Brain Breath

The posters are everywhere. Plastered to doors, in hallways, on poles in the street. A serene, smiling Korean man, eyes closed. But his face is distorted, like a spoon’s reflection. Very, very wide. Adding to the distortion is his minute bodyand his tiny hands.

As we were leaving my apartment, I pointed at the one taped to my door and poked Sang Jae.

Hey, what is this for?

“Brain breath.”

Excuse me? I thought for sure I must have heard wrong.

“Brain breath.”

No, I had not heard wrong. What is brain breath?

“You know.”

No, I don’t.

“Brain breath.”

I heard you, I just don’t know what it means.

“Breathing for brain. Relaxing. What’s that word? Think good thoughts.”

Meditation?

“Yes. That’s it. Brain breath.”