What is the purpose of spiritual practice?
I know I skate on thin ice these days to say that the purpose of spiritual practice is to become spiritual - to liberate ourselves from our worldly persuits and troubles - not to reconcile with the world, nor to fix ourselves in some way - but to get closer to Spirit or God.
Given this purpose, the practice of meditation and prayer should therefore be directed away from the world and towards God. So … in meditation we simply let go of all thoughts, opinions, and beliefs about how we think the world ought to be. Stated another way: during meditation, we release our tight grip on the world and remember God.
There are many verses from the Quran that guide meditation. Two of my favorites are:
51:56-58: I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me: I want no provision from them, nor do I want them to feed Me - God is the Provider, the Lord of Power, the Ever Mighty.
13:28 those who have faith and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of God - truly it is in the remembrance of God that hearts find peace -
peace upon you,
bob
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