Spiritual Practice Specifically for Young Men?

[Insightful27]

I’ve spent a lot time doing Buddhist meditation practice and I have done multiple intense retreats. On my last retreat, I found myself (20yrs) wondering if there was a spiritual practice more aligned with where I am in my life (energy level, drive, ambition). I find it really tedious to sit in zen mind when I want to be doing something competitive like martial arts or pursuing my life purpose (psychology). I’m not sure if it was Leo or someone else who said that young men with lots of testosterone makes poor monks, but I’m finding that to be true.

I wanted to see if anyone in this community has any ideas of spiritual practice that might be more effective for someone in my position, or if anyone has any thoughts on this topic in general. 
 

Thanks!

[Salvijus]

33 minutes ago, Insightful27 said:

I want to be doing something competitive like martial arts

Martial arts are a legit path as far as I know. Look up Adam Mizner. 

Edited Thursday at 08:11 PM by Salvijus

[aurum]

@Insightful27 you could look into Peter Ralston. World class martial artist and spiritual teacher that combines both.

[Ishanga]

3 hours ago, Insightful27 said:

I’ve spent a lot time doing Buddhist meditation practice and I have done multiple intense retreats. On my last retreat, I found myself (20yrs) wondering if there was a spiritual practice more aligned with where I am in my life (energy level, drive, ambition). I find it really tedious to sit in zen mind when I want to be doing something competitive like martial arts or pursuing my life purpose (psychology). I’m not sure if it was Leo or someone else who said that young men with lots of testosterone makes poor monks, but I’m finding that to be true.

I wanted to see if anyone in this community has any ideas of spiritual practice that might be more effective for someone in my position, or if anyone has any thoughts on this topic in general. 
 

Thanks!

I've done Martial Arts for 37yrs now, Wing Chun specifically, it is good for Young ppl like Yourself, I started when I was 18 fell in luv with it, it was my priority in my early 20's and thank god, it grounded me and gave me discipline and commitment and mastery over something and myself on a small level.. But it is not a True Spiritual Path or Sadhana, it certainly helps on the young mind front and allows You too express some of that youthful energy,,I would find something you like to do, Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, or Jujitsu or some sort, just be careful not too injure yourself, that will come back to you when You get older trust...

Then when Your older around 45 then start dedicated Spiritual practices of some sort, I do Yoga, not really the asana part but the Kriya part and learn the science of it, simple intellectual things that fix distortions of the mind and prepare You for more intense Energy arising that come with committed practice of Yoga..

Check out Adam Chan out of Vancouver, top level Martial Artist and now heavily into Taoism practices which brought him back from the death bed, great guy and very giving..

Best of Luck!!!

Edited Thursday at 11:22 PM by Ishanga

[cetus]

6 hours ago, Insightful27 said:

I’ve spent a lot time doing Buddhist meditation practice and I have done multiple intense retreats.

Starting a Buddhist meditation practice at the age of 20 is a lot different than starting at age 6. If you would have started then, your pursuits would already be aligned.

[Ramasta9]

I tell you, drop all spiritual practice, build a garden, surrender to the earth mother, be of service to the earth and those around you, and yes enjoy your movements unto success, not unto failure. Be living ! and Living god shall be in you  

[Carl-Richard]

15 hours ago, Insightful27 said:

I find it really tedious to sit in zen mind when I want to be doing something competitive like martial arts or pursuing my life purpose (psychology). I’m not sure if it was Leo or someone else who said that young men with lots of testosterone makes poor monks, but I’m finding that to be true.

Young men with lots of testosterone make terrific meditators. The problem is only if your interests are not aligned.

 

15 hours ago, Insightful27 said:

I wanted to see if anyone in this community has any ideas of spiritual practice that might be more effective for someone in my position, or if anyone has any thoughts on this topic in general. 

Your spiritual practice is to pursue what you want to do until you give up everything. That is the only spiritual practice there is.

Edited Friday at 10:57 AM by Carl-Richard

[Ulax]

Shinzen young's see-hear-feel mindfulness technique is pretty versatile. Could see you coming up with something that fits from that.

If you google for it, you'll find a free pdf provided.

All best

[Insightful27]

@aurum I've read a couple of his books, I really like him. Would love to go on a retreat with him in the future. 

[Leo Gura]

I recommend Kriya yoga.

Kriya yoga is designed for householders. That means you do a few hours of Kriya per day and the rest of the time you focus on material activities.

Kriya yoga does not require week-long retreats. That's one of its big advantages or meditation. So it is good for people who are too restless to do long retreats.

Kirya is also more effective than meditation.

Edited yesterday at 10:05 PM by Leo Gura

[Gigsi]

10 minutes ago, Leo Gura said:

I recommend Kriya yoga.

Kriya yoga is designed for householders. That means you do a few hours of Kriya per day and the rest of the time you focus on material activities.

Kriya yoga does not require week-long retreats. That's one of its big advantages or meditation. So it is good for people who are too restless to do long retreats.

Kirya is also more effective than meditation.

@Leo Gura  I keep hearing from you recommending kriya yoga leo, could you please explain kind of what your session consists of?

I have done inner engineering course and followed it for some months, but the kind of rules it had given for when and how to do kriya made me feel i was giving myself too much things to manage and was always overwhelmed which made me drop it. 

I imagine you recommend only breathing practice yes?

[Insightful27]

@cetus I started following Leo's content and meditating in 7th grade. I have found that as I have gotten older that there are some boxes lower on Maslow's Pyramid that I haven't checked off yet.

[Insightful27]

@Leo Gura Thanks for the response! I bought a couple of the Kriya books that are on your book list. Is the best way to learn through reading those, or is there a more formal in-person course that I should take (like Goenka)?

I have heard that Kriya can be dangerous without guidance, but I haven't confirmed that. 

[Carl-Richard]

2 minutes ago, Insightful27 said:

I have heard that Kriya can be dangerous without guidance, but I haven't confirmed that. 

Why would you want to confirm that? 😂

[Insightful27]

1 minute ago, Carl-Richard said:

Why would you want to confirm that?

LOL, I should've said that I don't know if that is true. I haven't spent much time in the eastern yoga world...

[Insightful27]

On 12/19/2025 at 4:55 AM, Carl-Richard said:

Your spiritual practice is to pursue what you want to do until you give up everything. That is the only spiritual practice there is.

Also, I really like how you put this. This really resonates with where I am in my life right now. Always appreciate hearing your thoughts. 

[Terell Kirby]

Semen retention seems popular these days .. but you didn’t hear it from me 

[Jodistrict]

Satya speaks seems to be oriented towards giving practical knowledge to young men.

https://www.youtube.com/@Satya_Speaks

 

[cetus]

2 hours ago, Insightful27 said:

@cetus I started following Leo's content and meditating in 7th grade. I have found that as I have gotten older that there are some boxes lower on Maslow's Pyramid that I haven't checked off yet.

Nice. That in itself puts you at an advantage. Leo suggested Kriya Yoga for instance. Now you have a well-established background of meditative practice to compare with.

Edited 21 hours ago by cetus

[Ramasta9]