Any tips on just watching, not controlling the breath?

sova

I am not sure if this qualifies as a meditation question, but I figure this is the essence of vipasshyana meditation. Lately I have been trying to incorporate this level of awareness into my everyday activities that have lost their luster due to habit of deed. Sometimes I feel like I am able to just watch the body be, but other times I feel like I'm actively controlling breath, or interrupting it sometimes. If anyone has any comments I would be very happy to hear them.

Thanks for reading and may your day be Allsmiles! ^^

jll

This is a very common problem for beginners.
yes, you tend to control your breath when you observe it.
it is bcos you are not used to watching your breath.
its ok, no problem.
even when you are controlling your breath, continue to note and see what happens.
be patient and keep doing it for as long as you can.
keep noting , is my breath long or short, deep or shallow, fast or slow.
the point is to keep your sustained attention on your breath.
with practice, you will be able to just observe you natural breath without controlling it.
keep practsising and dont give up.
good luck.

Dharmakara

Hi Sova. I would have to say it definitely qualifies as a meditation question. You might find either of these websites helpful:

http://www.meditationiseasy.com/mCorner/techniques/Vipassana.htm

http://www.virtualsynapses.com/2011/08/mindfulness-meditation-on-breath.html

You might also wish to consider giving walking meditation a try. Regardless of the form of meditation, if your breath becomes irregular in some way, ragged or uneven, ect., the simplest way to calm it is to patiently wait for it to do so on its own--- it's a natural function of the body to control and regulate breathing in the first place.

The important thing, as Jll said above, keep practsising and don't give up.

pegembara

Sometimes I feel like I am able to just watch the body be, but other times I feel like I'm actively controlling breath, or interrupting it sometimes.

Watch everything including the need to control. They are of the nature to arise and cease.

taiyaki

Ride it.

Even if it feels controlled by you. It isn't.

That sense of control is an after thought.

Mindfulness of breath is the occurance of breath itself. Not somethin watching the breath but the breath itself.

sova

thanks for all your replies! The weather today is gorgeous, I think some walking meditation is in order =D

Jeffrey

One tip is to stop meditating and instead just be seated. As you tell yourself that you are not meditating the breath will return to normal. It works, try it.

DairyLama

thanks for all your replies! The weather today is gorgeous, I think some walking meditation is in order =D

Walking is good! It's possible to combine walking with watching the breath, one method is to count how many footsteps it takes to complete an in-breath and then an out-breath.

Floating_Abu

I am not sure if this qualifies as a meditation question, but I figure this is the essence of vipasshyana meditation. Lately I have been trying to incorporate this level of awareness into my everyday activities that have lost their luster due to habit of deed. Sometimes I feel like I am able to just watch the body be, but other times I feel like I'm actively controlling breath, or interrupting it sometimes. If anyone has any comments I would be very happy to hear them.

Thanks for reading and may your day be Allsmiles! ^^

I vote with Jill.

If you keep up your meditation practice these problems will disappear.

Ransomandsons

I sometimes visualize air entering my body. I actually visualize my lungs filling up with air and then exiting my body, being mindful of the sensations of air moving throughout my body.