Finite & Infinite – Breath; Wake Up To Life By Prem Rawat

I love the reflections on breath from this book.

When first sober and very defiant in my agnosticism, I was able to find a way of relating to a Power greater than myself as breath. I knew my breath was absolutely essential to my life yet something I was being given each moment of every day unceasingly …without my willing it to happen. There was something gifting me with breath and thus life in this unconditional way moment by moment. I could conceive of this Power as with me wherever I go, life giving, without any judgment or condemnation … and I could also find a way to call this Power good.

I believe I have a thirst for the Infinite that cannot be satisfied by the finite. This thirst for more of the finite doesn’t satisfy my thirst for the Infinite. Thus, I find myself imprisoned by my addiction; a ‘bondage of self’. (Big Book p. 63). My addiction to ‘more’ can never satisfy my thirst for what is Eternal and Ever Present.

I love the way this chapter entitled ‘Finite & Infinite’ suggests we have an ‘unsuspected inner resource’ (BB p.567) that can supply us with what we seek in the simplicity and ceaseless reliability of our breath. I hope you enjoy this reflection. You may also enjoy the poem ‘Tis The Set Of The Sail’ if you find this reflection valuable. – Bruce M.

---

“We give attention to our thinking and forget our breathing , embracing the complexity of mind and neglecting the simplicity of breath”

Within, you can feel the endless moment—out of nowhere, into somewhere, and then out again into nowhere, one breath at a time.

Is breath really timeless? To answer this, you have to understand what breath represents to us. What does it mean?

Breath comes into you and you are alive. Breath represents not just an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It actually represents life—existence.

This breath is the manifestation of life for you. The power that ripples through the whole universe comes through you in the form of the breath, and makes it possible for you to be. To be, so that you can understand.

Only then, and then alone, does this breath become timeless—because your understanding is timeless.

Then you have exchanged the finite for the infinite. You have become the ultimate alchemist. You have taken earth, you have taken dust, and truly converted it to the priceless. You have taken something that is so common and converted it into something that is uncommon.

You have understood that being here is not only about the passage of time. But you have reached out of this and dared to touch the timeless. The finite, which you are, has dared to reach for the infinite. And that’s when this breath becomes timeless. That’s when this existence becomes timeless.

One breath in and one breath out. Can’t take two breaths at the same time. Without doing anything, whether you’re sleeping, whether you’re awake. Within this world of infinite changes, something has been placed that doesn’t change inside of you.

A breath doesn’t appear to be much. But look a little bit more, and you will find an existence. Look a little bit more, and in that existence you will find the thirst to be fulfilled. Then look a little bit more, and you will find the infinite well of that water that the thirst exists for. And when you can drink that water, you will be fulfilled.

A person is just dirt, but what has decided to come and reside in this dirt?

Turn within, feel this breath. This is the most incredible miracle there is!

Dirt can dance! Dirt can speak! Very unnatural.

But done with so much charm and grace, it is completely natural that dirt can speak, dirt can think, and dirt can feel the ultimate.

The source of the joy that you want, that will always be there, is inside of you, not outside. I have a heart, and to ignore my heart is the most illogical thing on the face of this earth. How can I not understand that water will quench my thirst? But where is the pleasure the water brings? Is it in the water or is it in me? The sweetness of the mango is in the mango, but enjoying that mango is inside of you. Quenching the thirst, this is the possibility. This is the strength of the water, but the pleasure of having the thirst quenched is inside of you. The one that you are looking for is inside of you. The holiest place in the whole universe is inside of you.

It is my pleasure to remind you what a beautiful, incredible gift you have: this life, this breath. Enjoy! Because that’s the only thing you don’t have a limit for! Get as much as you can, and then some more!

There’s no other reality as real as the reality of being alive. You can feel it. This is as “feeling” as it gets! Now just plug in this incredible feeling machine to the ultimate feeling, and you’ve got it made.

How lucky for all of us that the ultimate feeling is inside of us. We don’t even have to search. Imagine the timeless, the infinite. Here. And you get to join it. In that moment this breath becomes timeless.

Realize that there is a sweet reality so far away from all the things that you see in front of you. There is a beautiful reality so different from all the good and bad that is happening.

Everything changes. If you think things are good, wait a while. It will all change. If you think things are bad, wait a while. It will all change. You change. The mind changes. Thoughts change. Ideas change. The world changes. Everything changes, changes, changes.

One thing does not change: the coming and going of this breath. It comes and it goes, it comes and it goes. And when it changes, then all the changes stop. For you, all the changes stop.

Find your friend within. Find your comfort in this blessing. Find your joy in this reality. Find your shelter in this beautiful place. Feel that joy. Feel that beauty. It’s for you, so you can be content.

There are times when problems become so insurmountable that all the strength you thought you had vanishes. The waves get huge. The boat is small. What do you do? It is not a joyride. If you go forward or back, the waves are the same.

Where is the boat of your life anchored? What precautions have you taken? That’s the question. The size of the waves is not under your control, but taking precautions is under your control. When you have found a way to anchor yourself in that ocean, in this breath, then you have taken proper and correct precautions. In this breath you find your home. In this breath, you find your anchor. In this breath, you find your reality.

Will storms come in your life? Yes. Absolutely. Will confusion knock at your door? Absolutely. Will you be in dramatic situations that are out of your control? Absolutely.

But just remember that even when the wildest storm engulfs you, when chaos is afoot, when the night is as dark as it gets, there is still a lamp that is lit within you. Even when all seems to be as bad as it gets—and I will not underestimate how bad it can be. As long as this breath is coming in and out of you, you still have the companionship of the divine. When storms make you feel weak, know that the greatest strength lies within you.

Be thankful for each breath. Tie your boat to the timeless. Your boat will be secure. If you tie your boat to the changeable, the boat will be smashed. When the heart is full, it’s a wonderful life. To the heart, a day got saved, a lifetime mended.

Your potential is the potential of understanding. Understand the timeless. Understand this life. Understand the joy. Understand what it is to be human. And every day awaken to the possibility of your heart being full.

Know how to relate to that perfection that dances inside of you. That is when you begin to understand the timeless breath.

One moment would be enough. You have been given a lifetime to experience it—to know it, to see it, to enjoy it, to feel it.

As long as this breath is coming into you, you are being kissed by the infinite.