The Sacred Breath

"And she formed human kind from the dust of the ground and breathed the nashama into her and she became a living soul".

In all wisdom traditions, it is understood that there is a direct connection between the breath and the spiritual life. Two Hebrew words describe this: "nashama", meaning both breath and soul, and "ruach", meaning both breath and spirit. The ancient understanding was that the breath and the soul/spirit were one and the same. The breath was indivisible from God and indivisible from the very cosmos itself. The breath is one with "dabhar", the creative energy of the universe. In others words, when you breathe in, you are breathing in and are one with soul, spirit, the creative energy of the universe, with God.

In Greek, the word "pneuma" meaning breath, soul, spirit, and wind. This is the "rushing mighty wind" that blew on the Day of Pentecost when the 120 were filled with the Spirit. This is the wind that blew across Ezekiel's valley of dry bones and brought them back to life. This is the wind/spirit that moved across the deep/darkness to give birth to the cosmos. The same breath that Jesus breathes on the disciples as he says, "receive the Holy Spirit".

In Sanskrit, the word "Prana" is the word for "life". In Yoga, Prana enters the body through the breath and is sent to every cell of the body. Working with the breath is a major component of all Yoga practice. In Buddhist meditation, one begins by simply placing one's attention on the breath; being present with and aware of the breath. The transformative power of this simple practice is astonishing. If you take just a few minutes a day to focus on your breath you will be amazed by its effect.

Try it today. Find a comfortable and quiet place, calm and relax your body, now place your attention on your breath. Breathe in, breathe out. Notice the sound. Feel the breath traveling through you. Notice the rise of your rib cage as you fill the bottom of your lungs. If your mind wanders away from your breath, gently return your attention back to your breathing. Be present in the moment. Acknowledge that the present moment is a perfect and wonderful moment. Remember to smile. Love and cherish your breath; it's free. It did not cost you a thing. It is a gift. Your breath is life, soul, and spirit; the creative energy of the cosmos. In this moment you are one with God and the universe.