If you let your mind wander it tends to take you out of the state fastest. An old nursery rhyme, saying twinkle twinkle little start over and over again keeps your conscious mind busy enough to remain passive
Alex
Edit
In anycase have you ever noticed that when the mind wanders it tends toward the negative self talk? We give ourselves more negative self talk in one day than postitive (a ratio close to 65% negative and perhaps 35% neutral or positive) it's much better during the photoreading process if you keep the mind neutral since postitive and negative self talk is emotionally charged and will take you out of state. Hence the chant it's relatively neutral and reminds you to relax and keep the state.
In the beginning I personally shortened the chant to Relax... kept the state see the page.
skiped the 4321 bit because for me it changed the pace.
Keep it neutral because we want to maintain a low beta while photoreading.
[This message has been edited by AlexK (edited January 12, 2004).]