MEDITATION

 “Meditation nourishes the mind in the same way that food nourishes the body.” 

Some people think that the purpose of meditation is to stop the mind. They sit, and they try. Soon they get into a fight with their mind, a fight that they lose. Frustrated, they give up. Calming the mind is a more appropriate goal, and a good way to do it is by paying attention to the breath.

 That rhythm can be irregular, because we are going from thought to thought, from one thing to another. As we continue to follow the breath instead of our thoughts, the breath gets into a steady, regular rhythm. 

The breath is like a swing on the playground. As you breathe in, first it accelerates. Then it slows down near the end. Then it comes to an unstable stop and starts going again in the other direction. The speed is always changing. To notice all this, you need not only awareness, but also concentration. 

I Can Feel My Breath in a Number of Ways:

• I can feel it in my diaphragm.
• I can feel my clothes adjusting as my diaphragm changes shape.
• I can feel the rush of air in my nostrils.
• I can also feel a coolness around my nostrils as I breathe in.

''My mind keeps producing thoughts; that is its nature.
I do not follow the thoughts.
I concentrate on my breath.

''My mind is peaceful, my body free of tension.

I am calm and rested.
I feel free. I feel at home.