Spiritual Hygiene

Spiritual hygiene is about keeping both your body and spirit clean. It’s a core practice in the 4 Ascendant Tradition.

In everyday life, we think of hygiene as caring for our bodies—cleaning and maintaining our physical health. But spiritual hygiene is about more than that. It’s about the flow of sensory data into your mind through your senses and how that affects your thoughts and actions.

Just like physical hygiene—where what you eat impacts your health—spiritual hygiene is about what you allow into your mind. If you’re mindful of what you expose your senses to, your thoughts and actions will reflect that.

In a controlled space like a temple, food and other influences are carefully managed. You become deeply aware of the connection between what you take in and what you put out. In modern life, however, technology often separates us from this natural awareness. But the principle remains: the more you’re aware of what goes in, the better you can control what comes out.

Here are four simple ways to practice spiritual hygiene in your daily life:

1. Shape Your Environment for Spiritual Growth

Fill your surroundings with reminders of your spiritual goals. Temples are designed with symbols, imagery, and messages that help you stay focused on your practice. At home, you can do the same by surrounding yourself with items that inspire your spiritual journey.  Things like a personal altar can help you with your Taoist focus.

2. Control What Enters Your Mind

Just like you wouldn’t put unhealthy food in your body, avoid letting negative, distracting, or harmful sensory input into your mind. Be mindful of what you read, watch, or listen to. What you expose your mind to will directly shape your thoughts and actions.

3. Be Mindful of Who You Spend Time With

Humans are naturally social beings, and the actions of others can easily influence our own behavior. It’s important to surround yourself with people who share your spiritual goals and practices. Their thoughts and actions will influence you, just as yours will influence them. By interacting with those who are aligned with your path, you create a support system that challenges you to grow and keeps you accountable to your goals.

4. Study Reinforcing Material

Make it a habit to read books, listen to talks, or attend classes that align with your spiritual goals. These will fill your mind with positive, reinforcing thoughts, helping you stay on track with your spiritual practice.

Understanding the Limits of Spiritual Hygiene

While spiritual hygiene is a powerful tool for shaping your mind and spirit, it is not a magic solution that overrides personal choice. A person in an extremely negative or extremely positive environment can still think and behave in ways that run counter to the influence of that environment if they make an enormous effort. This means that while your environment plays a significant role in your spiritual growth, your personal determination and effort are equally important.

Spiritual hygiene helps create a supportive environment that naturally aligns with your goals, making it easier to maintain positive thoughts and actions. However, it’s essential to recognize that individuals possess the strength to resist or change the influences around them, especially when they are committed to their personal growth.

By practicing good spiritual hygiene, you can create a space that supports your growth and well-being, while also empowering you to make conscious choices that align with your spiritual aspirations, regardless of external circumstances.