Breathing: Practice Consciously by Thich Nhat Hanh

Practicing conscious breathing, aware of each thought and each act, we are reborn, fully alive, in the present moment … unless we channel our energies toward being aware of what is going on in the present moment, we might not discover the peace and happiness that are available right now. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathing in,
I see myself as a flower.
I am the freshness
of a dewdrop.
Breathing out,
my eyes have become flowers.
Please look at me.
l am looking with the eyes of love.

Breathing in,
I am a mountain,
imperturbable,
still,
alive,
vigorous.

Breathing out,
I feel solid.
The waves of emotion
can never carry me away.

Breathing in,
I am still water.
I reflect the sky
faithfully.
Look, I have a full moon
within my heart,
the refreshing moon of the bodhisattva.

Breathing out,
I offer the perfect reflection
of my mirror-mind.

Breathing in,
I have become space
without boundaries.
I have no plans left.
I have no luggage.
Breathing out,
I am the moon
that is sailing through the sky of utmost emptiness.
I am freedom.

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Breathing is the most elemental and intrinsic human experience – everyone has it … it is simple and also available to, and “practiced” by, every being in the Universe. It is almost “taken for granted” due to these characteristics yet it is one of the most powerful “tools” available to all of us in our “spiritual” journey – to cultivate and deepen our awareness – regardless of our spiritual beliefs, background, race, nationality, gender, social status, mental acuity, emotional balance, physical attributes, or whatever “label” or qualifier we might apply to ourselves.

Breathing is so inherent that this basic human quality is inseparable from our everyday experience – it seems to just happen or is present at all times whether we are aware of it or not. Yet if we bring conscious awareness to it then it’s profound power is revealed. No wonder ancient traditions have documented it’s value and suggest using it with clear intent and purpose. Once could safely say that the “source” of our well being is within us .. or as Thich Nhat Hanh eloquently says: “The Well is Within us” … a chapter in his book Living Buddha, Living Christ where he talks about Contemplative Life, Mindful Living and this “Well” :

In Buddhism, the source of our energy is faith in our daily practice. Faith in an idea is too risky. Ideas can change, even ideas about the Buddha. Tomorrow we may not believe the same thing, and we may fall into the abyss of doubt. We know very well that our daily practice of mindful living has brought us joy and peace, and so we have faith and confidence in our practice. It is a kind of experiential faith. We know that when we practice walking mindfully, we refresh ourselves, and we feel peace and joy with every step. No one can remove this from us because we have tasted the reality. This kind of faith gives us real strength.

In Buddhism, we speak of touching nirvana with our own body. In Christianity, you can also touch the Kingdom of God with your body, right here and now. It is much safer than placing our hope in the future. If we cling to our idea of hope in the future, we might not notice the peace and joy that are available in the present moment. The best way to take care of the future is to take care of the present moment. Practicing conscious breathing, aware of each thought and each act, we are reborn, fully alive, in the present moment. We needn’t abandon our hope entirely, but unless we channel our energies toward being aware of what is going on in the present moment, we might not discover the peace and happiness that are available right now. The well is within us. If we dig deeply in the present moment, the water will spring forth.

Our Teacher page for Thich Nhat Hanh is a great resource … and as is typical of our Teacher pages, it provides a comprehensive view about his background, and work.