Finding Presence In Everyday Moments

Often when we come to meditate we choose a place on purpose that will be quiet,

Where we won't be disturbed and where we can be reasonably comfortable.

For this meditation I've deliberately come outside and so you may hear ambient noises from time to time.

This meditation technique is a way of finding presence in any moment of the day.

You could use this same technique for a walking meditation or even something as simple as when you have a few moments and maybe you go outside with a cup of tea or a moment to take a break and you can let go of the busyness in your mind and drop back into presence.

The key to being here now is our breath.

If we can begin by tuning into our breath or becoming conscious of our breath then we can immediately leave that to and fro of the past and the future.

So Thich Nhat Hanh the meditation master he used to teach this beautiful breathing technique and he instructed like this breathing in I know I am breathing in breathing out I know I am breathing out so this is our gateway back to the present moment knowing when we're breathing in that we are breathing in and knowing when we're breathing out that we are breathing out and then we can open up to listening or to seeing the light and seeing the shadow seeing perhaps movement movement of the trees or of clouds or of passing traffic it may be that you can pay attention to the temperature of the air so here you are a witness to the information all around you and always your breath is in the center of it the feeling that you are breathing in and out is the anchoring point you being present to your environment and just being with it let's stay for just another minute or so breathing and listening breathing and feeling being the calm witness you even as this meditation finishes you can continue to be aware of your breath using these techniques for a walking meditation or any moment in your day I hope you enjoy them