At its core, spiritual meditation is the mindful practice of connection to something that is greater, vaster, and deeper than the individual self. It may seem paradoxical, but the path to that connection passes through honest self-reflection. While there are many meditation techniques that look to increase spiritual awareness, they all require an attitude of integrity and authenticity when looking at ourselves and how we view the world.
Mindful practice isn’t limited to any particular faith or religion – anyone can follow a guided spiritual meditation. The blessings of spiritual meditation have a ripple effect: as our awareness and spiritual confidence increase, so do our desire and ability to be of benefit to others.
For as long as we humans have been embarking on spiritual journeys, we’ve relied on the guidance of spiritual teachers. The hallmarks of a genuine spiritual teacher are wisdom, kindness, spiritual power, and humility. Self-styled gurus who toot their own “spiritual enlightenment” horns tend to be misguided and easily lead others astray, whether their intentions are good or not.
The journey to spiritual awareness through meditation takes time. Progress is definitely not achieved overnight; promises of a quick fix are implausible at best. It takes plenty of discipline and practice to achieve spiritual realization, but the long-term benefits are incomparable. For those whose spiritual lives are important to them, there is no more worthy effort.
Gentle appreciation of the present moment and an attitude of benevolence towards all living beings are the real fruits of spiritual awakening.