The practice you are describing touches upon profound, ancient, and often advanced techniques found within yogic and Buddhist traditions, specifically involving breath retention and contemplation of death to induce altered or higher states of consciousness.
Here is a detailed breakdown of this practice, its terminology, and its spiritual context.
🧘 The Practice of Breath Retention: Kumbhaka
The deliberate holding of the breath in a meditative or yogic context is a specific practice called Kumbhaka (Sanskrit for "pot" or "vessel").
Kumbhaka in Yoga and Pranayama
In the system of Pranayama (yogic breath control), Kumbhaka is not just about physically holding your breath; it is a spiritual bridge to advanced states.
- Goal: The primary purpose of Kumbhaka is to still the flow of prana (life force energy) within the body. In yogic philosophy, the movement of the mind is directly linked to the movement of the breath. When the breath (and thus prana) stops, the mind is said to become utterly still.
- Types:
- Sahita Kumbhaka (Accompanied Retention): Retention done consciously and with effort, either after inhalation (Antar Kumbhaka) or after exhalation (Bahya/Bahir Kumbhaka). This is typically performed as part of a structured pranayama practice.
- Kevala Kumbhaka (Unaccompanied/Spontaneous Retention): The ultimate goal. In this state, the breath ceases naturally and effortlessly for as long as the practitioner desires, a state said to be equivalent to Samadhi (union with the Divine or the ultimate state of meditative absorption).
The "Near Death" Connection to Kumbhaka
When a practitioner achieves deep Kumbhaka, especially in the spontaneous state of Kevala Kumbhaka, the cessation of breath and the stillness of the body's vital functions can strongly mimic the process of dying.
- Cessation of Vital Signs: In advanced practice, the body's systems can slow so dramatically that vital functions appear to cease. Ancient texts and modern accounts of advanced yogis sometimes mention individuals being able to suspend their breath for long periods, which is interpreted as a method of leaving the body consciously or transcending the limitations of the physical form.
- Transcending the Ego: The physical discomfort or intense sensations that may arise from breath holding (especially at a deeper level) force the practitioner to face the primal instinct for survival and the ego's attachment to the body. Successfully transcending this instinct can be an experience of profound liberation, a symbolic "death" of the ego-self, leading to a state of pure awareness beyond body and mind.
💀 Contemplation of Mortality: Maranasati
Separately, but often leading to similar insights about the impermanence of the body, is a practice focused on consciously reflecting on one's own mortality.
Maranasati Meditation
Maranasati (Pali for "mindfulness of death") is a recognized Buddhist meditation practice where the practitioner directly contemplates the inevitability and unpredictability of death.
- Purpose: The central aim is not to be morbid, but to overcome the fear of death, develop a sense of urgency for spiritual practice, and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the preciousness of life and the present moment (impermanence).
- Visualization: This may involve contemplating the processes of decay, reflecting on the potential for death at any moment, or imagining one's last moments. By facing the ultimate fear directly, the practitioner aims to detach from worldly attachments and realize the illusory nature of the self as a permanent entity.
✨ Meditation-Induced Near-Death Experiences (MI-NDEs)
The combination of intense meditative practices like advanced Kumbhaka or certain death contemplations is sometimes linked to reports of Meditation-Induced Near-Death Experiences (MI-NDEs).
- Similarities to NDEs: Advanced meditators have reported consciously inducing experiences that share features with clinically reported Near-Death Experiences (NDEs)—such as feelings of leaving the body, traveling through a tunnel, encountering intense light or love, and a profound sense of unity and bliss.
- Volitional Control: A key difference is that MI-NDEs are entered into voluntarily and with full conscious control. The meditator is aware they are undergoing a deep meditative process and maintains the ability to navigate and exit the experience. This control and awareness are highly valued in traditions that teach conscious dying.
⚠️ Important Warning on Advanced Practices
It is crucial to understand that the practice you are describing, particularly deep breath retention, is considered an advanced technique.
- Risk: Attempting deep or prolonged breath retention without proper, in-person instruction from a highly experienced and qualified teacher can be dangerous and lead to physical harm, fainting, or anxiety attacks.
- Safe Approach: If you are interested in exploring this territory, it is recommended to start with foundational pranayama and maranasati practices under supervision. The goal is spiritual insight and stillness, not physical distress. The state of "closeness to death" in this context is ultimately a conscious, intentional, and controlled psychological/energetic experience, not an actual, reckless flirtation with physical danger.