Just finished listening to Thich Nhat Hanh’s The Art of Mindful Living. The audiobook was a very wonderful listen. In it many short meditation objects like Flower Fresh or Mountain Solid were mentioned. He simply states:
Breathing in, I’m a flower. Breathing out, flower fresh.
I was left wondering how were these meant to be meditated. Is the meaning to repeat the verses a couple of times while mindfully breathing or incorporate to a longer sitting meditation?
I had this on CD and really enjoyed it. I’ve had the same question as yourself.
I always viewed the meditations you mention as cultivation exercises. While contemplating them, I’ve observed positive responses in my thoughts, feelings, nervous system etc. It’s why I like them so much. So I just sit with it and allow that to be there. It reminds me of some restaurants and massage places that give you a hot, scented facecloth when you arrive for your face and hands. It’s wonderfully refreshing.
So practically speaking (which is what you’re asking), I think I’m just alternating in an unstructured way between the mantra, observing and enjoying the benefits I feel as well as periods of just breath meditation. Afterwards I tend to be loosely aware that I’m having a better day as a result of it. In a way it primes me to received the experiences of the day / night better.
Thank you.
It’s interesting to read about your practice and experiences. I was gravitating towards similar direction, but wanted to know how the others have done it. My infrequent meditation practice so far has been just mindfully observing breathing, so I felt unsure what to do with Flower Fresh.
It also felt surprisingly effective just to silently reapeat the verse once breathing in and out while I was listening to the audiobook.
Breathe the question in
Breathe it out and let it go
Thank you.
