Mindfulness with Breathing - Note 1 : Following the breath with mindfulness

Preparation for practising Anapanasati : Contemplate/note the breath with sati as it moves between the nose and the navel without leaving any chances for the mind to wander elsewhere.

1. develop sati (minfulness or reflective awareness) by being mindful of each in-breath and out-breath:
- let the breathing continue comfortably, normally and naturally
- do not interfere with it in any way
- contemplate each breath with mindfulness : how are we breathing in?
What is the out-breath like?

2. develop and train sati by "following" or "chasing":
- imagine the in-breath starting from the tip of the nose and ending at the navel
- imagine the out-breath starting at the navel and ending at the tip of the nose
- in between these 2 points is the space throught which the breath runs in and out
- contemplate with sati the properties of this movement in and out,
from the tip of the nose to the navel and back again
- do not allow any gaps or lapses
- the breath goes in and stops a moment, then it comes out and pasuses a moment

notes :
- imaging that the breath ends at the navel is merely an assumption absed on our feeling and sensitivity of the movement of the breathing
- the distinction as to whether it is sati that follows the breath in and out or whether sati forces the mind to follow the breath in and out in not important at this point
- to focus on noting the breath as if chasing it without ever losing it