annecdotes

The benefits are grouped into benefits for Mind, Body, Relationships and Others. The key word describing the benefit shown bold

Healthy and bright look of 'Face' invariably seen after 6 – 9 months of practice

Get ‘Sound Sleep’/relief from Insomnia - most attractive benefit for all people

Relief/cure from Stuttering (Stammering) ‘Speech’ problems prevailing up to 40 years

1. Person aged 43, technical manager, was very unhappy about his anger affecting his work relationships. He said he wanted very much to control his anger, tried many times but failed to find a practical way to achieve the control. In about 4 months of starting this method he felt great relief from his outbursts of anger. He was practicing the method while having bath.

2. Person 30 years, technical manager, was getting irritated with his subordinates if they were not doing exactly as told. After this method, he simply could not get angry at them. But on the other hand, he started feeling that he should patiently listen to them to understand the problems due to which they were not doing his way.

At home, his wife also started this method when he told her the basic method verbally. He observed that she became more patient with their 5 year old son. Earlier she was getting irritated at their son when he approached her for some attention while she was doing some work. But after this method, she became more receptive to him and started listening and soothing him.

3. Person 25 years, Junior Engineer, was famous for his short temper with his workers. His behavior changed radically to his great relief and also of his workers. He was practicing only before sleep for about 6 months.

4. Person aged 50+, chief of security department was famous for his short temper and constant fault finding with his supervisors. He changed so much after this method that his people became happy and also his wife complimented him for improvement of his temper.

5. A Chief Engineer 45 years, used to go round the various sections of his department in the morning and wherever his people were found lacking in performance he was getting angry and scolding them, losing his mental peace and also making his people unhappy at his loss of temper. After this practice, his anger totally disappeared and he started dealing with them in a more fruitful manner.

6. One civil contractor 35 years, was famous for his outbursts of anger on his workers. He also had high blood pressure and taking medicine. After this method, he said his anger totally disappeared. His blood pressure also had come down reducing his dose frequency from once a day to once in 3-4 days.

1. A homeopathic doctor who benefited from the method, asked his patients whose complaints had a psychosomatic background, to practice this method. Some of them reported relief after practicing it.

2. A boy 9 years old learned this method and encouraged by his mother practiced it regularly. His mother reported that he could stop taking his daily medications after consulting his doctor. (Year 2008) Top

1. Person aged 50+, a chemist, was taking a 50 mg tablet everyday for last 15 years for high blood pressure. Within 4 months of starting this method, he felt so much relief that he could reduce his daily dose to 25 mg tab once in 3 days while checking blood pressure regularly. His doctor was puzzled about this improvement. His total personality changed in work and at home. He became more responsible and less worried at work. He turned remarkably spiritual, sitting in meditation before his favorite Goddess Kali for an hour every day.

2. Person aged 36, a contractor, was taking medicine for high blood pressure for last 2 years. He was very short tempered. He felt such relief due to practice of the method, that he felt like stopping his medicine. But on advice of his doctor he was taking once in 3-4 days. His anger almost disappeared for which he was very happy.

Three more cases of such significant reduction of blood pressure were reported from - a Chief Engineer, a record keeper in a Quality control department and a security supervisor.

3. A lady who had hypertension and regularly visiting her doctor learned these methods attending my classes over several months. Whenever she visited her doctor her blood pressure was showing very high. She was determined to get over this and one day went to the doctor’s office well ahead of time and practiced counting breaths for over 20 minutes. For the first time doctor found her pressure normal as reported by her with a beaming face. (Year 2007)

1. One person, 45 years, was in the habit of suddenly dropping his lower jaw suddenly for a moment while speaking to others. After he practiced this method for about 5 months this habit disappeared totally. He was practicing the method only after having his dinner for a few minutes sitting with legs folded back (a Yoga posture) which helps in better digestion.

2. One person 55 years was found shaking his hands involuntarily. His friend who was practicing this method saw this during a visit and told him to try the method. He met the same person again after 3 months and found the shaking of hands far less. When asked how the improvement came about that person replied ‘Thanks to your suggestion I am practicing that method when ever I feel my hands are shaking’.

1. The mother of a 10 year old boy who attended my classes told me:

My son was terrified of getting any dental work done. I had to postpone his visits several times. After I learned 'Counting Breaths' I taught this method to him at home and made him practice for a few days. When he was sitting in the dentist's chair, I sat beside him and continuously said "breath, breath so on". For the firs time, he had his dentist visit without the usual panic. (2007)

2. I gave the flier to the owner of the cleaning company of 70+ years, about 2 months back. A few days back, I called her for a business mater. At the end of our conversation, she told on her own " Thank you for the breathing method. I was undergoing dental work a few days back. My dentist was surprised at my unusual calmness and asked me how was it I was not clenching my fists as I used to. I told him I was practicing a calming technique. It was really helpful during that time. " (2008)

1. One electrician who learned this method taught it to his 2 children. They could do it happily. Prior to this method, it was quite a task to wake them up early morning to make them ready to go to school in time. He said that because of this method, his children were waking up earlier and even waking them up.

