The mind develops concentration, thinking about the breath and evaluating the breath, being totally focused on issues of the breath, to give rise to a sense of ease, well-being, rapture, fullness.

"So now it’s time to bring the mind into line, keeping it with the breath. Wherever it branches out, you just have to cut off that branch and come right back to the breath. Actually, you don’t have to cut it. You just let it go and don’t pay any attention to it, don’t follow it, and it’ll die on its own. Just keep coming back to the breath, back to the breath.

Each time you come back, reward yourself with a good, comfortable breath, something that feels really good deep down inside. If there’s any part of the body that seems to be deprived of breath energy, think of opening it up and the breath penetrating in, so that you can touch the Dhamma with the body. That’s an expression the Buddha uses to describe the mind in concentration: the sense of well-being that’s not just in your head. It’s throughout the body.

You develop alertness, watching what’s going on, to check and make sure that everything is where you want it. If it’s not, you can change. This way, the mind develops concentration, thinking about the breath and evaluating the breath, being totally focused on issues of the breath, to give rise to a sense of ease, well-being, rapture, fullness."

~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu "Visakha Puja: In-line with the Truth"

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