Be Aware of your Breaths – Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah

Be Aware of your Breaths – Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah

Transcribed by Sr. Shagufta Pasta

This is what living in breaths is about. It’s about being present in yourself, being present in the time that you are, in the place that you are. And not to live in another world of what I’m going to do this evening, what I’m going to do tomorrow, the things I want to do next year, or worrying about the past.

The ordinary human being is torn between all sorts of you could say, illusionary considerations. Feeling regret about things in the past, worrying about things in the past, living in the past, (reliving the glories of the past) or more frequently, we live in terms of the future, of things that we want to do, places that want to go.

The spiritual path is one of getting in the present moment, being where you are. Being aware of the situation you are in, being aware of yourself, your breaths and everything else about you. But also being aware of people that are with you, the needs of people with you. Being conscious of your breaths, that in every breath you take, there is a special destiny just in that breathing. You didn’t create that, God created that for you, you acquired it. So that has the spiritual effect of anchoring you in the present moment. Living in the present moment. Not living in your dreams, or your ideas or your fears or your expectations or anything else. That is really really important. That means also to be thankful for what you have now, instead of when I get this, when I go there, when this time is up, things will be so good. No. Where are you right now?

~Dr. Umar Abd-Allah On Spiritual Guidance: Commentary on Ibn Ata’illah’s Hikam – 03 Dec 2011, SeekersGuidance