2. I was talking about this method to a group of school children in their summer camp in a garden. They were introduced to this method by their teacher earlier. One 10 year old girl asked me "Can I do this method when I feel tension?" Imagine a 10 year old asking this question about mental tension while enjoying summer holidays in a garden!

3. This method was introduced to 60 single teacher Govt. schools in tribal areas staffed by teachers managed by Seva Bharathi (a voluntary service organization). It is learned that 6 of the teachers are regularly practicing it.

4. In one hostel for tribal students run by Seva Bharathi this method was introduced by one of the volunteers who derived a lot of benefit from it. It is learned that 4 of the students are doing it regularly. The benefits for teachers and students are not yet known.

Recently the mother and father of 2 girls (5 and 9 years) studying in this school said -

'We went to New York and having dinner at a restaurant. Our girls were getting bored. We were pleasantly surprised to find both of them practicing the breathing method on their own, without any prompt from us."

Also see periodic reports on introduction of this method to children, teachers and staff in Robert C. Parker School in the page what is new.

The amazing usefulness of these methods to children of all ages from 2 to 15 is now proved beyond any doubt in all the trials I conducted from 2006 onwards and being continued.

1. A feedback in the guest book of my web site (which is now closed) from some one calling himself 'Hopeless' - "Hi, I tried this for a day and it is wonderful. Something horrible happened to me some years ago and so I have genuine tension that would be unbearable for most people. I have been searching for years for some form of mind control and I think this exercise is helping me to a great extent in getting over the serious problem".

2. A young security guard reported that he used the method to stop the compulsive thoughts about his ex-girl friend who got married to somebody else.

3. A lady teacher reported that she used this method to get over the mental irritation she was feeling whenever a sudden heavy sound was coming from the nearby power plant (due to venting of excess steam).

4. A girl college student who is in a foreign country far away from parents for the first time, used it to get over the frequent memory of her father whom she was missing for the first time in her life.

5. A young security guard who joined his first job used it to get over the memories of his parents living far away. Top

" I completed my MBBS from Osmania Medical College/ Hyderabad

India

2 years back. Me and my husband who is an engineer came to Albany recently. I came to know about your ‘counting breaths’ from a brochure that I found at Albany Hindu Temple. I am preparing for USMLE step1 right now and my exam is in August 09. I am really tensed at the moment. I am practicing ‘counting breaths’ since 2 days and I am really feeling very much relieved of my stress. I can concentrate more on my studies. So I wanted to thank you through this mail. Thank you very much. Seeking your blessings for my exam." I am now working with her through periodic e-mail exchanges.

1. Many soft ware people told me that practicing this method improved their mental concentration on job. Many of them told that the method helped them forget their programming related thinking and get badly needed rest through sound sleep.

2. One group of 10 soft ware designers customizing SAP software used to practice it for 5 minutes every day before starting the work. Two foreigners visiting the team periodically were also practicing it along with them. They said it improved their mental concentration in their work.

3. One Greek soft ware site had an entry in a discussion forum that the method was useful for improving mental concentration.

4. A web designer told me that he was not able to use his daily travel time of 2 hours NJ to NY for reading books that he wanted to read badly utilizing his idle travel time. After practicing this method he was able to complete reading of many books effortlessly.

5.Some people who were practicing meditation like ‘Chakra Dhyana’ (a method of concentrating on the energy centers in the body) said that this method improved their practices significantly. Earlier, in spite of their best efforts, they were getting frustrated due to lack of concentration. They are now getting better returns for the time they are spending on the practice.

Some children in USA reported using this method to concentrate and think hard about something.

A person 35 years, Engineer, was taking medicine every day as advised by the psychiatrist doctor for last 5 years. After he practiced this method for a few months, he felt so much relieved, that he totally stopped taking the medicine. He was free of from depression for at least 6 months since last contact with him. Top

One person 28 years, married an year back was concerned about his over weight. His wife was also pressing him to start some exercise program to reduce weight. But he was not inclined to do take any action. After about 2 months of practicing this method, he started his daily morning walks. His weight started slowly reducing. He was very happy that he could take action on this long standing problem bothering him and his wife. Top

One young chemist of 20 years said that after he started practicing this method his old tendency of avoiding talking to other people changed radically. He found himself taking initiative to have friendly talk with people comfortably. He was very happy to see this change in himself.

1. The person aged 50 yrs, a manager, was having severe diabetes problem. He was taking insulin twice a day. His face was looking alarmingly sick and lifeless.

After about 6 months of this method his face changed radically to such a healthy look, that his wife asked him how did it become so much better.

2. The person aged 28 yrs, Engineer, was doing this method only at night while waiting for sleep lying in bed. After about 6 months, his face has acquired a remarkable clarity and glow. He reported that his out bursts of anger at his workers totally came under his control.

3. A lady 50 years (USA) read the full article in web site ‘humnri.com’ and practiced the method. After a few months she sent me two photos of her face showing a clear improvement. She wrote by e-mail that her friends remarked about the happy smile on her face of late.

Changing of face to a brighter, healthier and calmer look in spite of original color of face, is a common improvement seen in many regular users of the method.

