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life. If breathing is stopped even for a little while, one feels suffocated. Breathing is more important for living than bread or water. Normally, a man takes 16 or 17 breaths per minute. If one starts perceiving one's breath, its movement becomes slower. The number of breaths taken decreases from 16-17 to 12-13. With greater concentration on breathing, this number declines further to 10 breaths per minute. Still deeper concentration reduces the number of breaths taken per minute to five or six. The greater the concentration, the fewer and longer the breaths taken, till one takes just one breath every minute. The rate of one breath per minute is indicative of the success of breath-perception. At this stage, the sadhak's whole individuality seems to mingle with his breath, till he feels completely at one with it. Not a single breath comes in or goes out without the sadhak's being aware of it. To inhale as well as exhale breath with full consciousness, to concentrate one's attention wholly on the centre of breathing so as to be fully integrated with one's breath, culminating in the breath becoming spontaneously and progressively longer and deeper-this, in fact, is breath perception.
The first result of breath-perception is mental integration. The second, peace of mind. Breath-perception also results in the increasing and activation of the vital life-force. The most important consequence is the awakening of self-confidence. For confidence is required an abundance of vital power and its activation, which depends upon slow and steady breathing. The slower the movement of breath, the deeper it is. Deep breath creates a cycle which is essential for progress in the field of meditation.
Short breath is indicative of mental disequilibrium. The shorter the breath, the faster its movement. The number of such breaths rises to 50-60 per minute. It
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