Christmas

Two quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh

Our own life has to be our message.

Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts. Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again.

Thich Nhat Hanh has written several books on meditation and mindfulness.

A short breathing exercise.

Sit in a comfortable posture and relax the whole body.

Observe the natural breathing process. Develop total awareness of the rhythmic flow of the breath. Feel the breath flowing in and out of the nose. Do not control the breath in any way. Notice that the breath is cool as it enters the nostrils and warm as it flows out. Feel the breath flowing in and out at the back of the mouth above the throat. Feel the breath flowing in the throat. Take the awareness down to the region of the chest and feel the breath flowing in the trachea and bronchial tubes. Next feel the breath flowing in the lungs. Be aware of the lungs expanding and relaxing. Take the attention to the rib cage and observe the expansion and relaxation in this area. Next take the awareness to the tummy. Feel the tummy move upward on the inhale and downward on exhale.

Finally become aware of the whole breathing process from the nostrils to the tummy and continue to observe for a short while.