The Full Awareness of Breathing; Work in Progress

1. Anapanasati Sutta
The Full Awareness of Breathing

2. What I have learnt by practicing
The Full Awareness of Breathing

3. A wooden Buddha sits besides myself; lifeless and breathless.
I become aware that it is my breathing and my practice which brings
and breathes life into the Buddha. I become aware that it is my breath
and being, my awareness and practice, that brings my emotions and
perceptions to life.
I become aware that it is my breath and my being, my awareness and
practice, my emotions and perceptions that bring all other dharmas to
life.
I become aware that nothing exists without myself.
I become aware that each and every human being is sharing this same
reality, we are the co-creators of our breath and therefore our lives,
together and alone.
I become aware that the Buddha might seem to be sitting still, lifeless
and without breath; but with deeper observation, I become aware that it
is breathing, it is alive, it is forever in motion, expanding and contracting
through my volition.

4. You will notice that your Mind, the sum total of all of your mental
processes; thoughts, perceptions, memories, judgements and all of
your internal weather; feelings, emotions and mental formations, will
begin to follow your breath after hours of practice.
When my breath is stable and constant, my thought patterns follow
suit and no longer seem to be random, scattered and beyond my
reach and control.
When I am aware of my breath, which in turn allows me both greater
appreciation of its existence and a greater capacity to influence its
workings for positive affect, I may be able to become more aware,
appreciative and able to influence for positive affect my emotions; my
suffering and my happiness.
When I commit myself to looking after my breath; caring for it,
nurturing it, respecting and appreciating it, I do the same for my
feelings, thoughts and perceptions.
And when a dharma is being looked after, it in turn allows the care-
giver the pleasure and enjoyment that comes with compassionate
living.

5. In order to be with others, intimately and compassionately, with empathy
and understanding, we first must learn how to be with ourselves; how to be
faithful and trustworthy companions, allies and supporters, lovers and
friends, not only to those around us, but to ourselves. To discover how to do
so, I have found it preferable to not ask "How should I be or how must I be
with myself?” But rather "Why should I be with myself?”.

6. Where I place my awareness, there my attention will be.
Where I place my attention, there my awareness will be.
Where I place my awareness and attention, there my perception will be.
Where I place my perception, there my entire reality will be.
Where I place love, there will be bliss.
Where I place the fear, there will be misery.

7. The most joyous element of my
happiness is that it allows me to
participate in the happiness of
others.
The most painful and destructive
element of my suffering is that it
makes me blind to the suffering of
others.

8. The easiest way to make one´s mind Happy is
simply to Smile.

9. We have many habits. Breathing is one of them, it is both unconscious and
conscious, but it is always vital and imperative. When I breathe without
awareness, I am surviving. When I breathe with awareness, I am flourishing.
When I become aware of the habit of breathing, the act itself becomes very
enjoyable, very calming and very meaningful.
When I become aware of my habit of breathing, I can become aware of my
habit of non breathing, or functional breathing.
When I become aware of my habit of functional breathing I can influence my
breathing and work with it in order to bring more relaxation, peace and comfort
to myself.
When I become aware of my breathing I become aware of my mind and body,
and I can begin to listen to my mind and body, I can become aware of my
mental formations and habits, negative thoughts, judgements and fears, and I
can begin to work with them in order to regulate them, embrace them and feel
comfortable with them.

10. By learning to look after my immediate
experience, my present perception and feeling,
I learn to look after my past self and my unwritten
future as well.

11. The most important component in my breathing, is
the knowing of suffocation. The most important
component in the knowing of suffocation, is the
knowing of breathing.

12. When one is on the receiving end of loving-kindness,
compassion and empathy, one has the joy of being on the
receiving end of one's true self.

13. If I am in conflict with my very first breath, with my birth, I am in
conflict with my last breath, with my death; Make peace with
your birth and you shall make peace with your death.

