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Mindfulness of Breathing
Mindfulness contemplation begins with the body, taking the breath and the steps as objects of contemplation. The breath belongs to the body and is also the bridge between body and mind; when breathing in, know that you are breathing in; when breathing out, know that you are breathing out. Do not interfere, simply shine the light of mindfulness to see the breath coming and going. Mindfulness functions like a gatekeeper: awake but not obstructing, not asking for papers, letting phenomena naturally unfold. The method of simple recognition consists of three elements:
- not interfering
- not clinging
- not pushing away
At Plum Village, the practice of mindfulness always begins with the breath and the steps. Many people make an agreement with the staircase: each step up the stairs is paired with a breath; if one forgets, one must go back and start again. This principle helps bring mindfulness into every step, whether going up or down, climbing a mountain, or in daily activities. The collective practice of the community must reach 100% so that the atmosphere of meditation can permeate; every practitioner, from the very first day, must know how to breathe and walk in mindfulness. By firmly holding the body, one can then hold the mind.
When moving into the realm of feelings, it is necessary to recognize four types of feelings:
- unpleasant feeling
- pleasant feeling
- neutral feeling
-
mixed feeling (both pleasant and unpleasant)
All feelings are to be contemplated with mindfulness, without attachment, without aversion, without rejection. From recognizing feelings, we can deeply contemplate impermanence and non-self, which leads to freedom. The teachings of impermanence and non-self are only matches; insight is the flame of liberation. When insight arises, transcending all notions, we live fully with the impermanent and non-self nature of all phenomena.