Breathe! You Are Alive Quotes

“Breathe and you know that you are alive. Breathe and you know that all is helping you. Breathe and you know that you are the world. Breathe and you know that the flower is breathing too. Breathe for yourself and you breathe for the world. Breathe in compassion and breathe out joy. Breathe and be one with the air that you breathe. Breathe and be one with the river that flows. Breathe and be one with the earth that you tread. Breathe and be one with the fire that glows. Breathe and you break the thought of birth and death. Breathe and you see that impermanence is life. Breathe for your joy to be steady and calm. Breathe for your sorrow to flow away. Breathe to renew every cell in your blood. Breathe to renew the depths of consciousness. Breathe and you dwell in the here and now. Breathe and all you touch is new and real. —Annabel Laity”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe, You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“According to our narrow view of a truly existing self, life is just my body, my house, my spouse, my children, and my riches. But if we can extend beyond every limit we have created for ourselves, we will see that our life exists in everything, and that the deterioration of phenomena cannot touch that life, just as the arising and disappearing of the waves cannot influence the being of the water.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe! You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“In traditional Chinese medicine, doctors often offer their patients something healing that is delicious to eat. And just by eating, you begin to heal in a pleasant and relaxed way. The same thing is true with the practice. While you practice sitting, you enjoy sitting. While you practice breathing, you enjoy the breathing. And if you are able to enjoy yourself, then healing and transformation will take place.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe! You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“Several years ago I was in Seoul, South Korea. The police had blocked traffic so that we could have a walking meditation in the city. When the time came to lead the walking meditation, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't walk, because hundreds of journalists and people with cameras were closing in. There was no path to walk. So I told the Buddha, "Dear Buddha, I give up, you walk for me." The Buddha came right away. He walked and people made a path for the Buddha to walk.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe! You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“In the Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing, also known as the Anapanasati Sutta, the Buddha shows us how to transform our fear, despair, anger, and craving. I was so happy the day I discovered this sutra. I thought I'd discovered the greatest treasure in the world. Before, I'd been content to simply gain knowledge. I didn't know how to enjoy the present moment, how to look deeply into my life, and how to enjoy the positive conditions that were all around me. This sutra is so basic and so wonderful. There are many great sutras, but approaching them without this sutra is like trying to reach the top of a mountain without a path to go on.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe! You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“1.​‘Breathing in a long breath, I know I am breathing in a long breath. Breathing out a long breath, I know I am breathing out a long breath.’ 2.​‘Breathing in a short breath, I know I am breathing in a short breath. Breathing out a short breath, I know I am breathing out a short breath.’ 3.​‘Breathing in, I am aware of my whole body. Breathing out, I am aware of my whole body.’ He or she practices like this. 4.​‘Breathing in, I calm my whole body. Breathing out, I calm my whole body.’ He or she practices like this. 5.​‘Breathing in, I feel joyful. Breathing out, I feel joyful.’15 He or she practices like this. 6.​‘Breathing in, I feel happy. Breathing out, I feel happy.’ He or she practices like this. 7.​‘Breathing in, I am aware of my mental formations. Breathing out, I am aware of my mental formations.’ He or she practices like this. 8.​‘Breathing in, I calm my mental formations. Breathing out, I calm my mental formations.’ He or she practices like this. 9.​‘Breathing in, I am aware of my mind. Breathing out, I am aware of my mind.’ He or she practices like this. 10.​‘Breathing in, I make my mind happy. Breathing out, I make my mind happy.’ He or she practices like this. 11.​‘Breathing in, I concentrate my mind. Breathing out, I concentrate my mind.’ He or she practices like this. 12.​‘Breathing in, I liberate my mind. Breathing out, I liberate my mind.’ He or she practices like this. 13.​‘Breathing in, I observe the impermanent nature of all dharmas. Breathing out, I observe the impermanent nature of all dharmas.’16 He or she practices like this. 14.​‘Breathing in, I observe the disappearance of desire. Breathing out, I observe the disappearance of desire.’17 He or she practices like this. 15.​‘Breathing in, I observe cessation. Breathing out, I observe cessation.’18 He or she practices like this. 16.​‘Breathing in, I observe letting go. Breathing out, I observe letting go.’19 He or she practices like this.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe, You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“Sitting [meditation] is an enjoyment, not hard labor for enlightenment.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe! You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing

“We practice stopping and observing to arrive at liberation. We live as if we’re in a dream. We’re dragged into the past and pulled into the future. We’re bound by our sorrows, agitation, and fear, and we hold on to our anger, which blocks communication.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh, Breathe, You Are Alive: Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing