchemy,gets.Yetdonotbefooledbyitssimplicity:greatbeingshavereached
thegatesofliberationusingthisexactsamepractice,justasyouwillbepracticingit.Withthis,itisthe
qualityoftheunderstandingwhichwillensuresuccess,notthelengthofthebreath.Lengtheningthe
breath,however,willhelpinternalpurification,whichinturnwillmakeiteasierforthemindtograsp
ontodivinethingsandletgoofthemundane.

Thissimpleguideshouldbesufficientfortheearnestaspirantwhoisseekinginitiationand
liberation,untilsuchatimeasheseeksoutateacher,ortheuniverseprovidesonebysomealternative
means.Whoseverdedicatesthemselveshonestlytothepracticeofmysticism,theuniverseshall

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THE DIVINE SCIENCE Daily Spiritual Practice 2011

certainlyprotectandwatchover.Bypursuingdailypractice,themessageshallbesentoutthatthe
studentisreadyforateachertotakethemtherestoftheway.Nomatterwhichschoolortraditionyou
mayultimatelyfindyourselfbelongingto,thesesimplepracticeswillassistyouindevelopingtheright
stateofmindforveritablesuccessinyourspiritualcareer.

Thesepractices,thoughsimple,shouldbethecornerstoneofeveryaspirantspracticeuntiltheyare
replacedbyhighertechniqueslateron.Indeed,onceliberationishad,theadeptshalllikelymusethat
thesesimpleapproachesneveractuallyleft,butsimplytransformed,andwereultimatelytheimpetus
whichensuredsuccess.

Practice,practice,practice.Successshallbeyourproof.

~RamoseDaskalodos
www.thedivinescience.org