Day 5 · Breath
Leave The Breath Alone
Do not count. Do not deepen. Do not hold. Then just sit.
Do not count. Do not deepen. Do not hold. The form is in place. Today the instruction is the breath: leave it alone.
Form. Mouth closed. Breathe through the nose. Long or short as it comes.
Mindset. Do not make the breath a project. Do not use it to get a better sit.
The breath and thoughts need some time and space to settle. Offer yourself about 5 minutes. Once the breath feels natural, you can maybe extend the sit to 10 minutes.
Natural Breath
Mouth closed. Breathe through your nose, quietly. Let your tongue rest on the roof of your mouth behind your front teeth.
The breath is already happening. Long or short as it comes. Sometimes obvious in your belly. Sometimes barely noticeable. Both are fine.
Do not control it. Do not make it deeper or longer. Do not manipulate it to feel calmer.
If you notice you’ve started driving the breath, just stop. Return to your seat.
The breath simply is. Let it be ordinary. That’s enough.
Try It in the Day
Next time you practice a Present Return I want you to pay deep attention to the breath and only the breath. Observe it. Is it deep, shallow, fast, slow. And when you notice your mind is wandering, just return to the breath. Observe the breath. Don’t change it. Let it be. Just be present with the breath for 6 counts. That is your Present Return homework for today.
Thank you for sitting. Sitting today is the whole thing. You did it. Congratulate yourself! No regrets about the past. No plans for the future. This is it.
