Meditation occurs in stages, to give it the process of meditation is divided into five progressive stages. * maintaining stillness in the body * achieving relaxed breathing * systematically relaxing the body * establishing an awareness of the breath in the nostrils * attending to a mental sound or mantra ( a syllable, single word or short group of words ) . This results in becoming single pointed and focus which allows for inner peace. These stages flow from one to the other, overlapping to some degree and lead inward with increasing momentum. They progress from outer to inner-from physical self-awareness to an awareness of the mind. They form a natural channel that brings the meditator to a vibrant, yet comparatively motionless center of consciousness.