Pranayam

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Pranayama is an exact science. It is the fourth Anga or limb of Ashtanga Yoga.

“TasminSati Svasa prasvasayorgativicchedah Pranayamah”—Regulation of breath or

the control of Prana is the stoppage of inhalation and exhalation, which

follows after securing that steadiness of posture or seat, Asana. Thus is

Pranayama defined in Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Chapter II-49.‘Svasa’ means

inspiratory breath and ‘Prasvasa’ is expiratory breath. Breath is

externalmanifestation of Prana, the vital force. Breath like electricity, is

gross Prana. Breath is Sthula, gross.

Prana is Sukshma, subtle. By exercising control over this breathing you can

control the subtle Prana inside. Control of Prana means control of mind. Mind

cannot operate without the help of Prana. The vibrations of Prana only produce

thoughts in the mind. It is Prana that moves the mind. It is Prana that sets

the mind in motion. It is the Sukshma Prana or Psychic Prana that is intimately

connected with the mind. This breath represents the important fly-wheel of an

engine. Just as the other wheels stop when the driver stops the fly-wheel, so

also other organs cease working, when the Yogi stops the breath. If you can

control the fly-wheel, you can easily control the other wheels. Likewise, if

you can control the external breath, you can easily control the inner vital

force, Prana. The process by which the Prana is controlled by regulation of

external breath, is termed Pranayama.

Just as a goldsmith removes the impurities of gold by heating it in the hot

furnace, bystrongly blowing the blow-pipe, so also the Yogic student removes

the impurities of the body and the Indriyas by blowing his lungs, i.e., by

practising Pranayama.The chief aim of Pranayama is to unite the Prana with the

Apana and take the united Pranapana slowly towards the head. The effect or

fruit of Pranayama is Udghata or awakening of the sleeping Kundalini.

Prana“He who knows Prana knows Vedas” is the important declaration of the

Srutis. You willfind in Vedanta Sutras: “For the same reason, breath is

Brahman.” Prana is the sum total of allenergy that is manifest in the universe.

It is the sum total of all the forces in nature. It is the sum total of all

latent forces and powers which are hidden in men and which lie everywhere

around us. Heat, light, electricity, magnetism are the manifestations of Prana.

All forces, all powers and Prana spring from the fountain or common source,

‘Atman’. All physical forces, all mental forces come under the category

‘Prana’. It is force on every plane of being, from the highest to the lowest.

Whatever moves or works or has life, is but an expression or manifestation of

Prana. Akasa or ether also is an expression of Prana. The Prana is related to

mind and through mind to will, and through will to the individual soul, and

through this to the Supreme Being. If you

know how to control the little waves of Prana working through the mind, then the

secret of subjugating universal Prana will be known to you. The Yogi who becomes

an expert in the knowledge Of this secret, will have no fear from any power,

because he has mastery over all the manifestations of powers in the universe.

What is commonly known as power of personality is nothing more than the natural

capacity of a person to wield his Prana. Some persons are more successful in

life, more influential and fascinating than others. It is all due to the power

of this Prana. Such people manipulate everyday, unconsciously of course, the

same influence which the Yogi uses consciously by the command of his will.

There areothers who by chance tumble unaware of this Prana and use it for lower

purposes under false names.This working of Prana is seen in the systolic and

diastolic actions of the heart, when it pumps the blood into arteries in the

action of inspiration and expiration during the

course of breathing; in the digestion of food; in the excretion of urine and

faecal matter; in the manufacture of semen, chyle, chyme, gastric juice, bile,

intestinal juice, saliva; in closing and opening of the eyelids, in walking,

playing, running, talking, thinking, reasoning, feeling and willing. Prana is

the link between the astral and physical body. When the slender thread-link

Prana is cut off the astral body separates from the physical body. Death takes

place. The Prana that was working in the physical body is withdrawn into the

astral body.This Prana remains in a subtle, motionless, unmanifested,

undifferentiated state during thecosmic Pralaya. When the vibration is set up,

Prana moves and acts upon Akasa, and brings forth the various forms. The

macrocosm (Brahmanda) and microcosm (Pindanda) are combinations of Prana

(energy) and Akasa (matter).That which moves the steam-engine of a train and a

steamer, that which makes theaeroplanes fly in air, that which

causes the motion of the breath in lungs, that which is the very life of this

breath itself, is Prana. I believe, you have now a comprehensive understanding

of the term Prana about which you had a very vague conception in the

beginning.By controlling the act of breathing you can efficiently control all

the various motions in thebody and the different nerve-currents that are

running through the body. You can easily and quickly control and develop body,

mind and soul through breath-control or the control of Prana. It is through

Pranayama that you can control your circumstances and character and can

consciously harmonise the individual life with the cosmic life.The breath,

directed by thought under the control of the will, is a vitalising,

regeneratingforce which you can utilise consciously for self-development; for

healing many incurable diseases in your system; for healing others and for

other various useful purposes.It is within your easy reach at every moment of

your life. Use it judiciously. Many Yogins ofyore, like Sri Jnanadeva, Trailinga

Swami, Ramalinga Swami and others, had utilised this breath, this force, the

Prana, in a variety of ways. You can also do so, if you practise Pranayama by

prescribed breathing exercises. It is Prana that you are breathing rather than

the atmospheric air. Inhale slowly and steadily with a concentrated mind.

