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Three Qualities of Happiness from Mindful Breathing
The three essential elements of happiness are peace, solidity, and freedom. Right practice must generate, nourish, and cultivate these three qualities within us. The practice of taking refuge—the Three Refuges—in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha is not an abstract idea, but a living reality in our daily life, creating a solid foundation for body and mind.
The concrete methods of practice include:
- Breathing mindfully into the lower abdomen (dan tian), as if embracing the root of a tree, to take care of strong emotions (fear, anger, despair); in just 10–15 minutes, the inner “storm” will pass, helping us to trust more deeply in the Dharma door.
- The story of journalist Jean-Dominique Bauby with locked-in syndrome deeply impresses upon us the value of each breath, each word, and our connection with mindfulness.
- In the family, turn off the television, practice mindfulness, and contemplate the Four Noble Truths to recognize suffering; when two people are not yet able to transform by themselves, seek the Sangha as the “third person” to restore the capacity for deep listening, use loving speech, and reestablish collective freedom and solidity.
