Asif
07-11-2005, 10:58 AM
OK: here we go...
Breathing is automatic for most of us.
But for the rest of us, it is only automatic in that it will barely keep us alive unless we make a conscious effort to breathe more deeply.
We have to learn all over again how to do it.
There is a point about two inches below the navel (belly-button)
And about two inches inside the stomach.
Put your attention there now. Don't make a big thing of it, just imagine your mind there. Keep it there.
In martial arts, this is called the "one spot".
It is your centre.
If you learn to live in that spot, your balance will greatly improve and your crazy thoughts will diminish.
But better, you will FEEL yourself breathing.
Practice putting your attention there throughout the day.
Practice being there as you fall asleep at night.
Feel your stomach move as you breathe.
This takes a while, but sooner or later you will feel as if you are not so much BREATHING as BEING BREATHED.
When you feel this, you are on the way to becoming part of the universe again, instead of an alienated, sorry soul who has no control over his or her life.
The best way I have found to practice breathing is to kneel on the floor or carpet, insteps flat on the floor, back straight, but relaxed. This is difficult at first for western bodies, but gets easier over time.
If you are old like me, a cushion between your buttocks (bum) and the backs of your calves helps a lot.
Now what?
Breathe. Slowly.
Notice how your breaths are shallow and jerky on the exhale.
And each breath is an effort.
Keep breathing.
Slower and deeper.
Control will increase.
With practice you will take one breath every 30 to 40 seconds.
When you can do that, you will notice how calm you have become.
It may help to make a sound on the exhale, like "ummmm" or "aummmm" or "ahhhh".
And before you know it you will be meditating like a buddhist monk
But remember, this is a breathing excercise, not a journey into awareness.
Awareness-expansion is something best left alone if you live in a city: or you will start noticing things that will not help your calmness one bit.
So that's it. Looks easy, but takes a lot of practice.
I do guarantee, though, that if you persevere in this, your speech will improve greatly.
End of Breathing 102:
Asif.
Breathing is automatic for most of us.
But for the rest of us, it is only automatic in that it will barely keep us alive unless we make a conscious effort to breathe more deeply.
We have to learn all over again how to do it.
There is a point about two inches below the navel (belly-button)
And about two inches inside the stomach.
Put your attention there now. Don't make a big thing of it, just imagine your mind there. Keep it there.
In martial arts, this is called the "one spot".
It is your centre.
If you learn to live in that spot, your balance will greatly improve and your crazy thoughts will diminish.
But better, you will FEEL yourself breathing.
Practice putting your attention there throughout the day.
Practice being there as you fall asleep at night.
Feel your stomach move as you breathe.
This takes a while, but sooner or later you will feel as if you are not so much BREATHING as BEING BREATHED.
When you feel this, you are on the way to becoming part of the universe again, instead of an alienated, sorry soul who has no control over his or her life.
The best way I have found to practice breathing is to kneel on the floor or carpet, insteps flat on the floor, back straight, but relaxed. This is difficult at first for western bodies, but gets easier over time.
If you are old like me, a cushion between your buttocks (bum) and the backs of your calves helps a lot.
Now what?
Breathe. Slowly.
Notice how your breaths are shallow and jerky on the exhale.
And each breath is an effort.
Keep breathing.
Slower and deeper.
Control will increase.
With practice you will take one breath every 30 to 40 seconds.
When you can do that, you will notice how calm you have become.
It may help to make a sound on the exhale, like "ummmm" or "aummmm" or "ahhhh".
And before you know it you will be meditating like a buddhist monk
But remember, this is a breathing excercise, not a journey into awareness.
Awareness-expansion is something best left alone if you live in a city: or you will start noticing things that will not help your calmness one bit.
So that's it. Looks easy, but takes a lot of practice.
I do guarantee, though, that if you persevere in this, your speech will improve greatly.
End of Breathing 102:
Asif.