Longing for simpler times when retiring to a cave in search of spiritual enlightenment was still in vogue, settling for a getaway to a spiritual retreat would probably make for a much more comfortable alternative unless you want the piles you had to get from hours spent sitting cross-legged in an ice-cold cave! Retreats offer you that much-needed space required for one to find themselves, with the added bonus of wearing your spiritual t shirts online and getting to meet and greet many other open-minded people with plenty of insights and encouragements to share.
But the most common objection voiced by those unfamiliar with subjective spirituality (also known as gnosis; the acquisition of the first-hand experience) is that most holy practices are pagan in nature, and therefore, in conflict with their religious beliefs. Yet, there is no dogma involved in an action; every action is neutral, neither good nor bad, but rather, it is the intention behind it that separates a constructive act from a destructive one. Energy follows thought, as they say.
Modern living takes a heavy toll on the bodies and minds of even the most well-adjusted urbanites. On a daily basis, people living in cities are exposed to a number of factors that, over time, tend to negatively impact their health. Everything from air pollution to modern diets consisting mainly of processed foods to having to sit in traffic for hours while emergency services clear away debris left in the wake of the latest traffic collision relatively harmless on their own, but a combination of these factors leave you shaken and stirred until there is that fatal cocktail of stress hormones; adrenaline and cortisol proven to reduce learning and memory ability rushing through your veins on a daily basis.
Many people opt out of the rat race, preferring to regularly take time out at holy communes than making themselves susceptible to the hosts of illnesses invited in by trying to stay on par with others in competition for a seemingly limited supply of resources. With a number of diseases being directly linked to the stresses of modern living, it stands to reason that many would seek alternative, healthier approaches to life.
Desiring more organic solutions to stress-induced health complications, people have been adopting more traditional (read: holistic) approaches to rest and recreation. After numerous studies indicating how mental health directly influences bodily health, more people than ever have begun taking an active interest in developing healthier mental habits in curbing their physical afflictions. Mind over matter has become the catchphrase of the 21st Century.
And of all mind development tools, few have as many far-reaching consequences as the habit of developing mindfulness. Learning to be more aware in every moment not only helps develop greater levels on concentration, which go on to benefit many other areas of life, but becoming acutely aware of the activities of the mind from moment to moment has helped many unravel the deeper mysteries of their natures; discovering what truly motivates them as human beings in the process.
And seeing how difficult is it to hear both sides of an argument while being strongly biased towards either side, it stands to reason that learning to listen is as invaluable a tool in reaching the greater understanding, as is being able to stand your ground in stating the strengths of a preferred argument. The exercises taught at a typical retreat offers just such a means to an end.
A retreat offers a much more accessible solution to those seeking to aspire to that much-desired state of inner peace, supposedly only achieved by those having reached the apex of pure peak experiences. In reality, developing the habit of putting aside a mere ten minutes a day for religious practices like meditation can have a profound effect in developing a person's capacity for single-mindedness (the ability to focus on something to the exclusion of all else). And, while hardly as profound as the highly touted states of inner peace or enlightenment, gaining the ability to simply focus on a given task without being side-tracked by any distractions is enough to entice most people to take up, and become consistent with, a meditative practice of some sort.
But the most common objection voiced by those unfamiliar with subjective spirituality (also known as gnosis; the acquisition of the first-hand experience) is that most holy practices are pagan in nature, and therefore, in conflict with their religious beliefs. Yet, there is no dogma involved in an action; every action is neutral, neither good nor bad, but rather, it is the intention behind it that separates a constructive act from a destructive one. Energy follows thought, as they say.
Modern living takes a heavy toll on the bodies and minds of even the most well-adjusted urbanites. On a daily basis, people living in cities are exposed to a number of factors that, over time, tend to negatively impact their health. Everything from air pollution to modern diets consisting mainly of processed foods to having to sit in traffic for hours while emergency services clear away debris left in the wake of the latest traffic collision relatively harmless on their own, but a combination of these factors leave you shaken and stirred until there is that fatal cocktail of stress hormones; adrenaline and cortisol proven to reduce learning and memory ability rushing through your veins on a daily basis.
Many people opt out of the rat race, preferring to regularly take time out at holy communes than making themselves susceptible to the hosts of illnesses invited in by trying to stay on par with others in competition for a seemingly limited supply of resources. With a number of diseases being directly linked to the stresses of modern living, it stands to reason that many would seek alternative, healthier approaches to life.
Desiring more organic solutions to stress-induced health complications, people have been adopting more traditional (read: holistic) approaches to rest and recreation. After numerous studies indicating how mental health directly influences bodily health, more people than ever have begun taking an active interest in developing healthier mental habits in curbing their physical afflictions. Mind over matter has become the catchphrase of the 21st Century.
And of all mind development tools, few have as many far-reaching consequences as the habit of developing mindfulness. Learning to be more aware in every moment not only helps develop greater levels on concentration, which go on to benefit many other areas of life, but becoming acutely aware of the activities of the mind from moment to moment has helped many unravel the deeper mysteries of their natures; discovering what truly motivates them as human beings in the process.
And seeing how difficult is it to hear both sides of an argument while being strongly biased towards either side, it stands to reason that learning to listen is as invaluable a tool in reaching the greater understanding, as is being able to stand your ground in stating the strengths of a preferred argument. The exercises taught at a typical retreat offers just such a means to an end.
A retreat offers a much more accessible solution to those seeking to aspire to that much-desired state of inner peace, supposedly only achieved by those having reached the apex of pure peak experiences. In reality, developing the habit of putting aside a mere ten minutes a day for religious practices like meditation can have a profound effect in developing a person's capacity for single-mindedness (the ability to focus on something to the exclusion of all else). And, while hardly as profound as the highly touted states of inner peace or enlightenment, gaining the ability to simply focus on a given task without being side-tracked by any distractions is enough to entice most people to take up, and become consistent with, a meditative practice of some sort.
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