Dear Breathing Friends,

Is there warm-hearted regard for each breath? For this one? For the next?

What if that warm-hearted regard were the flavor and feeling behind each breath? What if that were the spirit and intention behind and within whatever mechanics of breath practice we might engage in?

“So we put emphasis on warm heart, warm zazen. The warm feeling we have in our practice is, in other words, enlightenment, or Buddha’s mercy, Buddha’s mind…. The point is, while inhaling and exhaling, to take care of the breath, just as a mother watches her baby. If a baby cries, the mother is worried. That kind of close relationship, being one with your practice, is the point.” (Suzuki Roshi)

For all his many teachings on breath (some of which you can find on the course page “readings” tab), I think this captures the strongest stream in Suzuki Roshi’s teachings on zazen. Zazen is just the warm-hearted care-taking of the breath. And it’s caretaking as oneness, not “me” taking care of “it.”

I see in this spirit of warm-hearted regard for each breath one of the avenues for a true Middle Way between “manipulation” and “letting go” in our practice. Warm-heartedness is a kind of cultivation, a kind of intention, but it’s fully in harmony too with letting go. It’s the cultivation of warmth, but there’s no manipulation there, and certainly no interference with the natural breath.

I hope that makes sense and feels within reach, and if not let’s talk about it on our webinar!

In the meantime, in noticing breath and counting breath, let’s not neglect to care for our breath. To be not separate from breath. To find, and to tend, the warm heart on each number.

Yours in Dharma,

Jiryu