Not even awareness of breathe or awareness of body, just pure awareness alone (although that does include the body & its functions)
It may sound bland, but it really really isn't, its constantly open, fresh & beautiful

Being aware of the breathe can bring a certain amount of inner space & nonattachment, but its still focused in on one thng, which can (possibly) be blocking out other things, where as pure awareness doesn't block anything, everything swims up & subsides in it, none of it sticks

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deff said:
i definitely dig the self inquiry you talk a lot about - for me the best thing seems to be realizing all sensory experience is like a faint vibration and then examine that vibration with respect to the three marks of existence (impermanence, no self, unsatisfactory)

i like to meditate on this body being eaten by maggots until there's just a skeleton - very effective visualization

taking and giving is an amazing meditation - i can't stress this enough - even if one isn't fond of visualization meditations (as i don't think you are, chronic) this is worth a try. start with the realization that just as you do not like suffering, no being enjoys suffering - out of compassion for them "i will destroy their suffering". imagine all the humans in this realm before you on a plane and see thick black smoke emanate from pores in their skin representing all their suffering (all the suffering of this realm - and beyond if you expand the meditation to the entire world system etc)... then inhale all the suffering and direct it to your heart chakra along with all self motivation and self cherishing and destroy it all (all while reveling in the sheer beauty of destroying suffering). after doing this a satisfactory number of times (sometimes one good go is enough), meditate on the bliss of knowing "all suffering has been destroyed" - and really believe it. for the giving part, think "just as i wish to be happy and blissful, all beings wish to be happy and blissful... out of compassion for them i will give them all my happiness and bliss - then visualize all your happiness and bliss emanate from your heart and flood the plane of beings making each and every one dissolve into nirvanic ecstasy - and really revel at the bliss of helping them while you yourself may not experience any of it. then meditate on the thought of "all beings are now free from suffering and experiencing utmost bliss and happiness - how wonderful" - this meditation really cuts through self clinging and builds compassion / virtuous motivation for practice - i highly recommend you try it once or twice at least

i also do a yoga tantra meditation (self generation as a buddha) and an avalokiteshvara sadhana

hmm... i do a few mantras here and there - but haven't done too many really

the idea of practicing chöd has passed my mind - it involves the sacrifice of ones body to feed deities / demons - among other things - and seems to be quite powerful (though definitely something a teacher would be good for)

i'd like to get back into hatha yoga a little for the reason you said - freeing up energy pathways - maybe tai chi as well for this reason (though these aren't really sadhanas)

that's about it for now (feel free to critique away)

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