How to sit in stillness

sparśānkṛtvā bahirbāhyāṃścakṣuścaivāntare bhruvoḥprāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā nāsābhyantaracāriṇau

Shutting out outer contacts, gaze held between the brows, evening the breath that moves in and out through the nose...

What it means

Krishna gives a short meditation instruction. Leave outer things outside. Rest the gaze gently between the eyebrows. Balance prana and apana, the in-breath and out-breath, so they flow evenly through the nose. It's simple and practical, a doorway into the stillness he's been describing.

The story

After so much philosophy, Krishna gives Arjuna something he can actually do. This verse previews the full teaching on meditation in chapter six. Even in a chariot, he can close his eyes and breathe.

In your life

Try it now for one minute. Close your eyes. Rest your attention softly between your brows. Breathe in and out evenly through your nose. Notice how quickly the mind begins to settle.