14. I want to create a safe and relaxed environment in order to meet
and interact with me, myself and I and this can be done by
concentrating on my breath and practicing breathing with care,
dedication and intention.
When people meet, they can be anxious and feel awkward,
embarrassed or uncomfortable; in that state of being they cannot
truly meet; they cannot deeply be together; they cannot be there
for each other in the purest sense.
Learning to breathe and meditate is for me, myself and I, to feel
safe, relaxed and intimate, so I can get to know myself deeply,
appreciate myself, heal myself, respect myself by learning to
look after my perceptions and emotions.

15. The most important aspect of the practice, is the
action of practicing. You cannot do it wrong, as long
as you sit and breathe, you are doing it right; for it
indicates toward an intention that is generous,
compassionate and kind toward oneself.

16. The Buddha sits, calm and smiling, in concentration and
in bliss. But this is for only one moment, a moment that
was captured and cemented, but a moment nonetheless.
The lesson is that one must attempt to capture
awareness, to practice happiness and to cultivate
compassion moment by moment, as we unlike the
immortal Buddha, are breathing right here, in the now.

17. My breath is innocent. It is free from malice and cruelty,
it simply breathes. And if I am my breath, I too am
innocent. I recognise that even a guilty person, is made
up of innocent parts.

18. I observe the impermanent nature of all that is; within myself
and without myself, and through this acknowledgement I
cultivate a stable ground, an internal solidity; where Love and
Kindness, Generosity, Compassion and Gratitude are always
present, withstanding the impermanent nature of all things.

19. The mind truly wants to be in the past and in the future; it does so
to protect us from suffering, personal failings, challenging and
threatening events and moments, those physical, those emotional
and those spiritual.
However we know that our breathing, our steps, our whole body
exists only in the now, it is only at this moment that I am breathing,
I am not breathing in yesterday and I am not breathing in
tomorrow; I am only walking now, my steps are leaving footprints
now, tomorrow my steps will only be footprints.
With knowledge of my breathing and of my walking and of my
body, I can recognise that the past is no longer a threat as I am
breathing Now and that the future is not dangerous because I am
walking Now; and if I am aware of my breath and I can calm it, if I
am aware of my body and I can calm it, I can also train myself to
be happy, joyful and at peace, compassionate and kind and
loving, because all those mentioned happen deeply in the Now.

20. Without honoring my breath by becoming
aware of the process of breathing, I cannot
honor anything else I do in life; I cannot honor
my feelings, perceptions and experiences.
Without being aware of my breath, I cannot
honor my life; and I cannot honor my death.

21. The following question emerged after a period of time dedicated
to observing and looking deeply into my Mind; "How would my
life be, if I had to change the way in which I understand and relate
to my Mind?”.
The following question emerged after a period of time dedicated
to observing and looking deeply into my breath; "How would my
life be, if I had to change the way in which I understand and relate
to my breath?”.

22. Our Mind is so very sophisticated that it allows us to be able to
have regrets about the future, and worries about the past. Our
breath on the other hand is the epitome of the notion of simplicity.
And within simplicity I have found peace and safety, I have found
my true self.

23. Take time to fully enjoy breathing amongst your family
and friends; sharing our breath with our beloved ones is
a precious and nourishing experience.
Do the same with and for your enemies.

24. I do not need to learn how to breathe; I simply must realise that I am my
breath.
I do not need to learn not to live; I simply must understand that I am my
life.
I do not need to contain my breath, I must realise that I am my breath.
I do not need to contain an ocean, I must realise that I am the ocean.
I do not need to resist suffering; I simply must understand that I am my
suffering.
The ocean does not contain the water, the sea life and plants; the ocean is
all those things; it is made out of those elements; they are one.
I do not need to resist or reject for my suffering; for my suffering, my
breath, is my-self and that understanding alone brings me a great deal of
joy.

25. Learning to enjoy our breath is
emotionally and spiritually
very important, but it is also
very practical. It is a
fundamental aspect of our
earthly existence which we
must master; for without
enjoying our breath, we
cannot enjoy our lives; we
cannot appreciate our bodies,
we cannot be truly grateful for
our blessings and we will not
be able to reconcile our
misfortunes and suffering.
Within our breath we may
first discover and reconcile
and then deeply appreciate,
the entire spectrum of the
human experience and what is
available for us to enjoy, to
admire and to be grateful for.

