C C C:
When you say awareness, do you mean awareness of the sound it makes or the feeling or something else? Is it ok to be aware of a few different aspects of the breath?
Awareness of the breath overall. Nothing specific except perhaps the difference between a long breath and a short breath as described in the
Satipatthana suttas. But even that can be modified depending on what you wish to observe. The idea is to be aware of the actual phenomena that is happening; to be able to discriminate, for instance, between a long and a short breath. The long and the short breath is just an example of what to become aware of.
This is very simple instruction, yet difficult to do when the mind is caught up in diffusion and unable to maintain concentration on any given phenomenon for any length of time in succession. In a diffuse mind, long and short get mixed up and combined such that the meditator has no idea from moment to moment what the breath is doing because his concentration is all askew. It doesn't matter what aspect of the breath you are paying attention to as long as you are consistent in your practice. Consistency helps to develop concentration ability. You can pay attention to a sound or a feeling or whatever else. I just find it less confusing to just follow the sutta instruction with regard to the length of the breath.
After a while, you should experience a pleasantness to the breathing process, which should manifest as a sensation or feeling. If you follow that sensation or feeling it will lead you to the first jhana. But don't be overly anxious about attaining jhana, or self-questioning: "Am I in it yet?" Just let it happen of its own accord. Maintain your focus on the pleasantness of the breathing process and follow that. Everything else will happen of its own accord.
Once you have been able to establish recognition of this process for entering jhana, and you're able to understand the subtleties of how to enter it,
then you can experiment with different ways to enter it. Because then you will understand what it is all about. But until then, take it slow and easy, and don't pressure yourself about it.
C C C:
Some clarity, yes definitely. I don't get lost in trance-like state.
This is
exactly what jhana concentration is supposed to help your mental faculties attain to. Mindfulness and clarity or
sampajanna (clear comprehension or clear knowingness of phenomena). This is what the fourth jhana is all about: mindfulness, equanimity, and clear awareness. You want to be able to clearly recognize the three characteristics of phenomena (
anicca,
dukkha, and
anatta) in order to re-condition the way the mind reacts to phenomena.
C C C:
Broadly following your instructions, as per the sticky thread on all purpose jhana.
Broadly, I should say. Perhaps overly broad.
I wouldn't be too concerned with observing the "blackness behind the eyelids." But maybe that's just me. When it comes to meditation, I don't trust visions. Visions can be manipulated and speculated upon in the mind. But sensations are pure and don't need much interpretation. If a sensation feels pleasant, it is a pleasant sensation. That's all that is needed to be observed. Follow that pleasantness as it takes you deeper into the calm (tranquility) of
samatha meditation.
As far as the widening out of the blackness into spaciousness and quietness, the reason it disappears may be that you are over-thinking this and trying to grasp at it. It's like trying to grasp at air or water: as soon as you try to hold it, it slips through your fingers. Relax your grip and just enjoy the moment, and you will do fine.
C C C:
When I read through others' descriptions of 1st jhana, sometimes I wonder if I was in it. If I was to find an oasis in the desert, I'd feel relief, comfort and peace, but not bliss or rapture.
The oasis metaphor I gave was meant to help you to define
piti or rapture/elation within your experience. If you can imagine those first few moments upon recognizing the oasis and how your emotions arise
during those moments, you should be able to identify the rising elation (or rapture) that momentarily overcomes your emotions as you experience relief that you have found a sanctuary where your physical needs may be met. That description was meant to help you understand what
piti is referring to using an example that you could imagine as happening to yourself. It was meant to help you recognize
piti and to be able to differentiate it from
sukha or pleasure/joy/happiness. It helps to have an analogous experience from which to draw comparisons in order to understand what the Pali words are referring to. That's all. That's what I was endeavoring to provide with that description.
C C C:
My main sticking point seems to be what to do when things 'widen out and quieten down'. It draws my attention away, I lose both my concentration and the new wider quieter state.
What you do is just relax while maintaining mindfulness (or "energetic alertness") so as not to wander off into a trance state or dull mindedness, and simply be in those moments without expecting anything more. Soon enough, your concentration should improve to the point that you may then begin to incline your mind toward phenomena (mental or physical objects) for further investigation without losing your calmness or the clarity of the moment.