Finding the Sacred in Daily Life

It’s been a few years I’ve been practicing with teachers Thanissara and Kittisaro, and as my relationship and practice deepens with them, so does my exploration and embracing of rituals and the sacred, and how it is proving to be such a lifeline for me.

When I first started practicing Buddhist meditation, words like “faith” and “sacred” felt alienating for a plethora of reasons—wanting to but not understanding the point of the rituals, my past religious wounding, yearning for meaning so as to not fall into superstition, and not feeling “in tune” enough to be able to notice what is sacred and special are just a few of those reasons.

When I first started practicing with T&K, I found their bowing and chanting helpful, mostly for somatic reasons, though. I was able to be in silence or on retreat for longer thanks to the release the chanting and bowing offered me. As I practiced it more and more, it started to serve a different purpose. I started to cherish the rituals and devotional practices. I didn’t know what purpose it served, and for the first time, it didn’t matter.

Before I knew it, I started to integrate rituals into my life and practice more seamlessly than ever before. For example, instead of getting down on one knee (because #feminism), François and I co-created a ritual to solidify our intention to marry.

Rituals and routines share a fine line; at first they can challenge us, or even feel forced, but eventually I find that they open things up for me. On the other hand, rituals and routines are quite different; rituals are more mysterious when routines serve a specific outcome. Despite, it is my mindfulness practice that helps to bridge routines from feeling mundane to feeling special.

In other words, turning to the sacred doesn’t mean you have to be creating little altars everywhere you go. It can be as simple as seeing the sacredness in the mundane everyday things.

I turn to the sacred regularly and it allows me to weather the storms of my personal life as well as the more collective storm because it keeps me feeling centred and whole.

What is your relationship to the sacred? I’ve included a few resources below to support you in exploring this question.

Resources

Watch.
Why Having Fun is the Secret to a Healthier Life, Catherine Price via TedEx
Sometimes, turning to the sacred is as simple as finding simple ways to enjoy yourself. Whether you’re quoting Cyndi Lauper or Sheryl Crowe … It turns out having fun is actually really good for you.

Try.
How to be Hopeful Even When it’s Really, Really Hard by Sarah Jacoby via Self
How can hope be a doorway to the sacred? You have to have hope in order to maintain the stamina it takes to fight for the future we deserve. Sometimes, though, it can feel incredibly hard to be hopeful. Here are some useful tips.

Read.
Why we Need Rituals Not Routines by Terry Nguyen via Vox
Rituals can make even the most mundane thing meaningful—and even joyous. It can also support us in creating habits. See how ritual can help you in your day to day life.

Take in.

"In nature, we rejoice in undivided beauty that cannot be captured in words. Our hearts open to the majesty of nature and resonate with sympathetic joy. We don't get jealous of a sunset, competitive with a tree, or set ourself up against a spacious landscape. Amid the flowing lines of the natural world, the boundaries tend to disappear and we are restored."
- Thanissara, Listening to the Heart

Reflect.

What is your relationship to the word Sacred? Can you identify a handful of things – places, chores, moments, etc. – that could be made more meaningful through ritual? Do you have any existing rituals that are meaningful to you?

Meditate.

Routine can be boring, or, it can be a portal to the sacred. Walking is a great place to start because (1) who walks anymore; and/or (2) who walks without a podcast, audiobook or music playing?

This 10-minute meditation guides you in a formal walking practice. I hope it is the start of your seeing that mundane moments can turn into beautiful opportunities for connection and awe. May you feel supported in joy and turning to the sacred.

Link appreciation: Jules Acree.