The Art of Meditation - Guiding Prana through the Sushumna

Prane Bhutam Cha Bhavyam Cha

Prane Sarvam Pratishthitam

Prano Hi Bhagawan Matarishwaram

Prakarshena Aanayati Nayati Iti Pranah - That which brings life energy in and out of the body is Prana

The Ida Pingala and the Sushumna are the three main nadis of the 72,000 nadis in the human body through which Prana flows. Ida is on the left side of the central plumbline of the body and represents the moon's energy. When Ida is predominant, the left nostril is more prominent in the breath than the right. Sometimes you won't even be able to feel the breath coming out of the right nostril. Pingala is on the right side of the central plumbline of the body and represents the sun's energy. When Pingala is predominant, the right nostril breath is more prominent than the left. It is said that whenever we are more analytical in thought, it is the Pingala that is predominant and when we are arty in thought, it is the Ida that is predominant. When the breath in both the nostrils are equally prominent, the prana starts flowing through the central plumbline of the body which is known as the Sushumna. This is when meditation "Happens". A lot of the Yoga Sadhana is built around bringing in the prana into the Sushumna or equalizing the breath in both the nostrils. 

Some of the very good Pranayamas and Asanas that help in bringing the Prana into the Sushumna are 

1. Anuloma Viloma Pranayama

2. Asanas that have a left-right and finally a central application. Examples are Pavanamuktasana (Left-Right and Both legs), Janu Shirshasana (Left and Right) followed by Paschimottanasana, Upavishtha Konasana, Shirshasana (These two bring the prana into the Sushumna i.e. equalizes both the right and left nostril breaths on their own)

The left side applications activate the right nostril and the right side applications activate the left nostril. Even when sleeping, if we sleep on the right side, the left nostril gets activated and vice versa.  Every time we come out of the above-mentioned Asanas and come to the seated position, the Pranic circuit realigns to how it resides in the seated position, and this process of pranic realignment, when observed, is deeply therapeutic, restive, and meditative. Practitioners should NEVER miss out on observing the Pranic Realignments from one Pranic Circuit (created when performing an Asana) to another. Every Pranic circuit has its unique breathing patterns and Pranic Flow that is concentrated in specific regions of the body. It reaffirms the deep understanding given by Gurudev that all the limbs of Yoga are attained when any one limb is pulled well. Like how the entire table comes along when any one of its legs is pulled. 

Change of breathing patterns is Pranayama says Patanjali in the Yogasutras 

प्रच्छर्दनविधारणाअभ्यां वा प्राणस्य*

pracchardana-vidhāraṇa-ābhyāṁ vā prāṇasya

Breaking the natural rhythms of the breath and holding the breath, sustaining the breath in different rhythms

Observing how the flow of breath starts moving towards the left or the right or through both the nostrils is very essential, coupled with the deep experience of meditation when the nostrils are equalized and prana is guided into the Sushumna. 

So in Asana, we experience Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. I have explained these in great detail in my earlier blog https://kaivalyaanubhavayoga.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-table-with-eight-legs.html 

Janushirshasana

Paschimottanasana

Upavishtha Konasana (Side View)

Upavishtha Konasana (Front View)

Shirshasana

Other ways to achieve this state is the presence of the Guru as well as visiting great temples, where automatically the breathing pattern changes to the meditative state with Prana flowing through Sushumna. 

AUM 

What humanity knew all the while - the chakras!

 There is a way of saying how we say things without actually saying them explicitly. And that phrase is "Words betray the fact" or "In common lingo"

The 7 chakras in the Yogic system are understood to generate different emotions. We may not be knowing about the chakras in the detail that Gurudevas explained, but we always referred to the various emotions to these specific points across different cultures and languages. Here I detail a few of them. Please do add on more if you know of them! Colors depicted here are the colors that are attributed to these various chakras

Muladhara Chakra: The base of spine or the sacrum is the location of the first centre called the Muladhara Chakra. When the Muladhara Chakra is activated, what happens? One experiences enthusiasm in life. When it is dormant, then one experiences dullness and inertia. One does not feel interested in anything. This is the first Chakra. - In Common Lingo- "Shake your booty!" an expression used to ramp up enthusiasm, specially at parties😆

Swadishthana Chakra: The same energy moves upwards to the second Chakra which is located behind the genitals and it manifests as procreation or creation – meaning in the form of any creative activity or as sex drive. - In Common Lingo No prizes for guessing.😁

