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page\u003C\/span\u003E\n            \u003Cspan aria-hidden=\u0022true\u0022\u003ELast \u00bb\u003C\/span\u003E\n          \u003C\/a\u003E\n        \u003C\/li\u003E\n          \u003C\/ul\u003E\n  \u003C\/nav\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\u0022\/ajax_comments\/page\/node\/67550\/comment\/default?page=2\u0022 class=\u0022btn-gokhale blue-bg use-ajax js-use-ajax-comments ajax-comments-load-more\u0022 rel=\u0022next\u0022 data-wrapper-html-id=\u0022node-blog-comment-67550\u0022\u003ELoad More\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","settings":null},{"command":"ajaxCommentsInsertPage","selector":" .ajax-comments-wrap","speed":500,"data":"\n\u003Carticle data-comment-user-id=\u002221026\u0022 id=\u0022comment-38050\u0022 class=\u0022js-ajax-comments-id-38050 js-comment\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmark class=\u0022hidden\u0022 data-comment-timestamp=\u00221560435852\u0022\u003E\u003C\/mark\u003E\n\n      \u003Cfooter\u003E\n      \u003Carticle\u003E\n  \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E  \u003Ca href=\u0022\/users\/michaelhomeodynamicscom\u0022 hreflang=\u0022en\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/default_images\/default_profile_photo.png?itok=W3ym34Dl\u0022 width=\u0022100\u0022 height=\u0022100\u0022 alt=\u0022Profile picture for user michael@homeodynamics.com\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/article\u003E\n\n      \u003Cp\u003ESubmitted by \u003Cspan\u003EMichaelL\u003C\/span\u003E on Thu, 06\/13\/2019 - 07:24\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n            \n      \u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38050#comment-38050\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EPermalink\u003C\/a\u003E\n    \u003C\/footer\u003E\n  \n  \u003Cdiv\u003E\n          \n      \u003Ch3 class=\u0022comment-title\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38050#comment-38050\u0022 class=\u0022permalink\u0022 rel=\u0022bookmark\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EThoughtful perspective, thank\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\n      \n        \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThoughtful perspective, thank you Esther.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA belly-breathing comment - it\u0027s really interesting to consider that it was a hack. As a possible hack, it led to some very useful results in terms of alterations of consciousness, which was probably their main focus. Drawing the energy of the breath down into the belly, which if the extant texts are correct, was what peoples of that time considered the center of their being, pretty much the way we consider our heads\/brains today, helped calm the mind in a way that other breathing patterns do not - \u0027Ocean-breath\u0027 the feeling of being in the deep unperturbed by any storms on the surface. Chest-based breathing is excellent for everyday consciousness and clear awareness. Belly-based breathing is not good for this, a lesson I learned from you.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI also wonder if people of that time share something that I find common in spiritually-oriented people of our time - the body as a vehicle to achieve enlightenment, not as an active \u0027partner\u0027 in the process; in quotes only because contemporary language makes it difficult not to get dualistic. \u0022Feeling\u0022 the picture of the first Buddha, it looks like he\u0027s leaving his body behind. In the second picture, the Buddha looks fully embodied.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/login?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003ELog in\u003C\/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/register?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003Eregister\u003C\/a\u003E to post comments\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/article\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022indented\u0022\u003E\n\u003Carticle data-comment-user-id=\u00227\u0022 id=\u0022comment-38053\u0022 class=\u0022js-ajax-comments-id-38053 js-comment\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmark class=\u0022hidden\u0022 data-comment-timestamp=\u00221560447371\u0022\u003E\u003C\/mark\u003E\n\n      \u003Cfooter\u003E\n      \u003Carticle\u003E\n  \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E  \u003Ca href=\u0022\/users\/esthergokhalemethodcom\u0022 hreflang=\u0022en\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/teacher_biography\/Esther%20Gokhale%20Headshot%20600x600.png?itok=K6i4rTUJ\u0022 width=\u0022100\u0022 height=\u0022100\u0022 alt=\u0022Profile picture for user esther@gokhalemethod.com\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/article\u003E\n\n      \u003Cp\u003ESubmitted by \u003Cspan\u003EEstherG\u003C\/span\u003E on Thu, 06\/13\/2019 - 10:36\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n            \n      \u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38053#comment-38053\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EPermalink\u003C\/a\u003E\n    \u003C\/footer\u003E\n  \n  \u003Cdiv\u003E\n          \n      \u003Ch3 class=\u0022comment-title\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38053#comment-38053\u0022 class=\u0022permalink\u0022 rel=\u0022bookmark\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EThank you for your wisdom and\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\n      \n        \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThank you for your wisdom and experience! Your musings on belly breathing are intriguing. Also on asymmetry in the\u0026nbsp; partnership between the body and spirit in enlightenment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo clarify my position: There\u0027s no question that belly breathing has a useful and important place among\u0026nbsp;many possible breathing mechanisms. You are describing one such use. Belly breathing is also very important in singing and playing wind instruments. It\u0027s just as a default that I believe it\u0027s out of place.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/login?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003ELog in\u003C\/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/register?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003Eregister\u003C\/a\u003E to post comments\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/article\u003E\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022indented\u0022\u003E\n\u003Carticle data-comment-user-id=\u002221026\u0022 id=\u0022comment-38055\u0022 class=\u0022js-ajax-comments-id-38055 js-comment\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmark class=\u0022hidden\u0022 data-comment-timestamp=\u00221560450838\u0022\u003E\u003C\/mark\u003E\n\n      \u003Cfooter\u003E\n      \u003Carticle\u003E\n  \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E  \u003Ca href=\u0022\/users\/michaelhomeodynamicscom\u0022 hreflang=\u0022en\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/default_images\/default_profile_photo.png?itok=W3ym34Dl\u0022 width=\u0022100\u0022 height=\u0022100\u0022 alt=\u0022Profile picture for user michael@homeodynamics.com\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/article\u003E\n\n      \u003Cp\u003ESubmitted by \u003Cspan\u003EMichaelL\u003C\/span\u003E on Thu, 06\/13\/2019 - 11:33\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n            \n      \u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38055#comment-38055\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EPermalink\u003C\/a\u003E\n    \u003C\/footer\u003E\n  \n  \u003Cdiv\u003E\n          \n      \u003Ch3 class=\u0022comment-title\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38055#comment-38055\u0022 class=\u0022permalink\u0022 rel=\u0022bookmark\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003E\u0026quot; It\u0026#039;s just as a default that\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\n      \n        \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022 It\u0027s just as a default that I believe it\u0027s out of place.\u0026nbsp; \u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes, that was the lesson for me. It had become the default without awareness on my part.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/login?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003ELog in\u003C\/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/register?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003Eregister\u003C\/a\u003E to post comments\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/article\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Carticle data-comment-user-id=\u0022113511\u0022 id=\u0022comment-38051\u0022 class=\u0022js-ajax-comments-id-38051 js-comment\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmark class=\u0022hidden\u0022 data-comment-timestamp=\u00221560444156\u0022\u003E\u003C\/mark\u003E\n\n      \u003Cfooter\u003E\n      \u003Carticle\u003E\n  \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E  \u003Ca href=\u0022\/users\/whiterosesinbloomgmailcom\u0022 hreflang=\u0022en\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/default_images\/default_profile_photo.png?itok=W3ym34Dl\u0022 width=\u0022100\u0022 height=\u0022100\u0022 alt=\u0022Profile picture for user whiterosesinbloom@gmail.com\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/article\u003E\n\n      \u003Cp\u003ESubmitted by \u003Cspan\u003EJoanneH\u003C\/span\u003E on Thu, 06\/13\/2019 - 09:42\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n            \n      \u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38051#comment-38051\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EPermalink\u003C\/a\u003E\n    \u003C\/footer\u003E\n  \n  \u003Cdiv\u003E\n          \n      \u003Ch3 class=\u0022comment-title\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38051#comment-38051\u0022 class=\u0022permalink\u0022 rel=\u0022bookmark\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EI found this meditation bench\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\n      \n        \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI found this \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.westernchanfellowship.org\/about-the-western-chan-fellowship\/supplies\/make-a-meditation-bench-zen-meditation\/\u0022\u003Emeditation bench\u003C\/a\u003E much more comfortable than sitting cross-legged.