The Breath as the Center

“Then God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

 There are few things more basic than the rhythmic in and out breathing we do every moment. The ancients recognized breathing as life-giving. Being aware of our breathing in the present day can help to tune our bodies and souls into the divine source of life.

As we begin to learn how to meditate, we turn our attention first to our breath. By concentrating on our breathing, we train our minds to be present in each moment. A classic beginning meditation is simply to count four breaths (in-out-one, in-out-two, etc.). As the mind wanders and thoughts distract us from our breath, we gently bring our attention back to the breath. Over and over, we bring our awareness back to the breath, practicing concentration and opening ourselves to peace.

Scientific research tells us that practicing meditation is good for us physically. It’s also good for our souls. Whether we are counting our breaths or meditating on a repeated word or phrase, as in Centering Prayer, our minds are open to insight and spiritual growth.

"When God first formed the heavens and Earth, Earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep. And divine breath swept over the waters." And so began the first acts of Creation.

A Beginner's Mind

"Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

 Humility and openness are essential components for those on a spiritual path. The human brain has a powerful ability to see what we think is real, rather that what is actually real. Often, our thoughts and feelings are clouded by preconceptions that choke our capacity to see life as it is.

A beginner doesn’t have to unlearn preconceived ideas and biases. A beginner’s mind is open and eager to learn. A beginner can approach the world with the freshness of a child.  "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few," said the Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki.

Perhaps Jesus knew that part of our spiritual journey is getting back to our beginner’s mind. The most direct path is prayer and meditation.

So, try this. Relax for just a moment, wherever you are. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and count very slowly to ten. Even this brief meditation can begin to open your beginner’s mind.