Manipur Chakra: The same energy moves upwards to the navel region and manifests in four forms or feelings. What are they? They are jealousy, generosity, joy, and greed - In Common Lingo "Belly full of laughter" depicting joy. In Kannada we speak of jealousy as "Hotte Kicchu" which means a wringing sensation in the stomach! 😊😂

Anahata Chakra:The heart is associated with three emotions: Love, fear and hatred. - In Common Lingo "Striking fear into the hearts of the enemy" or "I love you from the bottom of my heart" or "I hate him from the bottom of my heart"💗

Vishuddhi Chakra: When the same energy moves to the throat Chakra, what is the sensation you experience? You feel gratefulness, and you have a sensation in the throat region when you experience grief. - In Common Lingo "My throat is choked with gratitude/grief"😢

Ajna Chakra: When the consciousness moves to the centre of the forehead, it manifests as anger, awareness or alertness. - In Common Lingo - "Where are you looking? Pay attention". Most of the times whenever we are in a deeply attentive state, we are looking straight at the object of attention with the stress being felt clearly between the eyebrows. 😠

Sahasrara Chakra: When the Consciousness moves to the top of the head, then one experiences only bliss.😇 In Common Lingo - "I am on top of the world"

What is the source of Yoga?

 The debate on the source of Yoga is intense with many people strongly making the point that it is Hinduism's gift to the world. Though controversial I would as a practicing Yogi, like to make a different point.

The more one goes into Yoga, the more one realizes the oneness in infinite diversity, the critical role that "Prana" or life force plays on the state of mind (whether the calm, not so calm, or the ultimate ZERO state), and, the essential realization that the external manifestation of human behavior is 100% a function of the internal state of the mind. There is a need to implement this knowledge for the wellbeing of humanity in a skillful way taking into consideration the various types of people we encounter. From the religious believers to the non-believing atheists and agnostics. 

When we look at the way any religion has been designed, it essentially has aimed to calm the restless mind through prayer, meditation, etc. In Hinduism the restless mind is compared to a monkey that is drunk, bitten by a scorpion, and then occupied by a ghost! What takes the mind outside are the 5 senses of touch taste smell sight and hearing. Making use of these very 5 faculties to bring the mind within and calm it even for a few moments is the reason why the great yogis thought through and designed the many temples of India. The sense of belief in an almighty parent called God with an image sculpted in the form of an idol is very essential for this aim to be accomplished. 

1. The sight or "Darshana" of the main "vigraha" or idol, which has undergone the regular process of "Prana Pratishtha" or imbued with life force using a lot of technical sophistry like the use of precious gems buried deep under the main idol as well as the use of water subjected to the recitation of certain mantras (watch this amazing video to understand how water is effected by human emotions and the vibrations of certain words https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Moz82i89JAw) flowing onto the idol from atop, brings the mind to calmness

2. The smells of ingredients like "Tulasi" or Holy Basil, Sandalwood, Camphor or "Karpooram" all bring the mind to calmness

3. The taste of the "Teertha" or holy water which has Holy Basil, Sandalwood, Camphor etc heightens the Prana and brings the mind to calmness

4. The sounds of the bells and mantras chanted bring the mind to calmness. The ragas in classical Indian music each have a very different effect on the mind

5. The touch of cool floors and walls of the temple brings the mind to calmness

One of the core aspects of Yoga is meditation or Dhyana. When we look at all religions, they are meditative revelations. Whether it was the Vedas that were revealed to the sages of yore, the Quran that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) when he meditated in a cave, or the fact that Jesus fasted and meditated for 40 days in a desert. 

So coming back to the main question. Did Yoga come from Hinduism or was it the other way around?! The answer to this question is the same as whether space came from matter or the other way around? :) 

AUM AUM AUM

Why Asanas? Some thoughts (post the practice :D)

 Firstly hope everyone got what that title meant!

The very goal of Yoga is to stop all modulations of the mind, so that, we reside in the state of the observer. This is what meditation is truly all about

There are 8 ways to achieve this and one of the ways is Asana or physical poses. How would contorting into different stretches, twists, bends, and squeezes help in quietening the restless mind?

The state of mental quiet is less about preachings and instructions and more about enabling certain states in the body that have a definitive effect on the mind. 

