Breathe! You Are Alive

On July 14th, 6:00 pm, we will host our monthly contemplative service which we call "The Voice in Silence" at the Suquamish United Church of Christ.  This month, the interfaith readings come from Buddhist wisdom, but I hope that my Christian brothers and sisters will see that this wisdom flows from the same head waters as the wisdom of Christ.  I find the meditations and teachings that help me center in the body, help me sense there the presence of God which in turn leads me to a state of gratitude, praise, and worship. When a wisdom or practice produces good fruits like these, I embrace and share them.

                                        Photo by Mariah Hanson, 2006

Reading I: 

In your investigation of the world, never allow the mind to desert the body.  Examine its nature; see the elements that comprise it.  When its true nature is seen fully and lucidly by the heart, the wonder of the world will become clear.                    -Ajahn Mun

In the photo above, I love how the image of the girls' legs and hands celebrate the beauty of the body and suggest an easy friendship.  Two amazing gifts offered through the body are beauty and relationship.  I think Mariah captured some of the "wonder of the world" in this piece.

Reading II:

In preparation for our monthly contemplative services, we meet in a small group and read texts we bring for consideration to be used in the Voice in Silence service.  As my friend Cathy was reading the text below to Melissa and me, I felt it lighten my breathing and lift my heart to gratitude for the gift of life that comes in the package of our bodies.
 

Breathe! You Are Alive

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 in a book by Thich Naht Hahn with same title

May you cherish your body; care for it,  and cultivate compassion and gratitude for it.    May you celebrate how your body allows you to resonate with life.

Sue