We take it for granted, of course and it is our most natural function.

Without it we die very quickly yet we remain ignorant of its power, its beauty and its mystery. Perhaps it is these qualities that make it the center of so many meditative disciplines and prayers.

When we sit quietly simply watching the breathing process we soon become aware that we, indeed, are not the “breathers” we are actually being breathed.

What is it, then, that breathes us?

It must be, and come from, the highest power, because without it we would cease to live .

So doing this a few minutes every day, I have found, brings an awareness and peace that is extremely nourishing.

No need for Xanax – Prozac – Valium. 
 

When I was living in a Zen monastery I arose at 3:30 am every day to chant Buddhist prayers.

When done, shortly before sunrise, as the sky was lightening I would leave the prayer hall and start back towards my quarters. The Roshi (Zen Master) would be standing on the porch looking eastward.

One morning , I spoke to him saying as I passed, “Roshi waiting to see the sun rise?”

He answered, quietly, “No, waiting to see if sun rise.”

I learned, over the coming months as I got to know him better, that indeed, he was doing just that.

He took nothing for granted and lived in a constant state of awareness and gratitude.

The other day, I was driving on a nearby highway, minding my own business, reasonably close to the speed limit – when out of the blue this car races past me and cuts in front of me so I have to brake. Then the driver races forward doing the same thing to another car.

I was indignant, angry and righteous. I sped up, and by the time I had reached the stop light this guy, in my mind, had become Hitler, or at least, a madman who was endangering me and the whole community.

It so happened when I stopped at the light this guy was next to me. I rolled down the window ready to give him my thoughts and looking at the driver saw that he was an old and dear friend of mine. I waved hello with a big smile and all the anger and judgement vanished.

I thought later, while driving home what a strange thing is the mind – it can change white to black and back to white in an instant.It is a marvelous tool and our greatest enemy at the same time.

I thought to myself how many times a day the mind changes things without my awareness and how much trouble it can cause.

Patience, understanding, and forgiveness are worth their weight in gold!

The baby is amazing.

This tiny thing is probably the closest thing to God we will ever see – absolute purity, absolute trust, absolute goodness a true wonder.

Yet I was thinking today – what we saw then is still here only hidden by layers of ignorance and the world.

We’ve forgotten what we really are.

Interesting conundrum ?