In Lesson 93 Paramahansa Yogananda explains the technique of relaxing at will. He says that "the first signs of cosmic consciousness are: The fixed gaze, the consciously stilled heart, and breathlessness. If one cannot demonstrate these he has not attained Cosmic Consciousness."
There seems to be so very few that have attained breathlessness, I mean I have not heard or met anyone yet.
I want u to know that i am not claiming cosmic consciousness.... far from it.
But i did enter this breathless state once. i believe it may have been a 'gift' from the guru since it happened at a srf convocation years ago. i still remember it as if it was yesterday.
i was practicing hong sau when suddenly i started feeling this blissful feeling of tranquility surrounding me. But i will tell u exactly what happened after that. My mind thought ' I am not breathing. ' Immediately that thought that 'I' am not breathing started my breath going again. It is a very subtle phenomena.... this ego that wants to identify with everything. Even the thought of 'I' am not breathing. Once 'I' entered the picture the soul bliss was blown away by an ego gust of wind.
To me; what is important at this time is that we r conscious of the breath and aware that it is slowing down. The spaces increasing between breaths. This is without forcing or straining to lengthen the time between breaths. We notice the space between breaths.