A single line repeated on the breath until, its practitioners say, it carries on without you.
When
Sitting quietly, eyes lowered or closed. Five minutes is plenty to begin.
How
Sit upright. Choose your line, and don't change it.
Say it inwardly on the out-breath, slowly.
When you notice you've stopped, begin again. The noticing is the practice.
Stop before you tire of it.
Now
begin
5:00
Breathe in. On the out-breath, the line.
After
From Orthodox hesychasm — stillness. Its teachers welcome a gentle practice from anyone, and warn against forceful breath-and-heart techniques without an experienced guide. Worth knowing before going deep.