[Sx1qBli0]

I would would have said it naturally converges on whatever is appropriate to be aware of at the time. If at the time one is practising anapanasati then yes, if practising a different technique then maybe not, if eating lunch or walking or doing any number of other activities then awareness should converge of the activity at hand not on the in & out breathing specifically.

thanks Goofaholix

mmm...i am not so inclined to agree. if eating lunch, with silent receptive mind, consciousness converges on breathing. similarly, if walking with silent receptive mind, consciousness converges on breathing. if typing, with silent receptive mind, consciousness can converge on breathing. sitting back & reading, rolling the mouse, the mind converges with breathing

Placing ones awareness on breathing in & out is a very good way of developing the minds capacity to be aware, probably the best way to start for beginners, but it's not the only way.

it may sound unusual to say, but, imo, 'placing' ones awareness on breathing is, imo, not really related to Anapanasati. imo, such a phrase is non-sequitur in respect to Buddha-Dhamma because the establishment of mindfulness is maintaining the mind free from craving. There is only one essential practise in supramundane Buddhism, which is abandoning craving, attachment, liking & disliking.

Buddha-Dhamma explains:

To me, "watching the breath" is not Anapanasati, it is "watching the breath."

It seems we agree. 'Anapanasati' is 'mindfulness with breathing' (rather than mindfulness 'of' breathing).

With metta