Your Family Life Is Your Temple, and Its Stressful Incidents Are Your Meditation
Many spiritual seekers believe spiritual practices belong only in a temple or ashram.
Be honest with yourself: Are you secretly wanting to escape something? A painful memory from the past, a daunting fear of something bad happening in the future, or the emotional turmoil of the present moment? Do you sometimes feel the urge to avoid handling the ordeals life throws at you?
I felt that urge to escape yesterday when my five-year-old son tripped over a bump while riding his scooter and hit his face on the ground
Tears streamed from his eyes as he cried, “It’s so painful, I can’t take it!” Moments later, my wife caught up with us. She looked deadly serious but said nothing to me.
I felt not only upset for my son but also anger. My mind whispered she was blaming me. I explained, “I couldn’t stop it,” but she stayed silent, picking up our son to soothe him. My mind wanted to argue, to convince her it wasn’t my fault. I wanted to run away, to avoid the blame I assumed she felt, my sadness for my son’s pain, and the anger within me.
But a voice inside said, “This is your practice.” While heading to buy water for my son, leaving my wife to comfort him, I began.
First, I prayed: Father, help me forgive and see this differently. Forgive my wife if she’s blaming me. Forgive myself for losing peace. Forgive this incident. Then, I observed the sensations of my emotions—a tight, intense grip at my throat. I surrendered to it, letting it come and go.
When I returned, my son had stopped crying. We took turns carrying him home, no words of blame exchanged.
Here’s what I practiced in real time:
1. Observing and allowing the sensations of negative emotions—mindfulness and surrender.
2. Praying for forgiveness—a forgiveness practice.
3. Choosing to buy water instead of arguing—acting kindly despite my feelings.
In hindsight, my wife might have briefly blamed me but didn’t voice it—a kindness. I blamed her in my mind for assuming she blamed me. If I’d acted on my anger, things could’ve escalated. Instead, we walked home in peace.
Inner peace is the ultimate aim of spiritual practice. Chanting OM in the woods invites peace. Handling stressful moments in daily life with spiritual practices releases the non-peace within.
Seen this way, your life brims with spiritual practice opportunities.