Cultivating and Strengthening Awareness: Part II

After taking your seat with good posture, direct your attention to your breathing. Notice the feeling of your torso expanding and contracting, the sensation of the breath flowing through your nostrils. It is important that you don’t manipulate your breathing. However your breath flows, whether deep or shallow, short or long, just notice it with bare attention. After a few breaths, you can begin the mindfulness exercise of counting breaths. In each stage of the exercise, count the breaths mentally (silently). If your mind wanders and you lose count, go back to the beginning and start the count over. You may find that the counting can continue in an “automatic” way while you are involved in thoughts. If you weren’t fully there with the breathing, you were wandering. When you realize it, go back to the beginning and start the count over.

©2002 Dr. Joseph Parent (P)2016 Audible, Inc.