This week we offer a simple yet very effective exercise in breath control. Please note that this exercise should be done according to ones capacity — do not do anything that is beyond your capacity or it may upset and disturb you. If you are not able to breath as slowly or as deeply as you would like, no harm. Just breath as slowly and as deeply as you can and your capacity will increase naturally over time.
The following are the words of Sri Chinmoy:

Try to breathe in as slowly and a quietly as possible, so that if you placed a tiny thread right in front of your nose it would not even move. Then you will see that your meditation will be deep and your mind will be very calm and quiet.

(Source: Meditation: Man-Perfection In God-Satisfaction)

Sri Chinmoy was once asked the question, “I would like to develop better concentration so that I can keep my mind focused on one thought.” The following is Sri Chinmoy’s answer:

Before you start your meditation I wish you to repeat the name of God, “Supreme,” about twenty times as fast as possible. First purify your breath by repeating “Supreme.” The breath has to be purified; unless and until the breath is purified, the mind will wander and cannot remain one-pointed. If the breath is purified, then the mind will not act like a restless monkey.

Then I wish you to concentrate on your inner divinity. Always try to feel that you are safe when you are with God, with divinity. Let God and the divine qualities within you act against your human, undivine qualities. When you use the word “God,” please try to feel your real love for God. When you are concentrating, feel that you are really growing into God, into the very breath of God. Then your concentration is bound to do something for you.

(Source: Meditation: God Speaks and I Listen, Part 1)

Here is a slight variation of the same exercise. Sri Chinmoy was asked, “What kind of concentration exercise will help give us purity and one-pointedness in the mind?”, to which he responded:

Before you start your meditation I wish you to repeat “Supreme” about twenty times as fast as possible in order to purify your breath. When you are concentrating, feel that you are really growing into the very breath of God. Unless and until the breath is purified, the mind will not remain one-pointed.

(Source: Meditation: Man-Perfection In God-Satisfaction)

In the morning
Use your purity-breath
To illumine the world within you.
In the evening
Use the selfsame breath
To liberate the world around you.
– Sri Chinmoy