Thanissaro Bhikkhu
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
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Keeping your awareness as broad as possible.
The breath by its nature has many facets.
Breath sensations flowing in the nerves.
Those flowing around and about the nerves.
Those spreading from the nerves to every pore.
In other words, don't try to force the mind into a trance.
Don't try to force the breath or hold it to the point where you feel uncomfortable or confined.
You have to let the mind have its freedom.
Simply keep watch over it.
to make sure that it stays separate from its thoughts.
So just let the mind be its natural self.
cutting off concepts doesn't mean that we stop thinking.
It simply means that we bring our thinking inside.
The field here is our body.
The body will be healthy and strong.
The mind relaxed and wide open.
Free from hindrances.
The first level of Jhana has five factors.
Two, singleness of preoccupation.
Keep the mind with the breath.