Eight-point Program
Easwaran's program for spiritual growth consists of eight points, and was described comprensively in his 1978 book Meditation (later republished as Passage Meditation). Each point had a dedicated chapter:
- Meditation: Silent repetition upon memorized inspirational passages from one of the world's great religions. Practiced for one-half hour each morning.
- The Mantram: silent repetition of a mantram, holy name or hallowed phrase from one of the world's great religions.
- Slowing Down: set priorities to reduce stress and hurry
- One-Pointed Attention: give full concentration to whatever matter is currently at hand
- Training the Senses: enjoy simple pleasures in order to avoid craving for unhealthy excess
- Putting Others First: denounce selfishness and cultivating altruism
- Spiritual Companionship: practice meditation in the company of others
- Reading the Mystics: draw inspiration from the writings of the scriptures of all religions.
Read more about this topic: Eknath Easwaran
Famous quotes containing the word program:
“Worn down by the hoofs of millions of half-wild Texas cattle driven along it to the railheads in Kansas, the trail was a bare, brown, dusty strip hundreds of miles long, lined with the bleaching bones of longhorns and cow ponies. Here and there a broken-down chuck wagon or a small mound marking the grave of some cowhand buried by his partners on the lone prairie gave evidence to the hardships of the journey.”
—For the State of Kansas, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)