Pranayam and Meditation

Existence in the world of duality, even for an instant, is impossible without Prana, the cosmic energy, because the phenomenal universe is the differentiation of the undifferentiated Prana. Illumination does not come from merely attaining complete mastery over the sense-organs. But when mind transcends the influence of sense-impressions, the Self is realized. The enlightened mind must rule the senses. Control over the mind is attained by Pranayam and meditation. When the senses and the mind act in perfect harmony with the Self, then alone liberation is attained and the Yogi realizes himself as the absolute Self. Therefore practice Pranayam, the Kriya meditation, observing all major and minor laws in every detail. Pranayam regulates the entire system of the Yogi and enables him to attain higher realization, hence the practice of Pranayam is more desirable than living in an inharmonious state of body and mind. Besides, it is absolutely impossible to feel even the least sensory vibration without preserving in some measure the harmonious movement of Prana in the body. Pranayam must be practiced with the sole object of self-realization, otherwise it will become a veritable source of bondage. Therefore, discarding and thus being free from all phenomenal desires, practice Kriya. Since the beginning of creation, every soul has been endowed with the desire to regain its original state of absolute perfection. This desire inspires the spiritual aspirant to manifest his divinity in its fullest glory. Let him meditate on the six centers within the spine to awaken their spiritual vibrations. The spiritual vibrations of these centers, thus awakened, will keep his mind uplifted and enable it to remain established on Ajna, the spiritual eye; and finally he will be led into the Sahasraram where all consciousness of duality vanishes, and therein he will attain the supreme state of absolute, self-existent, conscious bliss.

Spiritual Interpretation of the Gita according to Kriya Yoga
Srimad-Bhagavad-Gita: The Revelation of the Supreme Self
Swami Premananda

The Cosmic Vibration of Prana

Prana, drawn through the mind, is the link between consciousness and energy. A very simple illustration shows how we intelligently use this prana: I am “talking” to you. My mind is in a certain state of pranic vibration. I am trying to awaken a response, a sympathetic vibration of consciousness, within you. Whether we attune in sympathy, interest and understanding or not depends on the awakened prana in each of us. All consciousness in the same state of vibration “sees” one another. Attunement, empathy and healing employ prana in this way. This little wave of prana which is uniquely ours in the infinite ocean of prana is what we use in meditation as “pranayama.” Breathing does not produce motion or vibration of prana in the body. On the contrary, it is prana that produces breath and prana that moves the lungs.

“Pranayama” is a compound word, “-ayama” bringing the idea of “harmonization” to the word prana. The motivation and goal of pranayama is entirely spiritual, that of self-realization, although its practice involves respiration, mindful breathing and meditation. We can understand, then, that the benefits are far-reaching: the composite well-being of our body, nervous system and mind. Pranayama enhances self-discipline, equanimity, subjective coordination, concentration and purity, all essential for meditation and spiritual progress.

Beneficent and powerful wills throughout time have brought prana to states of vibration within themselves whereby they have been able to “sway the world” and draw others unto them. Suppose one understood prana completely? What power would not be his?

The mystery is no secret, and the awareness of its marvels is what one should develop more than anything in life. The more we explore it the more we find confirmation that every plane of our existence is related to every other plane. By mastering this knowledge, we can expand and enhance our life. If we neglect it, we lessen our experience of life’s greatest power, beauty and joy.

The universe of cosmic energy, or prana, exists in two tendencies: one is unmanifest, the other manifest. The unmanifest exists as the vast potential of formless being out of which the universe arises. It is self-absorbed—that is, with the power to be, but without change. The second tendency of prana is dynamic and creative: that which manifests and which we see as matter, as living organisms, and all that we behold with our minds. Astronomers bring us to the threshold of pure Yoga philosophy with their assertion that we see only ten percent of our universe. The ninety percent that is imperceptible to our senses exists as potential to be penetrated by our minds. We must bring that light of consciousness within our minds to a similar state of vibration of cosmic light to be aware of the rest of the vast, yet unseen, universe.

Swami Kamalananda
The Breath of God and Pranayam

The Breath of God and Pranayam

To that God we dedicate our life,
Who is the giver of life’s breath, power and vigor;
Whose command all the divine powers obey;
Who rules whatever breathes, moves or is still;
Who is the God of all created beings.

Atharva Veda

“To live is to breathe” is to assert the obvious. We do not need medical science to tell us that the whole marvelous mechanism of the human body stops when breath departs. Otherwise stated, however perfect the physical body is, with the absence of breath it is but a corpse. Yet there is more to know about breathing than the obvious, and from the spiritual heritage of Yoga comes the invitation to learn to expand what it is “to live.”

Isn’t it enough, you might think, just to breathe and to be grateful to be alive, whatever one’s circumstances or age? Well, if to “breathe and let breathe” is enough for you, then the subject of this book is not going to hold your interest.

Admittedly, for many people, “to breathe” simply designates that process of air going into the lungs expanding to receive oxygen and then contracting to expel carbon dioxide. Yet the process of breathing, as we will see, involves our entire body, its energies and more, circulating throughout our entire being as various simultaneous waves, arising and falling. Also, breathing is more than what happens physically as you inhale and exhale, and it does not even originate from your lungs.

Most people will duly appreciate that breathing keeps the lungs, brain and organs functioning while maintaining all the attendant functions of digestion, circulation and movement. They know that improving breathing improves health. Although fitness watches remind their wearers regularly to mindfully take deep breaths, such attentions are still comparatively superficial, ignoring more sublime meaningful potential! Unfortunately, theologians do not develop the importance of breath as essential to one’s spiritual life. Some say that scriptural knowledge is important, some that prayer is, others that faith is, and others that ritual is, but that the knowledge of breath is of essential importance is likely to be disregarded or deemed unnecessary.

You have been breathing from your first day on earth. You are breathing now as you read this, and you will breathe for as long as you live as human. Most of the time you will not think about breathing, and yet, when methodically and meditatively breathing you will find yourself attuned to, inspired by and empowered by the most sublime wisdom ever known to human minds! Your own mental powers of Contentment and Peace, Power and Universality will grow.

Although many creatures breathe, we humans, in relation to our breath, are unique. The Old Testament’s Book of Genesis asserts that there is a special and purposeful link with God through the breath, as “God breathed the breath of life in the nostrils of man.” Note that the pronouncement in Genesis occurs only after the creation of heaven and hell, after the creation of earth and skies, after creation of days and nights — in fact after all living components of nature are created. A profound point derives from that single statement.

That God breathes at all is something we might further wonder about since God’s breath would certainly not involve lungs ... nor inhaling and exhaling. In what, then, does God’s breath consist? God’s breath must and can only be the breath of life itself, as Breath and Life are inexorably linked together. Why, then, the specific mention of “the nostrils of man”? Ah, we shall see ... The knowledge will be both practicable as well as illuminating.

Srimati Kamala “Swami Kamalananda,” The Breath of God and Pranayam