Spiritual Archives

Contrasting Perspectives on Fasting for Spiritual Growth

What is fasting? How does it contribute to spiritual growth? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book The Cost of Discipleship, urges Christians to practice fasting for spiritual growth. He argues that the suffering that comes from fasting builds self-discipline. Other religious traditions differ in some ways regarding their views toward fasting, but many still see it as a part of spiritual life. Read more to learn about fasting for spiritual growth.

What Is the Point of Meditation? The Key to Mindfulness

What is the point of meditation? How can meditation be used as a tool? In his book 10% Happier, Dan Harris believes that the main goal of meditation is mindfulness. In addition, meditation can have added benefits such as recognizing your ego, Here is what self-help author Dan Harris had to say about meditation.

Contrasting Religious Views on Poverty

What are the various religious views on poverty? How do they perceive wealth? In the Christian classic The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer argues that Christians should build wealth in heaven, not on earth. He asserts that earthly belongings contribute to worry, as we have more to lose. However, some religions—even other Christian traditions—disagree with him. Continue reading to learn about various religious views on poverty.

Christian Pacifism and Contrasting Perspectives

Should Christians practice pacifism? What exactly does pacifism mean? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book The Cost of Discipleship, argues that Christians should practice pacifism to follow Christ’s example. Other Christians—and other religions—handle the matter of pacifism in a variety of ways. Keep reading to learn about Christian pacifism and other perspectives.

How Does Meditation Help? Lessons From Dan Harris

How does meditation help you in the long-term? What important life lessons can be learned from meditation? In his self-help book 10% Happier, previous self-help skeptic Dan Harris describes the many benefits of meditation. The top lessons he goes over are how to respond rather than act, how to worry productively, and how to be compassionate. Below, we will go over each of the lessons from meditation.

The Cost of Discipleship: Quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Are you looking for The Cost of Discipleship quotes? What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer say about following Christ? Bonhoeffer was a Christian pastor and seminary professor living in Germany in the 1930s. He wrote The Cost of Discipleship as a wake-up call for the church, which he felt had rendered Christianity somewhat meaningless by making discipleship too “easy.” He lived as he preached—his Christian beliefs compelled him to speak out against Hitler’s regime and ultimately led to his execution in 1945. Below are four quotes from The Cost of Discipleship with explanations and context.

How to Start Meditation: Advice for Beginners

Are you looking for tips on how to start meditation for beginners? What are the three meditation basics? Dan Harris is the former self-help and meditation skeptic who wrote the book 10% Happier. In his book, he explains how meditation changed his life and why everyone should do it. Here are Dan Harris’s meditation tips for beginners.

The Top 2 Techniques for Everyday Meditation

Do you want to meditate every day but don’t know how to fit it into your schedule? Does everyday meditation have real-life applications? In his book 10% Happier, meditation convert Dan Harris says that one method to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into everyday life is to use the RAIN technique. Similarly, psychologist Elisha Goldstein proposes the STOP technique. Continue reading to learn about both techniques to help you improve your everyday meditation practices.

3 Ways to Practice Being in the Present Moment

Do you often find yourself lost in thought about the past or the future? Are you disconnected from the present? In his book The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris refers to being in the present moment as “connection.” Harris writes that connection is the practice of using our observing self to shift our attention away from the past and future in order to be fully engaged in the present. He offers the following three exercises for developing the skill of connection.

Ray Dalio: Meditation as a Tool to Generate Ideas

What are the benefits of meditation? How does meditation help with creativity? According to Ray Dalio, meditation can help sprout new innovative ideas by reconciling the two yous: the conscious you and the subconscious you. When you are only engaging your conscious mind, you are missing out on the fountain of creative ideas buried in your subconscious, Here is how meditation can help you unleash your creative potential.