Moving beyond boredom

There is a Zen teaching story about a student who comes to the Master and tells him, "I'm getting really bored with just feeling my breath coming in and going out all the time. Don't you have a meditation practice that is more exciting?"

The Zen Master replied, "Well, yes. You are now ready for a greater teaching. Follow me." And so, the Master led the student into a courtyard and approached a large barrel of water. "Gaze into the barrel," said the Master. As the student eagerly leaned over and peered in, the Zen Master suddenly pushed the student's head into the water. Being quite strong, the Master was able to hold the student under the water for quite a while, even though the student struggled desperately. 

Finally, the Master let the student come up for air, and as the student gasped the Master asked, "So... is that breath boring?"

We are often taught to crave drama and struggle, yet do we really need them? We are also taught to believe the breath is "nothing special." After all, it happens without us. However, as we pay closer attention to the breath, recall what it is to breathe consciously, we move beyond boredom, into what we deny or overlook. In fact, as we focus on the breath, we engage in what truly matters, and what we seek is 'in plain sight' or 'in plain breath'.

While breathing exercises are growing in popularity, the rhythm of the breath itself is a language that can be decoded. Insight we gain has potential to positively impact our lives.  What is it you desire most? To reclaim power? find new confidence? Be more accepting of who you are? 

It is as if the answer or solution we seek has hidden Itself in the most obvious place. What are we ready to see about the nature of our choices? Which stage of awareness are we willing to reach? 

Comments

[Bern]

The breath becomes the gateway to appreciating this moment as it unfolds with our fullest attention and of equal value.

lol i saw the story unfold towards the full dunk where the mind is immersed into the baptism of pure consciousness

[Liara Covert]

Hi Bern, love your sense of humor. A variation of this story has a student approaching a master repeatedly for tasks to complete to become enlightened. He goes away, does the tasks, and returns for more over and over. Finally, one day, the Master is sitting beside a river and this student finds him here and asks the same question. "Is there anything else I must do to become enlightened?" The Master beckoned for the student to "come here." As the student did, the Master dunked him into the water and held his head there for a certain period. During this period, the student struggled greatly to get his head above water. As the Master released his hold on the student, he gasped. The Master asked the student, "when you were under water, what did you want more than anything?" The student replied "Air!" The Master responded, only when you want something as much as you want Air will it come.