6th November 1943

[Guest guest]

After a brief discussion in the Hall between Major Chadwick and Bhagavan on the

necessity of taking periodic action to ensure that the body remains healthy

there was a ten minute silence. The silence was broken by Dr Srinivasa Rao

asking the following question: 'It is stated that one should dive into oneself

with a keen one-pointed mind controlling speech and breath. Is it necessary to

control the breath also?'

Bhagavan: 'If all one's thoughts are controlled, automatically the breath is

also controlled. By intense practice it will become habitual and there will be

a flow of continuous current.

Controlling the breath by yoga is like applying the brakes to the train when the

engine is working. But by intensely watching the source of the mind and thereby

controlling the thoughts continuously, the practice will be more effective and

also easier. This is like shutting off the steam power of the engine and

thereby stopping the train completely. This is the exact condition.'

(from N. N. Rajan's diary)