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Hi all,

I've been doing kirtan kriya for 7 months, 3 times per week.

I've seen in videos in youtube, that all the persons follow the breathing method below:

1. In the loud voice state, exhale chanting a complete sa ta na ma, short breath in after, and all over again.
2. In the whisper state, exhale chanting one of the sa ta na ma syllables each time, inhale quickly before chanting the next syllable of sa ta na ma.
3. In the silent state, I believe it's a complete sa ta na ma, for exhale, and inhale respectively.

When I've started it, 7 months ago, following instructions of a friend, who is now yoga teacher, I was following the method bellow:

1. In the loud voice state, exhale chanting a complete sa ta na ma, and inhale chanting a complete sa ta na ma (although chanting while inhaling doesn't sounds exactly like chanting)
2. In the whisper state, exhale chanting a complete sa ta na ma, and inhale chanting a complete sa ta na ma (although, again chanting while inhaling doesn't sounds exactly like chanting)
3. In the silent state, I do a complete sa ta na ma, for exhale, and inhale respectively

My question are:

1. Is my way (the breathing method I've been following) not so efficient, as the way most people do it (as in youtube for example? I can feel that the, let's say, youtube way is a bit more repetitive, and I think that can help the sa ta na ma meditation. But probably I'm used to my way, and the outcome, after I finish the meditation, feels better to me, when I follow the second breathing method described above.

2. The position of my eyes while meditating, is not looking to the third eye exactly (let's assume 35 deg up to the forehead), but a bit lower. This is the position, though, that I feel that everything (face, eyes, tongue) locks into a mostly undisturbed energy flow. Would you recommend to necessarily try to look a bit higher towards the third eye?

3. Finally, I'm not following an "L shape", head-top to third energy flow, but I push the energy upwards while I inhale, and I release the energy from the head and upwards, when I exhale (and chant at the same time). Would you recommend to necessarily try to follow an "L shape" method for the energy flow?

Thanks, and sorry for not using the correct terms for the kirtan kriya meditation.

Cheers!