How does meditation do this?
Here's another view on meditation: http://www.sahajayoga.org.in/SYIntro.asp where you actually harness your inner energy to do those positive changes you are talking about. It's an imense potential very few people know about and use. To give it a try, you can start with this experience: http://www.sahajayoga.org/experienceitno... then browse around the 2 websites to find out more.
Meditation: how do I focus on my breath?
Hello Daniel, When you focus on the breath, you focus on the experience of the breath happening now. You experience what the breath is doing, whether it is going in, going out, or is in between. Some teachers say to watch the breath at the tip of the nose, some say to watch it at the abdomen, and some say to move it here and then move it there. I have found through experience that it does not matter where you watch the breath. In fact it is best not to locate the breath anywhere. If you locate the breath at the tip of your nose then it becomes "nose awareness," not breath awareness, and if you locate it at your abdomen then it becomes "abdomen awareness." Just ask yourself right now: "Am I breathing in or breathing out? How do I know?" There! The experience that tells you what the breath is doing, that is what you focus on. Let go of the concern about where this experience is located. Just focus on the experience itself. May you find much success, peace and happiness in all your efforts :)
Why does my breath get so short in vipassana meditation?
One great mystery about Meditation emerges when ones awareness deepens regarding the breath.This mystery is the mystery of the void. The gap between inhalation and exhalation. Since our birth and all these years we have only known breath in two ways. The incoming of air, and the outgoing. We have not known the gap in between, as it is a very small moment in itself. Hence the great mystery.With vipassana one relaxes, one relaxes so deep that he starts becoming aware of all the three parts of the breath. Hence the insistence of being aware of the breath at the point of the nose while coming in and coming out. So that with great focus, with great concentration now this is forgotten and what remains. What remains is the void where nothing happens, where no activity happens, not even breath, now you have moved beyond the breath, in this void nothing existential exists, nor time nor space not fragrance nor temperature.Hence the shortening of breath, as one is moving more and more closer to the void. Keep your trust and faith alive, stop asking questions and just be aware about it. The more you ask questions, again the more your mind is moving towards activity, when the sole purpose of any technique is to remove this activity oriented mind.Let the mind relax to the greatest depths. And will arise magic through this, will arise beauty from it, will arise the greatest music out of this. That will arise which has ever been and will always be, that which is eternal and unique.Cheers
How does breathing meditation improve awareness?
There are many types of breath meditation, and only some of them improve awareness. All meditation can be divided into two broad categories: Those in which we try to change something, and those in which we seek to become aware of what is already going on.So, for example, if we control our breath by counting inhalation and exhalation for deep breathing, that will not improve awareness.But if we practice what is usually called mindful breathing, then we improve mindfulness. Mindfulness is close, attentive awareness. The Buddha called it “full awareness” in the anapanasati sutta, the instructions for “full awareness of breathing.” I like to call it loving awareness, because we pay attention with gentle awareness that does not intrude. I say it is like watching one’s breath like watching a deer in the woods. Our awareness is so quiet and still we do not scare the deer away. Our awareness is so quiet and still that it does not change the pattern of our breathing.Yet the pattern of our breathing will change. We focus on awareness, not on relaxation. Trying to relax does not work. But, in focusing on awareness, we achieve relaxation as a natural side effect. With relaxation comes deeper breathing, more oxygen, and less use of oxygen. This supports more sensitive awareness in the function of both the peripheral and central nervous systems.If we follow the training program the Buddha taught in the anapanasati sutta, we first feel the belly move as breath goes in and out. We then increase our awareness to the sensation of the breath and all sensations of the body.Thus, breath is the initial object, but what we are practicing is awareness. Now, the law of karma kicks in: What we practice, we get better at.So we increase our ability for sustained, gentle, subtle, detailed awareness.In the classic Buddhist meditation training, this is called “full awareness of the body” breathing. It is the first of four steps in the basic awareness training. This work prepares us for more advanced training that allows us to be aware of emotions and thoughts.Once we are aware of our body, our feelings, and our thoughts, we have the tools we need to establish peace of mind and vitality of body so that we can eliminate suffering.
I gag during meditation or i cant breath.. why?
I'm on my phone so I apologize for grammar. I have been trying to meditate but instead of moving to the feeling of peace- which gives me vertigo, I decided to try facing the pain/anger. I have minor PTSD from a traumatic event where I was held hostage and for some reason it gives me almost an asthma attack and I start gagging/choking/almost coughing. Is it dangerous or do I continue confronting the dark side?
If you meditate, do you breathe through your nose or mouth?
Nose most common. Although the focus with breating can be in many places as people have been saying. The standard taught by Buddhist Monks is the nose with the outside edges of your nostrils as a focus not necessarily the breath itself. This actually allows the breath to flow without thought or restriction. Which inturn allow the focus to watch the breath in more detail. Feeling the cool air on the intake and warmth on the out. The breath can seem to disappear at times, however with more foucs and letting go, allow it to return naturally without panic or fear to once again as mindfulness registered gently refocus on the breath each time. No matter what thought or feeling may come, let go and refocus is the training of the mind to watch with let attachment. Yes mouth when have a cold though only needs to be a light opening between lips as jaw relaxes. Yor mouth will dry out quickly especially in warm places.