Mindfulness of breathing

• Holding many different viewpoints of the body
• Seeing the body as the basis of precious human life
• Reducing the attachment to the body
• Using the body for virtuous actions and dharma practice
• Problems due to indulging in the pleasures of the body and resenting the various aspects of the body
• Four phases of mindfulness of breathing
• Investigating what is the breath or the process of breathing

101 Mindfulness of Breathing (download)

Contemplation points

1. What are the purposes of meditating with mindfulness of the body?
2. Some people feel resistant to doing this meditation because they are concerned it will reinforce negative views of the body they’ve learned as children, because they are artists or scientists and find the body fascinating to paint, sculpt, or study, or because they enjoy intimate physical relationship and this meditation will affect that. Do you find hesitation or resistance in yourself? If so, where is it coming from? What ideas do you have for how to soften this resistance? Try using them.
3. t can be challenging to meditate on the body with awareness that both 1) the body is foul and 2) it is the basis of our precious human life. What might a balance of both of these truths look like in your meditation and the way you approach experiences in your daily life?
4. As you meditate on the breath as described in the text, consider what is going on in your mind. How does how you breathe affect your mind? How does your mind affect your breath? In addition, take some time to tune into how someone else is breathing. Match your breath with theirs and slowly lengthen your own breath. Notice: does the other person’s breathing pattern change to match yours?
5. Consider the entire action of breathing: What does it mean to breathe? Is it something your lungs are doing? Is it your diaphragm? Your nose? Is it the air? Take your time investigating this.