26. Becoming aware of the mind within the mind is only possible when
one is able to be aware of one's mind without psychological or
emotional pleasure or suffering; to be present and aware of that
which simply is; Constant, Universal, and Personal.
Becoming aware of the body within the body is possible when one
is able to feel and be aware of one's body with or without the
presence of physical pleasure or suffering. That which exists
without further proof, that which simply is; Authentic, Beautiful
and Mysterious.

27. I concentrate on my breathing and cultivate
compassion, patience and understanding in order to
provide myself with a genuine sense of safeness, of
relaxation and of intimacy which arises from within.

28. My breath is innocent. It is free
from malice and cruelty, it simply
breathes. And if I am my breath, I
too am innocent; I understand that
even a cruel person is made up of
innocent parts and elements.

29. If I am not able and willing to look after my own body,
thoughts and perceptions, and feelings and emotions,
how can I hope to be able and willing to look after the
minds, bodies and hearts of others?
How will I be able to look after my family and neighbors,
society and nation, or my environment?
Failing to look after myself indicates to an entrenched
lack of self-love and compassion, which inevitably must
lead to a lack of love and compassion toward all the
nature that forms my world.

30. True freedom is found only within commitment.

31. Change is not only
possible, it is inevitable.

32. The contradictions in our lives cause us
suffering, pain and confusion but also afford
us with great meaning and joy.
I am aware of the impermanent nature of
contradiction and of confusion; like a song,
all moves toward resolution.

33. The body knows it is finite. The mind knows this
unconsciously. Each breath we take is one less
breath, every minute we live is one less minute we
live; the body knows, deeply and with a great
intelligence that speaks to us, that it is dependent on
time and space. Therefore the unconscious resistance
to not be aware of our breathing; for becoming aware
of our breathing, is becoming aware of our mortality.

34. As I become of my breath, I begin to deeply understand its nature; its essence and its
functioning.
As I become aware of my breath I notice that I breathe without choice and without effort;
I notice that my breath breathes itself; it wanders freely and it is continuous.
As I begin to become aware of my breathing, I notice that my breath is breathing on my
behalf; for my own benefit.
As I become aware of my breath I understand that my breath is protecting me; my
breath is mine for an important reason and my breath acts upon that reasoning with
diligence and nourishing care; day in, day out.
As I become more aware of my breath, I am allowed and able to become more aware of
my mind. I notice that similar to my breath, my mind wanders freely; it is a continuum.
As I become more aware of my breath, I come to deeply understand my mind; I notice
that it too exists without choice and without effort; day in and day out.
As I become more affectionately aware of my breath, I notice I am able to become more
affectionately aware of my mind; I notice that it is, similar to my breath, here for me; it is
the way it is, in order to protect me, it is on my behalf and for my own benefit.

35. Ultimately, a liberated mind and a
free spirit, is a loving heart.

36. May your life be devoted and dedicated to the
calling; the notion; the principle of service.

37. Your will find the most Truest Mirror with
your eyes closed.

38. The Mind is both the director and the actor; the
painter and the painting, the meditator and the
meditation. But all those answer to a higher, more
intelligent and wise, divine source of life and
experience - the heart. All is guided by and is
accountable to Love and Compassion.

39. I understand that my mind exists within and without my body.
Therefore I understand that both my mind and body exist in the people with
whom I share this life.
I understand that both my mind and body exist in the land upon which I
walk now, walked back then and will walk on in the future.
I understand that when I calm my mind and body, I calm the minds and
bodies of those people with whom I share this life.
I understand that when I calm my mind and body, I calm and thus nourish
the land which allows me this life.
I understand that when I become aware of my body, I become aware of
your body, and when I calm my fear, I calm your fear and when I cultivate
compassion, kindness, relaxation and intimacy within my mind and body, I
do the same for you, my friend, and my land.

40. We may improve our mental health by
cultivating our spiritual wealth.

41. Both my breath and my mind are to be loved, cared
for and respected; as they exist, effortlessly and
continuously, for me.

