When
a person is engaged in worldly affairs, the haphazard flow of prana
present in his physical, vital and mental levels remains scattered in
his lower nature. But when this flow of prana is focused with one pointed
concentration in a single direction for any worthwhile purpose, it can
work wonders.
All
the powers of mind like imagination, observation, decision-making, control,
memory, and wisdom are activated by the pranic energy. Vivacity of senses
is also possible by pranic energy only. All the intricate autonomous
functions of the body and its organs are carried on without any conscious
control of our own- by this mysterious life force- the pranic energy.
To
control and consciously utilize this life force for self-upliftment,
purity and tranquility of mind and emotions are essential. To achieve
this end, meditation and pranayama are two essential initial disciplines
prescribed. By following these disciplines the body becomes charged
with energy, mind becomes cleansed and quiet and the sadhak is bestowed
with will, zeal and faith to rapidly progress in his sadhana of self-awareness
and self-realization.
The
first step is Pranayam (control of breath):
Normally
the pranic energy in our ignorant state wildly dances to the tunes of
passions and unbridled animal urges. Practice of Pranayam helps in calming
down and controlling these wayward and wild movements of the mind. Purity
of mind and purity of life force are interdependent. Mind and life are
as father and son.
Vrahdaranyak
Upanishad states:
Mana
eva pita, vang mata pranah praja I
Vrahda. Upanishad (1/5/7)
That
is, mind is the father, speech is the mother and the life is their progeny.
Pranayam
is the practice of consciously controlling the flow of prana by engaging
mind and thoughts in a single ennobling and uplifting direction. This
can be achieved with daily practice of Yoga Nidra.
Prana
sadhana involves controlling all the five flows of airs (apan, prana,
udan, vyan, and saman) and their sub-airs existing in the body by thoroughly
understanding their functions. All these airs and sub-airs are classifications
of one prana. Basically pranic energy is one cosmic pranic energy manifesting
through different entities and individualities. Even a partial command
over cosmic prana endows a person with supernatural powers. By controlled
energy of the prana the inner subconscious mind can be activated and
its supernormal capacities like clairvoyance, clairaudience, mind reading,
premonition etc. can be accessed. One can even instantly travel astronomical
distances to planets, stars, and galaxies. With mastery of prana one
can also have free access to subtle and higher realms of consciousness
and their beings- the heavenly worlds. But advanced prana sadhana must
be undertaken under an adept guide and master (the Guru).
For
fruitful practice of pranayam one has to keep a constant watch over
the movements and control of the muscles. For this purpose there are
different vedhas, mudras and bandhas. With unwavering determination
cosmic pranic energy is drawn from the cosmic space. Then one has to
learn the process of consciously focusing this energy for achieving
the desired result. However the ultimate aim of the prana sadhana is
the liberation of the enslaved individual being (prana) from the prison
of the false ego identity and its merger-union with the cosmic pranic
being of eternal life, light and love- samadhi- will achieved endowed
with abundance of this pranic energy are reckoned as truly great.
Before
ending let us quote how beautifully has the world renowned mystic-healer,
Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen, expressed her own experience of pranic
energy- life force, as she calls it:
"...
Coherent, elegant, mysterious, aesthetic. When I first earned my degree
in medicine I would not have described the life in this way. But I was
not on intimate terms with life then. I had not seen the power of the
life force in everyone, met the will to live in all its varied and subtle
forms, and recognized the irrepressible love of life buried in the heart
of every living thing. I had not been used by life to fulfill itself
or been caught unaware by its strength in its most profound weakness.
I had no sense of awe. I had thought that life was broken and that I,
armed with the powerful tools of modern science, would fix it. I had
thought then that I was broken also. But life has shown me otherwise.
Many
of the people who come to my office now as counseling clients have come
because modern medicine has failed them in some way, or they have used
up its power to help them, they do not know what else to do. They hope
to find a way to heal, to cooperate with or even strengthen the life
in them. After listening to hundreds and hundreds of their stories over
the last twenty years I think I would have to say that most people do
not recognize the strengthof the life force in them or the many ways
it shows itself to them. Yet every one of us has felt its power. We
who doubt are covered with the scars of many healings.
So when people first come, this is the place where we usually start-
talking about life itself, our attitude towards it, our experience of
it, our trust or distrust of it. Developing an eye to see it, in others
and in ourselves. In the beginning is the life force. After more than
fifty years of living, I have learnt it can be trusted..."
Based
on this system, I have developed a system of activating chakra and also
breathing method that will accelerate the process. The cleansing, activation
and breathing excersice that I developed are able to create a smooth
and instant result.