I found this writing comforting, true, and friendly. And lyrical. The realization that the breath IS the action brings a smile of realization to my heart.
There is a Zen story about a student who says to his master that he is having trouble with mindfulness meditation because breathing is just so boring. The master pushes the student into a nearby river and proceeds to hold him down. After a short time, the master lets the poor student up and asks, “How was that?” The student replies, “Terrible, I hated it.” To which the master asks, “Was breathing still boring then?”
I found this writing comforting, true, and friendly. And lyrical. The realization that the breath IS the action brings a smile of realization to my heart.
Thank you for your kind words. There is something quite decadent in taking a moment to luxuriate in the awareness of your breathing.
breath, so easy to disregard, yet so essential.
There is a Zen story about a student who says to his master that he is having trouble with mindfulness meditation because breathing is just so boring. The master pushes the student into a nearby river and proceeds to hold him down. After a short time, the master lets the poor student up and asks, “How was that?” The student replies, “Terrible, I hated it.” To which the master asks, “Was breathing still boring then?”