Finding and Offering an Easeful Breath
When we create the space in our day to practice settling the mind and opening the heart, we sometimes bring some “doing” energy to the practice. We might know it’s there if there is a hint of a furrowed brow, or an almost imperceptible leaning forward, or maybe we’ve got our meditation check list going (“connect with body, invite openness, note presence of emotions and quality of mind….”). When we recognize the presence of this “doing” energy, we can gently remind ourselves that in this moment there is nothing to do, except “be”.
If it’s the breath that we’re attuned to, we can remind ourselves that there is no right or wrong way to breathe. That in this moment, all “shoulds” and “supposed tos” and rights and wrongs don’t apply. If that part of us that likes to compare what we're doing to how it’s supposed to be done won’t sit quietly, we can invite her to go for a walk around the block while we sit and breathe and be. : )
And then we can ask ourself with tenderness and curiosity, “How close can I get to the experience of breathing? Can I be open to each breath as it unfolds, seeing it as it is?” And we can explore what happens when we let go of control of the breath, and let the body do what it knows how to do - we can practice wisely ceding control where it's not needed. Letting go, and letting be, and letting in.
As we collect our attention around the breath and open to the experience of just breathing, there may be even a single breath that feels easeful, maybe it even evokes the same experience as the sound of a perfectly tuned instrument. When we find that breath, we may find ourselves letting out a gentle sigh. And we might find a sense of joy or gratitude in the body.
When that happens, we might consider silently, symbolically, offering this easeful breath as a gift to anyone who could use it in that moment, picturing the breath wrapped as a beautiful present offered on extended hands to someone who is struggling.
This easeful breath may not arise every time we practice. If the breath doesn’t come easily, holding that experience in tenderness, and offering out a wish, “May all of us who are struggling in this moment, live with ease.”
May all beings everywhere without exception breathe freely and easily,
Your family at CMP
Guided Meditations
Visit the CMP website www.CommunityMindfulnessProject.org for guided meditations. You'll find them on the Guided Meditations page under the Resources tab.
We Need Your Support - Especially Now
CMP thrives on donations. All of our conference calls are free and open to the public, but donations are essential to our sustainability. During the hiatus we aren't receiving programming revenue from libraries and we are offering four times as many sessions as we would normally. CMP is a licensed charity in the state of CT as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Checks can be mailed to Community Mindfulness Project, P.O. Box 1713, New Canaan, CT 06840. Credit cards are accepted in the Giving section of the website (www.CommunityMindfulnessProject.org). For donations of wired funds or appreciated securities, please email welcome@communitymind.org. Thank you!
