Breathing In and Out Phrases to Help Attention and Numbness
Journal Date: 1998
I’ve made a commitment to dedicate some time to meditation a few times per week for half an hour or however much time I have to do so. I just finished an hour session.
I was able to stay focused on my breathing and on my own thoughts. Outside noises didn’t interfere much at all after 10-15 minutes. I was able to continue through the neighbor’s dog’s persistent barking without getting upset at all. I was able to remain very still and comfortable throughout the hour. I am really calm when I get out of it too.
Right now I feel a real sense of tranquility and evenness. I am not high, nor low. Just even and tolerant and unstressed. I experienced the numbness stage today. My hands were numb though almost the entire hour, and at one point I felt my mind try to leave the confines of my body.
At a couple of points, my body started to dissolve from feeling and all there was that existed was mind. I am going to read more about non-attachment tonight from either Thich Nhat Hanh’s or one of the books that Dr. Supawanich gave me. I used breathing in I smile to myself, breathing out I relax for a bit, as well as one I made up, breathing in I don’t attach to anything.
Breathing out I let everything go. I like this one a lot…