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Being There while we Sit, Walk & Breathe
The problem is not to be or not to be, but how to be and what to be. Practicing meditation means being truly there in the present moment, uniting body and mind. Mindful breathing is a wonderful way to realize this oneness and encounter life, which is available only in the here and the now. If the present moment is missed, the appointment with life is missed. Mindfulness, or smṛti, is the energy that allows this deep presence, freeing us from the habit energies that drive us to lose ourselves in worries, the past, or the future.
A simple exercise of mindfulness involves using the breath to touch and smile to specific parts of the body. Breathing in, one becomes aware of their eyes; breathing out, one smiles to them. This generates the insight that the eyes are in good condition, opening a paradise of forms and colors, which is a basic condition for happiness. The practice extends to the heart, smiling with gratitude and making a promise to eat, drink, and work in ways that do not give the heart a hard time. Recognizing these existing conditions of happiness allows for healing and transformation.
The most precious gift to offer a beloved one is true presence, for it is impossible to love without being there. Through the concentration of body and mind—investing one hundred percent of oneself into an act like lighting incense or drinking tea—one can offer the mantra: “Darling, I am here for you.” A second mantra follows: “Darling, I know you are there. And I am very happy,” because to love means to recognize the presence of the other. Finally, mindfulness is used to embrace pain and strong emotions. All mental formations are of an organic nature; like a flower and garbage, love can turn into hate, and hate can be transformed back into love through the insight of interbeing.
