The Spiritual Self Schema (3-S) Development Program
The Spiritual Self Schema (3-S) Development Program
The Spiritual Self Schema (3-S) Development Program
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Phase 2a. Designing your Path<br />
Step 1. Stating the anticipated destination of your Path<br />
Reflect. Before constructing your <strong>Spiritual</strong> Path, you will<br />
need to reflect not only on its anticipated ultimate destination, but<br />
also on its moment-by-moment destinations.<br />
First , reflect on your Path's ultimate destination. Do you<br />
anticipate that this Path will lead to Enlightenment ... to union with God<br />
... to Heaven ... to Nirvana? Next, reflect on your Path's moment-bymoment<br />
destinations. <strong>The</strong>se are the qualities or characteristics that you<br />
will need to practice and attain in your daily life in order to reach the<br />
ultimate destination of your Path. For example, in Buddhist traditions,<br />
the 10 "perfections" (Pali paramis) -- generosity, morality, renunciation,<br />
wisdom, effort, patience, truthfulness, strong determination, selfless<br />
love, and equanimity -- are the moment-by-moment qualities practiced<br />
by those on the Buddha's Eightfold Path to enlightenment and<br />
liberation from suffering. Reflect now on the personal qualities or<br />
characteristics (e.g., <strong>Spiritual</strong> ideals) that you will need to practice in<br />
your daily life in order to reach the ultimate destination of your own<br />
<strong>Spiritual</strong> path? For example, on a moment-by-moment basis, will<br />
traveling your <strong>Spiritual</strong> path require experiencing and expressing<br />
qualities such as compassion and practicing personal ethical standards<br />
that prohibit harm to self or others?<br />
Rehearse (visualization). As in Phase 1, imagine that you are<br />
seeing an image projected on a movie or TV screen. You see an actor<br />
playing the role of YOU as you are, or potentially could be, when on<br />
your <strong>Spiritual</strong> path, experiencing and expressing your <strong>Spiritual</strong> nature,<br />
moving toward your Path's ultimate destination. Try to get a clear<br />
image of the actor on the screen. See the actor revealing to the audience<br />
the qualities your personal <strong>Spiritual</strong> path requires. What would the<br />
actor need to look like, sound like, behave like, to enact these qualities?<br />
Do you see a person who strives to be generous, ethical, moderate,<br />
diligent, patient, truthful, determined, loving, and calm in every aspect<br />
of life -- including thought, speech,<br />
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