If we are developing a samadhi,
A concentration,
Also known as samatha,
Calmness,
We need a very good relationship to our meditation object,
For example the breath,
Just watching the breath going in,
Going out,
Being mindful of every in-breath,
Mindful of every out-breath,
Feeling,
Experiencing every in-breath,
Feeling,
Fully experiencing every out-breath,
And that is not the time now to contemplate the breath as dukkha,
As disappointing and suffering,
Because it will be very difficult to cultivate the meditation object if we perceive it as suffering and misery,
So you have to do the opposite,
Really breathing in joyfully,
Breathing out joyfully,
Seeing the meditation object like a good old friend,
Enjoying our meditation with every in-breath,
Enjoying our meditation with every out-breath,
It's also not such a good time to contemplate the breath as anicca,
As impermanent,
Again we wouldn't find it easy to develop samadhi,
Which is a very stable state,
Not fully permanent,
But in full samadhi in a lasting long time without apparent changes,
And we would find that difficult to develop if we perceive the breath or meditation object as impermanent,
As unreliable,
But one thing that can be very helpful is the perception of not-self,
Right here in our breath meditation,
Sunyam-idam,
Attenava,
Attaniyenava,
All this is empty of self and anything belonging to self,
But I am meditating,
I am the meditator,
Just meditation,
Watching the breath,
Experiencing the breath,
Not so much,
No,
I am watching the breath,
Once you start with I am the meditator,
Then it's also I'm a good meditator,
I'm a hopeless meditator,
I can't meditate,
I could meditate,
But I can't meditate anymore,
All this stuff comes with the I,
Self,
Me,
Mine,
Illusion,
Not my breath,
Can be very helpful to not regard the meditation object as me or mine,
Just being aware of the breath,
Joyful breath,
Breath throughout the whole body,
But not my breath,
Not owning that,
Not owning one's meditation,
Not being the one who does the meditation,
So my suggestion for today's meditation,
A good old anapanasati,
Mindfulness of the breath,
Breath meditation,
But with some emphasis on not I,
Not self,
Contemplating,
Regarding,
Perceiving the whole process of meditation as not me,
Not mine,
Not I'm the meditator,
Not my breath,
Not my meditation,
Not I'm a good or hopeless meditator,
Not when will I get samadhi,
My samadhi,
Nothing of this,
But just contemplating the breath as not me,
Not mine,
I don't own the breath,
I don't own even the meditation,
I'm not the meditator,
Just watching,
Experiencing,
Settling down.
