The Wave of Breath Within

When you sit in meditation following your breath for some time, you may have experienced what some referred to as being breathed by the breath or becoming one with the breath.

You start out counting and following the breath in and out of the body. One to ten. The attention you give to the breath creates an effort or control to the breathing. This is ok. The beautiful thing about the breath: it's both autonomic, it happens on its own and it can be manipulated through our consciousness.

In the beginning we need to bring all of our attention to the breath, so the deepening or light controlling of the breath to elongate inhales and exhales is helpful. This is why Patanjali explains the order of the limbs of yoga and places pranayama, the control of the breath after the physical posture and before the concentration that leads to meditation.

Once we establish a flow of counting and breathing, we no longer need to apply as much effort to pull the mind from other places. The mind starts to flow with the breath and something physical happens in the body.

We shift from a subtle form of manipulating the breath, to being with the breath. The body relaxes a bit and the mind becomes more aware. A tender intimacy with a selfless self is available. A feeling of well being washes over us. Awe and appreciation for the breath comes.

The breath is happening all the time. It’s so close to us. We can tap into it all the time. We can feel it. Be with it. Ride the waves of the breath into the present moment.

May you feel the majesty of your breath!

Meditation with the breath gives us this experience of life happening moment by moment. It is the most helpful tool I know of to access any moment of life- joyful or painful, boring or busy.