Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I’ve been inspired by Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu’s visit to take up the practice of breath meditation again along with my focused development of the brahma viharas. My own  understanding of what Ven. Thanissaro means by breath meditation has shifted radically from conceptualizing it purely as anapanasati to a meditation on the air element or vayo dhatu. Although this may sound abstruse, this small conceptual adjustment has opened up whole new vistas on the practice for me because I have always experienced lots of tension when trying to practice rigidly defined anapanasati. So what is vayo dhatu? Here’s a brief extract that should help:

Vayo dhatu is the element of motion. It is seen in the wind blowing about and pushing against things. This dhatu pushes or moves other aggregate matter.

In our body there are six types of wind: –

i. Uddhangama

Wind that moves upward, causing bleaching, coughing, sneezing and related illness. When we speak this wind moves constantly upwards and cause bowel discomfort. One should not speak with an empty stomach.

ii. Adhogama

Wind that moves downward causing bowel movement and frequent motion.

iii. Kucchittha

Wind that moves about in the visceral cavity apart from the large and small intestines.

iv. Kotthasaya

Wind that moves about inside the large and small intestines, pushing digestible food from the stomach into the rectum.

v. Anggamanganusari

Wind that moves within the limbs. If this wind does not move freely illness results. In our bodies there are small veins along which this wind moves. Staying in one posture for a long time prevents this wind from moving freely causing blood to accumulate at one location without flowing freely leading to stiffness and pain. To prevent this ailment, we should avoid remaining in one posture for a long time; and take walking exercise.

vi. Assasapassasa

Wind inhaled and exhaled by us. It is also known as anapana.

Why is this distinction so helpful? Well, for one, when I practice mindfulness of the vayo dhatu for as little as 15 minutes before formal metta practice I find myself to be much more focused and able to concentrate on the theme. And, in so-called daily life meditation, I am able to use the wind energy to “untangle” knots of felt ill-will, aversion, fear etc…in a way that is not always accessible with metta phrases alone.  I’m frankly very excited by the interplay between these two techniques and hope to have more to share soon. Until then I wish you all true happiness and peace. Be well.

Source:

http://www.dhammaweb.net/htmlbook/page.php?page=11&id=8