The Swan's Word

This is one of the oldest mantras there is, and one of the easiest, because the breath carries it for you. Silently, you hear so as the breath comes in and ham as it goes out. Together they make so’ham, Sanskrit for “I am that.”

The working

1. Sit comfortably with your back upright and close your eyes. Breathe through the nose at a natural pace.
2. As you breathe in, hear the sound so (like sew) silently, stretching over the whole in-breath.
3. As you breathe out, hear ham (like hum), stretching over the whole out-breath.
4. Don’t change the breath to fit the word. Let the word fit the breath, however long or short it is.
5. When you drift, come back at the next breath with so.
6. After a while the word may grow faint. Let it. Resting in the breath without it is just as good.

Closing

Let go of the word and take a few ordinary breaths before you open your eyes.