Following the breath at the nostrils vs in the abdomen

The cultivation of calm or tranquility and the development of concentration
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philosopher
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Following the breath at the nostrils vs in the abdomen

Post by philosopher »

I've been reading and loving Shaila Catherine's Focused and Fearless (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/086171 ... 674RIA66UZ). In it she says to focus concentration on the breath at the nostrils, whereas I have always practiced focusing breath at the abdomen. This seems to leads to a greater calming of the mind for me than focusing at the nostrils. Is there a particular reason she advocates focusing at the nostrils? I assume this might lead to a brighter sense of concentration (focusing at the abdomen might lead to sleepiness) but is there any other reason? I'd prefer to continue with focus at the abdomen so long as it won't be a serious hindrance to reaching the first jhana.

Thank you for any advice!

:anjali:
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tiltbillings
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Re: Following the breath at the nostrils vs in the abdomen

Post by tiltbillings »

Do what works for you. But you will find that that changes.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Goofaholix
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Re: Following the breath at the nostrils vs in the abdomen

Post by Goofaholix »

Observing the breath at the nostrils tends to lead to a sharper focus, observing at the abdomen tends to lead to a broader concentration. The former is generally more recommended for jhana practice however sometimes people find it too tight or makes awareness centred around the head too much.
Pronouns (no self / not self)
“Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering. Trying to run away from suffering is actually to run toward it.”
― Ajahn Chah
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Re: Following the breath at the nostrils vs in the abdomen

Post by philosopher »

Goofaholix wrote:Observing the breath at the nostrils tends to lead to a sharper focus, observing at the abdomen tends to lead to a broader concentration. The former is generally more recommended for jhana practice however sometimes people find it too tight or makes awareness centred around the head too much.

Thank you; this has been my experience and I'm glad to hear that others have had the same experience.

:anjali:
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mikenz66
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Re: Following the breath at the nostrils vs in the abdomen

Post by mikenz66 »

I think many notice this, including, of course, the ancient commentators who wrote detailed instructions on jhana using that focus. Shaila is explaining that particular approach.

That's not to say that other approaches are wrong. They are just different approaches, often with different aims. Focussing on the abdominal motion is less likely to give you really strong concentration, because it's a more unstable object. But that instability, because that can give you some useful insight into anicca, which is also a good thing, but different...

Even in the case of focus on the breath at the nose, there are different ways of approaching it:
Sayadaw U Pandita wrote: Ānāpānassati can take two directions. If the meditator strives to be mindful of the form or manner of the in-breath and the out-breath, then it is samatha meditation and leads to one-pointedness of mind. On the other hand, if the meditator notes the sensation of the in-breath and out-breath as it moves and touches, then it is vipassanā meditation. The element of wind or motion (vāyo-dhātu) is matter (rūpa), while the awareness or consciousness of the sensation is mind (nāma). Therefore, ānāpānassati can be considered as vipassanā, and can lead to high levels of insight wisdom.
...
http://aimwell.org/questions.html
Some teachers say "it doesn't matter how you feel the breath", but then usually go on to give instructions that point in a particular direction. For example, Ajahn Brahm, in Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond (AKA Happiness through meditation), page 15:
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.
Not unlike U Pandita's description of using anapanasati for samatha...

Another way of putting it, the more conceptual awareness that Ajahn Brahm is talking about is more stable, and is more suitable to deep concentration.The details of the sensations are less conceptual, and are inherently less stable, and so less suitable for inducing deep concentration, but give insight into impermanence and so on...

:anjali:
Mike
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