Summer is a great time to sit quietly on your porch, in a park, at the beach, or even just on you front stoop and incorporate a spiritual exercise—a moment of mindfulness, of contemplative sweetness into your busy life.
Breathe, Smile, and Relax Sitting still in a quiet place, bring all of your attention to your body as you fill your lungs and lower belly with one deep, deep breath. . . and then let it out in a long sigh. . . . Ahhhh
If you were truly attentive, your mind would have been clear of all distractions for 10 whole seconds, while your body was nourished with extra oxygen and your heart was touched with a little divine peace. Even with only one breath cycle, you may have felt a touch of serenity, a little loosening of your jaw, and an ability to think more clearly afterwards.
So simple, a trip into Buddha Standard Time! Try it again, now. Three breaths or more might be needed, depending on your own energy and inclination:
Breathe deep. Smile. Center. Relax. . . .
(excerpted from Buddha Standard Time, by Lama Surya Das)
