It is much more difficult to do, but when you succeed, you feel much more peaceful and the practice becomes enjoyable. It’s a pity that most teachers don’t teach it this way. I only heard this teaching from the Pa-Auk monks and also in Ajahn Brahm’s teachings.
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In the beginning you want to count the breaths.
You have to get success with counting first.
It is like a dog tied to a longer rope. It is easier with the longer rope. However, the less focused the area is. Shorten the rope, narrow the focus to “just concept of breath” and you can achieve higher concentration. However, do not skip a step. They are like rungs on a ladder.
If you think you can skip, you can try… but it is extremely rare that you can skip and be successful with a more centralized focus but not the wider focus. You will know quick enough. Then go back to the systematic method. Count 1 - 8 and keep repeating (don’t count backwards).
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Woah the last video is what i need. Thanks @seeker
It confirms my curiousity that to attain Jhana is not a sudden, short, 1 time attainment, but takes day by days to master each step to Jhana
My breakthough in anapanasati happened while i attended Nepal retreat arranged by Dhamma Earth Malaysia with teacher Sayadaw from Indonesia, my country.
It was 2 weeks ago when i want to take rest after lunch meditation, laying down while concentrate on the breath. I found that my breathing that time so heavy, that i think this should be my “natural breath”, while i just did sitting meditation with normal, slow breath…
And that’s my Aha moment, i think i subsconsciously control my breathing or take effort too much, while the anapanasati should be effortless.
I confirmed with the teacher, that is true. And since then, i can sit comfortably and peacefully easier and without tired as before.
So my tips : know your natural breath, even you think you are not controlling your breath, it may be yes if feel tired or tense in some parts of the body. Relax
Second, ignore the other objects the mind grasp during meditation. Because the object we practice we are focusing on is the one and only breath , if other than that, then it is not breathing object meditation already
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