Start with one breath

A line worth keeping

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes, and the grass grows by itself. (Zenrin Kushu)

Most of us treat calm as a project: something to schedule, track and get better at. This line says the opposite. A good deal of settling happens on its own once we stop stirring the water.

A two-minute practice

1. Sit however you are sitting. Let your hands rest.
2. Breathe in through the nose for a slow count of four.
3. Breathe out for a count of six.
4. Do that ten times. When you lose count, start again at one without comment.

That is the whole practice. Ten breaths is about two minutes. If you want a guide, the breathing timer will keep the count for you.

One useful thing

Tie the practice to something you already do every day. The kettle works well: fill it, switch it on, and breathe until it clicks off. You do not need to find time for it, because the time is already there.

Until next time.