I could detect the regular users of the method among the people I used to meet frequently, by observing the improvement in their faces and style of interaction with others.

Note: From Jan 2005 I took close up pictures of the faces of some participants of my follow up classes - at the beginning and periodically during the classes. See how some faces changed through these links Face A Face B Face C Face D

1. The person aged 32, my ex-gardener, used to ride a bi-cycle to and from his work place – 15 kilo meters (about 10 miles) each way. I told about this method in less than 30 minutes and he started practicing it. After about 2 weeks he said he was feeling his breath while riding his bi- cycle and he felt much less tired compared to his earlier experience. Being a manual worker for 8 hours a day, this benefit of reducing travel tiredness made him very happy.

2. People who were in the habit of walking every day for 30minutes to 1 hour as an exercise, told me that they started practicing this method while doing their walking. It made them feel as though they did not walk much. The walking time passed quickly without feeling any impatience.

3. A soft ware Engineer aged 30 (USA), reported that he used to feel headache after prolonged work before his computer. After knowing about this method he practices ‘feeling the breath’ for a short time sitting before the computer with closed eyes. He feels totally relieved of the headache. Top

One teen aged boy was living with his single mother and grand mother. He was very much attached to his grand mother who gave him his favorite dishes and pocket money. She died due to illness in old age. The boy got terribly upset by her absence and started neglecting his studies. When his mother put too mush pressure on him about his studies he tried to injure himself with a broken Coke bottle. His mother shared the problem with me with great concern. I told her - to stop pressing him, to practice the method and also make her son practice it. She stopped putting pressure on him and made him do the method before going to sleep.
She reported lot of improvement in her son in about 3 months. He became very positive to her advices and took up a career of a musician with his talent for playing guitar and singing.

1. A principal and vice principal of a school with about 1000 students were feeling a lot of tension and harassed due to various pressures from parents of the students visiting them at school and pressing them for admissions, improvement of marks, so on.

After they started this method, their response to the situation totally changed. They were able to listen patiently to the visiting parents and send them off with a smile. It was such a remarkable change that some of the parents complimented them for not getting irritated, in spite of all their efforts to put pressure on them.

2. A senior manager in a factory, aged 44 years, said he used this method while talking over phone to his factory shift–in-charges early morning every day. It helped him reduce his frustration and irritation on hearing the problems reported by them.

1. A young homeopathic doctor said he was able to listen to his patients without getting irritated after he started this method.

2. A mother was found to listen to her 5 year old son patiently when he used to interrupt her kitchen work after she practiced this method. Earlier she was getting irritated and brushing him away in such situations.

3. A person aged 32, was practicing chanting for 101 times a Hindu chant called ‘Gayathri Mantra’ considered powerful in improving mental capacity. He actually developed some powers. He rose fast from a clerical job to a supervisory job, by acquiring higher qualifications and performing to the satisfaction of his senior officers. But he was a dismal listener when dealing with others. He never allowed any one complete their sentences. He would interrupt them half way and cause great irritation. His colleagues were trying their best to avoid talking to him unless absolutely necessary. After he practiced this method, he changed remarkably into a patient listener to the surprise of his colleagues.

A few others who had no patience in listening to others showed significant improvement.

1. Person (male 53 years) was suffering from migraine every week lasting for a day, since more than 30 years. He was not taking any medicine and putting up with the pain as the pain killers were making him drowsy. Within 2 months of practicing the method, his Migraine totally stopped and did not recur even once in last 6 months. He started practicing the method for mental comfort without expecting any relief from migraine. This benefit came as a pleasant surprise for him.

2. Person, female, 45 years is a working lady suffering from Migraine every day in the evening lasting for whole night since 2 Years. She was taking a pain killer every day after returning from work. Even then she had to twist a towel around her head to bear the pain. After she started this method the frequency and intensity of pain gradually reduced. In about 4 months, she was getting pain only 2-3 times a month instead of all 30 days. She started practicing this method when she was told it may help reduce her Migraine pains.

3. Person, male, 35 years, was suffering from Migraine once in 15 days lasting 2-3 days since 3 years. He was putting up with the pain, without taking any medicine. Within 2 months of practicing this method, his Migraine totally disappeared without any recurrence even once. He started practicing the method when told it may relieve his Migraine.

4. Person, male, 47 years, was suffering from Migraine every day or two starting in the evening and lasting throughout the night since about 2 years. He was not taking any medicine. He practiced the method without any expectation of relief from Migraine. Now he is getting pain rarely and intensity is very light.

5. A lady of age 86 attended several of my classes with the hope of getting rid of her migraines that bothered her from age 11 intermittently. For many years she used to take one light medicine daily and one strong medicine 9 pills a month, to control acute attacks. She was very scared of running out of the strong medicine which could be procured only after her doctor’s fight with the insurance company. She was very regular in her practice and reported after about 8 months happily that she could reduce the strong medicine to 6 pills a month and no longer worried about running out of it. (Year 2008) Top

1. Two persons in their forties reported that their pot bellies got reduced significantly after they made the method a habit. Asked how it happened, they told that their food intake had reduced. Earlier they were over eating, without any awareness. Now they are eating with more awareness and eating only as much as they needed leading to reduction of intake.

