A good one from Sri Bala

April 16, 2007

namas te i am giving below as well as attaching some wonderful answers by Sri Bala of Australia/ Sri Lanka to a journalist who is researching yoga for an article in a leading magazine of new delhi regards ananda Q1.Why do you think you found your true calling in a 5000 year old Indian practice?In 1965 while residing in Sri Lanka, I was introduced to Mantra Yoga by my grandmother to overcome a severe emotional trauma. Om was the main mantra I knew at that stage of my spiritual development. The chanting of the Mantra, prefixed to others, gave me a technique to progressively transcend my immediate problems and acquire a reasonable state of health and wellbeing to carry on with my life. This naturally led me to take a greater interest in the Science of Yoga (the mother of sciences) and during the ensuing years I learnt from 9 schools of yoga & meditation (qualified from three) including a range of hands-on therapies I realised that Yoga Therapy was about negating one's ego consciousness, helping the student/patient rise above the body and conscious mind, and attune to a higher state of consciousness. This higher state of consciousness, a place of peace and tranquillity, is where healing naturally takes place.Blessed by a Yogini at one of the ancient Sivan temples in the foothills of the Himalayas, I was inspired to test the validity of

the chanting of Om for 81 days on a lady in Bangalore, India, bedridden, with lumbar spondylitis for three years. She recovered completely and was able to walk again. In Pondicherry, India, Yogamaharishi Dr. Sw. Gitananda Giri Maharaj, a leading authority on Pranayama (the science of breath) and spiritual head of International Centre for Yoga, Education and

Research taught me the science behind breathing and the chanting of Om called Pranava AUM, which incorporates Mahat Yoga Pranayama, the classical & scientific complete yogic breath. Returning to Australia I incorporated the practice into the same 81-day program and had immediate success with serious conditions, both physical and mental - anxiety neurosis, asthma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, psychosis, depression, etc. I spent the next few years researching the structure and sequence, refining and redefining them into a 12 week program, which could be incorporated into daily life. Studying the commentary on Bhagavad Gita by Paramahansa Yogananda led me to include Meditation in the program, while the Mandukya Upanishad also reassured me that

I was on the correct path.In 2000 I received an invitation from Dr. H R. Nagendra, Head of sVYASA, to Prashanti Kuteeram, Bangalore for three months of intensive studies, with an offer of research into my discipline. I was also given an opportunity to try out VBT for different physical and mental conditions for very short durations of time (one week minimum & 2 weeks maximum) with excellent results. This included a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia, who became so composed and attentive after two months of learning VBT, that he was able to leave the institution.The experience was unique. I realized that my discipline engendered composure in the students/patients to experience a state of natural health and well-being, and heal themselves. The pilot research project was also a resounding success. I decided to call my discipline Vibrational Breath Therapy and to design the following programs (and sadhana, a discipline involving body, mind and spirit):

"Good Health with Pranava AUM"; "Self-Healing with Pranava AUM", "Stress-Relief", Children's Asthma Therapy etc As a result of my 5 hour daily practice of the science of yoga, I am in the final stages of unraveling the truth of the inspiring Biblical saying: "In the beginning was the Word (AUM), and the word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him (the Word or AUM), and without Him was not anything made that was made." - John 1.1:3 The reassuring quotation from the realised soul Yogananda Paramahansa: "OM/Pranava AUM - the Sanskrit root word or seed-sound symbolizing that aspect of Godhead which creates and sustains all things - Cosmic Vibration. AUM of the Vedas became the sacred word HUM of the Tibetans, AMIN of the Moslems; and

AMEN of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Jews and Christians. The world's great religions state that all created things originate in the cosmic vibratory energy of AUM or AMEN, the Word or the Holy Ghost".the profound revelation in the Mandukya Upanishad:"A" is associated with the wakeful state of consciousness, "U" with the dream state of consciousness, and "M" with the deep sleep state of consciousness. "Pranava AUM" transcends all three and leads us to the fourth state of consciousness, beyond conceptualization, called Turiya or the state of causal silence within, where renewal, healing and spiritual evolution take place.Sage Patanjaii equates "Pranava AUM" to Ishwara (God) - Ch 1 V 27 -30.This is an experiential science. I speak with conviction as I've successfully healed myself of severe hay fever in 1990, a heart attack in 1996 and a stroke in 1997 by chanting Pranava AUM. In 2002 a near and dear one of mine, who had meningococcal disease, was revived by life- giving prana and soul-redeeming vibratory resonant frequency of Pranava AUM. It has convinced beyond doubt that an 81 day program of "Self Healing with Pranava AUM" can rehabilitate any condition, within the constraints of one's karma.I'm a living testimony to the potential of Pranava AUM for I'm 84 years of age, with hardly a wrinkle on my face, experiencing good health and working round the clock in spreading VBT's message of hope and recovery.The 5000 year old science of Yoga, and in particular the primal sound Pranava AUM, has indeed inspired and motivated me to make

it my only calling, my mission and my passion.Q2.Why did this particular yogic tradition call out to you? The Biblical saying “In the beginning was the Word; the Word was with God; and the Word was God” always intrigued me, till Yogananda Paramahansa revealed that the saying ended thus: “All things were made by Him (the Word or AUM) and without Him was not anything made that was made” Also that “all created things originate in the cosmic vibratory energy of AUM or AMEN, the Word or the Holy Ghost”. The practical usage of the cosmic vibratory AUM (introduced to me in 1988) gave me a practice and program to use AUM for self-healing. Soon after, revered

