From that state of grace, I felt a resplendent sense of unity, no longer separate from the trees, the stars, life itself. Eventually, the light faded, of course, and the realization passed, as all things pass. But that initiatory experience catalyzed within me the desire to share what I had learned. I traveled and read and engaged a variety of practices, not so much for my sake, but to learn what I could share with others. In the end, I found the answers I sought not in the temples of the East or schools of the West, but here and now, to everyday life as a spiritual path and practice-and to twelve gateways of personal and spiritual growth.
Twelve seems an auspicious number.
Practical Spirituality Inward practices such as meditation and self-analysis generate insights and enhance abilities, but none are as useful as learning to live harmoniously in a committed relationship, becoming a skillful parent, or juggling the demands and details of daily life. Spiritual practice begins on the ground, not up in the air. In a sense, these twelve gateways form a stairway to the soul. And some, like me, are just beginning to guess at the powerful religion of ordinary life, a spirituality of freshly mopped floors and stacked dishes, and clothing blowing on the line. Each time we feel uplifted or inspired, we are touched by Spirit.