2. One industrialist told that his wife was taking more care about her weight by controlling her diet and started regular walking after she started practicing the method.

3. A person 40-50 years was acutely aware of his obvious obesity and feeling helpless. After he practiced this method mostly before sleep and just after a shower standing in the bath tub, his obese appearance significantly changed to a slimmer look, though his tummy was still prominent.

4. Gave the flier and complete booklet to the senior librarian of the local library about 8 months back. Whenever I used to come across him he was telling me that he and his wife have been practicing the method and happy about it. A few days back he told me he was practicing mostly at bed time and enjoys good sleep. He also told happily that he lost 15 pounds. Asked how it happened, he put both his index fingers at his temples pointing to his head and said "it is all here!"

5. A lady 30+ was obese and having many other health problems. She lost more than 20 pounds after she attended several of my follow up classes. She was also relieved of some of her other problems.

6. A software engineer practiced this method before sleep, traveling and frequently during the day. He told to a group in my presence that his weight was so much reduced that his pants were sliding down. This happened in spite of the fact his gym attendance was very irregular and he did not practice conscious diet control, compared to the period he was struggling to reduce his weight.

1. Arthritis Pains: A person aged 60+ was suffering from chronic pains due to arthritis in one knee and one thumb since a few months. He could not go down the steps into his house basement and felt very bad about this handicap, having been a very physically active person all his life. The specialist doctors said only solution was to take pain relievers life long. One day I asked him to practice the relaxation using the finger segments (segment mode B in this brochure) for about 20 minutes in my presence. After his he felt real difference and was convinced it was something worth trying. Thereafter, he practiced every day. After a few weeks he e-maied this feedback "I practiced breathing on last four days for about 30 minutes. I do feel the benefits. Pains are reduced immediately and stay that way for a few hours". After a few more weeks, he said he was able to go down the steps of his basement. As suggested, he was also doing gentle and light stretching after the relaxation which helped a lot.

2. Fibromyalgia Pains: The following feedback from a patient with severe disability due to fibromyalgia is the most impressive one I received in the last 8 years of my spreading this method. She has been suffering from Fibromyalgia pains for 19 years for which conventional medicine offers only strong pain medicines with side effects. She has been on disability and stopped driving. She was not able to sleep at night due to the pains. She underwent sleep study at the sleep center and was using CPAP machine with only partial relief. She was sleeping during the day and not able to do any of her daily chores. No cure has been found so far for this disease so far. I gave her the brochure about 3 months back. She read and practiced on her own. In 2 weeks she was sleeping much better. Then she attended 2 of my follow up classes. Now she is using half the number of pain pills a day. There is no change in the 2 pain patches she has been using. Her Doctor Padma Sripada who was treating her for last 8 years said this was unbelievable. See the potential of this method!

” I have Fibromyalgia. I was first diagnosed with this condition in March 1990 after an injury that occurred at my place of employment. Almost 19 years now I have had great difficulty sleeping due to extreme pain. After being prescribed many medications over the years, none compare to the breathing techniques demonstrated to me by C.S. Because of him I can get many hours of consecutive sleep; where I was not able to achieve with prior aid of a physician whose speciality is sleep disorders.

1. A cleaner of our office picked up a copy of the flier describing this method in local language, at the entry gate. When I asked him whether he tried it, he replied that he was already practicing it while cleaning the floor! He said he found it useful - he stopped smoking whereas he was smoking 10 cigarettes a day. Also whenever idle he was sitting at home instead of roaming in the streets wasting his meager salary. He said he was not so much worried about his hungry stomach after starting this method!

2. A young security guard earning a low salary, with wife and a 3 year old son to take care, was in great financial difficulties. He was buying things for his house on credit and ran into many debts. When he used to reach home after a tiring duty, his wife used to pour out her frustrations with the creditors who were harassing her during the day in his absence. She could not satisfy any of them. On hearing all this from her on arriving home after a night shift duty, he used to lose his temper and would shout at her and remain aloof. Their 3 year old son who was watching all this was scared of his father. This was going on for a long time.

Earlier, on seeing their problems, his brother-in-law offered to lend them money to start some side business and supplement their income. But in view of the strained relations between the wife and husband he was not actually coming forth with the money.

After the security guard learned this method in a one hour session along with his colleagues, he started practicing it. Due to the method, his response to her frustration changed radically. Instead of getting angry at her he would listen patiently with sympathy, and give her concrete suggestions to distribute the available money to particular creditors and dispose off the others in a diplomatic manner.

Seeing the better relations between the wife and husband his brother-in-law lent Rs 5000 (about USD 1000) to him. With that, he started buying dresses from a wholesaler and sold them in the neighborhood making some extra money. His wife bought a sewing machine and made some money tailoring clothes. He said his whole life changed radically because of his practicing the method.

The focusing on the breath technique is appealing in its simplicity, and absence of restrictive conditions that often hamper the adoption of most techniques of meditation

I have introduced the technique to some of my patients with anxiety, panic attacks, hypertension and insomnia.

