02/08/2023
ZEN OF BREATH ~ THE DIAPHRAGM
The diaphragm is an embodiment of Zen. It is a musculo-tendinous koan like “what is the sound of one hand clapping?”
1. Most muscles “insert” into bone. The diaphragm inserts into itself!
It originates on the lower vertebrae, the lowest ribs and the inside of the lower sternum. Yet it inserts into the “central tendon” – think of that as if it were a disc in the center of a muscular parachute, with the muscle fibers leading to that disc.
The koan is then - what muscle is its own origin and insertion?
2. When we breathe in, our inner body goes down - the diaphragm contracts, pressing the central tendon down upon the abdominal organs (This downward movement thus, when we breathe fully, widens the pelvic floor). The center of the diaphragm going down, creates more room for the lungs, into which air rushes.
At the same time, when you breath in, to accommodate the expanding lungs and the resistance of the abdominal organs to compression (these are essentially filled with water, which resists compression), the abdomen and ribcage expand to allow more room and the shoulders rise up, creating more room from above as well.
So when you breathe in, your body’s “sleeve” ascends, as the "core" descends.
When you breathe out, your sleeve descends, as your core ascends.
When we exhale, unless it’s forceful, the diaphragm relaxes and the abdominal organs, now decompressing, float the diaphragm up.
Breathing in requires muscular effort, but exhaling ordinarily arises totally from relaxing.
The koan is then - what muscle makes the body go up and down at the same time?
3. Its rhythm is deep and ordinarily automatic, but we can consciously control breath as well. No other function vital to every bodily process is also subject to the control of the conscious mind. This helps account for the conscious and unconscious existential leverage conveyed through breathing meditation.
The koan - where does your spirit end and your body begin?
4. Some say plants were here first. They produced oxygen; animals came latter exhaling carbon dioxide, which the plants “breathe” in.
Question - Are we an invention of the plants' kingdom so THEY can breathe?
Meditate on these questions:
• What is going up by going down?
• What part begins and ends in itself?
• What innermost part of you is controlled by the atmosphere of the entire planet?
• Are you breathed or breathing?
• How does the conscious mind contribute to the nutrition of every cell?
• Where does spirit end and body begin?
• Are we just intelligent plant food? ☺
AND KEEP BREATHING!
“I have grown to love that place between stimulus and response where, if you remember to breathe, you can change.” Julie Reynolds
