If we were to survey folks in response to the question, “What is essential activity to support human life?” most likely responses would include eating, drinking, sleeping, making love (reproduction!), and perhaps some kind of work. Likely, many of us would forget to name a key essential activity necessary for staying alive—breathing! Since most of us breathe without thinking of it, we don’t regularly consider it explicitly. Breath’s work is implicit, often hidden, yet essential.
In and Out
If you ever played the Hokey Pokey as a child, you’re familiar with the thrill of placing a body part “in” and then “out” and then “shaking it all about!” Whereas the ups and downs are found on the vertical spatial plane and the back and forth are found on the horizontal spatial plane, to be “in or out” is a three-dimensional take on spatial reality.
Topics:
Contemplative Practice
Prayer is Wholly Holy
Some people radiate the Light of holiness. We tend to want to call such figures using special titles like saints, mystics, gurus, bodhisattvas, and shamans, giving the impression that these folks have earned their radiance somehow, by putting in long hours or making extreme sacrifices. Sometimes, however, a baby is born with “old soul” eyes, already radiating with the Light of holiness. Other times, we have a simple encounter with someone whose very presence puts us at ease or leaves us with a sense of inspired delight. No special rites or titles are required in these encounters. We simply feel the radiance of the other person fully alive.
Topics:
Contemplative Practice