Retain it as long as you can do it comfortably. Then exhale slowly. There

should be no strain in any stage of Pranayama. Realise the occult inner

life-powers which underlie the breath. Become a Yogi and radiate joy, light and

power all around you. Pranavadins or Hatha Yogins consider that Prana Tattva is

superior to Manas Tattva, the mind-principle. They say, Prana is present even

when the mind is absent during sleep. Hence Prana plays a more vital part than

the mind. If you go through the parables in Kaushitaki and Chhandogya

Upanishads, when all the Indriyas, mind and Prana fight amongst

themselves as to their superiority, you will find that Prana is regarded as the

highest of all. Prana is the oldest, for it starts its functioning from the

very moment the child is conceived. On the contrary, the organs of hearing,

etc., begin to function only when their special abodes, viz., the ears, etc.,

are formed. Prana is called Jyeshtha and Sreshtha (oldest and best) in

Upanishads. It is through the vibrations of psychic Pranathat the life of the

mind, Sankalpa or thinking is kept up and thought is produced. You see, hear,

talk, sense, think, feel, will, know, etc., through the help of Prana and

therefore Srutis declare:

“Prana is Brahman.”

 

---To Be Continued

 

Jai Sita Ram

Divakara Tanjore <div_tan > wrote:

Dear Bhupendra, Keep it very simple and slow, give ample rest to yourbody and

start with simple steps, dont expect thingsto happen in a week or two,

Pranayama is a slow butpowerful process. if you feel uncomfortable do itslowly

and step by step. and do relaxation or savasanafter doing pranayam.If possible

join some yoga class under able guidanceof a good teacher. else study a good

book, but doexercises very very slowly, till you get a grip ofeach pranayam.

Also practice singing, singing is natural pranayama,because you hold and leave

breath in a natural waywhile singing, and thats why all singers are full

ofenergy and grace.Om namah shivaya,Divakar.--- b_jamnadas

<b_jamnadas (AT) (DOT) ca> wrote:> I will try now with the correct way. I was

trying> not to expand my

> stomach and inhale. Can see now why I ran out of> btreath very > quickly...it

is the wrong way.> > Thank you Ushaji and Divakarji.> > Sincerely,> Bhupendra.>

,> Divakara Tanjore >

<div_tan> wrote:> >> > That is not true, the stomoch should expand out>

when> > we breath in and contract in when we breath out. I> > have found this

in many sources, infact this is> the> > first step in pranayama, my yoga

teacher made us> to> > practice this for a few days as some people or> most> >

people do not do this, this is the fundamental> step in> > breathing before we

do pranayama. It is simple> natural> > concept right?> > > > --- b_jamnadas

<b_jamnadas> wrote:> > > > > I was told

once that the stomach should not> expand> > > when breathing > > > during

prayanam. And that is how I try, but run> out> > > of breath > > > shortly.> >

> > > > ,> Usha> > > Patel > > >

<usha2002a> wrote:> > > >> > > > exhale should be twice as long as inhale

but> this> > > will not happen > > > right away. In the beginning just

practice> breathing> > > correctly and > > > gradually it will happen. When

inhaling the> stomach> > > will come out > > > and when exhaling the stomach

goes in. (exactly> like> > > the newborn > > > babies breath). Once you have

done this you> exhale> > > will be longer > > > than

inhale.> > > > > > > > b_jamnadas <b_jamnadas> wrote:Dear shiva> > >

Bhakts,> > > > > > > > This question is regarding the pranayam or> breath> > >

control exercise > > > > sugegsted in Self-Inquiry posted on this group> > >

thanks to Anil. I > > > have > > > > been trying the breath control exercise

as> > > suggested here but it > > > is > > > > proofing difficult. Basically it

suggest that> > > equal amounts of > > > time be > > > > spent on inhaling and

exhaling, while twice as> > > much be spent on > > > > holding the breath. The

time measurement for> each> > > unit here is > > > roughly > > > > the amount

of time it takes to say Gayatri>

Mantra> > > once. Has some > > > tried > > > > this? I easily run short of

breath and end up> > > breathing heavily > > > after > > > > a few tries. maybe

I am not following the> right> > > appraoch here. If > > > > anyone has read

this pdf or practices> pranayam,> > > some help would be > > > > appreciated.>

> > > > > > > > > > > Regards,> > > > Bhupendra.> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Lord shiva > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > Visit your group ""> on> > > the web.> > > >

> > > > To from this group, send an> email> > > to:> > > > > >

>> > > > > > > > > Your

use of is subject to> the> > > Terms of > > > Service. > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > Usha Patel> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > > > > Do You

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