Hello,
And welcome to Methods,
An exploration in guided prayer and meditation.
Today,
Our breath practice will be a timed,
Secular technique.
Of course,
Nothing is really secular.
The line demarcating the realm of the sacred versus the secular is something that we only recently have come to impose on our view of reality in modernity.
To people of all nations over time,
There wasn't usually such a distinction between something spiritual and something secular.
Whether it's the thought of prominent Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant,
Or Charles Finney in The Second Great Awakening,
The wedge driven between the holy and the ordinary is a false dichotomy.
Nevertheless,
Sometimes it's helpful to set aside the God language and just focus on what is,
Instead of what we think it points to.
Perhaps then we awake,
As Jacob,
And discover that,
The Lord is in this place,
And I did not know it.
The method goes like this.
Begin by finding a quiet place to sit,
In an area away from distractions.
It can be in a chair,
Or cross legged on a mat,
Or cushion on the floor,
Just as long as you're comfortable.
You can do this while standing or lying down,
But sitting is preferable for most.
Silence your phone,
Or place it on airplane mode,
So that it won't distract you.
The world will still be there when you're finished.
Place your hands gently on your lap and close your eyes.
Breathe slowly and naturally through your nose,
And out slowly and naturally.
Do this a few more times.
With your next inhale,
Try to continue breathing in for five whole seconds.
At the top,
Hold all of your breath for two seconds.
Now exhale for five whole seconds.
And hold empty for two seconds.
Repeat this pattern a few more times.
It may be scary to exhale completely and to hold empty,
But this will help you with controlling your breath and maintaining your focus.
If you start to feel anxiety arise when you're holding your breath,
Or when you're exhaling,
Just notice that anxiety.
Don't try to push it away or pull it closer,
But just examine it and then let it go and return to the breath.
Continue like this for a little while longer.
Now relax and breathe normally for a while.
St Whorez you you you you you you you you you you Thank you for participating in this episode of methods For more content visit our website at methods podcast calm Soundcloud.
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