Hi Ed, There are several levels of belly breathing.
* At the beginning, we recommend practitioner to breathe with
intended large volume breathing, especially those can not even
breathe with belly.
* For a month or two, when they are able to breathe with their
belly, then we ask them to let it breathe naturally, as per the
article you find.
* Then we ask them to abandon their focus on breathing and focus on
a chakra.
* Then we ask them to do more advanced breathing..In teaching Chan,
we usually talk about half step at a time. I have said too much
already.
What's missing in the article you find is the key component of
awareness. The most important objective in belly breathing is to
cultivate our awareness by following the breathing path, by sensing the
chi, by noticing our physical conditions. So that we could be aware the
activities of our mind and heart and karma.
JMJM
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 11/25/2010 7:13 AM, ED wrote:
JMJM,
Here are some thoughts from a Zen Teacher's Dharma Talk on the subject
of breathing during zazen:
"Breath is a core component of zazen. Gently settle your breath into
its natural rhythm. Start your in-breathing from the base of the
abdomen. Feel the diaphragm rise and fall. Without force, extend your
out-breath until all the air has been expelled. When the body is ready
it will respond naturally with a gentle inhalation. The in-breath
should be exquisitely slow, gentle and steady. Large volumes of air
are not required to maintain the body during a sit."
--ED
> I was under the impression that the exhale was to take longer than the
> inhale.
>
> --ED
> --- In [email protected], Jue Miao Jing Ming -wrote::
> >
> > Thank you Bill. Yes it is 15 seconds. 6 seconds inhale. hold for 3
> > seconds. 6 seconds out. :-)
> >
> > Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
> > http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
> > http://www.heartchan.org
