question about Ajahn Lee's instructions

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
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Tom
Posts: 293
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 9:50 pm

question about Ajahn Lee's instructions

Post by Tom »

from: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/tha ... nmind.html

"1. Start out with three or seven long in-and-out breaths, thinking bud- with the in-breath, and dho with the out. Keep the meditation syllable as long as the breath."

my question is about the phrase "keep the meditation syllable as long as the breath", should "bud-" be held like: "budddddddddd" until the end of the in-breath, like "buuuuuuuuuud", like "buuuuuuuu" or some other way?
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cjmacie
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Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:49 am

Re: question about Ajahn Lee's instructions

Post by cjmacie »

Tom wrote: Wed Nov 01, 2017 4:28 am from: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/tha ... nmind.html

"1. Start out with three or seven long in-and-out breaths, thinking bud- with the in-breath, and dho with the out. Keep the meditation syllable as long as the breath."

my question is about the phrase "keep the meditation syllable as long as the breath", should "bud-" be held like: "budddddddddd" until the end of the in-breath, like "buuuuuuuuuud", like "buuuuuuuu" or some other way?
It would seem the vowels ("o", "u") sounds, which can be prolonged, and are a function of the breath, the wind vibrating the vocal chords.

Consonants ("b", "d"), on the other hand, are percussive sounds produced with the lips. Some consonants can be sustained: the aspirants "s", "h", "f", "v", maybe "j","r", "l", "m","n", "z". But not "b" or "d", unless they're repeated as in stuttering.
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