Practice Makes Perfect – Week 4

Dear seekers,

Hari Om!

Please click on the link below, to download your ‘journal pages’ to help you with your reflection. Please note that these are formatted to be opened in Microsoft Word; they can be filled in within the document itself.

Sadhana Introduction

Sadhana Week 4 Journal

Sadhana 4 – Gratitude

Having spent the last week in the practice of dedicating our actions, a question may arise: can we dedicate those actions which are done purely for our own self-interest?

Actions prompted entirely by selfish desires may deliver results that give short-term satisfaction, but create more dissatisfaction in the long run. In order to evolve as spiritual seekers, we are called to drop selfish desires.

By what means is this achieved?

What?

Develop the attitude of gratitude.

Why?

Desires agitate our mind and make us feel unfulfilled. Practicing gratitude allows us to recognise the fullness in our lives. Instead of focusing on what we don’t have, we can focus on what we do have, and be grateful for it.

Gratitude soothes the agitated mind and creates joy. When we feel full, we can offer more to the world around us. If we always feel we are lacking, we will always be begging for something from the world.

An attitude of gratitude helps us to reduce desires and agitation in the mind.

How?

Start (or continue) a gratitude journal.

Every day, spend some time thinking of what you have in your life to be grateful for. List down at least 5 things.

Don’t just write it down; when you feel dissatisfied in life, come back to your gratitude journal to remember all your blessings.

If you choose to:

• Reflect on the desire(s) that are agitating your mind. There where you feel you are missing something, find things to be grateful for.
  • For example, in relation to work, family, relationships, social networks etc.
    • If you want to make home improvements, find things to be grateful about the home you already have!