But ask yourself this question: For all those years you’ve been alive on this earth, have you for even a single moment been aware of your breath?

Let me just qualify the term breath.  The breath I am referring to is the in-breath and out-breath coming from the nostrils and not the kind of breath that comes from the mouth.

Going back to, you would think that being aware of your breath would be very simple, but believe me it isn’t.  As I mentioned last week, I’ve been working on practicing awareness since July which culminated with a retreat and I tell you, it wasn’t easy.

How does focusing on the breath de-stress you? It’s really very simple.  When you focus on your breath, that is every in-breath and out-breath, even if only for a few seconds calms the mind, the source of our stress.

We hardly pay attention to our breaths because it’s an automatic function of the body yet we are aware of how vital it is to our survival.  I was surprised myself to learn of books written about this awareness of the breath not on the physiological side but more on its philosophical and spiritual benefits.

Give it a try.  Even while reading this piece just be aware that you are breathing and feel your chest and tummy expand as you inhale and contract as you exhale.  Do it several times and see how you feel.

Or do it when making a phone call while waiting for the other party to answer or while waiting for a web page to download, or before sending a text message just be aware of your breath.

But I highly recommend doing it with a walking meditation.  Determine a length of space about 5 feet or more depending on your desired space but not too long then walk back and forth focusing your attention on each step or on each breath.  Let go of any distractions that your mind will stimulate.  Do it for 15 to 30 minutes and you’ll feel certainly calm.

And if you’re really feeling down in the dumps, I suggest you do the “metta” where you send blessings to yourself, to a loved one or benefactor, to a stranger, to someone who has hurt you or you have hurt, to a community, and to all living beings in that order.  This is how you do it: Find a comfortable position then mentally recite the following chants – May I be safe; May I be happy, May I be healthy, May I live with ease.  Repeat the blessings for yourself as long as you like and if you’re ready to send blessings to a benefactor or a loved one do so holding their image or images in your mind.  Then move on to a stranger or a neutral person who has no relationship with you down the line until you have blessed all living beings.  Be sure that you recite each chant in rhythm with each breath.

Mindfulness of one’s breath is just the first of a series of steps that would lend to a deeper understanding of one’s true self but this is a very complicated process and I wouldn’t even attempt to discuss it.  Suffice it to say that each night millions are sending you blessings of metta.

May you be safe; may you be happy, may you be healthy, may you live in ease.

(For feedbacks, comments, suggestion email me at openingpagemb@yahoo.com)