Janna · Aug 29, 2026

ART - VI
BE CAREFUL WITH THE BASICS
At first, we try to be aware of the inhalation and exhalation but without our control. Buddha taught that we are just conscious of the way it is but not interfere with it. This way we treat the disease of our liking to breathe strongly which often happens when humans notice their breath, which will put stresses and strains on the brain.
When we are accustomed to not breathing hard, we should control our breathing according to the number of our thoughts. The clearer the thoughts, the harder our breathing so that our breath can keep our Awareness, or else it will be overwhelmed by those thoughts. When our thoughts are vague or almost don’t exist, we should adjust our breathing to be slight enough. That is how we adapt our breathing according to our thoughts.
The breathing technique of Qigong 1-3-5 also greatly supports meditation. Inhale slightly. Most people like to inhale deep and strong, and it's wrong since they cannot concentrate their minds on meditation. Inhale slightly, and our souls start to calm down.
Inhale slightly and keep a little air to penetrate the skin, the time to keep the air is about three times longer than the time of the inhalation. Breathing in without hurrying to breathe out also makes our souls calm down even more.
Then exhale slowly, five times as long as the inhalation. Everyone breathes out very quickly to next breathe in. Here we must breathe out slowly, so we will have a calm temper. But the key is when we exhale slowly, our spirituality will awake. Slow exhalation helps to calm the mind.
But our breathing must base on the background of the awareness of the body. We must be exactly aware of the body but don't make muscles tense but keep it still and relaxed instead. This good awareness of the body is the solid foundation of the technique of meditation. It is the lowest and most basic of the meditation technique. When the mind wanders, the first thing to do is to be back to the precise awareness of the body and then breathe properly.
In your daily life, always take notice of the body gently though you may be very busy with your work. But takin
https://jannaquotes.com/en/meditation/three-phases-of-meditation-right-effort-mindfulness-concentrationg notice of the body will make you cling to the body. The awareness of the body generates many exciting things about energy and calmness so that we will adhere to the body. Therefore, Buddha taught us to realize the body is impermanent. Thoroughly reflect the impermanence of the body a few times then the reflection will exist forever in our subconsciousness. We should have this reflection on and off to remind us. Thanks to our reflection we won't cling to the body though we are often aware of it.
Written by:
Janna
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