Breath

"There are people who are born and die and never once are aware of the breath going in and out of their body. That's how far a way they live from themselves."

-- Ajahn Chah


Breathing just happens, right? What's the big deal? The big deal is awareness. And breathing is a golden opportunity to cultivate it.

Our heads are full of ideas, plans, dreams and worries. Our hearts are full of loves, resentments, pain and joy. Our breath just keeps on keeping on no matter what thoughts crowd our minds or what emotions spring from our hearts.

But breath is kind of the Rodney Dangerfield of the body -- it gets no respect! Until your breath becomes labored or difficult, you don't even notice it. It's like physiological Muzak in that it's there unobtrusively in the background, but very seldom breaks through to the level of consciousness.

Unlike Muzak, though, breath is vitally important. It is the gateway between our internal and external worlds. It is our constant companion. It is the life force itself.

How far away from yourself do you live? How often are you quiet enough and clear enough to notice your breath? If you do no other form of meditation or prayer, just watching your breath will suffice. It will awaken you to yourself and to the world around you.

So, today, take a few moments to watch and feel breath moving in and out of your body. While at a stop light, or waiting at the dentist's office, or right before or after you turn on or off the TV, or as your head hits the pillow at night, consciously create the space to be with your breath. Don't change your breath, manipulate it or worry about it. Don't do anything. Just be with your breath.

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