Questions are submitted by participants during spiritual practice classes 
with Rev. O’Brian.  

Sometimes when I am meditating I feel that I don’t need to breathe very much 
and sometimes even that I am not breathing. This frightens me. Is this normal? 

When we meditate, stress is reduced from the mind and body. With reduced 

stress, less oxygen is needed, and less carbon dioxide is given off. Our respira-

tion rate naturally decreases and, at times, may even stop all together for a short 

period. 

The slowing and refinement of our breath in meditation corresponds with 

decreased thought activity. We can also notice this occurring naturally at other 

times when we are concentrating, when we are very focused on one thing. Mind 

and breath are intricately connected. The innate intelligence of the body naturally 

regulates and restores the breath to its necessary rhythm during meditation as it 

does at all other times during the day and night. 

When we understand that slowing and sometimes stopping of the breath is 

natural during meditation, we can relax and let that deeper state of relaxation 

enhance our meditation experience.  

You discussed the importance of setting an intention to meditate super–
consciously. Can you explain the technique for setting an intention? 
It is useful to be clear about how and why we meditate—what technique we 

will use and what our desired goal is—rather than to sit passively and just let 

our attention wander. To meditate superconsciously is to bring our attention 

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Enlightenment Journal | Winter 2011-2012

On the Path: Questions & Answers