Mind Full to Mindful: Zen Wisdom From a Monk's Bowl

by Om Swami

Just sit peacefully. Don’t think about anything. Any thought that comes to your mind – just let it come and go... These are your moments – be here, now … Don’t think of anything: don’t visualize anything; don’t imagine anything; don’t envision anything. Don’t react to any thought. Don’t think of any other moment – just be present in the present moment... If you are here now, you will smile automatically because the present moment has no stress... With each inhalation, imagine that you are inhaling positivity, loving kindness, compassion, happiness, joy and bliss. With each exhalation, you are releasing negativity, baggage, depressing feelings and suppressed emotions. Keep your head and back straight. Feel the inhalation, continue the count. In the few seconds that you hold your breath, all these positive emotions are spreading throughout your body. And you are exhaling negative feelings; emptying yourself of everything that holds you back – everything that makes you angry.