a sutra on mindfulness of breath.
available free on internetarchive.com
speaking of RAPTURE: synchronicity strikes deep.
"On whatever occasion, in a bhikkhu who has aroused energy, unworldly rapture arises—
on that occasion the rapture enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to perfection in him.
The body and mind of one whose mind is held in rapture, become tranquillized.
On whatever occasion, bhikkhus, the body and the mind of a bhikkhu whose mind is held in rapture become tranquillized"
"Herein, “he trains himself” (means) he strives, endeavours thus. The restraint of one so become is here the training of higher virtuous conduct;
the concentration of one so become is the training of higher consciousness;
the understanding of one so become is the training of higher understanding.
So he trains in, cultivates, develops, repeatedly practises these three courses of training in that object, by means of that mindfulness,
by means of that bringing to mind."
details:
"a beginner should first give attention to this meditation subject by counting.
And when counting he should not stop short of five nor go beyond ten, neither should he make any break in the series (such as counting “one, three, five.
In one who stops short of five, consciousness, being arisen in a confined space, is restless like a herd of cattle shut in a pen."
⬇️continue
"In one who goes beyond ten, consciousness comes to depend on the number (instead of the breath).
The mind of one who breaks the series vacillates, and he wonders, “Has the subject of meditation reached completion or not?” Therefore he should count, avoiding these faults."
"when the meditation subject is connected with counting, it is with the help of that very counting that the mind becomes one-pointed,
just as a boat in a swift current is steadied with the help of a rudder.
When he counts quickly (early), the meditation subject becomes apparent to him as an uninterrupted process.
Then, knowing that it proceeds without interruption, without discerning the breath either inside or outside (the body), he can count quickly in the way already described."cont ⬇️
"For, by bringing his consciousness inside along with the incoming breath, it seems as if it were buffeted by the wind inside or filled with fat.
By taking his consciousness outside together with the outgoing breath it gets distracted among the many objects outside.
However, his development is successful when he fixes his mindfulness on the place of contact."
WORD:
"breathing as a subject of meditation is difficult, difficult to develop
It is no trivial matter, nor can it be cultivated by trivial persons.
In proportion as continued attention is given to it, it becomes more peaceful and more subtle;
therefore, strong mindfulness and understanding are needed here.
For, as in doing needlework on a piece of fine cloth it is necessary that the needle should be fine, too,
and the instrument for boring the needle’s eye still finer."
here's an indication of the exercise and direct knowledge involved.⬇️
"But how long is he to go on counting?
Until, without counting, mindfulness is thoroughly established in the in- breaths and out-breaths as objects.
For counting, by cutting off thoughts which cling to external things, serves the purpose of establishing mindfulness in the in-breaths and out-breaths as object.
Having given attention to it by counting, he should now do so by means of connection."