Question 6
WHEN I BECOME AWARE OF MY THOUGHTS OR MY BREATHING, THEY IMMEDIATELY CHANGE. IS THIS NATURAL, OR AN INGRAINED HABIT OF SUBTLY NOT ACCEPTING WHAT IS?
It is natural. Whenever you become aware of anything you bring a new quality to it, it changes. If you become aware of your breathing, the breathing will change its rhythm. You don't try to change it, there is no need to make any effort; you simply become alert that you are breathing in and out and there will be a change felt, the rhythm will not be the same, because now you are consciously breathing. First you were unconsciously breathing, now something new has come into it -- consciousness.
You walk; ordinarily you walk unconsciously, there is no need, the body is like a mechanism; but then you walk consciously, bring consciousness to it -- suddenly you will see that your walk has taken a different quality: it is more graceful, more aesthetic, more beautiful, and you are not dragging -- rather, deep down you have started dancing.
When the breathing changes with consciousness you will feel a subtle silence surrounding you suddenly.
With the change of breath your whole vital body changes, you feel more alive, more intensely alive. Whatsoever you do there will be more totality in doing it. If you eat, you will eat more totally, there will be less thoughts in the mind rolling about. If you walk with conscious breathing you will see that the mind is more centred, there is no inner chattering. And then you will be able to see more clearly. With your breathing conscious you will see the beauty of flowers more intensely, they will have more colours than they ordinarily have -- as if something like LSD has been released within your being; you will see trees as more green, and you will see each tree as a different green: there are thousands of shades of green, you simply see one green -- because you don't see at all; otherwise each tree has its own green, and each leaf has its own being.
The more you become aware, the more life will be beautiful. It is a cosmic dance, it is a cosmic symphony, but when your being is in a symphony only then you come to be in tune with it, it is natural! But remember, become very very slowly aware, don't force concentration on breathing -- these are two different things: you can force concentration, then whatsoever I have said will not happen; then on the contrary you will feel drained. If you concentrate on breathing that means you force yourself on breathing, you narrow down your consciousness and look at your breathing -- you will be in a tense mood. Then you will not be able to see the flowers, the sun, the sky, the sands and the sea -- no, because when you see them you will forget your concentration....
Concentration is not awareness. Awareness is totally different: you are simply aware without any effort in it. If you forget, that too is okay -- forget. Don't feel guilty about it. When you again remember -- again look. A relaxed awareness is needed, otherwise there can be such a strain on the breathing it can be fatal, it can be dangerous to the body, and you can create many illnesses out of it.
So -- not concentration, but simple alertness; it gives really a totally different quality. You will feel very very graceful, in tune, at home.
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Next: Chapter 10, What next?, Seventh Question
Energy Enhancement Enlightened Texts Taoism Tao: The three treasures
Chapter 10
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 1
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 1, YOU HAVE SAID THAT THERE ARE NO GOALS IN LIFE, NO PURPOSE. AND YET WE ARE ALL HERE WITH ENLIGHTENMENT AS OUR GOAL. PLEASE SPEAK ON THIS at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 2
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 2, WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REACTION AND RESPONSE? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 3
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 3, IF ONE HAS NO DESIRE FOR ONE'S OWN ENLIGHTENMENT, BUT ONLY FOR THAT OF OTHERS -- DOES ONE HAVE A PROBLEM? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 4
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 4, WHY IS IT THAT THE HABITS I JUDGE BAD FOR ME -- SMOKING, OVEREATING ETC, ARE THE MOST PERSISTENT? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 5
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 5, IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING I FIND THAT I START FEELING INVISIBLE INSTEAD OF FEELING ROOTED IN THE EARTH. IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE BOTH? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 6
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 6, WHEN I BECOME AWARE OF MY THOUGHTS OR MY BREATHING, THEY IMMEDIATELY CHANGE. IS THIS NATURAL, OR AN INGRAINED HABIT OF SUBTLY NOT ACCEPTING WHAT IS? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 7
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 7, YOU SAID RECENTLY THAT TO REACH ENLIGHTENMENT YOU FIRST HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TOTAL FRUSTRATION WHERE YOU COMPLETELY LOSE HOPE. BUT IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO LOSE HOPE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT A MASTER IS HELPING YOU BY HIS PRESENCE at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 8
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 8, LAO TZU SEEMS TO BE THE MOST TRUTHFUL MAN, BUT GEORGE GURDJIEFF USED TO PAINT SPARROWS AND SELL THEM AS CANARIES. LAO TZU SAYS TO DO NOTHING AND REALIZE, GURDJIEFF SAYS ONLY A SUPERHUMAN EFFORT WILL DO. IS GURDJIEFF'S REALIZATION AS GREAT AS LAO TZU'S? HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 9
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 9, HOW CAN MAN BEST REACH THE STARS? at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 10
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 10, I FEEL SO MUCH FREEDOM AND LOVE TO HEAR YOU SAY: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE TO MEDITATE UNTIL THE TIME YOU FEEL LIKE DOING SO, THERE IS NO HARM IN DOING SOMETHING ELSE THAT INTERESTS YOU. BUT REGRETFULLY, HOW AND WHY IS IT THAT SOME OF YOUR DISCIPLES WHO DO NOT MEDITATE EXPECT OTHERS TO DO SO, AT TIMES THROUGH INDIRECT CRITICISM, AS IF IT IS A MUST! at energyenhancement.org
- Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 11
Taoism, Daoism, Tao, Dao, Lao Tzu's Tap Te Ching, Vol. 3 Tao: The three treasures, Chapter 10: What next?, Question 11, HOW IS PROGRESS, WHETHER IN CIVILIZATION, CULTURE OR RELIGION, POSSIBLE IF WE ACCEPT LIFE AS IT IS AND DO NOT SEEK TO CHANGE IT IN ANY WAY? at energyenhancement.org
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