The Breath, the Spirit and the Wings of Awakening

There is one friend who's always with us, wherever we may journey. 

Its name is breath.

Siddhartha Gautma - the Buddha - along with countless other teachers, taught that this friend, this quiet flow that's always with us, is vitally important to recall, remember, hold in our awareness. 

This encouragement to pay attention to the breath is even found within the fabric of our languages. 

In Latin, spiritus, meant breath as well as spirit. In Greek we have the psyche, denoting the breath of life and the soul. And in the Russian language, as another example, dishat', to breathe, and dusha, the soul, come from the same root, as do duh, spirit, and dihan'ye, breathing. 

We speak of inspiration in the modern English language as an exalted state of creativity and insight. In Middle English, it pointed to "breathing or putting life or spirit into the human body; imparting reason to a human soul.” And there is the other, simpler definition - "the act of breathing in." 

And so, it's clear that the importance of the breath to the psyche or spirit or mind or heart or whatever we may wish to call this part of our being was known across cultures, civilizations, space and time. 

Countless studies have now scientifically established the health-giving benefits of mindfulness of breathing. The breath can give us access to insight, knowledge, a sense of wholeness, well-being, mental clarity and stability of mind. 

And the ability to maintain awareness of the breath is vital not only when we traverse the ups and downs of everyday existence - it is absolutely indispensable as we take flight on the wings of our plant allies and enter the transpersonal realms of vision. 

It is likely that there is no single practice that can be developed by the spiritual seeker that is as vital to the navigation of those seas as the practice of remembering and being aware of the breath. 

It's like a sail to ride the wind. It is like having wings. 

So, as we engage with the teachings of the Buddha and bring them together with the help generously offered by our plant allies, let us recall, time and again, the breath. Let's practice remembering this friend who's always with us and let us spend time with this rhythm that moves us and moves through us and makes our hearts beat and gives life and allows us to be a living part of this magnificent planet. 

Let's pay attention with great curiosity. Let's study all the excellent teachings passed down to us from our spiritual ancestors related to working with the breath. Let's put them into practice and let us get real good. 

And then -

let's fly.