This meditation technique mentioned in Vigyan Bhairav Tantra text is the first technique revealed by Lord Shiva to the Goddess Parvati, establishing the breath as the primary gateway to self-realization and stillness of the mind.
The Sacred Pause: Locating the Source of Fulfillment
The instruction is deceptively simple and profound:
The Supreme Energy (breath) goes upwards with exhalation and downwards with inhalation. By concentrating on the two places of its origin, one acquires the state of fulfillment. (Verse 24 of Vigyan Bhairav Tantra text)
This technique focuses on the subtle pauses—the “two places of its origin”—that naturally occur during the breathing cycle. There are two critical gaps:
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The pause between the inhale and the exhale.
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The pause between the exhale and the inhale.
The breath is considered Supreme Energy (the Goddess Herself), which “originates from God and returns to God” . By concentrating on its origin (the gap), one is, in effect, concentrating on God Himself. This focus is a practical way to quieten the mind, as it is easier to concentrate the mind on a point than to try and stop thought directly. The breath is the easiest and most natural object for this initial concentration.
Practice Instructions
The technique is a “sitting meditation” and should be done seated comfortably with eyes closed.
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Focus on the full breathing cycle:Â The practitioner must observe the entire cycle of breath, rather than only the gaps, to prevent the mind from wandering during the inhale and exhale.
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Increased focus on the gap:Â The primary awareness is directed towards the brief pause between the in-breath and the out-breath, and the out-breath and the in-breath.
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Observation without influence: The practitioner is warned against trying to “influence your breath in any way. Just observe it.”
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The natural refinement: As the practice continues, the breath may automatically become “more subtle and refined,” and the gap between breaths may “increase”. The entire breathing cycle may slow down and lengthen.
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The result: Peace and Joy: As the practice deepens, the mind “may calm down,” leading to a feeling of peace, then joy. The ultimate goal is to acquire the “state of fulfillment” mentioned in the verse.
The Philosophical Significance
The importance of the gap lies in its nature as a moment of absolute stillness. In that brief pause, the body is completely still, and by focusing the mind on this stillness, the mind also becomes still. In this stillness, thought disappears, and the practitioner reaches or connects with the God.
This meditation introduces the concept of Energy (the Goddess/breath) as the means to reach Consciousness (God/Shiva). By engaging with the breath (the Goddess/Energy), the essential form of God (Consciousness/Fulfillment) is realized. This is why the breath is called the “Supreme Goddess Herself,” which originates from and returns to God.