This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Meditation: Just Breathe

Remembering the utter simplicity of the practice.

There are so many wonderful books on meditation now; and so many wonderful websites. There are CDs one can purchase online to listen to one’s favorite meditation teachers, and some of those teachers are now even “tweeting” on Twitter. The easy accessibility of all of this is truly a blessing, as is the ease with which those who are inclined toward this practice can now find each other on the internet, exchange encouraging words and organize local get-togethers. 

It’s all wonderful, and yet…can be another form of busy-ness. What can get lost in all of this perusing of book-reviews, reading and responding to articles on meditation, and so forth is the simple fact that meditation is at the end of the day something which one does. It’s more about doing the practice – finding a time every day to simply sit and follow the breath; finding moments during the day when we can attend more mindfully to the simply daily tasks of life - than how many interesting ideas about meditation we have gleaned of late. At the end of the day, we have either taken the time to attend, or we have not. .

So take this next moment. Right now. Even before x-ing out of this blog-post. With eyes closed, simply follow the breath, the in-breath and the out-breath, even if just to a count of four. And then, having taken that moment for attending to the experience of the moment, open your eyes again, and proceed intentionally to your next task.

Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Receive Rabbi Mark Sameth’s posts automatically – click the “Follow This Blogpost” icon below.

Rabbi Mark Sameth is the spiritual leader of Pleasantville Community Synagogue (Joyful Judaism!) an inclusive progressive synagogue–with members from twenty towns, villages and cities all across Westchester. Read The New York Times  article. Weekly meditation at the synagogue every Saturday morning at 9 am is open to the public. Everyone is welcome and warmly invited.

Find out what's happening in Pleasantville-Briarcliff Manorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?