How many breaths do you have left?

…..we only have a limited time here on earth (and therefore, a limited amount of breaths. A person who lives to 80 takes about 672 million breaths in their lifetime), why not pause now and ask yourself what you want to spend your breaths on. How do you want to live? How do you want to treat yourself and this one, gorgeous, precious life you have? –

Geneen Roth – www.GeneenRoth.com

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The much-loved Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh says;

“Our breathing is a stable solid ground that we can take refuge in. Regardless of our internal weather- our thoughts, emotions and perceptions- our breathing is always with us like a faithful friend. Whenever we feel carried away, or sunken in a deep emotion, or scattered in worries and projects, we return to our breathing to collect and anchor our mind.

We feel the flow of air coming in and going out of our nose. We feel how light and natural, how calm and peaceful our breathing functions. At any time, while we are walking, gardening, or typing, we can return to this peaceful source of life.

We may like to recite:

“Breathing in I know that I am breathing in.
Breathing out I know that I am breathing out.”

We do not need to control our breath. Feel the breath as it actually is. It may be long or short, deep or shallow. With our awareness it will naturally become slower and deeper. Conscious breathing is the key to uniting body and mind and bringing the energy of mindfulness into each moment of our life.”

 

See HERE

ROGER’S COMMENT: Whether we have a 100 million breaths left or one the purpose is to bring us back to ‘whole-person oneness’ in the now – which is to bring us back to presence, Nirvana, Bliss, Heaven, Ultimate Reality, God.

 

 

 

 

app for your computer, phone or tablet – ‘The Bell of mindfulness’ Thich Nhat Hanh

“In the busy time of our daily life, we let our mind float away to many distractions.

We forget about our body, our breath, and our mind; we forget about the unity of our mind and body.

In order to remind us of this unification, the bell of mindfulness is meant for us to bring our mind back to our body.

When we hear the sound of the bell, please stop what we are doing and take three breaths to bring our mind back to our body.

Let this unification happen and be happy in the present moment.” translated by San Nguyen

Software is designed and written by San Nguyen. Language is translated by San Nguyen. Software is written in honor of the teachings by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Enjoy this app?
Please help support its continued development by making a small contribution.

VERSION FOR CHROME: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/bell-of-mindfulness/lggmmceliiaoddfnbaccgpfnpoifilic?hl=en

There are other versions – see this brilliant page; http://www.thichnhathanhfoundation.org/#!mindful-bell-sounds/c14kg

THICH NHAT HANH: Buddha’s teaching as a finger pointing to the moon

In his book ” Old Path, White Clouds”, Thich Nhat Hanh tells the story of the Buddha.

The Buddha says “my teaching is not a dogma or a doctrine, but no doubt some people will take it as such.”

The Buddha goes on to say;

“I must state clearly that my teaching is a method to experience reality and not reality itself, just as a finger pointing at the moon is not the moon itself.

A thinking person makes use of the finger to see the moon. A person who only looks at the finger and mistakes it for the moon will never see the real moon.”

SOURCE: http://www.buddha101.com/p_path.htm

An Update on Thay’s Health and a beautiful photograph

An Update on Thay’s Health and a beautiful photograph: – see here –

An Update on Thay’s Health: 24th December 2015

JUXTAPOSITION; St Benedict, Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddha,

“Listen with the ear of your heart” ~ Rule of St. Benedict.

“Be a lamp unto yourself.” — Reputed to be the last words of Gautama Buddha

We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist and author of “The Miracle of Mindfulness”

The rhythm of my heart

I still arrive, in order to laugh and to cry,
to fear and to hope.
The rhythm of my heart is the birth and death
of all that is alive.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Source: Call Me By My True Names, Pages: 72

Each wave is born and is going to die, but the water is free of birth and death

A wave on the ocean has a beginning and an end, a birth and a death. But the wave is empty. The wave is full of water, but it is empty of a separate self. A wave is a form which has been made possible thanks to the existence of wind and water. If a wave only sees its form, with its beginning and end, it will be afraid of birth and death. But if the wave sees that it is water, identifies itself with water, then it will be emancipated from birth and death. Each wave is born and it is going to die, but the water is free of birth and death.
– Thich Nhat Hanh ‘Essential Writings p65

Our greatest fear is that when we die we will become nothing

“Our greatest fear is that when we die we will become nothing. We believe that we are born from nothing and that when we die we become nothing. And so we are filled with the fear of annihilation. The Buddha has a very different understanding, that birth and death are notions. They are not real. ” – from ‘No Death, No Fear’ by Thich Nhat Hanh

“Breath is the bridge which connects life to…

“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.”

― Thích Nhất Hạnh, The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation

“Fear keeps us focused on the past or…

“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh