Experience the body as primarily energy for a feeling of lightness and buoyancy
"Breathe in a way that’s refreshing, that gives rise to a sense of
fullness in the body. Think of the breath as the energy flowing around
the body, and ask yourself: Where does it feel good? Where does it not feel good?
Focus on the areas that you can make good by the way you breathe, and
hold in mind the right perceptions that allow that to happen. For
example, be careful not to squeeze the end of the in-breath or the end
of the out-breath to mark the difference between the two.
Think
of your experience of the body as being primarily energy. It’s not the
case that you’re trying to pump the breath energy into a solid body.
It’s more like allowing the breath to flow freely into the energy
already there without any clear dividing line between the two. When you
hold that perception in mind, it gives rise to a floating feeling in the
body. See if you can maintain the position of your focus on that
perception, on that feeling of lightness, buoyancy. This is what gives
flavor to that intention, so that it tastes good and is good for you.
This is one of the ways in which you can give rise to a sense of rapture
or refreshment in the breathing, as in that verse in the Dhammapada: “We feed on rapture like the radiant devas.” This is food for meditators."
~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Like an Athlete in Training"
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