Why We Practice Mindfulness Of Breathing

This is part of a live class explaining the importance of calm, abiding meditation and mindfulness. This snippet is the beginning of a talk that was given before formally introducing meditation to a group of master-level university students.

Three key elements are discussed regarding the benefits of contemplative practice: How does insight arise? What is the right view in the context of meditation? What does it mean to be alive?

Transcript

Before we start meditation, I think it's also essential to understand why are we practicing, Right? This is right view. So I create these little monsters because I think this is kind of what happens in our mind. We all suffer. None of us want to suffer. We practice for the cessation of suffering primarily. And then I put two secondary goals, Because they are side by side. And we've talked about this in class before, Non-attachment. Non-attachment, It means freedom from craving, From clinging, From these desires, From pulling something too closely, Grasping too closely, Too much, Or pushing away. And we have insight and concentration. So insight leads to wisdom. But to get there, We need to learn how to concentrate. That's why we use our breath, Both subtle and gross. Traditionally, We focus on the space right below the nostrils. And you can even take your hand and put it in front of your face and just exhale slowly. And you feel a little bit of heat there.