Mindfulness of breathing is an established Buddhist practice. This brief exercise is a starting point, not the whole training described in the Ānāpānasati Sutta.
- Sit in a comfortable, supported position, on a chair or cushion. Keep your eyes open or gently closed.
- Notice the natural breath wherever it is easy to feel. There is no need to hold it or force a rhythm.
- When attention wanders, recognise that and return gently.
- At the end, notice your surroundings and continue with care.
A busy mind does not mean failure. Recognising distraction is already a moment of awareness. If focusing on the breath feels uncomfortable, stop or attend instead to the feeling of your feet touching the floor. Seek a suitable teacher for deeper practice.
Try it today
Try one comfortable minute, then take the same gentle attention into your next activity.
A moment to reflect
How did you respond when your mind wandered?
Explore the sources
These are introductory summaries, not quotations or replacements for the original teachings.
Your checkmark stays in this browser. No account or learning data is sent to us.