David Gaia Kano

Faith to Practice David Gaia Kano

Your beliefs shape your life with every decision you make. Your interpretation of your circumstances also depends on your beliefs or "world view."



This book takes a "cart before the horse" approach, by putting practices before beliefs. You may have identified one or more practices which you'd like to spend more time doing, such as meditation, prayer, exercise, mindfulness, appreciating nature, etc. If somehow it's never happened, or when you have gotten started it didn't last, this is the book for you!



Explore and evolve your beliefs so they can enrich your life of spiritual practice and help you become a happier, more loving person with a clear yet ever-changing sense of who you are, through faith.



David Gaia Kano has gone from being a materialist who was agnostic about God and anything spiritual, to a full-time contemplative with a deep faith in our Divine Unity. In his first 60 years of life practice, he spent 45 meditating twice a day, 21 in radical acceptance (non-judgment), five in earnest mindfulness and two holding to the sense "I am" each and every moment of the day. Through practice, he has gone from dependence on external conditions for his happiness, to finding the blissful peace within, which brings joy to any experience.



Chapter outline



Introduction

Happiness is 95% interpretation and 5% circumstances.

About the Author



1: Your Life Rests on Faith

Our conscious decisions depend on our beliefs What is your "faith" when defined as "a foundational belief, upon which all your other beliefs depend?"

2: Examples of Beliefs and What They Support

Murphy's law is a lie Consumer based "happiness" Materialistic Assumptions Verbal Affirmations

3: Habits and Addictions

We are creatures of habit, some helpful, some not All emotions, when experienced regularly, are "addictive." Habitual behaviors are easiest to change with the support of a group (even of 2)

4: Personal Creed of Faith and Practice



Example beliefs from the author and his spiritual practices that they support:

Fundamental Unity and Gifts of Love Creation Theology and Devotion Spiritual Beings, Reincarnation and Compassion Raising Consciousness and Meditation Karma and Forgiveness Discernment and Radical Acceptance Spiritual Activism

5: Faithful Evolution

As our consciousness rises, our faith must evolve to support our (new) practices well. New interpretations of each traditions scriptures and teachings suffice for most people. Understanding your current, lived beliefs, is important. What behaviors and priorities does my faith support? Examples of faith evolution from my life

6: Responsible Happiness

Happiness as a skill Happy beliefs Master our minds Meditation and mindfulness practice

7: Summary and Conclusion

Examples of the manifold benefits of raising our consciousness, for ourselves and the world at large.