As we follow the natural rhythm of our breath, we begin to discover in an experiential way that our thoughts, sensations, and emotions come and go as naturally as the breath if we do not cling to them or try to avoid them. Of course emotions are more viscous and slow-moving than breath, but they come and go nevertheless, because this is the natural rhythm of life.
This came from a promotional email, haven't read the book itself so no idea if I can recommend it or not - but I was really struck in just this quote by the image of the way that our emotions cycle up and down over the course of our days and weeks and years... and how this is in one sense no different from the rise and fall of our breathing.
We become so familiar with our breathing on the cushion! And we never question the next breath, or whether it 'ok' or 'acceptable'... and once a breath has been released, we don't spend ages regretting that breath, or trying to recapture it! The breath has passed, and we move to the next one. If only we could do the same for our emotions - just have them manifest in our lives as a natural and appropriate response to the circumstances that life throws at us... and then move on from them.
And of course, our practice does help us do this - even if it's not immediately obvious. But over time, we invest less and less of our identity, effort and thought into hanging onto or judging our passing emotions, and move into a more spacious way of engaging with the world.
