In the ancient world, sages viewed the breath as a vehicle for transforming consciousness. By focusing on the breath, sages believed you could attain an understanding of life, the universe, and everything---infinity itself. Today, numerous meditation practices combine the breath with visualizations to help you connect with a broader perspective, transcend the self, and open to infinite possibility.
Sufi Meditation
Like many forms of mysticism, Sufism---an esoteric branch of Islam---seeks union with the divine. Breathwork combined with meditation can help the practitioner transcend the ego and merge with the cosmos, according to Pir Vilayat Khan, former head of the Sufi Order in the West, in a 1978 article in "Yoga Journal." To begin, breathe out completely. Imagine your skin dissolving and your consciousness melding with everything that lies beyond your body. Breathe in, pulling your awareness back into the body, feeling and imagining the vast inner space inside of you. Alternate between the expansive exhalation and the deep, internal inhalation. Relax fully as you experience the exchange and union between what's inside and outside of you.
Qigong Meditation
Qigong, an ancient Chinese meditation form, invites you to focus the mind on the here and now as you breathe, allowing your spirit to connect with the Tao or source of all life. To practice qigong breathing, stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Allow your hands to rest at your sides. Relax your gaze so you are looking into the infinite. Breathe through the nose slowly, deeply and evenly. As you inhale, lift your hands slightly. Imagine and feel the energy of the air you breathe condensing into the marrow of your bones. As you exhale, drop your hands and relax down into the center of the earth. Repeat. Regular practice of this exercise will help you draw qi or vital life energy into your body more effectively, leaving you energized, says Waysun Liao, founder of the Taichi Tao Center in Oak Park, Illinois, and author of "The Essence of T'ai Chi."
Breathing Infinity Under the Sky
To connect with infinity, connect with the natural world, advises metaphysical researcher and student of Buddhism José Lorenzo-Fuentes. His infinity breathing meditation invites you to practice sky gazing, like you might have done as a child. Lie down in an open area where you can see the sky. Gazing into it, relax fully. Don't try to control your breathing---just let it come naturally. Imagine that the air you're breathing now originated high up in the sky, beyond the clouds. As you inhale, know that you are breathing in molecules of oxygen that originated at the beginning of time. Feel that time and space have no limits. You and infinity are the same. Focus on the enormity of the universe as you continue to breathe. Allow yourself to feel exhilarated and complete.
