How to Begin

If you would like to try a contemplative practice, but you're not sure how to begin, start by checking out the Tree of Contemplative Practices. The Tree shows many examples of contemplative practices, and you may feel drawn to one or more. Follow your instincts, and decide on one or two practices that you find intellectually interesting and spiritually comfortable.

When just starting out, what's most important is to make your practice a regular part of your daily life. Be careful not to postpone your practice sessions until you get everything "just right," whether it be your surroundings, materials (such as meditation cushions), or even your understanding of the practice. Try to commit yourself to regular, perhaps daily, practice sessions. If you do miss a few days, don't judge yourself; just continue with your practice as diligently as you can.

If you find it difficult to commit to a daily practice, you can make things easier for yourself by committing to brief but regular sessions. If you decide to take up a silent meditation practice, it can be daunting to start out with half-hour sessions, so if you prefer, try beginning with five minutes. See how you feel, and adjust your practice sessions as feels right to you.

When you start out with a new practice, books and the internet can provide a lot of information, but it can be especially helpful to have someone to talk to about your practice— a mentor, teacher or guide who can give you instructions and suggestions, and to whom you can ask questions along the way, to help you clear up confusion, remember your good intentions for your practice, and encourage you to be consistent.

next, The Tree of Practices