HUGGING MEDITATION

Hugging is a beautiful Western custom, and we from the East would like to contribute the practice of conscious breathing to it.


When you hold a child in your arms, or hug your Mother, or your husband, or your
friend, if you breathe in and out three times, you happiness will be multiplied at 
least tenfold.

If you are distracted, thinking about other things, your hug will be distracted 
also, not very deep, and you may not enjoy hugging very much. 
So when your  hug your child, your friend, your spouse, I recommend that you
first breathe in and out consciously and return to the present moment. Then, 
while you hold him or her in your arms, breathe three times consciously, and you
will enjoy your hugging more than ever before.


--Thich Nhat Hanh--