42. As I awaken to my breath with gratitude and
appreciation, I awaken to my mind with the same
gratitude and appreciation.
As I awaken to the truth, the ultimate reality, that
my breath is my fateful, loyal and caring ally, I
awaken to the ultimate reality, that my mind too
is a fateful, loyal and caring ally.

43. The mind within the mind; the mind
which interprets the mind; that which
creates doubt and insecurity.
The heart does not follow the same
pattern. The heart simply feels. And
therefore can always be trusted.

44. We are taught, without malice or cruel intentions, that we did not choose to be born; that we did not
choose to be alive; that we do not choose the circumstances of our birth; that we did not choose to
participate in the decisions of our parents and ancestors and neither did we choose the actions of
those men and women who lived and died in our place of birth.
Indeed we were taught that we had no say or hand in the actions of any members of our human
family; and that we did not have any choice or free will when confronting the awe inspiring natural
elements of our place of birth.
Within this state of limited experience, many people are not aware that they have a freedom of
choice. Many people are taught that they are voiceless, powerless and invisible. Meditating
provides us with an opportunity to exercise our volition and intention over the most basic function of
our physical reality: our breathing.
The breath becomes a gateway towards self-empowerment and a deeper senses of duty and
responsibility.
Similarly, we are not taught how to relate to our mind; our thoughts, beliefs and perceptions. We are
not taught how to care for our emotions, feelings and mental formations.
And so many find themselves once again feeling weak and frail in face of their inner landscape of
experience. However, learning to care for ones breath may allow one to become aware of his or her
freedom of choice and to exercise their concentration and determination towards emancipation and
wellbeing.

45. Once one truly embraces a spiritual practice,
meaning emerges in everything and everywhere.

46. Compassion is an absolute
evolutionary necessity.

47. If you find yourself not smiling after meditating, practice more.
If you find yourself not feeling relaxed after meditation, practice more.
If you find yourself not feeling more compassionate towards yourself and others, practice
more.
If you find yourself smiling, feeling relaxed and full of compassion after meditation,
practice more.

48. Only a Mind and Body that is so very much interconnected and
codependent can create the illusion of separation.
Only a Brain and Body that has been nourished and cultivated,
shaped and designed by aeons of natural environmental
evolution, intergenerational and interspecies genetic
construction, and social, economic and political conditions, can
experience itself as above and beyond, below and beneath all
that which it perceives and interacts with.
All that which it is created by and all that which is created from it.

49. I observe the impermanent nature of permanence.
I observe the permanent nature of impermanence.

50. I am my breath, and I am breathing.
I am my path, and I am walking.
I am my ocean, and I am swimming.
I am my sun, and I am rising.

51. One cannot understand the meaning of a glass of water by simply looking at it; one cannot
fully replenish one´s thirst by observing it; one cannot fully nourish oneself simply by staring
at it. In order for us to truly understand, enjoy and benefit from the glass of water, we must
drink the water, with gratitude and attention; it is only then that we will be truly able to
deeply come in touch with water, and with life. We must bring and allow the water to
quench our thirst and work its wonders. And we must follow the same rules with other
experiences such as Love, Gratitude and Forgiveness; we must first bring and then allow
them to enter our minds and our hearts, our bodies and our souls. For our own healing,
enjoyment and benefit. Only then we will know their true meaning.

52. My breath is impermanent; my body is impermanent; my thoughts are impermanent; my
feelings are impermanent; my beliefs, judgements and understandings are impermanent;
All manifests and comes from within myself, an impermanent reality in a permanent
illusion. Therefor Compassion, Kindness, Gratitude and Love are too impermanent and
may leave as they arrive; it is my choice and responsibility to cultivate more of those life
affirming and nourishing mental, emotional and spiritual experiences.

53. Observe how natural, instinctive and easy it is to gift our loved
ones, family, friends, our colleagues, our animals, even our
enemies with love, kindness and compassion.
Observe how easy it is to water a plant that is in need; when its
leaves are dry we want to water the plant, we want the plant to
be healthy and happy.
We nourish the plant with water, and the plant is happy, it
blossoms, in return it produces oxygen, which allows us life.
Observe how easy it is to give compassion to all around us, the
practice must be to do the same for ourselves, because our
animals plants loved ones depend on us, we are very important
and we deserve nourishment.

