Aum. Briefly look at the body-mind and then take three deep breaths. Now the prayer, the prayer is not to be done from the memory of earlier experience. The prayer has to be done fresh in the present moment from the pure Being. The prayer, the cosmic sound, Aum, which is chanted mentally while exhaling after a deep breath, three rounds of prayer, now. Aum...Aum...Aum. Having concluded the prayer, Just Be. Try to become familiar with the pure Being, entirely free from the mental states of desire, anger and fear etc. from the mental states of frustration, anticipation etc. Pure Being which is Aatmanishtha, self-abidance that creates a space between myself, the Pure Being and various mental states. Pure Being. Be aware of the posture which should be upright thereby promoting alertness and at the same time relaxed. Alertness and relaxation, they go together. Allow the shoulders to relax, to remain lose and as I learn to surrender to the higher power, the stomach muscles and the chest gradually relax. As I develop dispassion, vairagya, giving up worldly pursuites, cheerfully giving up not grudgingly giving up that relaxes the jaw, keep a smile. Vairagya relaxes the muscles of the face, forehead, eyes which are kept lightly closed and also the brain. Sthirasukhamasanam. As I notice myself, the body and mind are still, the breath is slow and rhythmic. This is asanam. Asanam is not outside meditation it is very much part of meditation. A body-mind is still, the breath frequency comes down. There is full alertness and nice relaxation. Now watch the breath. Am I controlling the breath? Stop doing that and try to stop, try to be a witness to the breath, try to be an uninvolved witness to the breath. The first lesson in watchfulness. Watch the breath. I become a watchman of the breath. Beginning with breath, the goal is to become a watchman in life. Watch the breath. Keep a smile, don't allow yourself to be distracted, be a watchman of the breath. Watch at the tip of the nostrils, catch hold of that subtle sense of touch as the breath goes in and comes out. Be focused watchman, stretch the back up, become focused and watch the sense of touch at the tip of the nostrils as you breath in and out. Do not follow the breath in its path, remain focused at the tip of the nostrils. Focus on the sense of touch at the tip. This is a great exploration, the in-going breath is bit cold while out-going one is slightly warmer. That requires a very subtle watchfulness, you try. It is quite possible to get distracted. It is indeed difficult in the beginning to focus on the breath, so when you are distracted, don't be disappointed, that becomes a further distraction, smoothly notice the distraction, cut it off gently with the smile, bring back the mind and become the watchman. The whole operation should be smooth and gentle, always smiling, but once the distraction is over, I do not allow myslef to be distracted. Don't be deceived by the simplicity of watchfulness, it is the most potent meditative technic. Watch the breath. Now stop watching the breath, take your time, slowly disengage the watchfulness on the breath, but remain watchful. Just watchful of nothing in particular. Aum Shanti Shanti ShantiH. Relax, sit at ease, while keeping the eyes closed and relax. Continue to be relaxed and watchful as well as you can. Slowly open the eyes.