From Buddha-to-be to Teacher in the Buddha’s own Words

Austere Striving - 15
5. The Breathless Meditation 11
Then this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the
breathless meditation?’
Then I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the
nose.
Then to me, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth
and at the nose, there was an excessive noise of wind escaping
through the ears.
Just as there is an excessive noise from blowing on a smith’s bellows,
just so to me with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth
and at the nose, there was an excessive noise of wind escaping
through the ears.
But although for me energy was strenuous and unshaken, and
mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was
overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was
overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
* * *
Then this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the
breathless meditation?’
Then I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the
nose and at the ears.
Then to me, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth
and at the nose and at the ears, excessive winds raged within my
head.
Just as though a strong man were to cleave inside my head with a
sharp pointed sword, just so to me with the in-breath and out-breath
11 MN 36, 85, 100.