Counting Or Following Your Breath? – Dialectic Two Step

Estimated reading time: 10 minute(s)

Question: Is There a Difference Between Counting Your Breath and Following Your Breath? If yes, then what’s the difference?

Response: All the difference in the world! Counting your breath is a conscious activity. You’re keeping track, you’re directing your attention. There is a certain subtle energy and tension in the activity.

Following your breath is a letting go, a subtle release of control.

Early in my meditation practice, I recited my mantras and directed my attention towards objects of meditation. This is important work as it provided the first step inward. Meditation was a stepping out of the cacophony of life into a place of peace.  The work was shifting my senses inward.

Over the years, directing my attention has become easier.  I’m able to shift my attention inward and consciously relax my body and mind. This has also improved my ability to discipline my attention outwardly.

The art of following your breath is an entirely different thing.  It’s an exercise in pure being; in non-judgmental awareness.  Not only are we letting go of keeping track. We giving up leading our body, and letting it lead us.

The art of following your breath is ... giving up leading our body, and letting it lead us.
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If you’ve ever done pranayama, you’re familiar with using breath control.  These are wonderful techniques that offer many physical and mental benefits.  Non-judgmental awareness of your breath might be described as an anti-pranayama or at least a different class. It’s a whole different ballgame.

Let’s learn by doing.

Basic Pranayama

Let’s try a basic breathing technique. I think you’ll find it rejuvenating.

Find a comfortable seat.  Inhaling through the nose, take a deep cleansing breath. Notice the air as it enters the nostrils, moves into the sinuses, the throat, and finally into your lungs. Let the air fully expand your ribcage.  Notice the diaphragm pressing on the belly and making it rise.  Once the lungs are full, reverse the process. Collapse the diaphragm, the rib cage and the sternum.  Expel the air audibly through your throat and mouth.

Do this three of four times.

As each breath is completed, notice how you feel.  Maybe a little more physically and mentally relaxed. A little clearer in the senses.

Following the Breath

Continue to scan your body, noticing how you feel. Enjoy the sensations of relaxation. After about 10-20 seconds, let your awareness settle on your heart.

Now imagine your awareness, fueled by the energy of your heart, radiating outward. Let your awareness expand throughout your entire body. Shift away from directing your attention, to just resting in a gentle awareness.  Let yourself be gently available to whatever sensation comes next.

The most prominent sensation is the patient gentle breathing of your body. The inhale comes, rises, and pauses.  Then there is a space of transition.  You may feel the urge to press forward to the exhale, don’t. Simply wait for the body to it.

On the exhale, it’s the same story, follow it to the space at the bottom. If you feel the urge, let it go.  Let the body breathe itself.

Allow the breathing to continue. If you have a mantra, let the inhale tell you when to begin. If not, nn noticing the inhale, silently chant “Namo”. On noticing the exhale, “Amitofo”. Follow as long as you’d like. When you do take the urge to breathe, let it go, and return to letting the body be breathed.

I first understood taking refuge in the Buddha when I learned to follow my breath.
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Following the breath is where I found what surrender meant.  Following the breath is where I learned entrusting.  Following the breath reminds me that I’m not in control. I first understood taking refuge in the Buddha when I learned to follow my breath.

Dialectic Two-Step  is an ongoing series of my thoughts on questions that come my way.

Wisdom lies neither in fixity nor in change, but in the dialectic between the two. - Octavio

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