Question
Is breathing in Zen automatic, or is there a technique or form of breathing?
How do you know whether you are breathing correctly?
What does it feel like?
Is this breathing controlled in any way?
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
In fact, in Zen we learn a breathing technique that involves concentrating our energy below the navel and pressing down on the intestines during exhalation. Lowering the energy in this way creates an expansion in the abdominal region below the navel.
But all these techniques we learn in Zen must eventually be forgotten and practiced automatically. This is what is called visceral integration. However, if we have not repeated the technique for a certain amount of time, incorrect breathing will automatically take over as soon as we stop paying attention to it. In other words, our bad habits will resurface.
Kosen