[lopezsokero]

Myself I find I just focus on the breath coming in and out and the various sensations around that.

Thanks for the reply clw. I do that too as it seems to work best.

You make a good point regarding being 'mindful' of the breath rather than 'thinking' about it.
One insight that helped me develop my practice was that one doesnt use the mind to search for the breath to be aware of it. Instead one notices the breath arise in awareness and stays with that (kinda hard to put into words) I guess I know what you mean. In my case, it's a primarily physical event - aware of the breath's effect on the body as a whole. Not just focussed on one area.

Have you ever had experience with any kind of "Kasina"/ sign (I use that term very loosely)? I have found that the actual things themselves can induce release; a body of water, flames of a fire, bare soil and spacious skies. I have an unfounded pet theory that this is what Buddha meant, rather than a manufactured disk of some kind.

Namaste