Yogamaharishi Dr Swami Gitananda Giri Gurumaharaj (Swamiji) taught me the scientific basis of AUM and its therapeutic usage in his Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga tradition. After twenty years of learning under many distinguished gurus

at highly reputed schools, I had become disillusioned as their practices were not taking me deep within My learning commenced when Swamiji instructed me to sit facing the North to align the electromagnetic field/Pranamaya Kosha with the North-South magnetic meridian. The scientific basis to all his practices made a profound impact on me and I became a dedicated student of his. Swamiji had a different and deeper version at the Pranamaya Kosha for all practices. They were all most beneficial. For example:Nadi Shoddhana and Nadi Shuddhi was done with breathing-in at the right nostril (+ve energy) and breathing-out at the left nostril (-ve energy). Saviiri Pranayama (Rhythmic Breath) was incorporated into its structured practice. One started the practice with the rhythm 8in:4held-in::8out:4held-out, made it progressively faster to 3 rounds of 120 breaths per minute, and progressively slowed the breathing back to 8in:4held-in::8out:4held-out. Thereafter the breathing was progressively taken to the ultimate rhythm 64in:32held-in::64out:32held-out (3minutes and 12 seconds for one breath).I’ve experienced it and it is profound. Pranamaya cultivates concentration, mastery of both body and mind, and integration of body, mind and self- consciousness. The different ratios and rhythms give specific benefits. There are 120 classical and scientific breathing techniques in Pranayama n the Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga tradition. To meet all man’s needs, to experience good health and longevity, rehabilitate from any chronic or debilitating disease, and even to evolve spiritually. The table below is my recollection and understanding of my experiences at Swamiji’s and the other schools of yoga during the last four decades, It is quite possible that I may have got some wrong. If that be so, I deeply regret it. I’ve only stated my limited experience of this the vast ocean of the science of yoga. I welcome the better experienced in this experiential science to enlighten me. I am open to a healthy discussion and correction If you wish to know more about the practices please contact: Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Chairman, Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER 25, 2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry, South India-605 013 Tel: +91-413 - 2622902 / +91-413 -3203314/+91-413 -2241561 Website: www.icyer.com www.geocities.com/yognat2001/ananda If you wish to know more about the 81 day program to experience good health & longevity, rehabilitate from a serious illness, evolve spiritually please contact: . Sri Bala Ratnam, Founder, Vibrational Breath Therapy (based on Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga) Breath Therapy Clinic, Postal Address: P O Box 5128, CLAYTON, VIC 3168, AUSTRALIA :+61-3 – 9543 2875; 0410 594 018 Email: sribala Website: www.vbt.com.au Attached is a chart detailing the differences I experienced between Swamiji’s and other schools of yoga. Attachment Some of the differences I noticed between Swamiji’s School of Yoga and the other Schools of Yoga are as follows: Swamiji’s School of Yoga Other Schools of Yoga Multiple Energy Bodies I learnt that we live in physical (1 energy body) astral (3 energy bodies) and causal (1 energy body) planes of existence, - five energy bodies vibrating at the frequency of the primal sound AUM. We live in five koshas, without any clarity as to what they were composed of. The Five Energy Bodies (including the cells) need daily sustenance of Energy 99.56% of energy was obtained by breathing daily in Mahat Yoga Pranayama at 70% plus of the lung intake (and not from food, which was miniscule).

The breathing was done at the &nbs

p; frontal, side and back lobes of the electromagnetic field /Pranamaya Kosha of the lower, mid and upper lungs. The air breathed-in filled the physical lungs, while the pranic content in the air breathed-in filled the lobes of the respective electromagnetic field/section of the lungs. Hathenas (asanas) to open the rib

cage and stretch the lungs made it possible. Chakras were at the Anandamaya Kosha. Chakras, Mandalas, Bindhus, and the Nadis served as step-down transformers to lower the high frequency of prana to energise the nerve plexuses and endocrine glands under each Chakra. Breathing-in different ratios produced healthy blood and glandular cells and bodily fluids. And when this one practice is done in an 81 day program it regenerates and rejuvenates. The enzyme elastin produced at the mid lungs makes the 62 trillion cells biologically young, promoting a healthy and long life. Breathing was . Never heard of it in any of the other schools The breathing-in was done at the lower, mid and upper lungs and breathing-out was done at the upper, mid and lower lungs. Not one single school of yoga taught me how to absorb prana. What was taught as Pranayama was most basic and more at the physical level Pranayama is the absorption and regulation of prana in the energy channels (nadis) at the Pranamaya Kosha. No specific exercises/asanas to open the rib cage and stretch the lungs at each section and the complete lungs. Chakras were at the Pranamaya Kosha. No idea of step-down transformers at all. No idea of different

ratios at all to my knowledge. The scope to develop an 81 day program incorporating the ratios was not used at the other schools of yoga Nor was I aware of an integrated program which wiould develop physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually with just one

practice. With twenty,thirty, and more practices to treat a specific condition. I was not aware of any enzyme being produced by the breathing at the sections of the lungs. The five Energy Bodies (including the cells) needed daily the vibratory resonant frequency of the primal sound AUM Each of these planes of existence had a vibratory resonant frequency attuned to the primal sound “A-U-M” which is experienced in Pranava AUM Pranayama, while breathing in Mahat Yoga Pranayama.. . The practical application of this concept in an integrated program of 81 days duration was not used at most of the

other schools of yoga. [A program has to be of a minimum of 81days (three months) duration for both body and mind to accept and profit from them.] &nbs

p; &nbs

p; Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani Chairman :

Yoganjali Natyalayam and ICYER Hon General Secretary, Pondicherry Yogasana Association 25, 2nd Cross,Iyyanar Nagar, Pondicherry, South India-605 013 Tel: +91-413 - 2622902 / +91-413 -3203314/+91-413 -2241561 Website: www.icyer.com www.geocities.com/yognat2001/ananda

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