Q) Where Does The Breath Come Between Mind And Body?

A) Breath is the bridge between your mind and body. The physical or gross level part of the mind is breath; the subtle part of breath is mind. Both are related. You can't get angry and keep your breath calm at the same time. If you breathe calmly, your anger will disappear automatically. That is the connection. That is why there are so many breathing techniques.

If you can perceive your breath and be aware of it, you can tremendously control your mind, too. There are so many Masters who have attained enlightenment through breathing techniques.

Q) How do we reduce stress and anxiety induced by certain bad memories?

A) You don't need to reduce the memory; you only need to reduce the emotional attachment to that memory. That is the real cause of the disturbance. That again belongs to the unconscious, as we have discussed. The more you are attached to a particular memory, the more you will replay and relive it. Meditation will heal and integrate your being, and the emotional attachment to the memory will be cleared. Automatically, stress will also reduce.

Also, if you have a certain vested interest in replaying that memory, in being emotionally attached to it, then, although you say you wish to get rid of it, you will subconsciously harbour it. If you really wish to get rid of it, you will get over it in no time. Sometimes we like to get into a hole of self-sympathy or some other egocentric emotion by clinging on to some memories. Then meditation first has to clear that mental set-up about it and then clear it.

-A small story:

A man went to a nearby village for work and was returning home the next day. From a distance he suddenly saw that his house was on fire. He started weeping and shouting for help. His son came running to him and said, 'Don't worry father, we sold the house yesterday.' He was relieved and started laughing.

Then his second son ran to him and told him, 'We sold the house yesterday but we don't have the money yet.' Then again he started weeping uncontrollably, shouting for help! After a few minutes, his wife came and told him that they had gotten the money that morning, and it was safe in the bank. On hearing this, he started laughing once more!

Just observe: it is the same scene, same person, and same situation; the difference is just the attachment! His attachment was causing suffering or happiness! It is not even the memory but the emotional attachment to the memory that is the problem. Only meditation can help, because it is like fumigating. It will completely cleanse your being so that any amount of information sent in will be processed beautifully. Meditation is like widening the road. It removes emotional blocks and allows a free energy flow.