We do this breathing together. I do with you to show my solidarity with whatever is done.  Through that we are in tune in our consciousness in all things that we do.

It is through doing, right doing, that you will go beyond doing—and yet all your doings will be in freedom.

Feel the breath as you hear the breath as you breathe in and out. That will center you totally and completely with what you are doing. It will bring you to yourself. And yet remember: through your heart—then it all becomes a prayer and a worship. To begin meditation with a prayer and a worship is superior to just beginning meditation anyhow, through only techniques. Prayer and worship create the right attitude.

Feel the breath moving in, feel the breath moving out as you at the same time listen to it. Watchfulness—this is called watchfulness, you are developing your watchfulness. From watchfulness comes mindfulness, which will follow in all that which you do, in your daily activities. Every moment this will bring you to being present, being present in your every act, in your every movement, in your every moment.

The whole world is yours, the whole of life is yours. You have all the freedom right from this moment. Nay, you have had it all along…

Let your life expand through expanding your consciousness, through expanding and opening out your heart, your mind.  And let your vitality be ruled by God.

So remember to pray in-between your interactions, remember. Remember your priorities, remember. Let prayer and meditation be integrated with your daily activities, with the whole of your life, with all of your activities, in either conditions: the condition of  joy or of sorrow.

So feel the breath as it moves in, feel the breath as it moves out. Long breath, deep breath, strong enough to be heard. It will keep you there with it. When you are filling up, you are reaching to a fullness. And when you empty out, you empty out completely. You are letting go, you are settling in yourself, in that which is the all. You are surrendering yourself to the Reality, to God… Be inspired in all that which you do. Be authentic in all that which you do.

So when you sit by yourself you are sitting with yourself quietly, looking into yourself, looking at everything. Looking deep into yourself, looking at all the layers of your being: emotional, mental, vital—and yet reaching to seek the spiritual.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathing in you are bringing in the new, breathing out you are breathing out the old, the old that needs to go, the old that is of no use to you any more. Bringing in the new means bringing in all that which will lift you.

Breathe in, breathe out… And you will know when you are ready to let go: you will be centered, you will be in-drawn, you will be totally relaxed. You will be totally committed to being in yourself, to being in meditation.

Arya Vihar

24 December 1999