Natural Cessation of Breathing and Liberation of the Mind

To have the mind liberated means to detach from identification with the mind.
Then, the mind will autonomously harmonize itself.

As this happens, a natural cessation of breathing will begin to occur.
This is because the mind is the cause that gives rise to breathing, and when one is liberated from the mind, liberation from breathing also occurs.

Through the naturally occurring cessation of breathing, one can easily grasp the mind itself.

In the first layer (material breathing) and second layer (energy breathing) of the four types of breathing, the cessation of breathing is not very consciously perceived.
This is because, at those levels, the breathing itself is what is being grasped.

When advancing to the third layer, the mind, one moves away from material and energetic breathing toward their cause, and thus breathing becomes liberated.

Then, when reaching the fourth layer of consciousness, the cessation of breathing occurs clearly.

The four layers of breathing are as follows.

One advances through each of the four layers by seeing through to the fourth.

On the cessation of breathing
For example, in my case, I began to repeat an inhalation of 1–2 seconds, a pause of 5–15 seconds, an exhalation of 1–2 seconds, and a pause of 5–15 seconds.
When breathing is paused, I am liberated from thought. It feels less like thoughts stopping and more like becoming transparent and empty.
This rhythm does not change whether I am meditating or performing daily activities. Only the slight roughness or intensity of the breath changes depending on the situation.
Sometimes, I am even surprised to find that my breathing has remained paused.

What is happening?
First, breathing usually consists of a mixture of material breathing (gross breathing) and energy breathing (subtle breathing).
And the frequency and roughness of breathing change according to the state of the mind.

When natural breathing (temporarily) ceases, energy breathing remains at the heart, which is its source, and stops moving.
If the mind is not liberated, it cannot remain at the source and is repelled.
Because of the heartbeat, it is pushed away from the center and does not sink in.

Then, very short breaths continue without stopping.
This is material breathing. The physiological phenomena required to maintain the body continue.
Since the workings of the mind (brain) are quiet, not much oxygen is needed, so taking a few breaths of a few seconds each minute is sufficient.

The body is simply as it is.
There is no need to stop it.
Denying it creates other problems.
The body does not cause problems (suffering).
Thought (separation) is what becomes the problem.