A Practical Spirituality Idea: Try This for One Day, Then Another...

“Try the following experiment for the next thirty minutes: Let life
happen the way it wants, with no resistance and no objection. Go
about as if you need not think about anything. Your first surprise
will be that your usual duties go on very nicely as before. Secondly,
you will catch a grand glimpse of the effortlessly flowing of Tao.
You do not carry; you are carried” (133).

Then we might try this same experiment for the rest of our lives. Vernon Howard’s idea, as an example of practical spirituality, can help us do that.


Howard, Vernon. The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power. N.Y: Parker Publishing Company, 1967

Another Inspirational Idea from The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power

I believe this idea is relevant to many of us who find ourselves afraid of, or intimidated by, another:

“Why are we afraid of others?
Because we want something from them. The desire can be almost
anything -- companionship, approval, sex, security. The mistake
is this: Not having found the true self which is free from compulsive
desires, we seek gratification from people. This creates fear that we
won’t get what we want, or anxiety that the other person will make
us pay dearly for it” (151).

Let's strive to be more peaceful within ourselves.


Howard, Vernon. The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power. N.Y: Parker Publishing Company, 1967

Two Key Ideas of a Practical Spirituality

Before I ever thought of the idea of practical spirituality, Vernon Howard in 1967 in The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power was presenting two key ideas.

The first is the importance of a new thinking.

"Man’s task is to awaken to his true identity. The Kingdom of Heaven
is within. Spiritual truths are discovered with an entirely new kind of
thinking, quite distinct and vastly superior to the mind that builds
bridges and sells merchandise" (86).

The second is the need for a better definition of “success” than a financial one.

"We demand a financial success, or a social gain, because we think
it will fulfill us inwardly. It won’t. It never will – as we have suspected
all along. So-called success provides ego-excitement, but never
self-fulfillment. It is just as impossible for an exterior result to provide inner happiness as it is for a new hat to give us a new mind" (145).

I suggest his book as another read into our practical spirituality.

Howard, Vernon. The Mystic Path to Cosmic Power. N.Y: Parker Publishing Company, 1967.

Cells are Influenced by their Environment

In his new work, Dr. Bruce Lipton claims that our environment, which includes nutrition, emotion and stress, influences our cells. We know that DNA passes on hereditary traits, but he cites research from a new study, epigenetics, that shows gene modification from the environment is also passed on.

The author explains the implications of his new information. The world is energy. We can use positive thinking to change. Cells are influenced by their surroundings. If we are healthy and at ease, we can create a better world. That is the message of this book, a message backed by science.

He also discusses two other ideas:

1) Our cells are made up of proteins and other types of molecules. The protein molecules have a balanced electromagnetic charge. If the positive and negative charges are altered, the protein will adjust to the change. Even in our cells, there must be balance.

2) There is fractal geometry, or the “repeating, ordered patterns” in nature and evolution. There is order to life.

Dr. Lipton is an optimist who encourages us to create he better world we are capable of doing and who sees the repetitive pattern of life as an encouraging sign. My research convinces me he is correct on both counts.


Lipton, Bruce H. Ph.D. The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter, and Miracles. CA: HayHouse, 2005.

A Comment on Norman Mailer's view of God in his book, On God

One of my favorite authors, Mailer is a major American writer. Mailer is not considered a spiritual writer, nor a spiritual figure. I am fascinated, however, with his views.

The main idea about God that Mailer reiterates throughout his book, and the most significant point of the book, is that God is a Creator, but one that is still evolving. I like that. Mailer considers that we are developing with God and, because of this, He needs us as much as we need Him. Perhaps Mailer’s view is egocentric, but he may be right.

If we are still progressing, why wouldn’t our Creator be doing the same? Why wouldn’t we reflect all aspects of our Creator? That certainly is implied in Step One: Everything is Connected of my work Do It Yourself Guide to Spirituality: Seven Simple Steps.

I like Mailer’s description of humans as “not finished,” as if we were a story being written. He makes the concept of “Creator” real. Rather than some almighty force, God becomes a more understandable artist molding his creations as He Himself changes. Yes, that is what an artist does; why would God be different?

"The point is that the purpose of life may be to find higher and better
questions. Why? Because what I believe—this is wholly speculative
but important to me—is that we are here as God’s work, here to
influence His future as well as ours" (75).


Mailer, Norman with Michael Lennon. On God: An Uncommon Conversation. New York: Random, 2007