Counting The Breaths

This is a simple, calming meditation that utilises counting with the breath as a method for clearing the mind. Many people find that counting is a practical and useful technique when they are plagued by thoughts and busyness and find it difficult to simply watch the breath.

Transcript

This meditation focuses on counting.

It's an alternative method to mindfulness of the breath,

And similar to thought clouds.

The technique is to count yourself through the breaths,

Which takes the place of thoughts.

It's as simple as that.

So make your preparation which includes your motivation of why you're doing this.

So you're finding your posture,

You're relaxing,

You're finding your breathing,

And you're following the breath,

And then make your motivation.

Arrive at your motivation,

If you haven't already,

And make it.

I wish to stabilize my mind.

And just notice as you breathe in and you breathe out,

You have the time to count.

As you breathe in.

One.

As you breathe out.

One.

As you breathe in.

Two.

And out.

Two.

Three.

Three.

Four.

Four.

Carry on.

After a while,

You might find yourself wandering off into some story or something you're thinking about,

Which may even be thinking about counting.

So just notice and come back to the breath.

Carry on.

If you can remember what number you ended at.

If you can't,

Seriously distract it.

So go back to one.

In this way,

We replace a thought with really another thought,

But there is no emotional connection,

And it's a method,

Just like counting on an abacus,

Or on a rosary.

In this way,

It's similar to any thought process,

Like saying a mantra,

But it's very simple and helps people who prefer to have an object to focus on.

And if it helps stabilise the mind,

Then wonderful.

In time,

You may be able to move to mindfulness of the breath,

And the numbers fade.

It doesn't have to be for long.

This is just a gentle explanation as you count.

And slowly bring the stabilisation exercise to an end.