Everyone who has adopted the technique has reported it helps them relax. Some patients have reported it has helped then sleep better, and no longer rely on medications. The most remarkable effect was on a patient with severe panic attacks, who could not drive over a bridge without taking an anxiolytic first, is now able to drive over bridges without relying on medications! Padma Sripada MD Internal Medicine www.doctorpadma.com

1. A teacher said with a smile, that after a few days of starting the method he completed a small but long pending job demanded by his wife which was ‘to put up a clothes line for drying the clothes in the yard’. It was only a job of 20 minutes but he was postponing it for months.

2. A food server in a company guest house learned this method through me in 15 minutes and started practicing it. He told after about 4 months, that it had benefited him financially a great deal. He was being told for past 5 years to pay a loan on a house site inherited by him by paying Indian Rupees 10,000/ (about USD 200). The current value of the site was more than Rs. 100,000

( about USD 2000) which was a fortune for his monthly salary of Indian Rupees 1500/ (close to USD 30). Though he was having the money for repaying the loan, he was feeling some hesitation or fear in acting on this matter for last 5 years.

After practicing this method he got over his fear, hesitation or lethargy. He cleared the loan and got back the documents and now has a big fortune. His behavior changed remarkably to one of confidence, in contrast to his earlier look of hesitation and fear.

1. One person aged 47 head of a large department was in the habit of making funny statements in meetings which were greeted by laughter from the listeners. He was also laughing with them as though he was enjoying people laughing at him. To sum up, he had the image of a joker. After practicing this method he gradually stopped making such statements. Even then some people were trying to make fun of him out of old habit. He started reacting to their laughter by replying strongly and silencing the laughing people. His image as a joker changed significantly to that of a normal person.

2. One person aged 56years, head of a large department, had the habit of speaking sarcastically and negatively during all official meetings. He used to comment negatively even on matters not connected with his department. He was a pain in the neck for his colleagues as well as his boss. He remarkably changed after he practiced this method. His responses became positive and he remained quiet in matters not related to his department. He said he practiced the method during all the idle periods during the meetings and kept his cool. His official image changed from negative to a positive one. Top

1. My ex-secretary, a devotee of Kalki Bhagawan was practicing 'Chakra Dhyana' for many years. His behavior and face showed no change. He said he was not able to concentrate in spite of his best intentions. After a few

months of starting this method, he showed remarkable change in his face and behavior - listening better and more tolerant towards others differing from him.

2. Devotees of 'Sivananda' who were regular practitioners of Puja (chanting God’s names) and Bhajan (singing devotional songs as a group) found this method compatible with their practices and derived benefits from it.

3. Devotees of Sathya Sai Baba practicing weekly Bhajan found this method acceptable and derived benefit from it.

4. Devotees, young and aged, from various religions accepted this method and benefited from it – Hindus as cited in detail above, devout Muslims and devout Christians. They said it has no link to any religion and hence no objection to trying it or practicing it.

5. An ardent atheist had no objection to practice of this method and benefited remarkably in totally getting rid of his suffering for last 30 years from Migraine pains.

1. A person 45 yrs, was having a strained relation with his wife from date of marriage. They have a teen age daughter.

As reported by him, she was having very different expectations from him in terms of status and power. As these were not fulfilled by him she used to nag and humiliate him daily after he returned from long hours of factory work. She used to compare him to others getting promoted faster than him and pointing out his inferiority. He used to react to her by getting angry and destroying things like - tube lights, bulbs and news papers in her presence. This was going on for more than 20 years.

After he started this method, he could control his reactions to her. He was silently listening to her and not replying anything. She had to stop nagging him after some time seeing his total silence. She even used to remark 'am I talking to my husband or the wall?' Earlier after such an episode they were not on talking terms for 2-3 days. But these days they were talking to each other in the evening of same day.

His boss remarked that earlier the person's wife was complaining about her husband every day over telephone. But for last few months he was not getting such calls from her.

2. One industrialist practiced the method often, while traveling in his car on business trips and could reduce his mental tension. He could handle the pressures from his customers better.

He verbally told his wife about the method and forgot about it. His wife and his widowed mother, though closely related, were not on good terms. His wife was not willing to take his mother to hospital when required and he had to squeeze time from his busy schedule, to make these trips.

After some time he found his wife's behavior changed. She volunteered to take his mother to the hospital. He feels this could be only because of her practicing the method.

3. One security guard was feeling very bad that he was not able to satisfy his wife's demand for stopping his smoking. After this method, he could discontinue smoking totally He was very happy that he is enjoying a happy relationship with his wife now.

4. An Engineer who joined service a few months back was having a very strained relationship with his boss. He was so frustrated that he privately confided to me that he was planning to resign from the job and search another one - just because of his problem with this boss.

This method was in it's early stage of evaluation at that time. I told him to try the method and see if it would help. After about 3 weeks he reported that he was no longer bothered about his boss’s behavior. He was just doing as his boss wanted him to do even if he was not in agreement with him and forgetting

about it. Earlier, he used to argue with his boss a lot and finally had to do as told feeling demoralized in the process.

