Anapanasati Meditation Technique
Anapanasati means mindfulness of breathing and Anapanasati meditation is one of the important Buddhist meditation techniques. These days this technique is well known in the Western society where it is practiced in several mindfulness based meditation programs. During this meditation you are paying particular attention to inhaling and exhaling, in order to develop meditative concentration. This is the same process Buddha has gone through for reaching Enlightenment. The traditional method has been given by the original Buddha and it consists of going to a nearby forest to sit under a tree.
Anapanasati Meditation - Doing The Steps Using Buddhist Meditation
While sitting, you are simply watching your breath and…show more content… Some people like to place the hands face up.
Close your eyes and start focusing on your breath.
Start feeling the spot where your feel the air blowing out of your nostrils just above your lips. When you exhale, that spots gets hit with the air and it trembles slightly.
Follow that very spot above your lips, called anapana (hence the Anapanasati meditation) both when you breath in and breath out.
Note in your mind when the breath is short, or when it is longer. Don't try to adjust it. Simply note it. As a side note, the short breath is called rassam pajanati, and the long breath is called digham pajanati.
Especially early on, you might notice that your mind starts wandering around. Simply gently focus your attention back on your breathing.
One of the great ways to learn this technique easily, particularly if you have problems of keeping your mind focused on your breathing, is by counting each breath when you inhale and also when you exhale.
After 1-2 weeks of regularly counting, when you notice that you are doing it auatomatically, you are ready to practice it without this extra helping step.Points to note
More modern variations of this technique include also an alternation of sitting and walking while focusing on your
