An Introduction to Spiritual Exercises

There are many techniques available for finding God. In MSIA, one of the primary ways that we learn to attune to and focus on God is through spiritual exercises. It is a form of meditation/prayer. We teach this method because it works so well.

It is important to take time for yourself each day to focus on your spiritual nature, to drop the physical concerns of the day, and once again to become aware that you are spiritual, that you are divine, that you are, through your Soul, an extension of God. Spiritual exercises are a way to do this.

Spiritual exercises (s.e.'s) are an active technique of bypassing the mind and emotions by using a spiritual tone or vibration to connect to the energy that flows from God through all existence. S.e.'s assist a person to transcend illusions and limitations and move into the awareness of Soul.

A recommended chant for spiritual exercises is the 'HU,' which is pronounced like the name Hugh or which can be said by pronouncing the sounds of the individual letters 'H' and 'U.' The HU tone is an ancient name of God and is a wonderful way of attuning to the higher vibrations of Spirit. The ANI-HU is a variation of the HU chant. Pronounced (AHN-EYE-HUE), the ANI-HU is also an invocation to God with an added dimension that brings in the quality of empathy and oneness with others. As you chant this tone, you may find the quality of empathy and connection with others increased.

We invite you to try doing spiritual exercises and to observe the results for yourself. You might try doing spiritual exercises daily for 10 or 15 minutes for a week and see if this practice works for you. People who do spiritual exercises regularly often report experiencing a deeper peace and relaxation and a greater connection to God.

Want to try spiritual exercises?  Click to PRACTICE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES / MEDITATION.

In MSIA, we chant Hu. Hu is Sanskrit and is an ancient name for God. When you chant, you can pronounce Hu like the name Hugh or say the sounds of the individual letters H and U. Hu is the ultimate highest sound.

Spirit motivates all things. The Sound created by the Spirit in its movement is the two tones H and U. These two tones, one positive and one negative, encompass every tone and every sound that exist in the universe. When you combine them into one tone -- Hu -- that tone is within all other tones. In this new dispensation, mankind is moving increasingly into the heritage of the Hu-man; each person is becoming the God-man. Initiates of the Traveler who chant their initiation tones (or the Traveler's students who chant the Hu tone) are becoming more specifically and consciously the God-men and the God-women of the new dispensation.

Ani-Hu is a variation of the Hu chant. Pronounced "ahn-eye-hu," it is also an invocation to God with an added dimension that brings in the quality of empathy and oneness with others. If you have misunderstanding within yourself or with someone else, you would probably want to work with the Ani-Hu. If we could really know what is in the hearts of our "enemies," we would never do another thing to hurt them because there is already enough hurt. All we do is stand back and love them. The Ani-Hu can give us this compassion.

- John-Roger
(From: Fulfilling Your Spiritual Promise, p. 397-398)