5. One person in service, aged 42, told that he was in the habit of angrily bursting out while dealing with his parents whom he used to visit once a year during his holidays. This was so remarkable that his parents were avoiding directly talking to him. After practicing this method his behavior towards them changed remarkably. H made it a point to talk to them nicely during his visits. He came to know through others that his parents noticed this change and were very happy. Top

Persons from many types of jobs told that this method helped in getting sound sleep quickly in spite of their job being very stressful one. They were Engineers, Soft ware designers, Shop floor supervisors, Laboratory chemists, Quality controllers, company Guest house staff, shop floor Workers, a Clothes washer, a Gardener….so on. Getting sound sleep easily was the greatest attraction of this method for majority of practitioners.

I continue to meet people who report that they practiced only to fall asleep and I can see a distinct change in their faces from non-smiling to smiling look only for this little practice. (year 2005 on).

People of all ages from 2 years to 90 years have been reported to enjoy remarkably better sleep using this method in USA.

The focusing on the breath technique is appealing in its simplicity, and absence of restrictive conditions that often hamper the adoption of most techniques of meditation

I have introduced the technique to some of my patients with anxiety, panic attacks, hypertension and insomnia.
Everyone who has adopted the technique has reported it helps them relax. Some patients have reported it has helped then sleep better, and no longer rely on medications. The most remarkable effect was on a patient with severe panic attacks, who could not drive over a bridge without taking an anxiolytic first, is now able to drive over bridges without relying on medications!

1. One industrialist practiced the method often while traveling during the day in his car on business trips and gained in reducing his mental tension and in handling the pressures from his customers. He arranged a work shop on the method for all his 30 workers and 2 supervisors. After some time he found a change in the attitudes of his workers - they were more receptive to the various changes in working plans to cope with business fluctuations. They also started taking more interest in cleaning up the work place every day.

2. In one paper converting industry, the owner practiced the method and gained in being cool in handling his problems. He also stopped wasting his time with his friends to their surprise. They remarked on this change in his long standing habit.

He also organized a work shop of one hour for this method for his workers and staff of 25 ladies and 18 males. Later, the owner was surprised to find that his supervisors and workers voluntarily started practicing the method just after the lunch break for 5 minutes. The immediate benefit reported by the supervisors was that the workers were coming for the 5 minute session promptly after lunch not to miss this session. The supervisors were very happy that they were relieved of the daily task of running after the workers to return to work spot on time after lunch break. They told him that it would have been better if the work shop had been arranged long back. Top

1. An operator aged 45, had serious family problems. His wife had chronic mental problems and had outbursts of anger not controlled by treatment for a long time. His only son aged 26 was mentally retarded and had speech problems. He used to walk with a serious face like a statue – a personification of sorrow. After several rounds of persuasion, he started practicing the method. In about 3 months his facial expression changed remarkably. When asked last about his problems, he started crying, tears flowing from his eyes but to my pleasant surprise, he soon recovered and started smiling though the tears were still there. This I consider as the greatest achievement of this method. If a person in his condition could smile by practicing this method, any one can smile.

2. An officer in stores was always having a serious face - never smiling. After this method his face showed a smile often.

3. Two guest house bearers always had a tense and serious face as though they were afraid. After this method, their faces often showed a spontaneous smile.

4. A youngster, 20 years, in the Information systems department was always looking serious and gloomy. It looked as though he was having an inferiority complex. There was never a smile on his face. After he practiced this method his face changed remarkably with a smile showing often. H showed more confidence in talking to others.

I continue to see more people whose previously grim faces show a spontaneous smile as a result of practicing ‘counting breaths’. (year 2005 on)

These pictures show grim faces smiling happily after about 6 months of this practice.

1. One cashier in UPS store used to smoke 20+ cigarettes a day for many years. Earlier he tried hypnotherapy but it could not help him. Here is his feedback.

"I was smoking a pack and half a day. I had been looking for a way to quit that would not require more money and the same old results. I was introduced to the 'counting breaths' methods. After just a week of doing the method once in the morning and right before bed, I was able to cut down smoking down to around 15 cigarettes a day from the previous 20 a day, by doing nothing more than the method. I now do it throughout the day and I am down to about 4 cigarettes a day. My goal is to be smoke free within the next month.
This is all due to doing the method: I am more relaxed, I don't need to lash out at everybody because I am edgy. The best part is, it costs me nothing to do, except for my effort into it. I didn't need any outside help like gum or patches; I did it on my own which is a great feeling. My wife has now started this method and we are slowly getting into our children to do it too.
I highly recommend this for anyone of any age." April 23, 2009 Michael S e-mail: mksmail800@verizon.net

One patient (50+ years age, with a smoking history of 7 cigarettes a day for 20 years) saw the above feedback in the brochure displayed in the waiting room in my daughter's medical office. He said he would try this method immediately, to stop smoking. When he visited after 5 weeks he reported it worked. On my request he sent this inspiring feedback.

