Breath

Breath is very important in achieving a peaceful meditative state. Inhale from your diaphragm, in through your nostrils to the count of six; hold for six counts; then out through your mouth for six. Rest, then do that set for a total of six times. When you begin meditating, just allow the breath to flow--in a relaxed state.

Now, the hard part.--at first. With the approach to observing thought, it is helpful to have something to do or say silently to yourself. You can count your in-breath up to the number ten. That is, you inhale and say to yourself, “One,” then exhale. On the next inhale, you say. “Two,” and so on until you reach the number then, at which time, you begin again. Some people keep track of the number by counting on their fingers. The value of this exercise is to give your conscious(“monkey”) mind something to do while you let go of any thoughts that arise.