meditation technique
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a [[process]].
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I meditate 10 minutes on [[waking up]], and then 5 or 10 more most days in the evening.
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#push [[numbers]]
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While meditating I sometimes do variations on [[box breathing]] combined with [[counting]].
- It’s maybe a bit idiosyncratic but it helps me focus; I’ll write more about it in this node.
- It’s important to let go of the process after a while, instead of becoming [[attached]] to the counting.
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While I [[breathe]], I sometimes visualize a box.
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I started by using [[single time]] to count with the help of this box.
- On breathing in, I count and optionally visualize a number inside or near the box as I go up the leftmost edge.
- On not yet breathing out, I go right through the upper edge.
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On breathing out, I go down the rightmost edge.
- While I do this, optionally, I [[factorize]] the number or evaluate it according to some well known function.
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If the number is known to be prime, optionally, I calculate its multiples until I start another breath.
- If some multiple is known to be interesting, I stop there and make a mental note of where I stopped.
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[[119]] is known to be interesting, for example, because it was the first multiple of [[17]] which I found interesting in one particular run through this process.
- It was the first number that I couldn’t decide as prime or composite based on some procedure simpler than knowing it was a multiple of 17.
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On occasion I find it useful to [[double time]].
- That means, to count up both when [[inhaling]] and [[exhaling]].
- This can feel more engaging, which makes it easier to maintain focus.
- It also lets one make use of our body’s natural [[parity bit]]: breathing in and out follow each other like odd and even numbers.
- I start counting at one, so odd numbers happen when inhaling and even numbers when exhaling.
- Interesting noting related to a number takes place on two consecutive edges.