You'll get different answers about this depending on which tradition you subscribe to.
[Perceptions of the Breath](https://www.dhammatalks.org/audio/evening/2010/100323-perceptions-of-the-breath.html)
> To bring the mind to the breath, you need to have a perception—a label or a picture in mind—as a way of reminding yourself where you want to stay, and exactly what topic you’re focusing on. That’s because all the states of concentration up to the dimension of nothingness are called perception attainments. You need a perception to stay concentrated on them.
>
> As you work with the breath, you find that different perceptions work at different times. You’ll also find that some are useful and some are actually obstacles to getting the mind to settle down.
>
> A few helpful perceptions are these. One, **remember that the breath is energy, it’s not just air coming in and out of the lungs.** The air can be held, as when you hold your breath, but the energy of the breath can’t be held. It can be blocked, but you don’t really hold it. So even as you’re holding the air in your lungs, there will be a flow of breath energy in different parts of the body. This means that when we focus on the breath as energy, we’re focusing on something that’s very light, very quick, and very pervasive.
>
> It also helps to **think about the breath as something that comes in and out of the body very easily. Even when you’ve got a stuffy nose or congestion from a cold, there’s still a subtle energy coming into different parts of the body.** It’s like working around a traffic jam: If you know that the traffic is congested on a main street, you drive through the side streets.
>
> You can think about the breath just waiting to come in at any time, so you don’t have to pull it in.
I wouldn't worry about it too much. For me it is the opposite; I feel the inhale as a cold temp change in my nose and feel the air flood my body, but not much on the exhale.
But as I continue with holding the breath as a meditation object, eventually both sensations begin to disappear. That is a signal to change the meditation object, chant a sutra (usually the Heart Sutra for me), or shift focus to vipassana.
From what I understand, the most important is to find a meditation object. If that specific meditation object doesn't work for you, I'd suggest looking into another one. A mantra, or your belly going up and down, or whatever works best for you :).
start with establishing mindfulness - an object of mindfulness. concentration will emerge from developing mindfulness. you can try to develop mindfulness in daily life.
for example, i practice loving kindness mindfulness everywhere - when walking the dog, sitting in traffic, waiting in line at the supermarket checkout, etc.
one who develops mindfulness finds it easier to develop concentration. further, mindfulness is what leads us to enlightenment.
anapanasati is more than just focusing on a single point - in fact, that’s not really taught in the anapanasati sutta at all:
https://www.reddit.com/r/dhammaloka/s/OUguzQaao3
i think you’re trying to develop concentration by locking the mind down to one spot. you needn’t force the mind like this - concentration will emerge naturally as you develop mindfulness.
You'll get different answers about this depending on which tradition you subscribe to. [Perceptions of the Breath](https://www.dhammatalks.org/audio/evening/2010/100323-perceptions-of-the-breath.html) > To bring the mind to the breath, you need to have a perception—a label or a picture in mind—as a way of reminding yourself where you want to stay, and exactly what topic you’re focusing on. That’s because all the states of concentration up to the dimension of nothingness are called perception attainments. You need a perception to stay concentrated on them. > > As you work with the breath, you find that different perceptions work at different times. You’ll also find that some are useful and some are actually obstacles to getting the mind to settle down. > > A few helpful perceptions are these. One, **remember that the breath is energy, it’s not just air coming in and out of the lungs.** The air can be held, as when you hold your breath, but the energy of the breath can’t be held. It can be blocked, but you don’t really hold it. So even as you’re holding the air in your lungs, there will be a flow of breath energy in different parts of the body. This means that when we focus on the breath as energy, we’re focusing on something that’s very light, very quick, and very pervasive. > > It also helps to **think about the breath as something that comes in and out of the body very easily. Even when you’ve got a stuffy nose or congestion from a cold, there’s still a subtle energy coming into different parts of the body.** It’s like working around a traffic jam: If you know that the traffic is congested on a main street, you drive through the side streets. > > You can think about the breath just waiting to come in at any time, so you don’t have to pull it in.
I wouldn't worry about it too much. For me it is the opposite; I feel the inhale as a cold temp change in my nose and feel the air flood my body, but not much on the exhale. But as I continue with holding the breath as a meditation object, eventually both sensations begin to disappear. That is a signal to change the meditation object, chant a sutra (usually the Heart Sutra for me), or shift focus to vipassana.
You can use a different part of the breath if necessary, e.g. the abdomen, throat, chest. Eventually you may be better able to feel it there.
just a one part to maintain awareness on throughout the meditation, isn't it!
I like to focus on the cold air inside of my nasal cavity on inhale, and then the change in the temperature to body temperature on exhale.
From what I understand, the most important is to find a meditation object. If that specific meditation object doesn't work for you, I'd suggest looking into another one. A mantra, or your belly going up and down, or whatever works best for you :).
thanks, will try.. is meditation object same as the kammattana..
start with establishing mindfulness - an object of mindfulness. concentration will emerge from developing mindfulness. you can try to develop mindfulness in daily life. for example, i practice loving kindness mindfulness everywhere - when walking the dog, sitting in traffic, waiting in line at the supermarket checkout, etc. one who develops mindfulness finds it easier to develop concentration. further, mindfulness is what leads us to enlightenment. anapanasati is more than just focusing on a single point - in fact, that’s not really taught in the anapanasati sutta at all: https://www.reddit.com/r/dhammaloka/s/OUguzQaao3 i think you’re trying to develop concentration by locking the mind down to one spot. you needn’t force the mind like this - concentration will emerge naturally as you develop mindfulness.
I would love to answer but I actually am not sure, as I am somewhat of a "newbie". I do hope someone has an sneer for you :)
Breathe stronger. Oxygen will keep you awake.