Easy Technique for Cultivating Presence: Breath Awareness | Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle

28 Sept 202414:41

Summary

TLDRThis transcript explores mindfulness practices, emphasizing the importance of breath awareness as a path to presence and stillness. By consciously observing one's breath, one can slow down thoughts, creating a mental gap that fosters inner peace. The speaker highlights how overthinking can distort reality and cause unnecessary suffering. Breath awareness, coupled with sensing the body's energy, helps reconnect with a deeper consciousness, transcending mental narratives. These simple practices of being present lead to an enhanced sense of aliveness and calm, offering a gateway to greater awareness and clarity in daily life.

Takeaways

🌬️ Being aware of your breathing is a simple and effective way to become present.
🧘‍♂️ When you focus on your breath, thinking tends to slow down or stop, allowing a sense of stillness to arise.
📿 The practice of conscious breathing has ancient roots, with the Buddha teaching it 2,500 years ago as 'Anapanasati' (mindfulness of breath).
🌟 Many people mistake the narrative in their minds for their life, when true life is the present moment, not the thoughts of past and future.
🧠 Most thinking is unnecessary and often harmful, creating pseudo-problems instead of addressing real issues.
✍️ When faced with a real problem, it's helpful to first write down possible solutions, then enter a state of stillness and presence for clarity.
🔄 Conscious breathing creates a gap in the stream of thinking, allowing a presence that’s always been there to emerge.
🙌 Presence or stillness cannot be achieved by effort, but rather discovered, as it is always there beneath thoughts and emotions.
🌿 Inner body awareness, the feeling of an energy field within, is closely related to breath awareness and can be accessed through conscious breathing.
💡 Breath awareness and inner body awareness often merge into one practice, bringing a calm yet intense sense of aliveness.

Q & A

What is the simplest practice mentioned in the script to become present?
-The simplest practice to become present is to be aware of your breathing. By consciously focusing on your breath, you bring your attention to the present moment.
How does focusing on the breath impact one's thinking?
-Focusing on the breath slows down or eliminates thinking, creating a space of awareness where the mind is not constantly occupied with unnecessary thoughts.
What does the speaker say about the relationship between life and the narrative in the mind?
-The speaker explains that many people confuse the narrative in their mind with their actual life, but life is always happening in the present moment, not in the past or future stories we tell ourselves.
What is 'Ana Sati yoga' according to the script?
-'Ana Sati yoga' is the ancient practice of being aware of the ingoing and outgoing breath, which was taught by the Buddha 2,500 years ago.
Why does the speaker recommend taking a conscious breath throughout the day?
-Taking a conscious breath throughout the day creates a gap in the stream of thinking, leading to moments of stillness and presence that help clear the mind and bring awareness.
How does the speaker describe the difference between thinking and actual problem-solving?
-The speaker explains that while the mind often creates imaginary problems through unnecessary thinking, true problem-solving involves focused application of the mind, supported by an awareness of stillness behind the thinking.
What does the speaker mean by 'presence'?
-Presence refers to the deeper consciousness and stillness that exists underneath all thinking and emotional turmoil. It's not something to achieve but something that is already within us.
How can breathing lead to inner body awareness?
-Breathing can connect one to the inner energy field of the body by bringing attention deep into the abdomen, where one can feel the energy spreading throughout the body, leading to a sense of aliveness.
What is the connection between breath awareness and inner body awareness?
-Breath awareness and inner body awareness are closely related. Focusing on the breath can lead to sensing the inner energy of the body, and eventually, both practices merge into one, creating a calm sense of aliveness.
Why does the speaker discourage overthinking and emphasizes being present?
-The speaker discourages overthinking because it often leads to unnecessary suffering and the creation of pseudo-problems. Being present allows one to step back from thoughts and experience life as it is, rather than as a narrative in the mind.

Outlines

00:00

🧘‍♂️ Breath Awareness for Presence

The paragraph emphasizes the practice of being aware of one's breath as a simple yet profound method for being present in the moment. It suggests that by directing attention to the breath, one can observe the air moving in and out of the body, which can slow down or even halt the constant stream of thoughts. The speaker highlights that this practice was advocated by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago as Ana Sati, or mindfulness of breathing. The paragraph also discusses how most people are tortured by their thoughts without realizing it, confusing the narrative in their minds with their actual lives. The speaker clarifies that life is not a narrative but a continuous present, and by being aware of one's breath, one can achieve a sense of inner spaciousness and stillness.

05:01

🤔 The Mind and Its Narratives

This paragraph delves into the nature of thinking, suggesting that much of it is not only unnecessary but also harmful, creating pseudo-problems. The speaker explains that while the mind may seem to be solving problems, it is often just replaying old narratives. They advocate for a focused application of the mind, where thinking is enhanced when there is a presence behind it. The speaker encourages using breath awareness as a portal to stillness, especially when faced with a real problem. They describe the process of writing down possible solutions and then stepping back into stillness to access a deeper consciousness. The paragraph also touches on the idea that presence or consciousness is already there, beneath the surface of thoughts and emotions, and that it is not something to be achieved but rather discovered.

