Guest guest Posted May 9, 2005 Report Share Posted May 9, 2005 Q: When should one do pranayama and why is it effective? A: In the absence of enquiry and devotion, the natural sedative pranayama [breath regulation] may be tried. This is known as yoga marga [the path of yoga]. If life is imperilled the whole interest centres round one point, the saving of life. If the breath is held the mind cannot afford to (and does not) jump at its pets - external objects. Thus there is rest for the mind so long as the breath is held. All attention being turned on breath or its regulation, other interests are lost. The source of breath is the same as that of the mind. Therefore the subsidence of either leads effortlessly to the subsidence of the other. Q: Will concentration on chakras quieten the mind? A: Fixing their minds on psychic centres such as the sahasrara [the thousand-petalled lotus chakra], yogis remain any length of time without awareness of their bodies. As long as this state continues they appear to be immersed in some kind of joy. But when the mind which has become tranquil emerges and becomes active again it resumes its worldly thoughts. It is therefore necessary to train it with the help of practices like dhyana [meditation] whenever it becomes externalised. It will then attain a state in which there is neither subsidence nor emergence. Q: Is the mind control induced by pranayama also temporary? A: Quiescence lasts only so long as the breath is controlled. So it is transient. The goal is clearly not pranayama. It extends on to pratyahara [withdrawal], dharana [concentration of mind], dhyana [meditation] and samadhi. Those stages deal with control of the mind. Such mind control becomes easier for a person who has earlier practised pranayama. Pranayama therefore leads one to the higher stages. Because these higher stages involve controlling the mind, one can say that mind control is the ultimate aim of yoga. A more advanced man will naturally go direct to control of mind without wasting his time in practising control of breath. Q: Pranayama has three phases - exhalation, inhalation and retention. How should they be regulated? A: Completely giving up identification with the body alone is exhalation [rechaka]; merging within through the enquiry `Who am I?' along is inhalation [puraka]; abiding as the one reality `I am that' alone is retention [kumbhaka]. This is the real pranayama. Be As You Are, The Teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi edited bty David Godman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.