Four Foundations of Mindfulness Contemplation: Answer 8

Question: Why do I feel my breath becoming shorter and slower when I quiet my mind? When my mind is not yet settled, the breath feels relatively longer. After calming down, when I let the body breathe naturally and observe the breath, it doesn't reach the dantian. But if I try to control my breathing deliberately to make the inhalation longer, my mind becomes unsettled again.

Answer: When the mind quiets down, it becomes focused on the breath. At this point, there might be some involuntary control over the breathing, or excessive attention paid to it, making the breath seem shorter and slower. Only after entering samadhi with ease and achieving mental stillness will the breath naturally become longer. When the natural breath remains short, it indicates that the flow of qi through the body's channels is not yet smooth, and the practice of seated meditation for developing concentration (samadhi) is insufficient. It needs to be strengthened further. When there is a lack of concentration power (samadhi power) or it is very weak, attempting to control the breath can cause the mind to become scattered and restless. Controlled breathing is not natural breathing; it is not the normal state of respiration. Uncontrolled breathing is the normal state. However, to adjust the body and allow the qi channels to flow smoothly, one can consciously and more attentively practice deep breathing exercises. This helps the breath open up and circulate through the internal organs, and it can also deepen meditative absorption (dhyana) in the process.