Anapanasati and Tonglen
Awareness of breath in Anapanasati:
Now as you progress more and more subtly in this practice of Anapanasati, you become aware of how the breath is conditioning the body, conditioning the feelings. That’s the first point. You begin to notice how the different types of breath condition the body and the feelings in different ways. With the long breath, the body will be very relaxed and at peace. With the short breath, there will be a lot of emotions – it’s the type of breath that you have when you’re angry or when you have anxiety or depression. So you learn to take long breaths because this type of breath condition the body, condition the feelings, in a soothing, relaxed manner.
Tonglen:
Tonglen, or taking and sending practice, is done to work on our own minds, our own concepts of suffering, our own concepts of compassion, our own concepts of loving kindness. It works on our understandings of karmic projections. It works on our understanding of emptiness. It works on our pride and other mental afflictions. Truly, when it is understood, it is a full and complete practice of Buddhism. Really, it represents everything.
Tags: anapanasati, buddhist meditation, meditation Thailand, tonglen