January 25 – Perception and the breath

Dear Friends,

Body, feelings, thoughts, hindrances, aggregates… That’s a lot of things to think about. But it all starts simply.

Bhante Gunaratana has this simple reminder about perception of breathing:

When you breathe mindfully, you see the arising, existing, and passing away of the form of the breath, or breath-body, immediately as it happens. In the same way, as you breathe in and breathe out, your perceive that feeling, perception, thought, and consciousness are arising, existing, and passing away. When the mind if fully engaged with this “participatory observation,” there is no room in the mind for clinging to the aggregate.

I invite you to let all the words settle, and go back to the basics – mindfulness of breathing.

Let’s start with a poem from Danna Faulds, from Go In and In: Poems From the Heart of Yoga:

Breath of Life

I breathe in All That Is –
Awareness expanding
to take everything in,
as if my heart beats
the world into being.

From the unnamed
vastness beneath the
mind, I breathe my way
to wholeness and healing.

Inhalation. Exhalation.
Each Breath a “yes,”
and a letting go,
a journey, and a
coming home.

I invite you to do a mindfulness of breathing meditation – whatever your favorite is. Or here’s one from Gil Fronsdal:
http://www.audiodharma.org/talks/audio_player/6571.html

Note: I’m going to a residential retreat here in Saskatoon. All my tech toys will be set aside as I dedicate my time and attention to my mindfulness practice. I won’t be able to respond to your emails or comments until I get back online on Tuesday afternoon – so your patience and understanding is appreciated. But fear not! I’ve queued up several emails to keep you inspired these last few days in January.

With best wishes,
Andrea