[aliceingoogs]

The issue is, is that the focus is understanding and not "Gee, that REALLY was a long breath"

awareness of long & short breathing is actually not part of the real training. awareness of long & short breathing is just a sign that some concentration (i.e., stable unified clear sensitive awareness) is manifesting

the real depth of Anapanasati begins at the 3rd stage, where the Buddha used the words: "He trains himself". the words: "He trains himself" means the three trainings of higher morality, higher concentration & higher wisdom are fully engaged. Higher wisdom is fully engaged because the practitioner has mastered the art of letting go & remaining free of craving

there are fourteen stages of training in samatha & vipassana mentioned below, manifesting in full scale vipassana in the fourth tetrad

this is the Buddha's description of the natural manifestation towards Nibbana. it is wise to not dismiss it. in fact, most do not even understand what the Buddha was explaining in each stage

ask 100 university professors what: "experiencing the mind-conditioner" means and most would probably be clueless

kind regards


FIRST TETRAD

(1) While breathing in long he fully comprehends: I breathe in long. While breathing out long he fully comprehends: I breathe out long.

(2) While breathing in short he fully comprehends: I breathe in short. While breathing out short he fully comprehends: I breathe out short.

(3) He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing all bodies I shall breathe in. He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing all bodies I shall breathe out.

(4) He trains himself: calming the body-conditioner I shall breathe in. He trains himself: calming the body-conditioner I shall breathe out.

SECOND TETRAD

(5) He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing piti I shall breathe in. He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing piti I shall breathe out.

(6) He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing sukha I shall breathe in. He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing sukha I shall breathe out.

(7) He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing the mind-conditioner I shall breathe in. He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing the mind-conditioner I shall breathe out.

(8) He trains himself: calming the mind-conditioner I shall breathe in. He trains himself: calming the mind-conditioner I shall breathe out.

THIRD TETRAD

(9) He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing the mind I shall breathe in. He trains himself: thoroughly experiencing the mind I shall breathe out.

(10) He trains himself: gladdening the mind I shall breathe in. He trains himself: gladdening the mind I shall breathe out.

(11) He trains himself: concentrating the mind I shall breathe in. He trains himself: concentrating the mind I shall breathe out.

(12) He trains himself: liberating the mind I shall breathe in.

FOURTH TETRAD

(13) He trains himself; constantly contemplating impermanence I shall breathe in. He trains himself; constantly contemplating impermanence I shall breathe out.

(14) He trains himself; constantly contemplating fading away I shall breathe in. He trains himself: constantly contemplating fading away I shall breathe out.

(15) He trains himself: constantly contemplating quenching I shall breathe in. He trains himself: constantly contemplating quenching I shall breathe out.

(16) He trains himself: constantly contemplating tossing back I shall breathe in. He trains himself: constantly contemplating tossing back I shall breathe out.

Anapanasati Sutta