Vernon Howard on conscious sweeping as a spiritual exercise...

[Ajay0]

A short but insightful article by Vernon Howard on spiritual exercise....
 

Quote

"THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISE

A pupil asked his teacher, 'Please give me a spiritual exercise.'
Instructed the teacher, 'Sweep the floor.'

'But I'd like to have a spiritual exercise.'

'Sweep the floor while being aware of your sweeping.'

'But I always do it that way.'

'No, you sweep mechanically, with your mind a mile away. Anything
performed consciously is a spiritual exercise.'

The next day the student asked, 'May I have another spiritual
exercise?'

'Wash the dishes.'

True spirituality consists of doing whatever we do with a conscious
mind, a mind which remains where the action is."

- Vernon Howard (Inspire Yourself, p. 30)

 

[Ajay0]

How can we gauge whether we are unaware or unconscious at any moment ?
 

A simple toolkit by Vernon Howard to gauge our state of consciousness at any given point of time, and apply course correction if needed .
 

https://archive.mail-list.com/secretsoflife/message/20021118.064550.be4dbaf9.en.html
 

Quote

 

"Q. How can we tell when we are unaware of ourselves?

A. Nothing is simpler. Whenever you feel worried, nervous, pressured, you are living from imagination, not from awareness. These negativities do not control a conscious man."-- Vernon Howard (Pathways to Perfect Living, p. 90)

 

 

[integration journey]

Vernon Howard is a gem 

I always check his quotes everyday for inspiration on his website called “ a new life” 

[Ajay0]

'An unclean environment, if not cleaned, leads to a situation where one starts accepting circumstances. On the contrary, if one cleans up dirt in the surroundings he gets energised and then does not resign himself to existing adverse circumstances.' ~ Mahatma Gandhi



This saying by Mahatma Gandhi highlights how the simple act of cleaning or sweeping can be an exercise in increasing the positivity quotient in oneself and reducing negativity and indolent passivity.

As per Hinduism and Buddhism, the mind tends towards negativity and unconsciousness, so it takes day to day austerities or exercises to make it positive,strong and anchored in present moment awareness.

Krishna also highlights the observance of cleanliness as an austerity in the Bhagavad Gita (BG 17.14). These austerities helps to bring auspiciousness and attract positivity into our lives.

We tend to attract what is there within us, so it is important to ensure we are in a state of positivity ourselves by austerities or spiritual exercises to attract positive events and circumstances.