Breath Talks
Breathing (spiration or ventilation) is the rhythmical process of moving air into (inhalation) and out of (exhalation) the lungs to facilitate gas exchange with the internal environment, mostly to flush out carbon dioxide and bring in oxygen.
All aerobic creatures need oxygen for cellular respiration, which extracts energy from the reaction of oxygen with molecules derived from food and produces carbon dioxide as a waste product. Breathing, or external respiration, brings air into the lungs where gas exchange takes place in the alveoli through diffusion. The body's circulatory system transports these gases to and from the cells, where cellular respiration takes place.
The breathing of all vertebrates with lungs consists of repetitive cycles of inhalation and exhalation through a highly branched system of tubes or airways which lead from the nose to the alveoli. The number of respiratory cycles per minute is the breathing or respiratory rate, and is one of the four primary vital signs of life. Under normal conditions the breathing depth and rate is automatically, and unconsciously, controlled by several homeostatic mechanisms which keep the partial pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the arterial blood constant. Keeping the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the arterial blood unchanged under a wide variety of physiological circumstances, contributes significantly to tight control of the pH of the extracellular fluids (ECF). Over-breathing (hyperventilation) increases the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, causing a rise in the pH of the ECF. Under-breathing (hypoventilation), on the other hand, decreases the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide and lowers the pH of the ECF. Both cause distressing symptoms.
Breathing has other important functions. It provides a mechanism for speech, laughter and similar expressions of the emotions. It is also used for reflexes such as yawning, coughing and sneezing. Animals that cannot thermoregulate by perspiration, because they lack sufficient sweat glands, may lose heat by evaporation through panting.
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Nobody's Perfect, and There Is PerfectionNobody's perfect but there is perfection. "The Way is perfect and all-pervading" It pervades everywhere including suffering. It is the Non-duality of peace, ease and suffering. Luis... Manjushri, Fayan, Suzuki Roshi, self-improvement, bodhi, Faith, Breath, Zendo,... |
Mar 04 2023 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Stories of EnlightenmentIn our class this fall we will contemplate and converse about several stories of Zen practice and enlightenment. Our contemplation and conversations will naturally bring up questions and concerns... YRB-2019-Fall, Four Noble Truths, Book of Serenity, Daily Life, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Oct 10 2019 2/7 The Yoga Room |
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Chapter Three, Shoveling Dung Confession-and-Repentance, Breath, resistance, Repentance |
Sep 14 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Teachings for the Welfare of the WorldIn this summer series, teachings will be offered for those who aspire to embrace and sustain the great earth and all living beings in order to realize peace and freedom in our troubled world. YRB-2019-Summer, Silence, Funeral, Emotions, Interview, Soto Zen, Practice Period,... |
Jul 09 2019 3/7 The Yoga Room |
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Generating Energy resistance, Patience, Enthusiasm, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Emotions, Breath... |
Mar 09 2019 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Silent Sitting & Social ActionZen students often ask how our practice of silence and stillness relates to injustice and our environmental crisis. In this class we explore this question and study the intimate interplay of... YRB-2018-Fall, Silence, Bodhisattva Vow, Ego, Priest, Breath, Letting Go, difficulty... |
Oct 30 2018 3 of 7 The Yoga Room |
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On Breathing Emotions, Breath, Suzuki Roshi, Enthusiasm, Posture |
Aug 29 2013 The Yoga Room |
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On Breathing Breath, Posture, Greed, Hate, cognitive process |
Aug 22 2013 The Yoga Room |
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On Breathing Posture, Breath, Bell, Nirvana, Daily Life |
Aug 15 2013 The Yoga Room |
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Observing the Breathing Body and the Mind of No Abode Posture, Breath, Perfect Wisdom, Observe, Mindfulness |
Aug 10 2013 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Observing the Breathing Body and the Mind of No Abode Breath, Posture, zen meditation, Heart Sutra, Observe |
Aug 10 2013 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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On Breathing Posture, Breath, Confession-and-Repentance, Mindfulness, Observe |
Aug 08 2013 The Yoga Room |
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On Breathing Breath, Posture, Observe, Emotions, Building |
Aug 01 2013 The Yoga Room |
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On the Body Breath, Karmic Consciousness, Posture |
Nov 15 2012 The Yoga Room |
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The Four Aspects of Practicing the Threefold Ethics of Bodhisattvas Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Breath, Dharmakaya, Mahayana |
Feb 04 2012 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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The Bodhisattva's Creativity and Freedom Letting Go, Mindfulness, Breath, Practice Period |
Nov 17 2011 The Yoga Room |
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Embracing the Mahayana: Do You Want to be an Artist? Breath, Dogen, Community, Lineage, Evil |
Jul 16 2011 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Practicing the Four Frames of Mindfulness as Gates to Totality Mindfulness, confusion, Attachment, Breath |
Sep 06 2008 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Yunyan Sweeps the Ground Hate, Bodhisattva Way, Perfect Wisdom, Breath, resistance |
Jul 26 2008 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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Embodying the Lotus Sutra Lotus Sutra, Emptiness, Posture, Breath, zen meditation |
Mar 27 2008 The Yoga Room |
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Prajna ParamitaThe "Perfection of Wisdom" is the bodhisattva's understanding of emptiness, which is available to those who are settled in the conventional world. Emptiness, Discrimination, Breath, Observe |
Jul 14 2007 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |