How to do breath meditation as per Kabir Sagar

 In the holy scripture Kabir Sagar (and the connected Sukshma Veda and Kabir Panth teachings compiled through dialogues with Dharmdas), meditation on breath is not practiced as a physical Hatha Yoga exercise, breath-retention (Kumbhaka), or mechanical pranayama. Instead, it is executed as Ajapa Japa (unspoken, continuous remembrance) intertwined directly with the natural flow of incoming and outgoing breaths using the secret "Satnam" / "Soham" mantra.  

The minute and secret details of how breath awareness (Swas-Ushwas Dhyan) is practiced according to Kabir’s teachings include:

1. The Philosophy of the Limited Breath (Swas Ki Keemat)

 Kabir Sagar emphasizes that every human is allotted a fixed, unchangeable number of breaths from birth. Wasting even a single breath without remembrance is treated as an irreparable spiritual loss.  

 The core principle taught by Kabir to Dharmdas is: "Shwans-ushwans mein naam japo, vyartha shwans na khoye | Na bera is shwans ka, aawan ho ke na hoye" (Chant the holy name with every breath in and breath out; do not waste a single breath, for life is uncertain).  

2. The Secret Mechanism of "Ajapa Japa" (The Unspoken Recitation)

 Without the Tongue: True breath meditation according to Kabir does not use the physical tongue or vocal cords. It is an Ajapa chant—a recitation that happens automatically within the soul's current.  

 The Breath as a Touchstone (Swansa Paras): Kabir refers to the breath as Paras (the philosopher's stone that turns base metal into gold). When the breath is touched by the true Mantra given by a Satguru, every incoming and outgoing cycle acts as a cleanser of sins.  

3. Integration with the True Mantra (Om-Soham / Satnam)

 As detailed in Kabir Sagar (such as sections in Swans Gunjaar), the seeker synchronizes the secret two-word or three-word phonetic currents with the breath:

 With the Inhalation (Swas): The upward or inward flow of air is mentally tied to the remembrance of the foundational divine vibration.

 With the Exhalation (Ushwas): The outward flow of air is tied to Soham (So+Ham — meaning "That I am", identifying the soul with the Supreme Lord Satpurush).  

 This creates a continuous, unbroken loop (mala) of breath, often described as: "Kabir, mala Shwans-ushwans ki, pherenge nijdas | Chaurasi bharmai nahee, kate karm ki phans" (The true servant strings a rosary out of breaths; they never wander into the 84 lakh life-cycles, and the trap of karma is cut).  

4. Mental Alignment and Surat (Attention)

 Surati Integration: Breath attention cannot be mechanical; the Surat (the attention or consciousness of the soul) must tightly accompany the passage of air at the inner threshold.

 Constant Vigilance (Hardam): The practice demands Hardam (every single moment) awareness. Whether walking, sitting, eating, or working, the inner mind keeps track of the breath's transition, ensuring that the mind does not drift into worldly (Maya) thoughts.

5. The Internal Awakening

 According to Kabir's explicit methodology in the text, when the breath is successfully converted into a vehicle for the secret mantra, the inner chakras and artificial barriers set by Kaal (the mind/time lord) are bypassed.

 The continuous friction of the breath loaded with the true name lights an inner spiritual illumination (Rome-rome prakash) across the body, stopping the outward dissipation of vital spiritual energy and aligning the soul toward Satlok (the eternal, ageless abode).

In the Kabir Sagar text (specifically within the discussions and chapters related to Swans Gunjaar / Shabad Gunjaar focusing on breath and the inner word), Saint Kabir imparts secret verses (bani) to Dharmdas regarding how the breath is converted into a rosary for liberation.  

The primary verses from Kabir Sagar concerning breath meditation (Swas) include:

1. The Verse on Wasting Breaths

Kabir, shwans-ushwans mein naam japo, vyartha shwans na khoye |

Na bera is shwans ka, aawan ho ke na hoye.

2. The Verse on Breath as the Philosopher's Stone (Paras)

Swasa sar gahai sahidani, shashi ke ghar mahn surya uganai |

Swasa sar gahai gunjara, jap japai satnam piyara.

3. The Verse on Continuous Remembrance (Hardam Soham)

Hardam naam soham soi, aavagavan bahor na hoi.

4. The Verse on the Essence of Breath and Inner Illumination

Swasa sar gahai sahidani, shashi ke ghar mahn surya uganai |

Swasa sar gahai gunjara, jap japai satnam piyara.

5. The Verse on Ajapa Japa (Unspoken Chant)

Ajapa jap japai sukhdayi, aavai na javai rah thaharai.