What is the most effective breathing technique in buddhism?

Michael: What is the most effective breathing technique in buddhism?
or other path?

I don’t understand when people tell me there is no breathing technique in buddhism- is breathing not an essential part in meditation?

How do I pick a guru to teach me a right technique?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Chris (Try to Relax…)
No crazy breathing techniques in Buddhist meditation to what I’m aware of. It’s usually chanting.

Answer by Upasakha Jason
There is a breath meditation in Buddhism, but it’s not like hatha yoga. You don’t control your breath. You watch the natural breath. You take the role of a passive observer.

Some schools of the Thai Forest tradition teach you to experiment with the breath to see what is comfortable, and to see what effects different types of breathing have.

At the bottom of it, for purposes of jhana and vipassana, you’re just watching the natural breath. Find what’s comfortable and just watch it.

Answer by ▒Ðαη†єs
There are a wide variety of breathing techniques and practices in the various branches of Buddhism.

Also Buddhism is not as simplistic as most other religions where you can make incredible claims after muttering or professing a set of dogmas.

Buddhism is something you practice and it takes a lot of time and discipline which is why most do not even bother to go into.

Answer by Herodotus
Buddha sat quietly, his mind cleared, and learned something. If you can not do this, free of dogma and undue instruction, then Buddha has nothing to offer. It is likely that expectation may undermine any that seek to do as he did.

Answer by RudyH
Perhaps you understood wrong.
There are breathing meditations in Buddhism, which mean that you focus on your breath in meditation, but you don’t change your breath at all.
Besides that, there are some very special yogic meditation techniques in Vajrayana (tantric) Buddhism, that use breathing to control body energy, but these are restricted to people who received initiations and have a personal teacher to guide their practice.

Answer by Silent Shadow
Follow only that which Buddha taught and what Monks teach

Bit in detail:-

Answer by Mike
Many Buddhists do use breathing meditation. For example you can see Thich Nhat Hanh demonstrating it here

Finding a teacher is not easy. But if you’re interested in Buddhism you could try your nearest Theravadan Buddhist Monastery. There’s a few in the UK, and lots I think in the states.