Breath as the Essence of Being
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This talk emphasizes the significance of breath in one's life and death, connecting it to the broader notions of understanding and acceptance. It advocates for awareness of one's breath as a fundamental practice, aligning it with the consciousness of the Buddhas and patriarchs. The talk also touches on personal grief and the search for rest and consciousness amidst life's struggles.
Key Points:
Breath as Life and Death:
- Breath embodies the cyclical nature of existence, linking life and death.
- Awareness of breath is presented as a direct path to understanding one's existence.
Consciousness of Buddhas and Patriarchs:
- Sitting in meditation is equated with entering the stream of the Buddhas and patriarchs.
- Emphasizes the importance of sitting meditation for attaining life-consciousness.
Personal Reflections on Grief:
- Narrates a personal story of a family member's suicide to illustrate the quest for rest and relief from suffering.
- Suggests that rest and consciousness can be found in life through mindfulness and awareness.
Referenced Works:
- None explicitly mentioned. The central focus remains on the teachings surrounding breath and mindfulness in the context of Zen practice.
Notable Figures:
- Buddhas and Patriarchs: Referenced as exemplars of the consciousness one should aim to align with through meditative practice.
Contextual Themes:
- Breath and Meditation: Core theme, emphasizing its direct link to understanding one's life and death.
- Grief and Suffering: Personal narrative used to contextualize the teachings on breath and mindfulness in real-life scenarios.
These points offer a concise overview intended to help academics prioritize this talk based on its focus on breath, meditation, and personal reflections regarding grief and consciousness.
AI Suggested Title: Breath as the Essence of Being
AI Vision - Possible Values from Photos:
Side: A
Speaker: Baker Roshi
Location: Tassajara
Possible Title: Unknown
Additional text: sesshin
Side: A
Speaker: Baker Roshi
Location: Tassajara
Possible Title: Unknown
Additional text: sesshin
Side: B
Speaker: B.R.
Location: Tassajara
Possible Title: Unknown
Additional text: fades out at end - first 3/4 only audible
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And we cannot put our life, this sasheen, into neat packages. Not even packages of understanding, deep understanding or acceptance. There's no need to look elsewhere and at what you are. And no need to try to contain what you are. Our breath is our life and our death. And if you know your breath, you know your life and your death. There is no need to look somewhere for being in love or released on a spring day. When you're in love or released by a spring day, you will have your breath. And when you're angry, you'll have your breath.
[01:39]
And when you're dying, you'll go with your breath. You'll be your breath and go with it. It's in our breath that we spin world systems, and it's in our breath that we let them go. This is the consciousness of the Buddhas and patriarchs. And sitting here, when you sit here,
[02:49]
You're entering the stream of the Buddhas and Patriarchs, sitting with them. There's no need to go anywhere but to enter this stream, this stream of the Buddhas and Patriarchs that gives everything life. So please, sit that way. Stop looking around. This Tuesday, my sister seems to have committed suicide. And last night,
[03:56]
Virginia found her body and called me this morning. She must have been very sad to die, to give up after 12 years of fighting with depression. But I know she was relieved to find some rest. But we can find our rest here, alive, if we can be awake to our consciousness. Much of the effort I've made over the last decade or so to help Barbara has gone into working from home.
[05:13]
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