Just watch the breath

Keep the spine erect. Make sure it is not bent. The body is in a state of natural balance when the spine is held erect. In that position, the gravitational pull of the earth has a uniform effect on the body, and it is easy to free oneself from that pull. When the force of gravity is at its minimum, the body does not interfere in one's becoming empty, in one's becoming devoid of thoughts. Keep the spine erect, but without causing any tension or rigidity in the body. Allow the body to be naturally relaxed as if it were hung on the spine like a piece of cloth on a peg.

Leave the body relaxed. Then breathe slowly and deeply. The inhaling and the exhaling will move the naval centre up and down. Continue to watch this movement. You don't need to concentrate on it, just watch it, be a witness to it. Bear in mind I am not asking for concentration. I am advising simple watchfulness and awareness.

Breathe as children do - their chests do not move; their stomachs move. This is the natural process of inhalation and exhalation. As a result of this natural breathing, peace descends, becoming deeper....


The harmony of natural breathing helps dispel the restlessness of your mind. As the direct perception of breathing deepens, the three layers of your existence will be realised - the body, breath and soul. The body is the shell; the breath is a bridge, a connecting link; soul, the self, is the foundation.

Abridged from The Perfect Way; Courtesy: OSHO Times International; www.osho.com