How do the gases we breathe affect meditation?

Questioner: along with oxygen we take in other gases like nitrogen and hydrogen with our breath. How are all these gases conducive to meditation?

These are absolutely conducive to meditation. Whatever there is in the air--it is not only oxygen but many other things--is conducive to life. It is because of them that you are alive. There is no life on a planet or satellite planet where these gases are not available in the right proportions. It is they who make life possible. Therefore you need not worry on this score. And the more intensely and briskly you breathe, the more you will benefit. In a state of deep and fast breathing only oxygen can enter your system in maxi mum quantity; everything else will be left out. And even these other gases are useful ingredients of life; they are not harmful.

Osho, the air we breathe contains not only oxygen; it also has nitrogen, hydrogen, and many other kinds of gases. Do all of them support meditation?

Absolutely, they will be supportive for meditation. Because whatever is present in the air—and there is a great deal, not only oxygen—all of it is meaningful for you, for life; that is why you are alive. On any planet or satellite where the air does not contain these things in such proportions, life cannot happen. All of it is the possibility of life. So there is no need to worry about it. There is no need to worry about it. And the more intensely you breathe, the more beneficial it is, because in that intensity oxygen will be able to enter in greater measure and become a part of you. The rest will be thrown out. And whatever things are there in whatever proportion, all of them are useful for your life; there is no harm in that. There is no harm in that. The experience of lightness and its…

Osho, what effect does deep breathing have on the brain and the nervous system?

As soon as you begin deep breathing, the ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body changes. The very first thing that shifts is this proportion of carbon dioxide and oxygen within us. And the moment the proportion of carbon dioxide changes, transformation begins throughout the brain, the entire body, the blood, and the nerves—everywhere. For the entire basis of our being rests on specific ratios of oxygen and carbon dioxide. A change in those ratios brings about a total change. That is why I suggested you come separately; that is a technical matter. It may not interest everyone, so I will talk with you about it. Meditation practice and self-hypnosis

The mind becomes tranquil by cultivating attitudes of friendliness towards the happy, compassion towards the miserable, joy towards the virtuous and indifference towards the evil. The mind also becomes tranquil by alternately expelling and retaining the breath.

WHEN MEDITATION PRODUCES EXTRAORDINARY SENSE PERCEPTIONS, THE MIND GAINS CONFIDENCE AND THIS HELPS PERSEVERANCE. ALSO, MEDITATE ON THE INNER LIGHT WHICH IS SERENE AND BEYOND ALL SORROW. ALSO MEDITATE ON ONE WHO HAS ATTAINED DESIRELESSNESS. THE MIND BECOMES TRANQUIL BY CULTIVATING ATTITUDES OF FRIENDLINESS TOWARDS THE HAPPY, COMPASSION TOWARDS THE MISERABLE, JOY TOWARDS THE VIRTUOUS AND INDIFFERENCE TOWARDS THE EVIL. You have been outside for millions of lives. When for the first time you come in, nothing is there except darkness, emptiness. But wait It will take few days -- even few months, but just wait, close the eyes and look down in the heart. Suddenly, one day it happens: you see a light, a flame. Then concentrate on that flame. Nothing is more blissful than that. Nothing is more dancing, singing, musical, harmonious like that inner blue light within your heart. And the more you concentrate, the more you…

Just look in crowded trains, a local train -- so many people standing. Just watch people's faces... everybody will look like a closed thing. Even if a person is standing just by the side of someone else, even if the bodies are touching, they are not touching. The touch is not even human... no warmth. But soon we will have a big place where people can have enough space around them, mm? [A sannyasin says: In Arica they taught us a certain way of breathing which requires concentration, so I kept losing my natural rhythm of breathing, because the conditioning from Arica training was pretty heavy. So I started concentrating on the breath going in and out here (indicating nostrils) and then it went better.] That will be good -- so remember it.