There are two best friends that I treasure the most throughout life, the sky and the breath.
They have been by my side all the time through various stages in life, never leaving me alone, while others have. Many people came and left leaving me different impressions and memories in different lands, in different times. However, the same sky and the same breath were always there for me to reach, to relish my dreamy longing whenever I needed. They are two of my good friends, of which I want you to become close also to bring about your happiness, your well-being, joy, harmony and balance in life.
I always loved looking at the sky. It runs my imagination in a dream like fantasy whenever look into that far away, glittering horizon up there. I can draw various shapes and pictures of my liking with the white clouds that are floating here and there. Sometime it looks like a staircase leading to the heaven, sometime like the image of God reaching out His hands from the famous Michelangelo’s drawing. I especially love the early morning sky, because I can look straight into the rising sun without having to squint my eyebrows. But the evening sky is just as awesome; you see birds flying in such magnificent orderliness and harmony across the sky that it is breathtaking.
The vast sky; sometimes so clear and deep blue, like the sea from my hometown, it gives me such indescribable sense of peace, belonging and wonder. Sometimes it’s dark and gray, with rain clouds hanging over and thunder coming down anytime; then, I have to run to the windows before the rooms get flooded or collect laundries before it get wet in rain water. I will sit by the window, watching the raindrops soaking houses, trees, roads, cars… it washes away all the dirt, impurities, worries, and concern to be reborn in its intrinsic beauty, purity and cleanness. The whole world once again becomes so fresh and anew like new beginning; so is our heart. In times of distress, one can find such solace, especially after heavy downpour, that it uplifts our spirit once more with surging energy. We can face our ordinary life with fresh enthusiasm and the blue sky like clarity. Life seems much easier when our awareness is expanded.
The sky has been always the place for me to return and compose my spirit whether be happy or unhappy. The vastly open space above brings me closer to the center of my being, my heart that I seldom feel boredom or the need to occupy with any kinds of sound or company. Lie down in the Savasana (the relaxation pose) and I would imagine myself floating in the clouds. I can feel myself merging into the infinite space within me, so tiny yet so huge space holding our spirit…my heart just swells with gratitude of life, of people, of nature. The spirit becomes full and free whenever I look up to the sky. It soars high without knowing its boundary. I could just fly if I could…
Another my best friend is the breath, the beautiful breath with its gentle, yet powerful rhythms, flowing in eternity throughout our life; it nourishes every cells in our body, in every corners of the mind and the spirit. It is very powerful, extraordinary, and yet surprisingly simple to uncover its delicate veil that showers us with bountiful love and blessing from beyond. We are connected with people, with the nature, with the whole universe through the beautiful breath.
All you needed to do to meet her is just to turn around within. You can see the breath that which is always within the reach. Its mysterious power, its grace, never leaves us from our first breath till the moment we die. And yet, it is so easy to forget or take it for granted that we seldom appreciate its perpetual current sustaining our life in such perfect harmony. Instead we get caught up in our petty daily concerns, in our numerous desires, cravings and insecurities, that we often feel miserable in life. We halt breath gasping for more air all the time. In turn many become either short breathers or hyper ventilators. They will keep inhale whenever reminded of breathing, thinking that taking in more air will solve their breathing shortage. Actually the real problem is not knowing that breathing has four parts; inhale, pause, exhale, pause, and taking enough time in each parts. We can’t keep breathing in. We have to exhale as well; finish the exhale first before you take in another one; don’t forget to take a break in between, pause; so that our system can maintain its equilibrium for the homeostatic balance; to make us feel better, healthier and happier. That’s the secret of any breathing techniques you can come across elsewhere; yoga, martial arts, or any other various body-works. Breathing itself is very simple but they make it complicated or sound difficult by adding too much spices of how to do.
The sole purpose of breathing is to exchange gas with atmosphere; we breathe in oxygen that which comes from the plants, in turn, we breathe out carbon dioxide for the plants to take.
Breathe in, breathe out… the interaction between us and nature goes on as long as we are alive. Breathe in, breath out… consciously turn your awareness in between, the pause, whenever you can, whenever you remember. Any posture will do, walking, standing, seating or lying down. Where the breathing actually happens, the chest or the tummy, doesn’t really matter because, in truth, we are breathing with our whole body. Every cells in our body needs oxygen to stay alive and need to remove its waste, carbon dioxide. We are breathing with the whole body. Sometimes your chest, sometimes your tummy, or sometimes even your fingers and toes… they are all breathing together.
Just turn your attention within, whenever you can, wherever you are. Notice its rhythm, feelings, temperature, without trying to control or change. Just simply notice. They change all the time, but it is always there. Sometimes fast or short, sometimes slow or long; however it changes, it is always there, never leaving us even a moment. Naturally your mind soon will wander, in a few minutes, like the floating clouds in the sky, thereby distracting your attention away from the breaths. It doesn’t matter. The thoughts, sensations, noises, etc…they are always there. The sky is still there; so is your breath. It will pass if you don’t pay attention. Keep come back to the ever present breath within you. Soon you will notice your breath becoming smooth and soft, almost disappearing; in turn, your body relaxes, your mind settles down; and then, it becomes the beautiful breath, the sweetest and the most graceful thing it ever can be. You are taming the wild horse into your liking, to be docile; enjoying its ride, stroll or run at your will. You can even meet your God in that junction of the beautiful breath.
For long, I held certain image of God; tall and handsome, with a white beard, a white clothes and with stern but compassionate smile. But when I actually met Him, He wasn’t what I had imagined at all. At first, He came in times of the greatest pain, that I couldn’t care any more, I just entrusted myself into the pain & kept breathing in, breathing out…then like a magic, I saw Him! It was amazing! I tried another time, with more painful experiences. Then He didn’t come. Instead, He came again, while I got engrossed in the Yoga classes with you, while teaching you how to breathe. I saw the sparks of inspiration from your eyes, all shining and glowing…!! Then I realized God has been living within us, within our breath, all this time, while we busy ourselves looking for Him elsewhere, with different expectations, sometimes with ridiculous demands to grant this and that, as though bargaining with Him…
In times of anguish, in times of great anger or frustration, you don’t have to wait for Him to rescue; you just finish Five breathings; slowly inhale, pause, then, finish the exhale in a long stretch, then pause… breathing in again… you will feel better in no time. It seems so much easier to accept life just as it is, no more or no less, just this much, then, it feels good enough. It no longer matters how life presents itself; sometimes good, sometimes difficult or challenging. It will go through its own motion according to its own rhythm and time, just like our breathing. And yet, there are always abundance of love, understanding, patience, gratitude and compassion within your reach as long as you don’t forget to breathe. It is the grace of God, the blessing, to live so near with our beautiful breath. Go to your window side, come closer with the sky and open the window; feel the breeze, feel your chest expanding and your tummy tinkling as you breathe in, breathe out…For me, that is the way I live close with my God…
