Who am I, Paragraph 20

[Guest guest]

Paragraph 20

 

Breath and vital forces are also described as the gross manifestation

of the mind. Till the hour of death the mind sustains and supports

these forces in the physical body; and when life becomes extinct the

mind envelops them and carries them away. During sleep, however, the

vital forces continue to function, although the mind is not manifest.

This is according to the divine law and is intended to protect the

body and to remove any possible doubt as to whether it is dead or

alive while one is asleep. Without such arrangement by nature,

sleeping bodies would often be cremated alive. The vitality apparent

in breathing is left behind by the mind as a 'watchman'. But in the

wakeful state and in samadhi, when the mind subsides, breath also

subsides. For this reason (because the mind has the sustaining and

controlling power over breath and vital forces and is therefore

ulterior to both of them), the practice of breath control is merely

helpful in subduing the mind, but cannot bring about its final

extinction.

 

 

COMMENTS

Again Ramana talks about the close relationship between breath and

the mind. A key point here to is that breath control can be helpful

in quieting the mind, but will not put an end to the mind. Ramana

teaches that only Self-inquiry can do that.

 

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Your comments are invited.

 

We are Not two,

Richard

[Guest guest]

My only comment is that I agree completely, my experience concurs

with this statement. I don't see how I could improve on how it is

stated.

 

Net

 

***********

 

 

 

 

RamanaMaharshi, "richard_clarke95125" <r_clarke@i...>

wrote:

> Paragraph 20

>

> Breath and vital forces are also described as the gross

manifestation

> of the mind. Till the hour of death the mind sustains and supports

> these forces in the physical body; and when life becomes extinct

the

> mind envelops them and carries them away. During sleep, however,

the

> vital forces continue to function, although the mind is not

manifest.

> This is according to the divine law and is intended to protect the

> body and to remove any possible doubt as to whether it is dead or

> alive while one is asleep. Without such arrangement by nature,

> sleeping bodies would often be cremated alive. The vitality

apparent

> in breathing is left behind by the mind as a 'watchman'. But in the

> wakeful state and in samadhi, when the mind subsides, breath also

> subsides. For this reason (because the mind has the sustaining and

> controlling power over breath and vital forces and is therefore

> ulterior to both of them), the practice of breath control is merely

> helpful in subduing the mind, but cannot bring about its final

> extinction.

>

>

> COMMENTS

> Again Ramana talks about the close relationship between breath and

> the mind. A key point here to is that breath control can be

helpful

> in quieting the mind, but will not put an end to the mind. Ramana

> teaches that only Self-inquiry can do that.

>

> -----------------------

> Your comments are invited.

>

> We are Not two,

> Richard