Question
My Zen teacher, a former student of Master Deshimaru, tells me to take long, slow exhalations and short, quick inhalations. But I have read other zazen manuals, including one from Antaiji Temple, that say to simply let the breath be natural. What is the difference between letting the breath be as it is and forcing it into long exhalations, and what should I do? Gassho.
Anonymous
Master Kosen’s answer
Sometimes we exhale deeply, sometimes we let breathing be natural, and sometimes we inhale and raise energy to the brain. All this must be practiced naturally.
Kosen