Samadhi-Samatha (Concentration) Meditation

Anapanasati: ( The method of watching over in- and out- breathing).

You breathe in and out all day and night, but you are never mindful of it, you never for a second concentrate your mind on it. Now you are going to do just this. Breathe in and out as usual, without any effort or strain. Now, bring your mind to concentrate on your breathing in and out. When you breathe, you sometimes take deep breaths, sometimes not. Breathe normally and naturally.

When you inhale, the air will touch or strike at the door of your nose, and when you exhale, it will touch or strike at the same place. Before you start this practice, you must know that place exactly. This is the place where you must watch over in and out breathing continuously. You must concentrate on your respiration process until a sign appears.

First Step: Sit comfortably with legs crossed, body erect, and your eyes closed. Place your mind at the nostril where the air touches and concentrate on that breath as it enters and leaves. In this first step, the beginner gives attention by saying mentally “entering, leaving, entering, and leaving “. Try to do this for five minutes, and if you feel all right, continue for another ten minutes.

You will find it extremely difficult to bring your mind to concentrate on your breathing. Your mind runs away, and you may be dismayed and disappointed. If you continue to practice this exercise for fifteen minutes at a time, you will gradually by and by, begin to concentrate your mind on your breathing.

With the second step, counting begins. When you breathe in, the air will touch at the nostril door, you must count one mentally. Do not count the out-breath. Automatically, the air will re-enter and count two. Thus you must count every in-breath counting as; three, four, five, and so up to eight. When you reach eight, begin again with one.

With the air touching your nose, you’re counting and touching must be simultaneous. This is the secret of achieving this profound exercise. When counting the in- and- out breaths you become aware of them coming in and going out.

With the third step, you must count both the in-breath and out-breath.

When you breathe in, the air touches the door of the nostril, count one mentally. When the air goes out, it will touch at the same place, and count two mentally. Touching and counting must be simultaneous!

Automatically, when the air re-enters and touches the nostril count three mentally. When the air leaves and touches the same place count four mentally. You must count every in-breath up to eight. Then, you begin counting again with one.

After the certain period, you will experience just that split second when your mind is fully concentrated on your breathing. You will not longer hear even nearby sounds and your external world does not exits for you.

This slight moment is such a tremendous experience for you, full of joy, happiness and tranquility, that you will want to continue. If you continue practicing this method regularly, you may experience this mental state repeatedly and for longer and longer periods.

This is the moment when you lose yourself completely in your mindfulness of breathing.

This leads to the fourth step of connection. When one stops counting and mindfulness becomes established with uninterrupted in-breath and out-breath and consciousness becomes established by means of absorption. With counting, one gives attention to mindfulness occurs by absorption, and one gives attention through connection, touching and fixing.