The intention to stay with the breath comfortably is an immediate exercise in the relationship between your actions and feelings of pleasure and pain. This is why breath meditation opens things up in the mind, for it’s focused on the real issues.

"That’s why we’re focused on the breath. We give the mind an intention: “Stay with the breath. Don’t move. Don’t go wandering off to other things.” And we give it a further intention: “Try to breathe as comfortably as possible.” That right there is an immediate exercise in the relationship between your actions and feelings of pleasure and pain. You want to develop that particular sensitivity as much as you can. What’s important is the particular combination of the stillness of your focus and the point where you’re focused, right at this issue of intention and its relationship to pleasure and pain. This is why breath meditation opens things up in the mind, for it’s focused on the real issues."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "The Treasure Hunt" (Meditations2)

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