One of the important reasons which disables individuals from reaching a calm and meditative state is the inability of the body to get rid of waste or Aama (Sanskrit). Ordinarily, we would think that this refers to digestive waste. This is 100% true, What is also equally true is the ability of the body to get rid of wastes at the cellular levels as well. Our cells too eat, drink, breathe, egest and involve in dozens of other activities before finally dying. The cellular waste as well as dead cells collect in the Lymphatic system. 

The Lymphatic system unlike the circulatory system which has a heart to pump the fluid, has only our physical activities to enable its optimum functioning. The optimal functioning of the Lymphatic system ensures that the body is free of cellular waste. 

Asana is a fantastic approach to enable this optimum Lymphatic functioning. The various stretches, bends, twists, and squeezes performed with deep diaphragmic breathing over a period of time (some Asanas can be held for a few minutes as well depending on the experience of the Yogi), have a salutary effect on the Lymphatic System. 

The continuous buildup of waste in the Lymphatic system has a corresponding ill effect on the organs and glands that surround them. 

The Prana (https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598734235874609373/5022012620229752242?hl=en-GB) flows freely when the body is free of Aama and is enabled to flow unimpeded. The role of Asana in cleansing the body at the cellular levels and thereby ensuring the free flow of Prana, as well as the increased flow of Prana in the body, is primal and pivotal. 

The quietening of the mind happens only when the levels of Prana in the body are increased. It won't happen with preaching and reading books! Yes, it also happens in the presence of a Guru who operates at elevated levels of Prana :)

What is Sri Sri Yoga?

 What makes Sri Sri Yoga, Sri Sri Yoga!

The differences in the various Yoga systems and schools are mostly based on which are the core books of Yoga that are looked up to and the interpretation of the Sanskrit verses that are contained in them

The Art of Living has its Yogic roots firmly rooted mainly in the Patanjali Yogasutras. A book whose aphorisms were explained in selected details by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravishankar over 25 years ago

Apart from His interpretation of the Yogasutras, His own understanding of various aspects of life and especially the mind, have brought about over the years, a distinctive and immensely beautiful perspective to what has now emerged as Sri Sri Yoga

Some of the core focus areas have been

1. The concept of Prana. Gurudev has often said that doubts creep in the mind only when the Prana levels are low. This is a very deep understanding. If we stretch this, we understand and realize that it's not just doubts that come when Prana levels are low, but the higher realizations that come in, when prana levels are high!

2. Stretching in the asana is done by breathing out

3. Smile when you do the Asana. Sthiram Sukham Asanam is a sutra that we at AOL have always adhered to. The only way we can express the Sukha in the Asana is when we can smile when doing the Asana!

4. Payathna Shaittilya Anantha Samapattibhyam - to let go of all efforts after having done the asana. To let go of efforts, first, the efforts must have been put! We all run only till we get onto the train. Running thereafter does not help us reach our destination faster. Similarly we ut in our efforts only till we attain the Yogasana the way it has to be. Once attained, we rest in the Asana and let the Infinity flow through!

5. Doing the Asana with all awareness and attention - Satu Dheerga Kaala Nairantarya Satkara Sevita Dridha Bhumi. Satkara Sevita is, doing Yoga respectfully. Respect means what? Giving your 100% attention to something is respect. This definition of respect was given by Gurudev. Respecting the body is Asana. Respecting the breath is Pranayama!

6. Sadhana is Sah Dhana, your "own" wealth that you carry on from one life to another.

7. Speaking about Ashtanga Yoga that the sage Patanjali explains in the Yogasutras, He explained that these are NOT 8 steps or Ashtha Pada but 8 parts of the same body or Ashtanga. A table may have four legs but if you want to pull the table getting a grip on just one of its legs is good enough. The other 3 legs come along with it. Similarly going deep into just one part of Yoga will ensure that you attain the other 7 as well

8. Jnana Yoga Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga are all interwoven. Just like, to prepare Gulab Jamun one needs to know how to do it (Jnana Yoga), once knowing how to do it, one needs to execute the job (Karma Yoga) and both Jnana and Karma have to be executed with lots of love and devotion in order for the end result to stupendous success. This is Bhakti Yoga. Those who feel that Bhakti Yoga is something that needs an individual (either God or Guru) need to relook. It can be even in preparing a Gulab Jamun. Probably it is the complete Yoga of Jnana Karma and Bhakti that makes mother's food simply so delicious! Similarly Knowing how to do the asana, doing it regularly and with love and devotion, enables the culmination of all three aspects of Yoga are enabled.

AUM AUM AUM😊🙏