"Breathing like a Buddha" this Sunday with Jane Rauenhorst

Dear Community,

Sunday 10am Community Practice & Discussion

From Jane: Lately, I have been exploring Ajahn Succitto’s book Breathing Like a Buddha (freely available here). (Thank you, Jean for the recommendation!)  In the book “Ajahn Sucitto explores the Buddha’s systematic presentation of mindfulness of breathing (Anapanasati) as a practice that unravels stress from body, heart and mind and leads to the peace of awakening.”  Like Alex’s offering last week, focusing on the value of embodiment,  I have been appreciating how Ajahn Sucitto encourages us to work with and trust the body as the basis of this practice.

Here are some quotes from Ajahn Sucitto in the book that I am hoping we can delve into more deeply:  

“This is a pragmatic approach: The vitality and ease that a settled body can bring can lift the mind out of oppressive emotional and psychological obstructions. It also brings about a greater degree of grounded stability”.

“I picked up on the fluid rhythm of the life force that the physical act of breathing moves and moderates…this embodied energy runs through the stirring, stress, calm and gladdening of our entire nervous system: if it’s distorted, it inflames and corrupts the mind; if it’s healthy, it clears it.”

“The cultivation of breathing within a safe and grounded embodiment offers something to come back to and work at…….if practiced even for five or ten minutes, it is a key to alleviating tension, hyperactivity overwhelm and fatigue.”

“As I have said before, this takes skill – and time – but what makes it manageable is that it is an approach based on pleasure….and as you’ll see, the Buddha encourages a pleasure based on steadying and being sensitive to body and heart.”

I look forward to spending time together in practice and reflection, exploring how we each experience embodiment and the energy of the breath.  All are welcome! Registration and Zoom information available here.

Upcoming Teaching Events with Alex Haley

Founding teacher of Minneapolis Insight, Alex Haley, has a number of upcoming teaching events (information and registration for all can be found here):

• Online Nine Bodies Insight Daylong Retreat March 23
• Online Nine Bodies Insight Weeklong Retreat April 18 - 24
• On-land at Spirit Rock Insight, Awareness, and the Nine Bodies of Consciousness Retreat June 7 - 14
• On-land at Spirit Rock Naturally Arising Samadhi (Concentration) Retreat October 1 - 10

With metta (loving-kindness),
Minneapolis Insight