Special Practices

Apr 26, 2023

Memento Mori (Death Meditation)

There are many forms of meditation on the fact of death, from traditions around the world, and all of them are intended to strengthen one thing: The felt sense of the vividness and immediacy of life. By bearing in mind the fact of death and coming to terms with our deep terror of mortality, we come to live more fully and authentically.

For a primer on traditional Buddhist death meditation, also known as maranasati, click here.

For a Christian perspective on Memento Mori, click here.

Here is a video with a good guided meditation centered on the Stoic philosophical concept.

Imaginal Practice

Imaginal Practice - the identification, generation and rehearsal of stories within one’s own bodymind - is a special practice that could be said to belong equally to all of the above categories. It requires a good deal of somatic awareness and some previous skill with practices of Recollection, so I do not recommend it to complete beginners.

My friend and colleague River (also known as Wilderless) has a wonderful primer on Imaginal Practice here.

Secret Works

The practice of Secret Works is perhaps closest to the category of Development, but it is not explicitly contemplative. Simply put, it is a practice of searching out small opportunities to be of service to others, and then taking action in such a way that the kindness can be kept outside the notice of the recipient. These kindnesses can range from doing others’ chores to paying the tabs or debts of strangers - the key is to find ways to practice loving others for their sake alone, without any expectation of egoic recognition or reward.

Singing and Chanting

Most spiritual traditions incorporate both music and chanting into their practices. They are powerful vehicles for breath work, beauty, praise and communal bonding. As the choir director and contemplative Rebecca Parsons likes to say, “Everything that is good for singing is good for the spirit.”

A practice of singing or chanting can be a wonderful way praise and exult in the divine. It is also a powerful method for bonding with other practitioners. I personally have assembled a binder of lyrics from my favorite gospel, folk and spiritual tunes that I call my “hymnal.” I use it to sing a song of welcome to the sun every morning as it rises, and again to sing a lullaby as it sets.

If you prefer chanting to singing, there is something for you, whatever your tradition. Hindu traditions chant vedas, Buddhist schools chant sutras, Christian traditions chant scripture, and so on - whatever your personal beliefs, you can find a large body of music and chants.

For a primer on Vedic chanting, click here.

For an introduction to Christian chanting, click here.

For a Buddhist perspective from Thich Nhat Hanh and his Plum Village monastery, click here.