Exercise 1

1. Breathing in, I let the Buddha sit. Buddha sits

Breathing out, I do not have to sit. I do not have to sit

2. Breathing in, I let the Buddha breathe. Buddha breaths

Breathing out, I do not have to breathe. I do not have to breathe

3. Breathing in, the Buddha is sitting. Buddha is sitting

Breathing out, I enjoy the sitting. I enjoy the sitting

4. Breathing in, the Buddha is breathing. Buddha is breathing

Breathing out, I enjoy the breathing. I enjoy the breathing

5. Breathing in, the Buddha is the sitting. Buddha is the sitting

Breathing out, I am the sitting. I am the sitting

6. Breathing in, Buddha is the breathing. Buddha is the breathing

Breathing out, I am the breathing. I am the breathing

7. Breathing in, there is only the sitting. Only the sitting

Breathing out, there is only the breathing Only the breathing

8. Breathing in, there is no sitter. No sitter

Breathing out, there is no breather. No breather

9. Breathing in, there is peace while sitting. Peace while sitting

Breathing out, there is joy while breathing. Joy while breathing

10. Breathing in, peace is the sitting. Peace is the sitting

Breathing out, joy is the breathing. Joy is the breathing

This exercise takes us to the ultimate dimension. At the beginning of the exercise we see that the Buddha and the meditator are two separate entities. Perhaps the meditator is feeling a little lazy or is at an impasse and so she does not try to practice anymore and lets the Buddha take over. It is just as when you, who are not a computer expert, have difficulty with your computer. You have to ask someone who knows about computers to come along and sort the problem out for you. The meditator instead of struggling, allows the innate Buddha nature to take over. This exercise is based on the teaching that the Buddha nature is not something acquired from without but is always available in consciousness.

When we come to the sixth part of this exercise we see that the agent is no longer separate from the action. The agent and the action have become one. It is like the sentence, "The wind is blowing." We see that it is a tautology. If it is the wind, it must be blowing. A wind that does not blow is not a wind at all. All we need is the word "wind." At this point we touch the ultimate dimension where there is no separate self.

This exercise shows us that we can allow the Buddha nature to take over in any practice. As we brush our teeth or urinate we can also witness that the Buddha is brushing our teeth or urinating.

Christian practitioners have enjoyed doing this exercise, since Buddha does not refer only to a historical personage but to an enlightened state of body and mind. However, a Christian practitioner could also use: "Let Jesus walk. Let Jesus breathe," since, according to Christianity, we are all children of God.