Breath of the Mind

In this meditation we explore how to train the mind to let go of shallow, surface level “breathing” or thinking by contemplating thoughts about the eternal self, a being of peace. From this space of deep inner peace, the mind naturally creates thoughts that are few in number, deep, and restorative for the optimal health of the entire being.

Transcript

Good day and very warm welcome to this meditation experience and we're delighted you could join.  Today we're going to explore this idea of our poor racing mind getting a chance to not just catch its breath, but maybe even start to engage in healthier functioning. So this idea of the breath of the mind and what inspired this for me is that the industry that I sometimes get to play a part in, the fitness industry, one of the trending aspects at the moment is breathing. Just the most basic, basic aspect of life, breathing. And believe it or not, most of us do not do it well. 

The physical breathing, we do not do it well. It's short, it's shallow, etcetera.  And so training us, our body, to breathe properly is actually a huge component now in fitness of focus.  This idea of less breaths in a minute, because they're slow, deep and restorative.  So  I started to wonder if the breath of our mind, our mind is racing all the time, is it also not very well? 

Which means my mind cannot operate at its best. So very basic art to look at  the functioning of my mind at its most basic level,  it will show up, of course, in my thinking,  that's really how the mind expresses.  Are my thoughts slow, deep and restorative?  Are they very short, that is, expanse of lots of them and superficial?  So let's go inside and do a little breathe training for the mind. 

Sitting comfortably and eyes can be open if you wish to explore that aspect.  And starting with the breath of the body. 

At this time, most of us have very short, shallow breath, many per minute. 

But let me try a different breath with the body,  visualizing the ribs, where the diaphragm is, visualizing that expanding  as I take a breath in,  and then a very  slow  exhale,  emptying the lungs,  releasing what the body no longer needs. 

A calming, that is for the body. Another breath in, filling the lungs, expanding the ribs, my posture might change.  And a slower exhale, which triggers the parasympathetic system responsible for calming the body, letting that breath continue on its own. 

I now shift my attention to my mind, one of my most valued possessions, and really the interface between the outer and inner world, the physical and the spiritual. 

During the course of a day, my mind is creating thousands and thousands thoughts, far more than it needs to. 

And if I was asked, I may not know what all those thoughts were.  Maybe just the highlights. 

My mind is racing through the day.  Even if the body is seated, my mind is still racing, never getting to catch its breath, let alone breathe in a healthy way. 

I now put all attention on my mind, which is revealed through the thoughts. 

My mind has developed the habit of thinking on the surface about temporary things, passing things, different people, different tasks, the weather, responsibilities, and possessions. 

Sometimes repeating the same thought multiple times in the day. 

And at the end of the day, like a muscle that's been overused, my mind is strained, exhausted, making the entire body feel strained and exhausted. 

So in this moment, as the master, the caregiver of my mind, I am giving it permission in this moment to let go of those usual surface thoughts.  That shallow, quick breath going into slower, deeper breath with a long release of unnecessary thoughts. 

The deepest thoughts my mind can have, the deepest breath it can take are thoughts about what is eternal. 

I start with the thumb, inviting my mind to hold a single thought.  I am a spiritual being. 

I am a soul. 

And the mind starts to create very few, but very deep thoughts about what it means, the significance of being a soul. 

This body in which I, the soul, sit. 

This body belongs more to the chair in which it's sitting than it does to me. 

This body is made of the same material as the chair in which it sits.  Whereas I am made of different stuff. 

The body and the chair are made of physical elements. 

The body is made of oxygen and hydrogen and carbon and nitrogen, various physical elements of matter. 

And like the chair, this body is temporary. 

Over time, it becomes old, and eventually it will change its form. 

I, the soul, completely different energy.  Very subtle, light, joyous, refined energy.  I am not made of oxygen and hydrogen.  I am made of peace, love, choose harmony. 

I am made of all the things I’ve been seeking in my outer life. 

As my mind holds each of these thoughts, I guide it to absorb them deeply. 

Breathe the thought in to say, I, the soul am a being made of peace. 

I let the mind breathe that in so deeply, it radiates through my entire being. 

I become that thought.  Experiencing. 

Take time, slow down. 

I am a being of peace.  Calm, light, intent. 

I am amazed. 

But I was looking for peace outside. 

Not just going to mountains and peaceful places and peaceful music, but just wanting everything to go the way I want. 

Seeking peace constantly outside. When I am peace, within me is an unlimited supply of peace. 

Just remembering that activates the feeling. 

So calm, so serene. 

And the mind immediately emerges the thought born from peace.  All will be well. 

Everything's okay. 

No more fighting and laboring, controlling, manipulating or bargaining from inside. Just peace. 

As my mind breathes this feeling in deeply, it automatically exhales, releases unnecessary thoughts. 

That feeling of peace have a magical effect on my own mind. 

Not just allowing it to relax, but actually let go of worries, tension, fear the mind.  Exhale, letting go of what does not serve my wellbeing. 

Taking another breath of peace in me am eternal. 

I never die. 

This is such a new thought.  My mind will have to take time with this thought, everything around me changes is temporary. 

If I am eternal, then everything temporal can never really belong to me. 

It will be left behind.  I will lose my peace if I try to hold on to what cannot travel with me. 

Everything I actually need can be found within myself. 

Slow, deep thoughts.  Slow, deep grasps of the mind that naturally allow it to exhale.  Let go of what no longer serves the fell, training my mind to breath in a healthy way. 

Thank you for joining.