ANAPANASATI MEDITATION

ANAPANASATI

The word... ANAPANASATI... in Pali language means... to keep one’s total attention and awareness only on one’s normal breathing process.

‘ana’... means ‘in-breath ’

’ apian’ means ‘out-breath ’

’ sati’ means ‘be-one-with ’

In Anapanasati, attention of the mind should constantly be on the breath. The task on hand is conscious observation of the breath. No mantra is to be chanted! No form of any deity is to be entertained in the mind! No pranayama practices... like kumbhaka (HOLDING THE BREATH) should be attempted!  

Any comfortable sitting posture can be taken.  The posture should be as comfortable as possible. Hands should be clasped... and eyes should be closed. The crux of the matter is to resist the routine wanderings of the mind. Thoughts should be cut right away, as and when they keep arising.

ANAPANASATI PROCESS

BE CALM ... BE STILL

BE-WITH-THE-BREATH

Close your eyes

Take all the time you need, to get comfortable

Shift muscles

Stretch and relax

Spine and neck are relaxed ... not held stiffly!

There is no stiffness here

Just comfort ... the beginning of calm ... there is no hurry now

There is nothing else to do ... or think about ... just pure relaxation!

BE STILL

INHALE SLOWLY

EXHALE SLOWLY

Let your breath be a rhythm of calm

Your breath is a rhythm of calm

Follow your breath

BE CALM

Use your mind to follow your breath

In ... out ... in ... out

That is all

BE WITH YOUR BREATH

BE STILL

Be with your breath-energy

Let your breath-energy baptise you

The physical body has its own natural and easy rhythm of the breath. In meditation, the

Mind has to become totally attuned to the normal rhythmic nature of the breath.