Risks of Meditation?

[Deshy]

If you think meditation can actually hit a level where all breath stops... Then are you not in risk of rapid cellular destruction (brain damage), and/or death?

Frankly, I don't really know. I have heard that certain yogi practices are there where breathing completely stops during meditation but that could just be speculation

[Deshy]

This is what AB says in his book:

In deep jhana we can experience the breath disappearing altogether with no danger to life.

During my teacher Ajahn Chah's long sickness, he would often stop breathing.On one such occasion the new nurse on duty became alarmed. He knew that Ajahn Chah must die one day, but he didn't want it to happen on his shift! The attendant monks on duty that night assured him that Ajahn Chah had done the same many times before and it was just a sign of deep meditation.

After taking a blood sample the worried nurse has discovered that the oxygon level in his blood was a constant even though he stopped breathing altogether. Apparently during deep meditation the metabolism is so slowed down that the body does not need to breathe.

Quote from page 110 : Mindfulness, bliss and beyond

[Esho]

After taking a blood sample the worried nurse has discovered that the oxygon level in his blood was a constant even though he stopped breathing altogether. Apparently during deep meditation the metabolism is so slowed down that the body does not need to breathe.

When one starts to practice zazen you are told to keep concentrated in your breath. Also to have a count of it... one, two, three... As you practice constantly there is a shift from breath as the focus of concentration to forget about breathing and just watching your thoughts. When this happens breathing becomes very very slow. Also you are not aware any more about your breathing or keeping a count on it. So I do not find neither dangerous nor impossible to stop breathing when one reach deep meditative states.

[frank]

As we are all living breathing bodies with a certain degree of self-preservation,normally beyond any wilful control l would suggest that it's impossible to asphyxiate ones self

[plogsties]

impossible to asphyxiate ones self

Unless some mechanical device is used to prevent breathing this is true. If breathing is prevented voluntarily long enough one loses conciousness at which point non-volitional brainstem drives take over and breathing begins again. Total cessation of breathing, if continued long enough, will lead to death regardless of the degree of metabolic slowdown.

[jeremy-r]

Do not worry about going brain dead. If your brain decides it needs more oxygen and there is no other extenuating cause for the lack of oxygen then your resperations will speed up or deepen or at worse you will pass out and awaken just fine moments later. Your body has many checks and balances. Continue your meditation, it will only help you. If your wondering I have an extensive in EMS.

[Deshy]

yea I think there is no need to worry about it because people have been meditating for centuries and I personally have never heard anybody dieing from lack of breathing during meditation. I guess your body will take care of itself.

[Pegembara]

When you are in deep sleep the body breathes naturally does it not? The body does what it does naturally without "your" involvement. You do not have full control over your breathing.

Unless the brain is damaged or intoxicated there is no danger.

[Deshy]

You do not have full control over your breathing.

Yes, according to books you leave all five sensory involvements after a certain stage in meditation. At that stage your body is out of bounds. It naturally takes care of itself.

[Red Thread]

your body is out of bounds.

I like the sound of that. I have tried to talk to people about disengaging the senses, and haven't found a good way to put it until now. During deep meditation, the body is out of bounds.