To reach every destination steps are needed, and to gain every skill practice is needed. The goal in our path is to develop ethics, kindness, sagacity and other virtues. This cannot be achieved but by effective practices and accurate planning. Man does not become virtuous automatically. No one is born ethical and no one becomes good by just telling them "Be good!"
For in addition to Divine, Evil also exists and constantly pulls the mind away from spirituality. It creates temporary forgetfulness so that one can allow himself to enact immoral acts. It throws mischief and impulse onto the soul to dilute its power of understanding. An unguarded and unpracticed student will not be able to stand on the path of righteousness, just as a leaf in autumn winds.
So begins our practices and techniques. So begins the well known and well seen acts of prayers, meditations, repetition of holy names, rituals and other religious and spiritual practices. We see these acts oftentimes in current religions, but they are done for a different reason than ours, not as a practice but as an obligation, as something that should be done, as something that can bestow grace and bliss on the soul. So a religious man repeats a prayer daily for he deems in this prayer there is a power that can raise the level of his soul and draw near salvation. But a follower of our path repeats the same prayer as a practice to train the mind to remember God and develop discipline, and this remembrance and discipline help him to be more ethical, to be more virtuous, to do more good work, and this being more ethical and more virtuous is what that raises the level of his soul, not the sheer act of praying.
So here appears a remarkable difference between us and followers of current religions. We both do the same acts, we both pray, meditate, do group chanting and rituals, and outwardly seem to be the same, but inwardly we hold different views on these acts: one considers them as a path to a goal and the other as a goal itself. So our paths depart like two branches of a river, and to the extent that we become opponents, and while we go to the same church we won't sit beside each other, and while we both pray the same words we won't arrive at the same level of spirituality.
Our path prescribes practices for all followers. The exact form of practices vary among people, and is determined by one's spiritual coach or by one's discrimination and determination. Whatever form the aspirant chooses, the final result should be the same, which is to make him a better person and kinder. The student of our path adheres to a set of practices, and does them daily and diligently, just as a baby adheres to mother's bosom, just as a young tree adheres to the support wood. These practices are holy, for they are the path to the holy. But they are not the goal.
These practices are indeed medicine of the soul, they heal its defects and heighten its degree. Man has both body and soul, and so is in need of medicine for both. Here begins the medicine of the soul, an overlooked science of the age of science. Now we explain some of these practices, their nature and their effect.
Waking up early before sunrise: The first practice in our path is the very first action of our day: to defeat the demon of sleep and laziness, and behold, the hours preceding the sunrise are charged with spiritual current and calmness. Waking up at this time fills the mind with inspiration, it eliminates depression and mental stresses. It is also the best time to do other practices. It is the one practice never to be missed by followers of this path.
Verbal prayer: God is alive, you can talk to him and he responds. The response comes in many forms: in the form of inspiration, in the form of some inner voice, a spiritual power, a vision of beatitude and others. It has a real effect, it can change the soul, it can burn the soul. A follower of this path freely talks with God on different occasions: before and after eating meals, before and after any other endeavor, and at the times of doubts and danger. In particular, thanking God when success or pleasure comes is very recommended, and brings even more bliss.
Repetition of a holy name or phrase (mantra prayer): This is similar to verbal prayer, but in the place of a verbal conversation it is to repeat a name of God, a verse of some scripture or any other holy phrase, for a certain number of times. A rosary or bid string, or just hand fingers, are used to count. This practice has a great effect on concentrating the mind on Divine. And in this concentration a hidden channel to Divine is seen, and entered into. Doing this three times a day, morning, noon and sunset is a sure way to achieve mental peace and constant Divine mood. Some of the followers carry rosary wherever they go.
Non-verbal prayer or meditation: Prayer does not need to include words and in the form of lingual conversation or repetition. It can also be without words by focusing the mind on any idea of God and Divinity. In this practice, the essence of God is meditated by the practitioner. This is the watchfulness in Christianity and Samadhi in Indian and yoga traditions. The exact way of doing this form of meditation cannot be explained by words, nor its effect and consequence. For the way to do this is inspired by God Himself to the practitioner at some point on the path. It is a reward of a righteous and holy life. The effect of this meditation is a connection to Divine which heals all the taints of the soul and tensions of the mind. It leads to the dawn of wisdom and insight, of vision and sight. It is that secret corridor in the story of Aya and the hidden rose garden.
Personal rites: A set of fixed actions done at fixed times, in this practice one may say a certain prayer before going to bed, or make a gesture when entering home or study, or do a certain form of prayer before work or before meals, or celebrate the birthday of a holy man, and other acts and commitments. These bring discipline in life, combat the laziness and mental sloth. Rites are the engine of personal transformation. Some religions deviated and declared some rites should be done because God wants them. But God does not want rites, but the result of rites which is an agile and straight mind bent on righteousness and virtue.
Group rituals: When a group of people gather and chant certain songs, repeat phrases, make gestures, move or dance harmoniously and other collective and coordinated acts, this is called ritual. It produces a strong impression in the mind of participants. For the positive energy and vibe of all are combined and fills the mind of each. It is like a large group of people pulling a large truck out of mud and it eventually comes loose. So do rituals loosen one's mind from non-spiritual mood to spiritual mood, from negativity to positivity. Apart from this, rituals also lead to forming social bonds and fellowship, and this is essential for empowering the community of the righteous. Some religions teach that rituals have special occult powers, some others teach that participation in rituals is mandatory and required by God. But rituals are wanted for their results, which is more steadfastness and collaboration among the followers in doing good work and service. When a ritual takes place in a city the result should be that the housing problem of that city is resolved, the poverty is diminished and justice established, the result should be that the participants bond together like a cement fist to crush the evil of their day.
Contact with holy people and meditating on their lives: Holy people are those who made advancement in the path of righteousness and virtues, in the path of service to others and severing the oppression. They are like mirrors reflecting Divine attributes and their words are Divine, and their lives are Divine. Reading the story of their lives, or visiting them in person, or any other association with them and their lives kindles the same Divine qualities in the mind. Such association is in particular beneficial for the beginners who still do not have a strong spiritual understanding and connection, as it provides a more tangible and mundane form of Divinity. A beginner should associate with holy people oftentimes, and if it fits, choose one or some as teachers and preceptor. But the role of holy people is just to be role models and motivators, not mediators, not agents who can bestow salvation and such as some religions fancy. For salvation comes from one's own good deeds only, and bestowed by God only.
Study of philosophy, science and art: These topics are manifestations of Divine in different planes of existence: philosophy in the plane of mind, science in the plane of physicality, and art in the plane of emotion. Studying them and engaging with them will regenerate the same Divine quality in the mind. It purifies and rejuvenates the soul. Every student of this path should take up the study of some scientific or artistic topics, based on his capacity and interest. The image of a saint in our path is someone who is not only high in spirituality, but also in math, in astronomy, in music and other branches in his day. This is the most beautiful combination, the most natural and the noble recipe.
And any other practice in different religions can be adopted in our path, with the condition that they are seen and used as tools to develop virtues and good character. The result of the practice should be that the practitioner becomes a kinder person, a more smiling person, a more helping person, a more caring person, a more fighting person (fighting with oppression and injustice). If these are the result then the practice is valid, if not then it should be abandoned. This is how the student of this path can gauge the value of every practice. Every practice that elevates the soul is permissible. There is a proverb in our path: that everything is good [given that it is] for God.