10:01

🌟 Inner Body Awareness and Energy

The final paragraph introduces the concept of inner body awareness, which is closely related to breath awareness. It suggests that by focusing on the breath, one can become aware of an inner energy field that pervades the body. The speaker describes this as a sense of aliveness that is intelligent and transcends personal identity. They mention that this practice can lead to a feeling of being intensely alive in a calm way. The paragraph also connects this practice to ancient teachings, including those of Buddha and Jesus, who spoke of the body being full of light. The speaker concludes by merging breath awareness and inner body awareness into one practice, emphasizing the importance of feeling the aliveness and intelligence that inhabit the body.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Breath Awareness

Breath awareness refers to the conscious attention given to one's own breathing. In the video, it is presented as a fundamental practice for being present in the moment. The speaker explains that simply observing the breath as it moves in and out helps eliminate unnecessary thinking and cultivates mindfulness. It is the simplest way to achieve presence and stillness.

💡Present Moment

The present moment is the state of being fully aware of the 'now,' without being distracted by past memories or future concerns. The video emphasizes the importance of focusing on the present, as life is always happening in the present moment, not in the mind’s narrative about the past or future. The speaker mentions that presence is found by becoming aware of one's breath.

💡Narrative Mind

The narrative mind refers to the constant stream of thoughts that create stories about one's life, often filled with past regrets or future worries. According to the speaker, many people confuse this narrative with their real life, when in fact life is happening in the present. The narrative mind distracts from the truth of the present moment and creates unnecessary suffering.

💡Stillness

Stillness is the state of mental quiet and absence of thought, achieved through mindfulness or breath awareness. The speaker suggests that stillness arises naturally when attention is given to the breath, as it interrupts the mind's usual patterns of overthinking. This stillness is where presence can be found, beneath the noise of thoughts and emotions.

💡Conscious Breath

A conscious breath is a deliberate, mindful inhalation and exhalation. In the video, the speaker describes how even a single conscious breath can create a moment of presence and stillness, interrupting the flow of continuous thinking. This practice is portrayed as a powerful tool for bringing attention back to the present moment.

💡Inner Energy Field

The inner energy field refers to the sense of aliveness or vitality that permeates the body. The speaker suggests that through breath awareness, one can become more attuned to this energy field, which transcends physical sensations and connects with a deeper consciousness. This awareness is linked to ancient meditation practices and is described as a path to feeling deeply alive and present.

💡Overthinking

Overthinking is the excessive, often repetitive, focus on thoughts that lead to stress and mental clutter. The speaker in the video points out that most thinking is unnecessary and even harmful, as it distracts from the present and creates false problems. Breath awareness is proposed as a method to reduce or eliminate overthinking.

💡Meditation

Meditation is a practice of focused attention, often on the breath or body sensations, to achieve mental clarity and inner calm. While the speaker acknowledges structured meditation practices, he advocates for informal moments of mindfulness throughout daily life, such as being aware of one's breath while performing everyday tasks. This informal approach is presented as equally effective in fostering presence.

💡Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the practice of bringing one's full attention to the present moment, particularly through the observation of bodily sensations like breathing. The video positions mindfulness as essential for escaping the continuous stream of thoughts that many mistake for their reality. By focusing on the breath or the body, one can cultivate mindfulness and deepen awareness.

💡Pseudo Problems

Pseudo problems are imagined or exaggerated issues created by the mind rather than actual challenges. The speaker suggests that most of what the mind worries about are pseudo problems that have no real basis in the present moment. He contrasts this with genuine problems, which require focused thinking and action, and he emphasizes that pseudo problems can be dissolved by practicing breath awareness and presence.

Highlights

Being aware of your breath is the most direct and simple practice of being present.

Your life is always now, not the narrative of past and future created by your mind.

Awareness of your breathing can slow down or eliminate unnecessary thinking.

Most thinking is unnecessary and can create pseudo-problems, while focused thinking becomes more effective with presence.

To solve real problems, step back from thinking into stillness, and use breath awareness to access this stillness.

One conscious breath can create a gap in your stream of thinking, allowing presence to arise.

Presence is always there beneath the thinking; it is something you discover, not something you need to achieve.

Breathing happens naturally, without your conscious control, just like most people's thoughts, but this doesn't have to be the case.

By becoming aware of your breath multiple times a day, you can break the cycle of unconscious thinking.

Inner body awareness, which involves sensing the inner energy field of your body, is closely related to breath awareness.

Breath awareness can connect you to the inner energy field of your body, which leads to a calm sense of aliveness.

The Buddha's teachings from 2,500 years ago, such as Ana Sati yoga, are aligned with the practice of breath awareness.

Focusing on breath awareness while working or engaging in daily tasks can enhance your mental clarity and presence.

Taking several conscious breaths throughout the day helps create mental space and reduces stress.

Inner body awareness, a practice taught by various spiritual leaders, allows you to sense the intelligence that inhabits your body.