Bells of Mindfullness

In my tradition, we use the temple bells to remind us to come back to the present moment. Every time we hear the bell, we stop talking, stop our thinking, and return to ourselves, breathing in and out, and smiling. Whatever we are doing, we pause for a moment and just enjoy breathing. Sometimes we also recite this verse:

Listen, listen.
This wonderful sound brings me back to my true self.

You can use any sound to remind you to pause, breathe in and out, and enjoy the present moment. Even non-sounds, such as the rays of sunlight coming through the window, are bells of mindfulness that can remind us to return to ourselves, breathe, smile, and live fully in the present moment.

Sitting Meditation

The most stable posture for meditation is sitting cross-legged on a cushion. The half-lotus and full-lotus positions are excellent for establishing stability of body and mind. Allow your back to be straight, keep your eyes half closed, and fold your hands comfortably on your lap. If you prefer, can sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your hands resting on your lap. Or you can lie on the floor, on your back, with your legs straight out, a few inches apart, and your arms at your sides preferably palms up.

We need to practice meditation gently, but steadily, throughout daily life, not wasting a single opportunity or event to see deeply into the true nature of life, including our everyday problems. Practicing in this way, we dwell in profound communion with life.

Sitting Anywhere

When you need to slow down and come back to yourself, you do not need to rush home to practice conscious breathing. Whenever you are, you can breathe mindfully. We all need to go back to ourselves from time to time, in order to be able to confront difficulties of life. We can do this in any position; however, the sitting position is the most stable. Breathing mindfully in any position at any time can help you recover yourself.

Thinking Less

While we practice conscious breathing, our thinking will slow down and we can give ourselves a real rest. Most of the time, we think too much, and mindful breathing helps us to be calm, relaxed, and peaceful. It enables us to be in touch with life, which is wonder ful in the present moment.

Present Moment, Wonderful Moment

In our busy society, it is a great fortune to breathe consciously from time to time. There are many exercises we can do to help us breathe consciously. Besides the simple "In-Out" exercise, we can recite these four lines silently as we breathe in and out:

Breathing in, I calm my body.

Breathing out, I smile.

Dwelling in the present moment,

I know this is a wonderful moment!

Conscious Breathing

Breathing in and out is very important and enjoyable. Our breathing is the link between our body and our mind. Sometimes our mind is thinking one thing and our body is doing another, and mind and body are not unified. By concentrating on our breating, "In" and "Out," we bring body and mind back together and become whole again. When we breathe consciously, we recover ourselves completely and encounter life in the present moment.

The Dandelion Has My Smile

If in our daily lives we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyon wil profit. If we really know how to live, what better wahy to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determinations to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind. Smiling helps you approach the day with gentleness and understanding.

If you have lost your smile and yet are still capble of seeing that a dandelion is keeping it for you, the situation is not too bad. You still have enough mindfulness to see that the smile is there. The dandelion is one member of you community of friends. It is there, quite faithful keeping your smile for you.

In fact, everything around you is keeping your smile for you. You don't need to feel isolated. You only have to open yourself to the support that is all around you, and in you.