(Continued from previous post)
Pränäyäma or Yogic breathing is considered to be one of the
important aspects of Yoga practice. Modern Yoga teachers give mysterious explanations
about how it works. For example, in one of the interviews the renowned Yoga
teacher B.K.S Iyangar says something like this.
“Pränäyäma is not just breathing in and out. It is directing
the subtle and invisible energy called Prana (life force) through the nostrils
in such a way that it hits against a specific nerve centre”
Most modern Yoga teachers give similar explanations about
this important Yoga technique. But none explain it logically nor give exact
references supporting their statements. And you don't find these in Yoga Sutra of Patanjali either.
Here is what Ramana has to say about Pränäyäma.
“If life is imperiled the whole interest centers round the
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 mind improves by practice and
becomes finer just as the razor’s edge is sharpened by stropping.”
Interestingly, I gave a very similar explanation about Pränäyäma
in my book “How and Why of Yoga and Meditation”. I was a bit nervous at that
time since my views differ from popular beliefs and there was always a chance
of someone getting offended. I was not trying to show that popular beliefs are
wrong. My intention was to separate logically explainable parts from the apparently
mysterious practices so that we can make progress. And now, after reading
Ramana, I feel lot at ease!(thanks to the reader who sent me the book on Ramana)
More in the next post.
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