Spiritual Cross-Training: Searching Through Silence, Stretch, and Song

by Benjamin Shalva

On a quest for enlightenment, Benjamin Shalva journeyed through the wilds of Tibet and took a pilgrimage to a white-walled monastery in Rhode Island. He wrestled with demons, danced with temptresses, and sang with hundreds of voices under the stars. Now, using the lessons and techniques gained through years of religious exploration and inward reflection, Shalva offers simple and powerful ways to connect with your spiritual self, whether it be in a place of worship or the yoga studio, or even while sitting in traffic, working late at the office, or kneeling in your garden.

In this honest, intimate—sometimes embarrassing and frequently funny—memoir with down-to-earth instruction and guidance, Shalva reveals that you don’t have to be perfect or singularly focused to accomplish deep spiritual work. By cross-training in three simple exercises—silence, stretch, and song—you can strengthen your spiritual muscles and deepen your personal search for meaning.

Inspiring and refreshingly candid, Spiritual Cross-Training encourages you to trust your own path, grow with an open mind and a light heart, and uncover the truth as you search for your place in the universe.

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 5, 2016

About the author

Benjamin Shalva is a poet, hospice chaplain, and rabbi whose work explores loss, solace, ritual, and awe. His poetry and prose have appeared in publications including Image, Spirituality & Health Magazine, and The Washington Post. His debut poetry collection, House of Mourning (Kelsay Books), is a meditation on loss, end-of-life care, and the mysterious terrain between despair, desire, and renewal. He is also the author of two works of nonfiction, Spiritual Cross-Training and Ambition Addiction (Grand Harbor Press), which blend memoir with teachings from the world’s contemplative traditions.

In addition to his literary work, Benjamin serves as the Manager of Jewish Care, Support, and Rabbinic Services at Gilchrist, Maryland’s largest hospice organization. With over a decade of experience accompanying patients and families at the end of life, he specializes in spiritual care, grief support, and interfaith engagement.

Benjamin teaches and leads workshops on death and dying, grief and healing, mindfulness meditation, poetry, and creative writing. His approach draws from Jewish, Buddhist, and Yogic traditions, as well as his background in the literary and performing arts.

Benjamin lives in Baltimore with his wife, their two children, and their two hound dogs.

Reviews

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE EXERCISES IN THIS BOOK NOURISH THE SOUL AND BODY AND MIND, USED TO ENGAGE IN SEARCH OF OUR SOUL USING MEDITATION, YOGA AND SILENCE AND PRAYER. A BRILLIANT BOOK.

[Ezechel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a guide for expanding my spiritual awareness into traditions different than my own. That's not what this book is. It's an autobiography, and the stories about meditation, yoga and art, while deeply personal are not easily applicable, due to their subjective nature and lack of accompanying research from a broader perspective. Even if this book was the guide it pretends to be, it would be insufficient, because spiritual people around and world and across the centuries have used a lot more practices than these 3 he happened to stumble upon.

In the end the book makes me sad, because it is a sad story, even a cry for help, from a confused and insecure spiritual seeker who still hasn't found meaning in his life, is terrified of mortality and insignificance, and doesn't seem to know what kind of God he believes in. Fortunately for him, his social and financial situation afforded him opportunities to explore all kinds of exotic places and training schools while he tried to find himself, but it doesn't look like it helped much. One gets the impression from the stories the 3 spiritual practices he talks about are survival tactics and coping mechanism to him rather than the enriching transcendence tools he wants them to be.

The most tragic part is the event at the Zen Center when he heard the voice of God. It is tragic because the God of his Jewish ancestors talked to him in a way that to me as a Christian observer seems very clear, but looks like he failed to understand to this day what it was all about. First the "Shema" (the most sacred expression of the Jewish faith) identifies the personal God of the Bible, as distinct from the pantheistic God of his Zen masters. Then the irresistible urge to leave that place. Then the precise words he was to speak on his way out: "Thank you for your love" - words that ironically exposed the Zen master for the fraud he was, not just in a complete lack of the love he was thanked for, but unjustified anger and rage to the point he basically cursed Ben by predicting cancer in his future. Jesus says "you will know them by their love" - that's why he was supposed to speak exactly those words, so the true face of the people proclaiming inner peace is revealed, and the deception of meditation while getting God out of your mind is being exposed. But he didn't get it.

I'll say a prayer for you tonight Ben. I hope the time since you wrote this book has brought you closer to the God of your ancestors.

[Wes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed much about this book and the author's attitude toward spiritual practice/discipline. However, there is one major deficit the author is only ever critical of one faith tradition the traditional Jewish tradition. Yet, as you read the book it is precisely this tradition which again and again is the only tradition which reveals God to him. The only other wise or spiritual characters seem to be the Christian priests. So while his ideas that silence, stretch, and song are necessary parts of spiritual growth are well founded, he only seems to be chasing them down dead ends, never seeing to use these to practice the traditions which helped him actually encounter God. Yogis, Zen, and his liberal Jewish teachings (his words) all seem to show him forms with no content and it is not until he encountered Christian priests, traditional rabbi's, or traditional prayers that he meets God. The lesson that appears to me is that these traditions far from taking his song are actually trying to become his song through the disciplines but he keeps rejecting it. Not a bad book but certainly not one I'd highly recommend.

[Rekha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this slim little tome. Shalwa writes with ease and honesty and there were quite a few truly laugh-out-loud moments. I appreciated that it was more of a memoir than a workbook and I was surprised and gladdened to find out he was an author from my hometown.

[Jera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Excellent book for the author's personal story alone. On top of that he outlines an excellent threefold spiritual path of silence, stretch, and song, touching on waypoints as diverse as rabbinical Judaism, Tibetan medicine, and clown class. Three thumbs up!

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were about 2 slightly interesting parts in the book. One of the most boring books I've ever read and I'm surprised I read it until the end. I got it for $1 at Goodwill but it was a waste of my time.

[Elisha Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely some quotable gems in this book. The lesson always resonated but the story, his story, his path, just didn’t.

[Kristina Aziz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't buy it. In fact, I don't think Shalva buys what he's putting on the table here. In the introduction, one phrase in particular popped out at me:
"Patting myself on the back I declared "I meditate." or, "I sing and dance and pray."
That's pretty much the feeling I get from this entire book. Someone with enough money to travel the world in order to figure out what his heart believed is telling us that singing and moving and meditating is the secret to life. He gives us a journal and sells it as self help.
And I don't buy it. It feels forced. Like he got the placebo pill for spirituality and wants everyone to try some.
As a self help spiritual guidance book, I don't recommend it at all. As a memoir, sure go ahead and get it. You might find a bit of humor under the pompousness.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful

I wasn't sure what to expect from this,yet I found it interesting and it gives me something to think about. I grew up in an unconventional Lutheran home. Married to a man who grew up in a completely different religion. And we now raise our children in a non religious home. Still instilling core family values, and teach our children to have an open mind about others beliefs and way of living. Always interested in reading about others and their path of survival in the crazy world we live in.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. A Jewish rabbi, he writes beautifully about using meditation, yoga and song to expand our spiritual awareness and deepen our experience of God. It's honest, poetic and inspiring.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, honest, funny and inspiring. I read it in one sitting, start to finish.

[Jace]

I enjoyed the beginning of this book. I was left a bit confused at the end. I felt as though it wasn't finished.

[Joshua Sells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story on one person's path to a deeper and more meaningful existence. Light and easy to read.