54. Our concept of time is made up from both
physical and psychological elements.
By learning how to breathe we learn how
to slow down time, allow for more space
and clarity to emerge.

55. As I train my breath, I train my mind. As I train my mind,
I train my breath.
If I breathe in with compassion,
I am thinking with compassion.
If I breathe out with joy,
I am thinking with joy.

56. When one is comfortable in their own skin, one may
transcend its limitations. When one can sit with his
or her limitations, one can embrace them, look after
them and reconcile them. Without being able to sit
with and smile to our internal weather, we will never
be able to transcend it.

57. Upon making the conscious choice to advance to the
next exercise, apply patience and sit with the
temptation to progress. Allow yourself the joy which is
found in evolution and comprehension, the embracing
sense of freedom, confidence and solidity that arises
when one acts upon their own volition.

58. A liberated Mind belongs to a person who has the will and who can therefore concentrate, deeply and
precisely, and focus his or her vital life energy, their being on the present moment.
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who has the will and who can therefore make his or her Mind happy,
and enter the present moment with clarity and joy.
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who has the will and who can therefore become aware of his or
her Mind, and by doing so are able to choose happiness and joy.
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who has the will and who can therefore first become aware of his or
her mental formations; those wholesome, those debilitating, and once this is accomplished, has the will
and therefore can calm and soothe any mental formation.
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who has the will and who can therefore feel Happy and Joyful; two
states of being that are highly enjoyable and healthy for the human being and that allow for the miracle of
existence to unfold with ease
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who has the will and therefore can become aware of his or her
whole body; and once this is accomplished has the will and therefore can, calm his or her whole body.
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who is aware of his or her short breath, and once this is
accomplished has the will and therefore can, be the master of his or her breathing; a humble, gentle and
grateful master.
A liberated Mind belongs to a person who is aware of his or her long breath, and once this is
accomplished has the will and therefore can connect deeply to the miracle of life, of possibility, of love and
of beauty.

59. Only a concentrated mind can be liberated and freed. Without deeply
concentrating on an object or subject, one will never be able to move
beyond its personal meaning and therefore remain in a state of
stagnation. By concentrating and devoting the physical and
psychological time to deeply understand a feeling or a thought, one
becomes with it, and thus free from it .

60. If you wish to learn more about the human condition and experience, ask
yourself "can I not take the next breath?" and “am I happy for the person
next to me to have it instead?”

61. Meditating is akin to entering the ocean; we must work through the
initial restlessness, doubt and insecurity and sense of danger to find
relief, safety and relaxation.
We are to enter the ocean, work through the swell waves near the
shore in order to bring ourselves deeper into the sea, and enjoy the
calm waves which follow.

62. When I am ready and able to embrace those parts of
me that depend and rely and need the illusion of
permanence, then I can understand the true nature of
impermanence, without fear or resentment but with
love and appreciation.

63. I become more aware of the neuroplasticity of the Brain and the Mind. How it shapes
reality and is shaped by reality, how it produces a reality (cognitive, emotional and
spiritual) and how it is molded by a reality.
How it is influenced by a reality and how it influences reality. So complex and mysterious it
is that the mind can influence and shape and co create its own reality, within itself - it is as
if the different parts of the mind and the brain are constantly in communication, constantly
negotiating and co creating a state of awareness and being that is both independent from
one another and yet absolutely connected to one another.
And this interaction and neurological reality transmits itself to our social interactions and
behaviours and to our emotional states and mental formations, and this in turn influences
and shapes the emotional states and the mental formations of those around us.
And the peculiar thing to notice is that it is also the brains and minds, the actions and
behaviours of others that keep shaping and molding our own experiences and states of
awareness.
We are entirely dependent and connected to what is within us and around us; on our mind
and bodies, nature and the environment, and the mind and bodies of others; the very
notion of freedom is not to be attained, it is to be forsaken altogether, and by doing so we
paradoxically allow ourselves a greater sense of Understanding, Cohesiveness,
Acceptance and Freedom.

