Browsing my email this morning I came across a discussion digest from a wonderful organization that I belong to, Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education (ACMHE). It led me to a section on their website “The Tree of Contemplative Practices” which led me back to my talks on ethics and the first of the Eightfold Path, “Know the truth.”
Below is the picture of the tree and the items on the tree reflect some of the contemplative practices “currently in use in secular organizations and academic settings.” These practices help us to “know the truth.” And when they are integrated into our lives will help us “live the truth.” Many of the practices listed on the tree are linked to areas that are directly related to areas of ethical conduct and practice. Some of them are listed below:
Justice issues
Volunteering
Loving-kindness
Deep listening
Establishing a sacred/personal space for self and others
ACHME describes the tree thus:
The roots of the tree encompass and transcend differences in the religious traditions from which many of the practices originated, and allow room for the inclusion of new practices that are being created in secular contexts. The branches represent different groups of practices.
When used and contemplated they can help us know what is true for us and provide us with simple practices to help us live an ethical life
My goal this week is to choose one area and focus on it knowing that doing this will help me maintain peace, love, and compassion in my life and hopefully make this a better place in which to live. When you go to the link you will find a blank tree there that you can copy and print and put your personal contemplative practices on the tree. This may help you focus on your opportunities to merge your ethical, spiritual, and practical life into one union of knowing the truth and being one with it.
In gassho,
Shokai
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