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Counting breaths

shanyinshanyin Novice YoginSault Ontario Veteran
edited November 2009 in Meditation
How far can counting breaths take you? Samadhi developement; surely not jhana. How much can you train your mind with counting breaths.

Comments

  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited November 2009
    Why do you ask?
  • TheFoundTheFound
    edited November 2009
    dstss
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited November 2009
    I forgot how to practice anapanasati and my mind is very distracted and I heard counting breaths works. Bassically just asking if it is useful.
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited November 2009
    Yes, it's a useful beginning technique. Try it and see how it works out.
  • DeshyDeshy Veteran
    edited November 2009
    It doesn't work for me. Instead of counting I find it easier to just be aware of the feeling of the breath going in and out
  • skullchinskullchin Veteran
    edited November 2009
    Deshy wrote: »
    It doesn't work for me. Instead of counting I find it easier to just be aware of the feeling of the breath going in and out

    Isn't this kind of the same thing? I mean, counting is supposed to make it easier to be aware of the breath.... Right? :wtf:
  • DeshyDeshy Veteran
    edited November 2009
    skullchin wrote: »
    Isn't this kind of the same thing? I mean, counting is supposed to make it easier to be aware of the breath.... Right? :wtf:

    It's not the same. Counting is like thinking 1, 2, 3 after each breath whereas the other method doesn't count like that. You just follow the feeling of the breath in your mind that's all ...

    Counting is a distraction for me. It might be easier for someone else though. Depends on your preference
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited November 2009
    Eventually, the counting needs to be dropped. All mental activity needs to be dropped. But as a tool for tracking attention to the breath, for a beginner, it can be very useful.
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited November 2009
    so basic anapanasati is being aware of sensations in your nose that breathe make?
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited November 2009
    No, it is resting in the experience of breathing. That means dropping all mental activity.
  • shanyinshanyin Novice Yogin Sault Ontario Veteran
    edited November 2009
    resting in the experience... so attention on the breath.. ?
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited November 2009
    Resting attention on the breath, sure. But there is more to the experience of breathing than the sensations in the nose.
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