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Touching the Joy of Life - Transforming our Afflictions
A child’s deepest wish is not toys or riches but the true presence of his father—body and mind united. True presence is born the moment we bring attention to our breath:
- Mindful breathing: “Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.”
- Mindful walking: each step brings solidity, freedom, and home to the here and now.
- Mindful eating, drinking, watering: whether sipping tea, tending the garden or eating an orange, full attention in each moment reveals life’s miracles and offers the most precious gift to those we love.
All afflictions—anger, fear, despair—are part of ourselves and can be transformed without violence. We practice:
• Breathing in, I know anger is in me. Breathing out, I take care of my anger.
• Embracing that anger as tenderly as a mother holds her crying child.
• Using mindfulness and concentration to look deeply into its roots until compassion arises.
Presence heals the past and builds a future: every in-breath, every step, every morsel of food becomes an opportunity to touch the joy of life and transform suffering.