\u0026nbsp; Note the forward slant.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/login?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003ELog in\u003C\/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/register?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003Eregister\u003C\/a\u003E to post comments\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/article\u003E\n\n\u003Carticle data-comment-user-id=\u002299924\u0022 id=\u0022comment-38052\u0022 class=\u0022js-ajax-comments-id-38052 js-comment\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmark class=\u0022hidden\u0022 data-comment-timestamp=\u00221560445474\u0022\u003E\u003C\/mark\u003E\n\n      \u003Cfooter\u003E\n      \u003Carticle\u003E\n  \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E  \u003Ca href=\u0022\/users\/rsgunatilakayahoocomau\u0022 hreflang=\u0022en\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg loading=\u0022lazy\u0022 src=\u0022\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/thumbnail\/public\/default_images\/default_profile_photo.png?itok=W3ym34Dl\u0022 width=\u0022100\u0022 height=\u0022100\u0022 alt=\u0022Profile picture for user rsgunatilaka@yahoo.com.au\u0022 \/\u003E\n\n\u003C\/a\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/article\u003E\n\n      \u003Cp\u003ESubmitted by \u003Cspan\u003ERamaniG\u003C\/span\u003E on Thu, 06\/13\/2019 - 10:04\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n            \n      \u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38052#comment-38052\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EPermalink\u003C\/a\u003E\n    \u003C\/footer\u003E\n  \n  \u003Cdiv\u003E\n          \n      \u003Ch3 class=\u0022comment-title\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/comment\/38052#comment-38052\u0022 class=\u0022permalink\u0022 rel=\u0022bookmark\u0022 hreflang=\u0022und\u0022\u003EThank you for this\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\n      \n        \n            \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThank you for this fascinating article. Your observations resonated with me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Buddha described\u0026nbsp;the seated meditative posture that monastics should adopt as,\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022And how is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated to be very fruitful and beneficial? It\u2019s when a mendicant has gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut. They sit down cross-legged, with their body straight, and establish mindfulness right there.Just mindful, they breathe in. Mindful, they breathe out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhen breathing in heavily they know: \u2018I\u2019m breathing in heavily.\u2019 When breathing out heavily they know: \u2018I\u2019m breathing out heavily. When breathing in lightly they know: \u2018I\u2019m breathing in lightly.\u2019 When breathing out lightly they know: \u2018I\u2019m breathing out lightly. They practice breathing in experiencing the whole body. They practice breathing out experiencing the whole body. They practice breathing in stilling the body\u2019s motion. They practice breathing out stilling the body\u2019s motion.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAjahn Sujato\u0027s translation of the Anapanasati Sutta (Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing), Majjhima Nikaya 118 available at\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/suttacentral.net\/mn118\/en\/sujato\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/suttacentral.net\/mn118\/en\/sujato\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENote that the body needs to be straight. And the mindful awareness that needs to be cultivated is of the entire body of breath, the entire body as it breathes in and out. So the posture that facilitates this complete awareness would be the correct posture. That is not awareness of the breath in just the belly, but in the entire body, and in the process of breathing and awareness, calming the body and making it and the mind still and tranquil.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI think that these words of the Buddha can be adduced as\u0026nbsp;textual evidence that the posture depicted in the Indian Buddha statue is more conducive to the relaxed awareness of the body of breath, than the posture adopted by the Chinese Buddha, which is likely to increase tension rather than induce relaxation. You explain this very clearly in\u0026nbsp;your article above.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/login?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003ELog in\u003C\/a\u003E or \u003Ca href=\u0022\/user\/register?destination=\/blog\/why_does_the_oldest_chinese_buddha_figure_slump%23comment-form\u0022\u003Eregister\u003C\/a\u003E to post comments\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/article\u003E\n","settings":null}]