[untostaronaf]

Initially, breathing meditation worked well for me. I found that any meditation which was 'goal' oriented tended to muddy the waters. What I mean is if you think there is a 'correct' outcome (say a perfect visualisation or feeling) then you will, by default, benchmark your sessions against it.

This creates tension and ownership of the process - the exact opposite of what works. If you are observing the breath, then there's absolutely nothing to be done with it. You already have it, just as it is and it's perfect.

Along with this nominal object, all kinds of other stuff thrusts itself upon us; thoughts, physical feelings, sounds etc. It's impossible not to drift off onto them. That's not a problem either - it doesn't mean you've failed. Sooner or later you'll catch it happening and be able to gently bring your awareness back to the breath.

This gentle training is the very path itself.

It's not about 'locking' ones focus mercilessly on the breath to the exclusion of everything else (as one sometimes reads in various places). That's just another 'results-driven' trip and causes tension and ownership too.

Just my 2 Eurocents

Namaste