64. I am protected by the path.
Within this open heart, I am safe.

65. With my Mind, I concentrate my Mind, on my Mind.
With my Body, I concentrate my Body, on my Body.
With my Heart, I concentrate my Heart, on my Heart.

66. Is it harder to breathe or hold your breath? Harder to smile or to
frown? Harder to cry or hold in tears?
All which naturally exists is geared towards movement, change and
transformation.
It is the resistance to do so which creates greater, deeper and
longstanding suffering.

67. Our journey begins With and In the Divine
Love.
Our journey ends With and In the Divine Love.
All that matters is that we Awaken to that Truth.

68. My Mind is within my Body.
My mind is the sum total of my mental, emotional, spiritual and
physiological processes and therefore is present, is occurring and
emerging from moment to moment.
My mind is within every organ and blood vessel, and their pathways of
communication. My mind is within every thought and emotion, and
within their pathways of communication.
My mind is within the past, present and future and within their
communication with one another.
My mind is within every perception and insight, every feeling and
sensation, and within every breath and step I take.
My mind is where both the painfully limited and the wonderfully ultimate
and boundless reality is found.
My Mind is my Breath. And if I look after my breath, I look after my
Mind.
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

69. I observe the impermanent nature of
meaning; you may assign to your next step
and breath, meaning.

70. The practice of meditation is thus about slowing
everything down until one is still enough to observe the
moving life occurring within oneself and around oneself.
Everything which is present is forever in motion, in
movement and constantly transforming.

71. Living within your breath - living within your means. Not many people, approaching the
end of their lives, would peacefully and thankfully accept one less breath, one less day.
From this disposition human greed, desire and lust manifest. We as individuals and as
modern day societies do not live within our means. We do not live within our financial
capacity, and we burden the planet with our hyper consumption and self-centred needs
and desires.
This is part of the human condition in our day and age.
However, if one returns to one´s breath, one will soon find that there is no such thing
as breathing beyond one´s capacity - a person may breath as deep as he is able to, a
person may inhale a certain, fixed and within a range, amount of oxygen with every
breath - there lies the natural balance.
One will find that when one attempts to breathe in more air than what one is physically
capable of, one will suffer.
In the same sense one will find that when one´s basic need for oxygen is not met, then
one will suffer too. One´s body goes into a state of threat and defence when
overloaded or under-loaded with oxygen.
Follow your breath, live within its limitations and within its infinite capacity, with
gratitude and peace.

72. By practicing mindful breathing, I practice opening my lungs
and heart to the nourishment of a calm, conscious and loving
breath. By practicing mindful breathing I also learn to open the
door, my heart, to both suffering and joy; I allow it to enter,
without resistance, or judgement or fear.

73. When I am ready and able to embrace those
parts of me that depend, rely and need the
illusion of permanence; I can understand the
true nature of impermanence, without fear or
resentment but with love and appreciation.

74. Me, myself and I, are objects of my mind and are therefore impermanent. All of me
is impermanent, flowing, in and out, around and around, linear, circular, all of me is
forever changing, forever evolving, forever in motion. This state of being, The
impermanent nature of all dharma's, is not necessarily a point of comfort and
reassurance for human beings. In many instances the opposite is true.
It is precisely the impermanent nature of reality and of our natural existence that is
more often than not perceived and translated by our neurobiology and biochemical
makeup, into a threat, a danger which is both global and personal, and that requires
protection and defensive mechanisms.
When we feel safe, independent and confident, within ourselves, our minds are
organised in a way that allows for a relaxed and open attention, a state of
awareness that is explorative and non-defensive by nature, a predominantly positive
and life-affirming attitude to emerge. In order regain our equilibrium and bring
equanimity into our lives, one may choose to come deeply in touch with his or her
breath.
For the breath is constant; when fighting, when escaping, when freezing or when
submitting, our breath is constant and consistent. It is part of the "dynamic solidity"
which lies at the core of all that is. And so our breath is solid and constant but also it
is dynamic and prone, inevitably, to change (deeper, shallow, long, short); if we are
able to find happiness and joy, peace and compassion, within our breath, we may

75. I begin to understand that death too is impermanent.

76. I observe the impermanent nature of everything but Love.