PRANAYAMA: A power perception for meditation

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PRANAYAMA:

A power perception for meditation

 

 

 

My salutations to the great Guru, Yogamaharishi Swami Gitananda Giri

Guru Maharaj and my humble Namaskarams to all of those assembled here.

 

Pranasya ayamah pranayamah.

Prana is the vital life force that acts as a catalyst in all our

activities and Ayama the expansion or control of this force. Thus

Pranayama can be defined as the science of controlled, conscious

expansion of Prana.

 

Indian culture lays great emphasis on Prana. It is stated in the

Atarva Veda,

" Prana is the fundamental basis of whatever is, was and will be " .

 

While the Pranopanishad says, " All that exists in the three worlds is

under the control of Prana " , it is said in the Shiva-Swarodaya that

Prana is one's greatest friend. The Shandilyopanishad equates

Pranayama with the Omkara and as Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras says

Pranava is the sound of the Divine, (Tasya Vachakah Pranavah) we can

summarize that Pranayama helps us to attain oneness with the Divine.

The systematic practice of Yoga as codified by Maharishi Patanjali

more than 2500 years ago, places Pranayama as the fourth limb or anga

of Ashtanga Yoga. He says that one must practice the Yama-Niyama and

try to master Asana in order to be able to practice Pranayama.

He defines Pranayama as

Tasmin sati swasa pra swasyor gati vicchedah pranayamah

This means, `Regulation of the movements of inhalation and exhalation

is Pranayama'.

He also states

Tadah kshiyate prakasha avaranam

This means by the practice of Pranayama, the darkness that hides the

light of wisdom is destroyed.

He goes on to advise us

Dharanasu cha yogyata manasah

Meaning that our mind attains fitness for Samyama (Dharana, Dhyana

and Samadhi) through perfection in Pranayama.

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swatmarama says,

`Disturbed breath leads to a disturbed mind, hence, cultivate a

steady and quiet breath in order to control the mind and prolong

life " .

He also says

" The Lord of the senses is the mind. The Lord of the mind is the

breath. The master of breath is the nervous system. Stability of the

nervous system and concentration depend solely on the steady, smooth

and rhythmic sound of the inhalation and exhalation " .

All these examples help us to realize the importance of Pranayama

Sadhana in preparing the mind for deeper practices such as meditation.

 

I wish to quote the views on Pranayama by some eminent yoga masters:

Yogamaharishi Dr. Swami Gitananda used to stress the importance of

proper diet and pure lifestyle in Pranayama Sadhana. If the mind is

concentrated with Ekagratha on higher positive thoughts, then the

Pranic forces will be powerful and manifestation of these thoughts

will be even greater.

 

Padmabhushan BKS Iyengar in his book Light on Yoga explains the

following interesting analogy. He says,

" The mind is like a chariot drawn by two horses that are Prana and

Vasana (desires). The chariot moves in the direction of the stronger

force and so if the breath prevails, the desires are controlled,

senses held in check and the mind is stilled. On the other hand if

desire prevails, breath is in disarray and the mind is agitated and

troubled. "

Sri IK Taimni in his book The Science of Yoga says that the

Chittavritthis can be controlled through manipulation of Pranic

currents via Pranayama. He emphasizes that Yama and Niyama must be

practiced and Asana mastered before embarking on the Pranayama

Sadhana. This is because, Pranayama can awaken the potential energy

of Kundalini and if the Sadhaka is not ready physically and mentally;

they may suffer physical and psychological disturbances and may even

go out of their mind.

 

Swami Rama claims that for Hatha Yogis, Pranayama is the final way of

liberation. He says " For the Raja Yogis, Pranayama is an important

step to awaken the Sushumna leading to the state of deep Dhyana and

ultimately the arousal of Kundalini Shakti. "

 

I will conclude my speech with a few points on why pranayama is vital

to the higher aspects of Yoga Sadhana.

1. Pranayama creates a greater sensitivity and readies the

practitioner for the entry into subtler planes of consciousness and

existence. Yoga is the art and science of moving from the gross to

the subtle until we merge with the Divine and Pranayama is a vital

tool to achieve this objective.

2. Pranayama Sadhana helps to control the emotions and attain

the state of Sama Bhava or Stitha Prajana as described in the Srimad

Bhagavad Gita. A person endowed with such balance of emotions and

mind is a great boon to society and the world.

3. Emotions and breath are known to have a deep relationship.

Animals such as the rat and rabbit have fast breathing and so are

extremely nervous, mentally unstable, emotionally restless and live

only for short periods of time. In contrast, the elephant and turtle

are slow, deep breathers and consequently have calmer personality and

longer lives.

4. The breath awareness that is achieved through Pranayama

Sadhana strengthens the mind and makes it easier for it to move

inward. Higher Yoga practices such as Dharana and Dhyana require a

calm and focused mind capable of turning inward. Only then can the

spontaneous flow into Samadhi occur. This cannot be achieved with out

the practice of Pranayama.

5. Expansion of consciousness and awareness brings the conscious

brain into action and thus relieves the Yogi from the stagnant

mechanism of life.

6. The petty ego is shattered leading to expansion of

consciousness and awareness.

7. Right nostril breathing influences the left brain and left

nostril breathing the right brain function. Right brain is the

creative aspect while left-brain the analytical aspect of our

personality. Thus alternate nostril Pranayamas help cerebral

cleansing and creation of a balanced personality.

8. The energetic feeling in the body and freshness in the mind

are the immediate results of correct Pranayama practice. These help

us to perform all our duties tirelessly and with `Skill in Action'.

9. Practice of Pranayama leads to discrimination (Viveka) and

attainment of knowledge and wisdom (Jnana).

10. The Yoga path is a difficult path and requires great amount

of energy to break through the Tamas or inertia that blocks our

progress. Pranayama helps us to build up our energy bank and overcome

all obstacles that may arise in our Yoga Sadhana. The true and

sincere Sadhak must be extremely alert, aware and conscious as he/she

attempts to walk this `razor's edge' known as the spiritual path.

 

 

In conclusion:

Pranayama is of vital importance in the Yoga Sadhana or Yogic

discipline of any sincere Sadhak who is trying to achieve the state

of Yoga. Unless the mind is controlled, the higher aspects of Yoga

are not possible and the best and only way to really control the mind

is by regular, dedicated and determined practice of Pranayama with

awareness, consciousness and purity of thought, word and deed.

Pranayama practise can only be possible if the field has been

prepared by the sincere practice of the Yama, Niyama and Asana that

are necessary preludes to Pranayama Sadhana.