Yoga of The Mind And Heart

METHOD 1


BREATH MEDITATION

Phra Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo

There are seven basic steps:
1- Start out with three or seven long in & out breaths, thinking, bud - with the in-breath, and dho with the out. Keep the meditation syllable as long as the breath.
2- Be clearly aware of each in & out breath.
3- Observe the breath as it goes in & out, noticing whether it's comfortable or uncomfortable, broad or narrow, obstructed or free flowing,fast or slow, short or long, warm or cool. If the breath does not feel comfortable, change it until it does. For instance, if breathing in long & out long is uncomfortable, try breathing in short & out short. As soon as you find that your breathing feels comfortable, let this comfortable breath sensation spread to the different parts of the body.
To begin with, inhale the breath sensation at the base of the skull and let it flow all the way down the spine. Then, if you are male, let it spread down your right leg to the sole of your foot, to the ends of your toes, and out into the air. (If you are female, begin with the left side first, because the male & female nervous systems are different).
Then let the breath from the base of the skull spread down over both shoulders, past the lungs & liver, all the way down to the bladder & colon.
Inhale the breath right at the middle of the chest and let it go all the way down to your intestines.
Let all these breath sensations spread so that they connect & flow together, and you'll feel a greatly improved sense of well being.
4- Learn four ways of adjusting the breath:
a. in long & out long
b. in short & out short
c. in short & out long
d. in long & out short
Breathe whichever way is most comfortable for you. Or, better yet, learn to breathe comfortably all four ways, because your physical condition & your breath are always changing.
5- Become acquainted with the bases or focal points for the mind ---the resting spots of the breath---and center your awareness on whichever one seems most comfortable. A few of the bases are:
a. the tip of the nose
b. the middle of the head
c. the palate
d. the base of the throat
e. the breastbone (the tip of the sternum)
f. the naval (or a point just above it)
If you suffer from frequent headaches or nervous problems, don't focus on any spot above the base of the throat. And don't try to force the breath or put yourself into a trance. Breathe freely and naturally. Let the mind be at ease with the breath -- but, not to the point where it slips away.
6- Spread your awareness--your sense of conscious feeling--throughout the entire body.
7- Unite the breath sensations throughout the body, letting them flow together comfortably, keeping your awareness as broad as possible. Once you are fully aware of the aspects of the breath you already know in your body, you'll come to know all sorts of other aspects as well.The breath, by its nature, has many facets: breath sensations flowing in the nerves, those flowing around and about the nerves, those spreading from the nerves to every pore. Beneficial breath sensations and harmful ones are mixed together by their very nature.
To summarize: (a) for the sake of improving the energy already existing in every part of your body, so that you can contend with such things as disease and pain-and (b) for the sake of clarifying the knowledge within you, so that it can become a basis for the skills leading to release and purity of heart--you should always bear these seven steps in mind, because they are absolutely basic to every aspect of breath meditation.

Talk on: The Demons of Defilement - Phra Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo

Talk on: insight teachings of Phra Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo on July 6, 1959




Why not add some thoughts with our feelings of new found happiness and non suffering.

When preparing for meditation a few precepts may increase the benefit of meditation.
and add to your health and happiness.

the following is just some suggestions or you may want to make your own.

To refrain from :

Taking life
Taking what is not ours
Speaking what is not true
Sexual misconduct (usually considered sex
with another's wife or husband)
becoming intoxicated from eat or drink
.......................................................

By popular demand, now available (attorneys need to wait a while longer for an industrial strength repair kit) the do it your self, heart rebuild kit- consisting of faqs, read me instructions, along with the necessary prayers and meditation guidelines to insure success. Have fun

Jea has in the past ( to test myself ), meditated at nite in the bottom of cremation pits in the jungles of N.E.Thailand.


A good test for centering the mind.

When you leave this life, only your heart will be with you.



To view some pictures of N.E.Thailand click on the link below.