| Spiritual practice is defined in the Yoga Sutras as exertion to acquire a tranquil state of mind devoid of fluctuations. In the broadest sense any disciplined activity that reduces our sense of personal separateness and consequently calms our mind can be considered spiritual practice. Worship, devotion to God, selfless service, mindfulness, limitation of desires, and other similar practices fall within the scope of this definition. All of these support the practice of meditation, which is the most direct and effective way to reach a state of awareness in which our mind is free of fluctuations.
It becomes gradually possible for those of us who practice meditation and other spiritual disciplines with total energy and dedication for many years, to master all the forces of the unconscious. Step by step, we unify our mind, integrating unconscious forces into our conscious control, preparing ourselves to 'wake up' in the universal, spiritual core of our being. It is as if we are gradually clarifying the murky, agitated waters of the lake of our mind. When this lake is completely clear, calm, and transparent, we are ready to 'see' into the infinite depths of our being.
-- from Chapter 4, The Psychology of Meditation, pp. 57-58
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