The Breath in Meditation

written by YeShey on Friday, December 11th, 2009

When we are meditating we do not alter or change the breath in any way.  One of the greatest reasons to meditate is to see things just as they are, same with the breath during meditation – we just observe it, we do not change it.

During the first two steps of Meditation Village – Breaking Ground and Building the Foundation we use the breath as our object of focus.  It is a natural choice for a few reasons;

-  the breath is with us all the time

-  it is something that we do not need to think about we can observe it without much comment or response

-  when we are conscious of each breath, we are completely present

- it affects and is affected by the mind

One of the first obstacles we encounter when we begin to meditate is that we discover how much our mind has a mind of its own! Thoughts, thoughts and more thoughts. So using something innocuous to focus on (the breath) gives us one less thing to think about. We can simply observe it.

When we are conscious of each breath and later, each moment of breath,  we are present. We cannot breathe in the past or the future, only now.

The breath is directly affected by the mind and vice versa.  When our emotions are high, the breath is altered in some way – it may be faster, it may be slower, it may be suspended, it may be shallower or deeper. It may be a combination.  As our meditation practice matures we become very familiar with a natural and easy flowing breath. During times of agitation, anxiety or fear, this natural and easy flowing breath can be applied to help ease the mind and we will observe immediate results.

During mediation we breathe through the nose with the lips gently closed. This may take a bit of getting used to for those that breathe through the mouth.  If this is the case and you are feeling dizzy or uncomfortable when breathing through the nose; don’t push it, take a short break, and start again when you are ready.

The instructions are simple. Do not alter the breath in any way.  Allow the breath to move in and out of the body naturally.  Do not force the breath to be longer or shorter, deeper or slower.  Just breathe. Be present.  Be mindful.

YeShey