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the unending cycle of thoughts. But it is hazardous as well. Therefore, in the initial stages, breath should not be held up for more than five to seven seconds. A sadhak experiencing difficulty in holding his breath even for this brief period, may not attempt breath-cessation at all. There should not be any forcible stoppage of breath. If somebody wants to experiment with breath-cessation, he must seek the guidance of a specialist.
Breathing is a small step, but it is so important as to be indispensable for anyone practising preksha meditation. Without it, there could be no total concentration or direct experiencing. To establish contact with inner consciousness, for concentration and development of mental peace, there is a secret path worth-knowing and that is rhythmic breath.
Q. What is meant by rhythmic breath?
Ans. Just as there is rhythm in music, similarly there is a rhythm of breathing. The breath which takes four units of time in its inhalation, and is held up for an equal amount of time and again takes the same amount of time in exhalation, is called rhythmic breath. If a man practises it every minute for 20 minutes together, he spontaneously gets into a state of meditation, and no great effort is required to continue in that state afterwards. This is a small beginning-nevertheless an infallible beginning for the maturing of dhyana.
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