" The Solution is Simplicity: Several days ago, while awaiting to meet with my physician, I read a booklet about the benefits of counting breaths. Out of curiosity, I tried several proposed methods, especially "finger counting." (see mode (A) on page 1 in this brochure) It seemed to relieve some tension, but I was fascinated to test the effectiveness of this techniques through a more practical implication; smoking cessation. I was, at best skeptical as not only was counting breaths easy, and affordable, it as also a 'holisitic' approach to addiction abatement. My first craving for a cigarette began shortly after my appointment, and instead of reaching into my pocket for a smoke, I tried finger counting. At first, it was fast paced, nervous and a bit "hurried"; however, within a few minutes not only did the craving stop, but I felt more energized. That was four days ago. I still have cravings, though less frequent, still conditioned to light up at certain times, but I finger count. It is so simple that even someone like me who has no patience and desires immediate satisfaction has found counting breaths an "easy does it" resolution to an insidious condition, nicotine addiction. Try it just a couple of times, you will see, feel and be inspired by counting breaths. Again, give yourself a chance and try it out. You will not be disappointed." June 2009. As yet, I do not have his permission to post his name or e-mail.

1. The person, male, age 42 years, had been smoking 30 cigarettes a day for more than 10 years. He was a marketing man working under stressful work conditions. He used to worry about his work problems even after reaching home. After he started practicing this method, his rate of smoking slowly reduced. Over a period of 8 months his smoking rate came down to 5 per day. He is hopeful of a smoke free day.

2. The person, male, 45 years, used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day for last 8 years. He used to have a tiff with his wife over smoking. After 3 months of starting this method he could totally stop smoking. His relationship with his wife improved dramatically for which he was very happy. It also saved valuable money for him as he was a security guard with low income.

3. The person, male 40 years, used to smoke 4 cigarettes a day for more than 15 years. After 4 months of practice of this method he stopped smoking on a regular basis. He now smokes occasionally during parties in company of friends.

4. The person, male 30 years, used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day for more than 5 years. After 2 months of practice of this method he did not feel like smoking. One day, when he tried to smoke out of old habit, he suddenly got irritation in throat and felt an aversion to smoking. He threw the cigarette down. He totally stopped smoking for last 3 months.

5. The person, male 48 years, used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day. After about 3 months of this method his rate of smoking came down to 3 per day. He also stopped going round the town wasting money and time. He now spends his spare time with his family.

6. The person, male 42 years, used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day for more than 10 years. Over 9 months of practicing this method, his rate gradually came down and now he rarely smokes on his choice, without feeling any compulsion.

One person, 28 yrs, Engineer, reported that his snoring had stopped after he practiced this method. Asked how he could tell about his own snoring, he told that earlier, he used to find his mouth dry after waking up from sleep. Now he finds no such dryness.

1. One person said that after 4 months of practice of this method, he could sit in front of the image of his favorite Deity for an hour totally lost in contemplation. He felt very happy for this development. Seeing the sudden development his wife asked him whether he would turn into a monk.

2. A teen 17 years, in junior college, met me and said that he read my full article of 26 pages (At that time the 2 page abstract was not yet made) in the company library and started practicing the method. He asked how long it will take him to reach a thoughtless state of mind!

This showed that a young person of his age found the method attractive enough, to try while searching for spiritual experience.

One lady reported that when she was to sing on stage with a group she sensed her voice locked up and got frightened. She was worried she would not be able to perform at all. She suddenly remembered about the method and practiced for a few seconds and regained her mental balance.

1. The person, male 55 years, was stammering from his high school age, for more than 30 years. Within 2 months of practicing this method, his speech started improving. Over a period of 9 months his speech became 90% normal. Any new person talking to him would not feel his speech deficiency at all. He was practicing this method even while walking during his regular office work and during his regular morning walks as well. He said this problem started due to his fear of his father and grand father when young. It continued for 40 years even after he himself became a grand father!

2. The person, male 40 years, was speaking haltingly for many years. He used to halt for a few seconds while speaking to individuals or groups as though he was searching for the right words. Over a period of 6 months of practicing this method his speech became remarkably fluent.

3. Person, male 56 years, was speaking haltingly since many years as though he was hesitating to express his opinion. Over 3 months of practicing this method his speech became very fluent.

4. A person aged 50, was in the habit of listening impatiently and speaking very hastily. He became a calm listener and normal speaker after he practiced the method. He was practicing the method while doing his morning walking.

5. A person aged 48, used to speak in gushes of speech with agitated gestures of hands and face. After practicing this method his speaking style and gestures changed remarkably to a normal mode.

This method seems to improve self confidence, for want of which stuttering occurs. It also seems to improve mind body co-ordination and hastiness in speaking as evident from above anecdotes. Top

1. A person aged 52 was in the habit of chewing 15 Zarda Paans* a day (* a combination of green pungent leaves mixed with powder of tobacco and other spicy ingredients popular in India). Within 6 months of starting this method he totally stopped chewing with tobacco. Even the number of times he chewed came down drastically to 1 Sada Paan* a day (* green leaves same as above except that tobacco is totally eliminated). He said he had no need to chew now as he was not feeling any tension/ stress.

