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Meditation as Nourishment: Enjoying Freedom in Every Moment
Practice should be enjoyable: when walking, sitting, breathing—or washing dishes—you generate the energy of solidity and freedom. Freedom from past, future, worries and afflictions is cultivated moment by moment by returning to the breath. In this way every step, in-breath or out-breath becomes the practice of freedom.
Mindfulness engages every mental formation—anger, sadness or joy—by inviting two energies:
- recognize
- embrace
- relief
- looking deeply
- bringing insight (dissipating ignorance)
- liberation
Mindfulness is the Buddha’s energy, giving rise to concentration and insight, and enabling the seeds of understanding and compassion within us to grow.
Mindfulness also nourishes by touching positive elements—blue sky, flowers, a child’s presence—multiplying enjoyment a hundredfold. Called thiền duyệt vi thực (meditation as food), this practice first waters the positive seeds inside and around us. Only when we are nourished do we have the strength to transform our suffering.