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THE MYSTERIES OF MIND
him. This is a state in which the mind ceases to function and becomes defunct and this results in the abandonment of the body also. The body also disappears from the meditator's consciousness along with his mind.
Let us understand the states of mindfulness and mindlessness together. While the mind is working, the practitioner should think of abandoning it. But it is necessary to gear it to a different base so that instead of wandering from one object to another, it becomes fixed on a single object or point, or in other words it becomes one-pointed mind. The object on which the mind is to be fixed for a long time should, however, be a pure object and it should be made to flow in the direction of this object only. All the currents of the mind should be collected together into a single curreni.
Breath-perception is a device to concentrate the mind on the process of breathing. The flow of breath and that of the mind should go hand in hand with each other. And we should try to retain this state for as longer a time as possible. Let us watch the process of breathing and let the mind also watch it. Let the mind run on the heels of breath.
It is breath which supports life and breathing is an essential activity of life. Unfortunately we have mostly neglected it. We do not know long breathing. It takes time to practise it. Let us not forget that breathing is a natural activity of the body and a very easy activity. In the practice of long breathing we have nothing to receive from outside the body. Breath is there in us and we have simply to catch it and practise breathing.
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We should practise breath-perception, body-perception and practise normal breathing by watching it as much as we can. Whenever we get a little time, let us employ it in perceiving breathing. Let us carry the mind up and down and watch each and every particle of the body. In doing so we do not need the assistance of any thing outside the body. We need not choose any particular time or place for it. We can do it any time, even while walking or sitting or moving in a vehicle. There will then be no complaint that the mind is
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