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Five seeds of wholeness

One way to describe spiritual development is the way we grow in the ability to give and receive love and to recognise our deep interconnectedness.

The 5 Seeds of Wholeness is a simple system of practices and support that can help anyone - no matter what their religious beliefs - to grow spiritually.

The 5 essential qualities


gratitude
generosity
connectedness
mindfulness
compassion


Individualised

Each person creates their own individual 5 Seeds programme, which consists of the practices they choose and when they do those practices. Participants meet monthly as a group to share their experiences and support one another. Your programme will depend on your life-style, beliefs, strengths, etc.

Use everyday events to keep on track

A key to success in spiritual practice is tying your practices to particular events in your day. Events such as eating, dressing, bathing, doing the washing up, going to bed, riding buses can be used as triggers for your practice. For example, you may express your gratitude when you eat or practice compassion whenever you ride public transport.


Practices

Each person will want to choose practices that best suit them. In 5 Seeds gatherings, participants share their experiences and ideas for specific practices. Every person is encouraged to be creative and free in choosing the practices they will attempt. We can always change! We offer a few suggestions of practices that may spark your thinking. 

Gratitude

  • Write a list of things for which you are grateful each day
  • Before eating, contemplate the sources of your food and all those involved in providing it
  • Write letters of gratitude to people in your life (whether or not you send them)
  • Pray in gratitude

Mindfulness

    • Be fully present while brushing your teeth, bathing, eating, etc.
    • Meditate on the train

Connection

    • When in a crowd, look at faces and imagine the inner life behind them
    • Listen intently to someone you encounter (resisting your temptation to make the conversation more about you)

Compassion

    • Write letters to people going through hard times
    • Listen intently to people describing their sorrows
    • Answer daily the question: 'what touched my heart today?'

Generosity

    • Give (a physical thing or an action) in circumstance where you expect nothing in return


There is a group on Facebook supporting the community of 5 Seeds practitioners. Join the group here.

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