Demonstrating the Breath in a Dharma Discussion

In the early spring of the 12th year of training at MAPLE, I, Virabhadra, met with Soryu in an evening dharma discussion, where 3-4 students enter into a room with Soryu and one by one, each student has a chance to share their practice with Soryu and receive some guidance. Before and after the meeting, the students meditate in the zendo with the rest of the community.

The bells rang, indicating it was time to leave the zendo and wait outside. After a few minutes, the clanging (or calling) bell rang next and the three of us entered the room with Soryu. The two people I was with engaged with him first.

When my turn came I shared my goal,“[offer/do] what is needed?”; my technique, “breath”; and my practice via demonstrating a breath audibly with a technique we call energetic breathing.

My first demonstrated out-breath lasted perhaps 30 seconds and in that breath there was an alternation between different sounds to make the breath audible and more salient to Soryu and myself–low tones, some more grumbly tones, and the sound of my audible exhale.

After demonstrating the breath and while continuing to practice the technique of paying deep attention to the breath and audibly exhaling, though more quietly, Soryu responded with words such as these: see, how in this one breath, so much is worked through and so much has been offered; continue to do what is needed. Then he addressed all three of us: you have momentum in practice so continue with this and offer this to all beings over the coming days.

We all bowed and the three of us students left the room and returned to the zendo.