2. A person aged 45 was in same habit as above of chewing tobacco 5 times a day. Within 5 months of practicing this method he totally stopped chewing even Sada Paan (green leaves without tobacco but having non intoxicating spices). Top

1. A person aged 30 years, traveling daily by local train an hour each way said he used this method to engage his mind and get relaxed while traveling to his work and back.

2. A person aged 4, traveling daily by bus for 30 minutes a day said he used this idle time to practice this method and it helped him get relaxed.

3. A person aged 40, said he used the method while traveling by air. He used to get stressed due to depressurization when the plane was descending. This method relieved his discomfort.

4. One person a gardener aged 36, said he used this method while cycling to his work for 15 kilo meters each way (about 10 miles each way). He felt far less tired due to practice of this method while cycling.

5. A software engineer who flies frequently on business said he found this method most useful on plane trips when he has nothing to do. He practices it and goes to sleep happily.

1. In a company Guest house, the staff was losing sleep whenever demanding VIP guests were to arrive next morning. After practicing this method which they learned form me verbally in 15 minutes, they said they were sleeping happily irrespective of who ever may be arriving next morning.

2. A marketing executive was always thinking of all his office issues even while at home - not able to relax with his family. After this method he was able to totally forget about office matters and be really at home with his family.

3. A small industry owner stopped worrying about his customer pressures by practicing the method in his car while traveling on business trips.

Attraction for ‘Youth’

1. This method was spontaneously accepted by some Graduate or Diploma supervisors in their twenties. They just completed college and joined a job and had difficulty in silently accepting orders from a boss and in getting work done by workers as old as their fathers or even more. They were in different jobs – chemists, quality controllers, shop floor supervisors, mechanical designers, soft ware designers....so on. They felt a lot of comfort due to practice of the method. They said that it helped them get rid of tension related to job and get sound sleep at night. A few of them even turned into propagators of the method as a service to society.

2. A few youngsters were particular in taking the paper related to the method from me to give to their fathers who were short tempered. Some said it helped their fathers get better control over anger.

3. Comment from an undergraduate " Thank you very much for all the detailed explanation of the techniques on your website. I have been going through some real bad challenges in my under graduation here, during which I found using this technique to be very useful and relaxing. I shall make sure to pass on the word about this great technique to my friends also. Will keep myself updated with regular visits to your site."

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1. One Chemical Engineer read the 2 page flier (pamphlet) in the company Guest house and started practicing it on his own. He found it very useful and is propagating it in his company and friends in Chennai. He read an article in ‘Hindu’ News paper and wrote to the author about the method giving his phone number. He got a call from the author saying he was a professor in IIT Chennai, India. He was very much impressed with the method and said he would propagate it in the IIT.

2. One professional NLP trainer who conducts NLP training classes for school children teaches meditation as a part of the program. He adopted this method as a simple meditation practice to teach the children.

3. An electrician was taking copies of the flier (pamphlet) to give to his relatives during his home visits. After practicing the method he said that he wasted his life not knowing this simple method earlier.

4. One manager took copies of the flier to his daughter's college and introduced to the principal and also gave a demonstration.

5. About 80 known beneficiaries of the method were invited to contribute Indian Rupees 50 to 200 (close to USD 1 to 4) towards the cost of printing the method in 2 pages for wide distribution to public. All agreed to contribute. Money was collected from 60 persons and 12,000 copies of the method were printed in English and the local language (Telugu). The pamphlets were displayed in custom made card board boxes at prominent places like – entry gates, guest houses, dining halls, clubs and libraries. Many people picked up the pamphlets, practiced on their own, benefited from the method and gave me feedback.

6. One of the priests at the Albany Hindu Temple started practicing this method after my persuasion. He went to India and returned after a few months. When I met him recently, he said he continued to practice the method in India at bed time when he wanted to sleep and many thoughts were racing in his mind.

7. Met one of the long standing participants of a regular spiritual group to whom I gave the flier a few months back. She said she was practicing the method before sleep and it works!

1. A Homeopathic doctor told that this method helped him avoid the irritation he was feeling while listening to his patients.

2. A Cardiologist told that this method is helping him in reducing his restlessness. He also felt it will help him control his nail biting habit. He was suggesting to his patients with heart problems to practice the method.

1. Some doctors of internal medicine, psychiatry, ophthalmology and infertility practice these methods and also advise some of their patients to so.

2. As told by our daughter Dr. Padma Sripada - "A patient of mine, a clinical social worker at a local hospital told me that she picked up the flier from the holder of at the waiting room and liked it. She is making copies of it and handing out to the patients she works with".

1. A Canadian pulp supplier to my previous company saw the flier in the company guest house. He took it, read it and started practicing it. Having found it useful he told in his next visit that he was urging his colleagues also to try it. He even told his Indian business partners to practice it.

2. I told a French chemical Engineer visiting the company about the method verbally while taking dinner together. I was walking with him towards my office adjacent to the Guest House to give him a copy of the full article for his study. I was explaining to him the basic method of feeling the breath as we were walking. When we were half way through, I asked him whether he understood the basic idea. He replied that he started practicing it as soon as he heard the method. When I showed my surprise about his fast pick up of the method which was very exceptional, he replied 'when the student is ready the teacher appears on his own'.