Yoga Sutra II- 51 - BAHYABHYANTARA VISAYAKSEPI CATURTHAH - There is a fourth kind of pranayama that occurs during the concentration on an internal or external object.Swami Satchidananda tells that the fourth kind of pranayama referred to in this sutra occurs automatically. In this pranayama practice we do not have to concentrate on retention because it happens automatically just by mind concentration on an object or idea. This process is called kevala kumbhaka, which is an easy unintentional retention that usually happens in deep meditation. "When we are deeply interested in something we are reading, the breath stops. If we at that time we look at the breath, we will hardly be breathing." It is when we are interrupted in our concentration that we sigh, making up for that retention. We are given the example if we hear terrible news, our breath stops suddenly as a result of the mind's thought process is halted. After the news we take a deep breath.
Swami Satchidananda informs us that this is a good thing when kevala kumbhaka happens during our japa or meditation and it won't happen until our system is ready. "If we are deep enough, the breath might even stop for a few minutes. In samadi it stops for several hours. People don't die, because there is no wastage of energy. It is being reserved." We are given examples that under normal conditions when we are expending a lot of energy, more must be put back into our systems. Just like a battery in a car that maintains the different functions, the dynamo within the engine compartment puts in more current, so the battery maintains its life. If there is overload of current from the dynamo, the battery overheats and dies. We don't have a dynamo mechanism to limit our energy, like a car. We only have ourselves to monitor the energy.
So the analogy is given of switching off the engine when the car is parked and no wastage of energy from the battery, in the same way we conserve our human electricity - prana- with our breathing system. "Our breathing system is the dynamo. We inhale in order to take in more prana to maintain the battery at a certain level. " When the body is quiet and we do not talk, we reserve energy. "If we keep the body still, we conserve energy; but still the mind moves and consumes a little energy, so we still have to breathe in. If we do not even think, there is no wastage at all and breathing is unnecessary. Kumbhaka is automatically achieved."
The commentary ends informing us that the mind and prana are inseparable. We are asked which is subtler, the mind or the breath? Which is easier to handle, the subtle or the gross? "Always the gross thing." It's easier to control our prana in a grosser manifestation than in a subtle one. Thus "we learn to control the physical body, then the movement of the breath, then the senses, and finally the mind. It is very scientific, gradual and easy."
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4 comments:
Wow, this is some blog. Do you know about these yoga books?
http://www.YogaVidya.com/hyp.html
Greetings sfauthor. Yes I know about those yoga books on your site. I am doing a review of the Patanjali's Yoga Sutra with the commentary of Swami Satchidananda. Being a yoga teacher and studying yoga for many years, one does become exposed to the yogic teachings. There is always more to learn.
Thanks for visiting and letting me know of your site. www.bometernally.com
Awesome! This is a jewel right here:
[The commentary ends informing us that the mind and prana are inseparable. We are asked which is subtler, the mind or the breath? Which is easier to handle, the subtle or the gross? "Always the gross thing." It's easier to control our prana in a grosser manifestation than in a subtle one. Thus "we learn to control the physical body, then the movement of the breath, then the senses, and finally the mind. It is very scientific, gradual and easy."]
I'm loving the prana posts.
Greetings C.Om! Glad you are loving the pranayama posts. There are so interesting and informative.
Blessings to you (:-)
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