Freedom and Peace are only One Breath Away

How can you release the past, fear, anger, despair or other painful emotions and, at the same time, feel free and at peace?

You can do that with a powerful and simple tool available to you right now.

– Your breath.

It’s also called “mindful breathing”. Here’s what the Buddha taught about mindful breathing:

  1. Be aware of the in breath and out breath.

Since the mind can only focus on 1 thing at a time, when you focus on your breath, you release any regrets about the past, anxiety about the future, and any fear or painful emotions you may have.

You become free.

  1. Follow your in breath and out breath all the way through. Concentrate on your breath from beginning to end.
  2. Be aware of your body.

When you bring awareness to your body, you bring the mind and body together and you realize the oneness of the body and mind. It’s only when the mind is with the body that you’re fully alive.

  1. Calm your body. Release the tension with your out breath.
  2. Generate joy.

The more you practise, the more you’ll be able to recognize all the conditions of joy already available to you now.

  1. Generate happiness.

Again, the more you practise, the easier it’ll be for you to generate happiness, and the more you’ll realize that life is available only in the present moment.

  1. Be aware of painful emotions.

Recognize the pain. You have to be there for your pain; you don’t fight it or cover it up or run away from it.

  1. Embrace the painful emotion.

You embrace the pain tenderly, like a mother would a crying child. When you calm the pain, you lessen the suffering and bring relief.

Enjoy these simple but powerful exercises to experience freedom and peace!

– Sylvie Grégoire