How are you supposed to breath during meditation?

[Cyclops]

https://llresearch.org/transcripts/issue..._0318.aspx

Many entities use techniques of breathing, or mantras, or images within the inner mind, to focus upon in order to reach a one-pointed focus, that is a focus upon this unity of self with the Creator, of self with all that there is, however you wish to describe it. The slow and rhythmic breathing, deep inhalations and deep exhalations, are very effective means of allowing discord and disharmony to disappear, shall we say. For the concentration upon the breath as you inhale and exhale relaxes the mind most completely at the end of the exhalation, so that it is possible, at this point in the breathing, to stop the breath briefly, for a count of six or seven or eight, and at this point, become aware of the unified feeling of self with all that is. Then, as you breathe again, retaining the focus upon that point, and once again stopping the breath when the exhalation is complete.

When this is accomplished over a period of time, you may discover that there is an etheric feeling that makes itself known by there no longer being a necessity for your conscious creation of the one-pointed focus. This one-pointed focus then becomes that which is automatically experienced, and you simply are a witness to it as you continue the breathing as you have done.

https://www.llresearch.org/transcripts/i..._1216.aspx

Gary: Q’uo, I find that when I meditate my attention is pulled by thoughts, of course, but also by the movement of energy in my body. My attention moves with my breath, or moves with the shifting sensation of body. I was wondering if there is a more effective way or technique to stabilize the attention so that it looks at movement, but does not, itself, move.

Q’uo: I am Q’uo, and am aware of your query, my brother. We might make a couple of suggestions. One, and that is, to see any distraction, whether bodily or mental, as simply being a worldly concern with which you do not give your attention, to move through the distraction, basically, to ignore it, and move on with the breathing, keeping yourself focused upon the drawing in of the breath, and the exhaling of the breath, focusing upon the inhale and the exhale, no matter what distractions you become aware of. This done for a significant length of your time (which varies according to the person and also to the individual experience of that day) can produce a one-pointed focus that is not subject to distraction.

Another technique is to look upon the exhalation as an opportunity to stop the breath for however long feels appropriate to you, and note that at this point there are fewer thoughts, if any, for the holding of the breath upon the exhalation tends to be the equivalent of what you would perhaps call, the “rebooting of the computer”, and then, once again, continue to focus upon your breathing.

https://www.llresearch.org/transcripts/i..._0214.aspx

The simple act of following one’s breath is a very helpful technique to use for clearing the mind during meditation. Deep breaths are most salutary for the system. Just as the plant inhales light which it metabolizes into food, so does your energy body benefit from the deeper breathing in and out. The deeper in-breaths do indeed carry light. And when the intention is set to breathe in prana or light/love, that greatly enhances the seeker’s ability to receive the food of light from the air.

The practice of various breathing techniques is well known and certainly the use of such exercises as pranayama yoga offers is recommended for those who wish to enhance their ability to move love/light, light/love, or prana through the physical vehicle and metaphysical vehicle.
The benefits of breathing are striking for both the physical body and the metaphysical body. When the breath is deliberately deepened, the physiological changes to the physical body are excellent.

I seem to remember reading something else once where it was said that focusing on the breath is a good technique but is not the aim of meditation itself, after a certain point the body should be allowed to take over breathing and you can discontinue your focus on it and enter the deeper stages of meditation.