Odnośniki
|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
a deep breath. Then, exhale slowly. This practice should continue for
sometime, say, a month. Afterwards, the regular Pranayama with proportion
in respiration may be commenced. The technical kind of breathing which, in
Yoga, generally goes by the name of Pranayama is done in two stages:
Exhale with a slow and deep breath. Close the right nostril with the right
thumb. Inhale slowly through the left nostril. Close the left nostril with the
right ring finger and removing the right thumb from the right nostril, exhale
very slowly through the right nostril. Then, reverse the process commencing
with inhalation through the right nostril. This is the intermediary stage of
Pranayama without retention of breath and with only alternate inhalation and
exhalation. This practice may be continued for another one month. In the
third month, the perfected Pranayama may be started: Inhale, as before,
through the left nostril; retain the breath until you repeat your Ishta Mantra
once; and then exhale slowly. The proportion of inhalation, retention and
exhalation is supposed to be 1:4:2. If you take one second to inhale, you take
4 seconds to retain, and two seconds to exhale. Generally, the counting of
this proportion is done by what is called a Matra, which is, roughly, about 3
seconds, or the time taken to chant OM thrice, neither very quickly nor very
slowly. You inhale for one Matra, retain for four Matras, and exhale for two
Matras. There should be no haste in increasing the time of retention.
Whether you are comfortable during retention or not is the test for the
duration of retention. There should be no feeling of suffocation in retention.
The rule applicable to Asana is valid to Pranayama, also. Sthira and Sukha,
easy and comfortable, without strain or pain of any kind, are both Asana and
Pranayama to be in a practice which is a slow and gradual progression of the
process.
The length of time of Pranayama depends on individual condition of the
body, the type of Sadhana one does and the kind of life one leads. All these
are important factors which have to be taken into consideration. The normal
variety of Pranayama in Yoga is the one described above, and it is termed
Sukhapuraka (easy of practice). The other types of Pranayama such as the
Bhastrika, Sitali, etc., are only auxiliaries and not essential to the Yoga of
Page 28 of 63
The Yoga System by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Sivananda Ashram, India
meditation. There are many details discussed in Hatha Yoga concerning
Pranayama. One of them, for instance, is that in retention a threefold lock
(Bandhatraya) consisting of Mulabandha, Uddiyanabandha and
Jalandharabandha is preferable. But these are all not directly related to the
aim of Yoga. Pranayama is not the goal of Yoga but only a means to it.
Ultimately, it is the mind which has to be subdued and Pranayama, etc. are
the preparations. When one has to meet a great authority, many hurdles have
to be overcome, and many lesser levels have to be satisfied with one s
credentials. Likewise, we have these guardians of the bodily system, the
Pranas, and they cannot be bypassed easily. They have to be given their
dues. We have to do something with the body and the Pranas, befitting their
status and function. We have our social problems and there are also personal
problems. Social situations have to be tackled by the practice of the Yamas,
and the system has to be calmed by the Niyamas. The Prana is a purely
personal affair and its regulation is a precondition to higher discipline. A
higher step is not to be attempted unless the lower need is attended to
properly. There are no jumps but there is always a gradual progress through
every one of the steps, though a step may be comparatively insignificant. By
the practice of Pranayama, in this manner, is prepared the ground for a
rhythm of the body, mind, nerves and senses. The Prana actually rings the
bell to wake up everything in the system. The powers get roused when the
Prana is activated.
The different Yoga scriptures detail the methods of Pranayama in lesser
or greater emphasis. The Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika, the most important text in
Hatha Yoga, stresses Pranayama more than the practice of Asana. What we
are physically depends much on how our Pranas work. Healthy Pranas
ensure a healthy body. We are not supposed to take in anything which will
irritate the nervous system. The Yoga prohibits all extremes in practice. The
Pranas are to be kept even throughout the year, in all weather conditions and
mental states. The texts also enjoin great caution upon the Yoga
practitioners.
There was a Sannyasin who read books on Pranayama, and thought it
was all very good. In spite of instructions to the contrary by elders, the
Swami went on practicing Pranayama, concentrating his mind on the point
between the two eye-brows, which should not be resorted to in the beginning
stages without an expert guide by one s side. Once, he was at his practice
inside his room for three days, and was found missing by others around him.
After a search, it was found that his room was bolted from within and he was
Page 29 of 63
The Yoga System by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Sivananda Ashram, India
inside. No shouting by people could wake him and the door had then to be
broken open. Even shaking of his body by others could not bring him to
consciousness; probably his Pranas were locked up in a centre and could not
move up or down. His Guru came and keeping his palm on the forehead of
the student, he uttered OM, thrice. The practitioner came to his
consciousness. People thought he had attained Samadhi, but, to everyone s
surprise, he was the same old person, with all his negative qualities, and
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plblacksoulman.xlx.pl
|
