Open Meditation [June2012] : Breath

• Sunday, June 10, 2012 - 1:00pm-3:00pm
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This is our regular second-Sunday Open Meditation. I'm feeling the need to begin fresh with the most basic meditation practice: awareness of breath. This is the subject of one of the core early Buddhist meditation scriptures, the Anapanasati Sutta, and is a practice found, in one form or another, in all meditation disciplines. Awareness of the breath is also awareness of the emotions, as breathing reflects our own mental state. Breath is a bodily process that can be guided but it also functions quite well without our intention. It is thus a gateway between body and mind. As Thich Nhat Hanh says, "Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts." In my experience, attention to the breath naturally gives rise to a feeling of calm.

In the knowledge of our own approaching death, how do we want to live life? We don't have a mountain, a brook, or a pine forest wind at the studio, but we have a simple place to rest with a circle of friends - in awareness of this moment of living.

Wealth and fame: how slow and difficult!
While days flow like water
And old age rushes toward you.
Why not meditate alone, near a brook,
in some far-off mountain,
Lying on a board in the pine forest wind,
A cup of tea waiting?

-Thich Huyan Quang (1254-1334)

We will will have two 25min silent sessions divided by a short walking.

All meditation styles and experience welcome. Discussion will precede and follow the session. And there will be tea!
(Photo taken by the lovely jennie from pattycake. I think if you followed the other end, the rainbow would be spilling right into the studio...)


Also check out this post from our local meditation inspirationer, Daron Larson, on practices of breath pleasure.