PRANA -THE COSMIC LIFELINE
All beings are a composite form of PRANA. The quantum of Prana is indicated by the personality. Differences in personality arise because of the differences in the quantum of Prana. The PRASNOPNISHAD says that Prana springs from the Atman and is as inseparable as the shadow from the object casting it.
Though the words PRANA and BREATH are used interchangeably, PRANA is not the air / oxygen which we breathe. The renowned experiment at Menninger foundation at USA – where a well-known yogi, a candle and a monkey where kept in an air tight place – helped the modern man to understand breath and PRANA better. The candle died after three minutes and monkey became unconscious after fifteen minutes. However, the yogi was playing the Tabla (instrument) even after 45 minutes. In fact, this well-known yogi was not breathing, but when the microphone was placed against the body, a constant loud sound was heard. The sound was nothing but the movement of PRANA and it proved that PRANA and BREATH are two different things.
One continues to live even without breathing. At the basal level, the BREATH and PRANA are related, but at a higher realised level, the PRANA is separate.
Just like a boat is required to reach one shore of a river from the other, breath is required for prana to reach a level. Thereafter, prana becomes a separate entity. In the same way as a boat is no longer required once the other shore is reached, the breath is no longer required. Hatha Yoga Pradipika says “as long as the PRANA remains in the body there is life. Death occurs when the prana leaves the body, therefore, retain your Vayu (PRANA)”HYP 2:3
In the last blog, we had tried to find out the relationship of Prana and the Consciousness. Through Prana one can realise the Consciousness. Prana is much grosser when compared with Consciousness. If we go from grosser to subtler, we move from Breath to Prana to Consciousness. By taking charge of the Breath one can take charge of Prana. And once that stage is reached, then Prana is used to reach Consciousness. An extremely simplified example can be, use of flour(BREATH) to knead(BREATHING) for chapati (PRANA) and then eating/chewing the chapati to get the rasa (taste)(CONSCIOUSNESS).
The individual Prana within us is part of the cosmic MAHA PRANA. This can be realised only experientially. How? By doing Pranayama – so that we raise the frequency of our PRANA at par with the frequency of the cosmic PRANA. As the frequency of PRANA is raised inside us, it expands and enters the Sushumna and thus the energy rises up to the Ajna chakra (eyebrow centre). After Ajna chakra, the PRANA and consciousness become one. Liberation means PRANA becomes one with the COSMIC PRANA. Frequency of the two matches. Here, the experience of separation dissolves. Such people are called SAINTS/LIBERATED ONES.
Let’s contemplate on this very important aspect.
I would like to share a few points about the discussion we had in the last blog – difference between SVASAYAMA and PRANAYAMA. Some thoughts on these two important terms:
FIRST, in Svasayama, it is normal inhalation and exhalation. Inhalation is an active process of respiration and requires muscular efforts to draw in the air while exhalation is a passive process and does not require muscular effort. In fact, the Diaphragm and the rib cage come back to their normal places. In Pranayama both inhalation and exhalation are active processes. They are called RECHAKA and POORAKA. RECHAKA (exhalation) is complete exhalation and is a slow and controlled process, with full awareness. Rechaka is always same or twice the length of Pooraka (inhalation). Similarly, Pooraka is complete inhalation, again a slow process, with full awareness. In our Upanishads, a very poetic description is given about the twin processes of Rechaka and Pooraka. It says, raising the Vayu from the akasha(heart) and making the body void of Vayu and uniting the soul to the state of void is RECHAKA. And it is POORAKA when one takes in Vayu, as a man would take water into his mouth through the lotus stalk.
SECONDLY, in Svasayama, we talk in terms of oxygenation, while in Pranayama it is all about movement of Prana.
THIRDLY, while Svasayama works at the level of body, mind and physiology (STHULA SHARIRA), Pranayama works even on the SUBTLE body (SUKSHMA SHARIRA) and thus works on Chakras, Nadis, Tattvas, Granthis and thereby on the Karma, Klesha, Vasanas also.
Doing Svasayama is the foundation for Pranayama. Dear Co-Sadhakas, it is a very exciting topic and we will have further discussions /thought sharing on this in Sutra Samvad.
There are thousands of systems in our body which are either voluntary (under our control) or involuntary (not under our control). But breathing is the only system which though totally involuntary can be made voluntary to a large extent. This fact was well known to our Masters and they used this to take charge or their life. Just think about this aspect and make your breath into a voluntary act for at least twenty four minutes in a day and see the phenomenal effect on all the aspects of total health – physical, mental emotional and spiritual.
SHRI GURUBHYO NAMAH
Dr. Ashok Bhatt
Very well explained the breathing process. Simply differentiated between svasayama and pranayama. Proud of you doctor ji.
A beautiful flow of profound thoughts. The difference between Svasyama and Pranayama is well articulated to understand the difference between Breath and Prana.
How ultimately it is Prana that becomes the vehicle to experience the consciousness, is presented so wonderful.
Excellent article. Thank you Drji.
Very good explanation