Master Nan, Huai-chin on Yuan Qi meditation and cessation of physical breathing after exhale

2 hours ago, Cheshire Cat said:

thanks! Yes I think I was relying on someone else telling me this. So I looked into it - I found this quote:

Quote

Let's take as an example the breath the T'ien-tai method calls "blowing." All you have to do is be conscious when the breath is emitted that you don't need to emit any sound. As the breath is exhaled, the lower abdomen naturally sinks in. When the breath is completely blown out to the point that there is no more breath that can be blown out, you must stop the sound. Once the mouth is closed, the nose will naturally draw in the breath. You should do this several times and then stop and listen to the sound.  Listen until breathing and  thoughts are focused: when there are no more miscellaneous thoughts, you will spontaneously empty out.

To REalize Enlightenment, page 5
https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Nan-Huai-Chin-To-Realize-Enlightenment.pdf


And then this: 
 

  Quote

This is to answer your question on how to reach Samadhi through breathing methods. In doing your practice, do not tie your mind rigidly to the breathing. Only if you want to, then observe the exhaling only, not the inhaling. A big mistake commonly committed by those practicing Qigong is to focus on the inhalation and to try to hold on to it. The truth is just the opposite. For correct practice, one should pay attention to the exhalation, if only for improving the health of the body and mind. The more one releases, the more one relaxes. This is the best of practice.

and http://www.meditationexpert.com/meditation-techniques/m_pranayama_breath_work_techniques_for_meditation.htm

  Quote

 

When you reach this state of cessation, then the real chi (kundalini) of the body ignites (rises) and your chi channels start to open.

This is actually the safest and most gentle way to cultivate the Tao. It's the practice of following your breath until it calms down and seems to stop, and then trying to hold onto that state GENTLY after the exhalation. Simply watch your breath and let it calm down. When it stops every now and then, try to STAY in that period of cessation and the longer you can - without breathing -- the more your chi channels will transform.

pdf on meditation - chapter on T'ien-tai