Our times are so unstable that we can’t assume to plan for even a month ahead, sensing no firm ground underneath. The stress that some of us are now experiencing is so all-pervading that it is not even noticed anymore by our conscious minds.
How on earth can we manage our living now? Or, perhaps I should rephrase: how can we manage to live on Earth now?
No matter whether we believe in anything “spiritual” or not, the first step towards managing both ourselves and our circumstances remains our breath. To those less experienced with the approaches of the “traditional” spiritual paths it might not be an obvious point at all, but here is why this is such a foundational thing to do.
Our breath is not simply the exchange of air. It is also, even more importantly, an exchange of energy between us and our surroundings, on a larger scale – between us and Life, Universe, and Everything.
We breathe fully and freely when we are happy and content. However, our breath changes as soon as we lose composure. It stops early once we get tight, often long before reaching our belly. It begins to flow in jerks and becomes rough or shallow.
As our breath changes, the amount, the quality of energy that we are able to absorb, accept from life, changes too.
And the same thing happens with our influence on the outside world: we can only emit, radiate according to how we breathe. When our breathing is constrained and the living flow to and through us is restricted, we are not able to impact things except for on the very surface. Any sway that our minds are able to have on anyone and anything, is only happening because it is supported by our breathing.
What would be the first step to make then?
First of all, notice your breath, right now. Take a full, long, deep inhalation, realizing that it is full of prana, of Chi. Exhale slowly. Repeat until you feel your body relax.
The overpowering noise of the world, including “our own” thoughts, keeps meanwhile crushing in, no matter what our breath is like, and yet perhaps now we can do something.
Here is one of the most essential Sufi practices – and as all the best ones, it is very simple.
Imagine your heart center as a mirror, or perhaps a pool of clear water.
Now, spend some minutes doing this: feel each breath, in and out, to be like a soft brush, like a tender gust of wind that purifies, clarifies, clears the surface of that mirror.
Do that until you notice your mind, and your emotions, become calm, unfilled, open.
If you feel yourself being resilient, find a strong intention in your heart and have a minute, then – after feeling balanced and peaceful – you can consciously allow a tiny bit of that “outside” disturbance to enter your heart, and repeat the whole process until the mirror of your heart is, once again, clear.
Do this as often as you can, as often as you are able to get to the state of quietness, equilibrium, softness. This will be, though unseen, the best contribution for the benefit of your community that you can make.
Whatever we do, is not only for ourselves. We start close to home though.