I’d like to suggest a different approach to meditating. Typically, in meditation, we focus on observing our breath, the air moving in and out of our airways. However, it’s much more beneficial to observe the breathing process as a whole, which is a richer experience. When paying attention to breathing, we’re potentially engaging with the entire body and noticing how it participates in and responds to the air moving through our passageways.
To adopt this method of observing your breathing, first, try to relax the muscles around your eyes. This relaxation changes your internal observation mode, allowing awareness of a wide range of sensations throughout your body. With tense eye muscles, our focus is narrowed, like a flashlight illuminating only a small area. Relaxed muscles function more like a lamp, lighting up all directions.
Once you’re aware of sensations from all over your body, rest there. Thoughts may still arise, but they won’t capture your attention as much. This requires less effort and makes meditation feel like less of an activity and more of a state of being.
You can take this a step further by allowing yourself to sense that your breathing is observing you just as much as you are observing it. Be aware of your body as a living, breathing presence with its own intelligence. Just as you are aware of your body, your body is aware of you. Allow yourself to be seen.
Initially, this might feel uncomfortable because being observed can be unsettling. However, think of this observation not as visual, but as a felt, sensory experience. Imagine your body as a warm, loving presence that embraces you intimately.
This perspective allows you to surrender further and experience meditation from a deeper sense of receptivity. There’s nothing to do; there’s no need to be present for the body because it is always present for us. When we return to mindful awareness after being distracted, we find that the body is still there, sensing us. We realize it never stopped.
This might sound unusual or even absurd, but I suggest you try it and see what happens. It has the potential to transform your meditation practice and perhaps even your life.