The ABCs: D is for (Radical) Discipline
or, How To Be a Good Student
In many spiritual traditions, there is a practice in which a selected scriptural passage becomes the theme for the week. At Radical Spirituality, we do the same thing, but in a radical way.
Each Sunday, I offer The ABC’s of Radical Spirituality, a single, simple word distilled from the common principles of all the world’s faith and wisdom teachings that serves as the exploration for the week. They are the roots of Radical Spirituality. And because I am that person, the words are in alphabetical order.
It’s a simple practice to get to the roots of what matters on our spiritual path. The best part is that you will get out of it what you put into it. If you just keep the word on a sticky-note on your computer, it will still work it’s magic. But to dig deeper, delve in, dive in, and see what you find.
D is for (Radical) Discipline
"The Spiritual Disciplines are things that we do. We must never lose sight of this fact. …We are dealing with actions, not merely states of mind." ~ Richard J. Foster
I know, I know. Discipline is a hard word for many, bringing up images of cruel nuns and sackcloths, obedience, punishment, and rules, rules, rules. For most of us, the word alone makes us cringe and run fast and far in the other direction.
But in Radical Spirituality we use it differently. For us, Discipline comes from the Latin root, discere, to learn. Thus, a disciple is a student or pupil dedicated to learning a discipline, or an area of study, and Discipline is what you have to do if you want to learn it.
Every tradition emphasizes the importance of Discipline on the spiritual path. You won’t get very far without it. If you want to learn yoga, it doesn’t work to simply read a book or watch a video: you actually have to practice. If you want to reach enlightenment, you have to meditate. If you want to live a spiritual life of purpose, meaning and joy, you have to get your head out of the clouds and put your hands in the dirt.
In other words, if you want to learn, grow, or transform, you have to apply some Discipline: you have to do something. My teacher, Lao, was adamant with us, his students, or disciples. “I don’t care what you do, but you have to do it.” Thus, Discipline in Radical Spirituality is about discerning what you want to learn, how to learn it, and actually doing something to learn it.
This week, we explore Discipline: What do you need to do to be a good student?
Deeper Roots
In Christianity, the Disciplines are specific activities that bring you into closer connection to God and include prayer, reading, study, and ritual. In Judaism, they are called Mitzvot, the “laws” or “deeds” outlined in the Torah, the purpose of which are also to bring you to God. In Buddhism, Daoism and Hinduism, spiritual activities like meditation or mind-body exercises are more commonly referred to in English as “practices” and disciples are “practitioners.”
Regardless of the tradition, disciplines or practices are tools to strengthen your connection to, or understanding of, whatever-you-call-sacred. They are techniques, not ends in themselves, and yet, they aren’t optional. It takes focus and work. The discipline of doing them is part of the training. It lays the ground for deeper understanding.
As meditation teacher Jack Kornfield says, "The purpose of a spiritual discipline is to give us a way to stop the war, not by our force of will, but organically, through understanding and gradual training." And that takes discipline.
The monastic traditions have long been the example of what we consider spiritual discipline. We have countless images of monks and nuns dutifully praying, chanting, or engaging in other rituals. For many of us, they are the epitome of discipline on a spiritual path. We admire them, but also know that we don’t have that kind of discipline (or don’t want to).
When monastics take vows, they commit to doing things (or not doing things) in order to deepen their faith or relationship to the Divine, to achieve enlightenment, or merge with the Dao. In addition to their vows, which can include certain ascetic practices like poverty, celibacy, or obedience, most monastic orders have a daily schedule for prayers, reading, study, solitude, or work. It’s what keeps the monks and nuns focused on their learning.
The Rule of Benedict, which was developed by St. Benedict for the formation of the Benedictine order of Catholic monastics, is extremely specific regarding the actions monks and nuns must take each day. And while it is pretty rigid, it has a beauty to it. Every aspect of a monastic’s life is funneled through a spiritual filter: there is a spiritual purpose to every minute of the day. Over time, the doing of the Rule becomes one’s spirituality. It takes discipline to live the Rule, but it’s not without its rewards. Ask Trappist monk, Thomas Merton.
There’s yet is another deeper root to Discipline. It comes from desire. In the Bible, Jesus makes it clear that being a good student, or disciple, requires desire: “In the heart of a disciple there is a desire, and there is a decision or settled intent.” (Luke 6:40). When you really want something, you will do whatever you need to do to get it, and it doesn’t feel burdensome to you. If you want to run a marathon, you need to train for it. While it may be hard to run every day, especially if you are tired or sore, you do it because the result is worth the effort (and, hopefully, you like running). Desire is what fuels discipline.
The same is true for spirituality. Every spiritual teacher will tell you that there are no shortcuts on the spiritual path. If you want to walk it, you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when it’s hard, and that takes both desire and discipline. If, because my meditation practice is important to me, I must wake up 30 minutes earlier, I do it, even if some days I want to sleep in. I don’t get up and get to the cushion because I fear punishment or because it’s an external rule, but because I want to. I am a student, and I want to be a good one.
Reflection Questions
What does Discipline mean to you?
Where do you apply Discipline in your life?
What prevents you from being disciplined?
How can you bring Discipline to your spiritual life?
Suggested Practice
Choose one thing to do as a spiritual discipline for the week. Maybe it’s reading, meditating, not eating meat, or taking a walk. It doesn’t matter what it is, but do it because you want to and explore what it teaches you about discipline.
"Spirituality is about being ready. All the spiritual disciplines of your life - prayer, study, meditation or ritual, religious vows - are there so you can break through to the eternal. Spirituality is about awakening the eyes, the ears, the heart so you can see what's always happening right in front of you." ~ Richard Rohr