Repose: The Potent Pause

This pause is a well, a resource that is always available to you. Know that at any time when you feel tired or confused, hurried or overwhelmed, you can draw from this well for rest and replenishment simply by entering the pause at the end of the exhalation.

This contemplation is simply about bringing awareness to your breathing. The more frequently you pause and become aware of your breath, the more peaceful and balanced you will feel. See how often you can remember to pause. Note the relationship between pausing, breathing and your general state over the course of a day.

When our saṁskāras are suspended, instead of experiencing a sense of anxiety due to tension between our projections and the truth, we may experience a deep sense of physical relief within the body; the glorious feeling of the residue of truth.

now I encourage you to practice. Assume whatever physical posture is most comfortable for you and just allow your mind to rest for a few moments in a very relaxed, loose state. Then choose something to look at and just rest your gaze on it, noticing its shape or its color. You don’t have to stare intently—if you need to blink, just blink. In fact,