Attitudes during spiritual practice

We can all do well to examine our own attitude when we sit down to meditate or during other regular spiritual practices, such as simple self-reflection during the day. Today I examined mine and this is what I reminded myself of.

Conducive attitudes

Practice with:

• Awareness. Bring light to every shadow.
• Patience. There is no rush because there is no time.
• Compassion. Be kind and don't get hung up on faults.
• Certainty. Allow the mind to be firm and established in Truth only - that which does not depend on anything else. Know that it is always possible at every moment, even if it does not immediately appear as such.
• Earnestness. Make practice important...
• Calmness. ... but not too important.

Un-conducive attitudes

Practice without:

• Doubt. It confuses the mind and disperses focus.
• Distraction. It wastes energy and prevents seeing things as they are.
• Judgement. Just observe rather than labeling good or bad, or thinking in terms of "improving yourself".
• Preaching. Others will find their way, focus on yourself and simply be their light.
• Perfectionism. There is no specific ideal way to be. There is really nothing to attain.