Speaking Tree - Make special time for breathing practice

Speaking Tree - Make special time for breathing practice:

You can feel happy while practising breathing and smiling. You can do it in a meditation hall, at home, in a park, along the riverside, anywhere. If possible, in your home, have a tiny room for breathing. We have a room for sleeping, a room for eating, and a room for cooking, why not have one for breathing?Decorate that room very simply, not too bright. You may want to have a small bell, one with a beautiful sound, a few cushions or chairs, and perhaps a pot of flowers to remind us of our true nature.

From time to time, you might like to invite a guest to come and sit and breathe with you for five minutes, or three minutes

ow of families where children go into a room like that after breakfast, sit down and breathe for ten times, in-out-one, in-out-two, in-out-three; ten times, and then they go to school. This is a very beautiful practice. If your child doesn’t wish to breathe ten times, how about three times? Beginning the day with being a Buddha is a very nice way to start the day.

If we are a Buddha in the morning and we try to nourish the Buddha throughout the day, we may be able to come home at the end of a day with a smile -- the Buddha is still there.  When you become agitated, you do not have to do or say anything. Just follow your breathing and walk slowly into that room. (The room for breathing also symbolises our own inner Buddha Land, so we can enter it whenever we need to, even if we are not at home).  I have a friend who, whenever he becomes agitated, enters the breathing room in his home.

He sits down respectfully, breathes in and out three times, invites the bell to sound, and recites the gatha. Immediately he feels better. If he needs to sit longer, he stays there. From time to time, while his wife is preparing dinner, she hears the sound of the bell, and it reminds her to be mindful in her work. At such times, she deeply appreciates her husband. “He is so wonderful, quite different from others. He knows how to deal with anger. ” If she has been irritated, her own resentment subsides.

Sometimes she goes into the breathing room to sit with him. This picture is so lovely, more beautiful than an expensive painting. Doing things in this way has good effect on everyone, teaching by example, not just with words. When your child is agitated, you don’t have to say, “Go to that room!” You can take his hand and walk together into the room for breathing, and sit quietly together. This is the best education for peace.  It is really beautiful to begin the day by being a Buddha.

Each time we feel ourselves about to leave our Buddha, we can sit and breathe until we return to our true Self. There are three things I can recommend: arranging to have a breathing room in your home, a room for meditation; practising breathing, sitting, for a few minutes every morning at home with your children; and going out for a slow walking meditation with your children before going to sleep, just ten minutes is enough. These things are very important. They can change our lives.