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Odd Sensation

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:21 am
by beautiful breath
Hi

I have been practicing Shikantaza of late. Almost inadvertently too, my Samatha on the breath seemed to have just led to a silent awareness.

Trouble is as soon as I start to experience a sense of calm I find that I start to feel a little breathless. I have to return to the breath in order to halt whats an unpleasant feeling.

Anyone else experience this?

BB...

Re: Odd Sensation

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:42 am
by Astus
By breathless you mean you feel choking or that you don't recognise the breath? If it's the second one, no problem, just leave it as it is, it is a sign of calmness. If the first one, observe what changes, what makes you feel in need of air, try to breathe through the mouth.

Re: Odd Sensation

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:08 pm
by beautiful breath
Astus wrote:By breathless you mean you feel choking or that you don't recognise the breath? If it's the second one, no problem, just leave it as it is, it is a sign of calmness. If the first one, observe what changes, what makes you feel in need of air, try to breathe through the mouth.
Hi, its the second sensation. Not breathless before or after. Its almost as if I am exerting some sort of energy, a little like lifting a weight.

BB..

Re: Odd Sensation

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 8:30 pm
by Astus
Then no need to worry about it or think to much of it. Of course, you may also make this situation a subject of your meditation, and look at it whether there is really a difference between breath and no breath.