Atman, Cosmic soul, and Brahman
The techniques of pranayama are aimed at devitalizing ida and pingala and opening up the sushumna nadi, thus allowing the prana to flow through this channel. One experiences great joy and is free from the bondage of time, space and causation. Opening the sushumna nadi rouses the sleeping serpent at the muladhara chakra and sends the tremendous activated energy upward along sushumna, through the six chakras, to the sahasrara chakra, seventh chakra. This arousal and ascent of the latent kundalini energy and its merging in the sahasrara is the union of cosmic potency, with cosmic consciousness, or Shiva. With this union one achieves liberation from all miseries and bondage. He merges his individual soul,or Atman,with the Brahman the cosmic soul.


Pranayama is one of the rungs on the ladder of Raja Yoga.
The first four rungs are known as Hatha yoga, or physical
yoga. The last four rungs as Raja Yoga or the royal yoga.

The four lower rungs are restraints, observances, asana, or posture, and pranayama. The four higher rungs are sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation, samadhi, the superconscious state, ultimate freedom from the cycle of birth and death.Controlling the breath and calming the nerves controls the mind, and control of the mind is a prerequisite to the ultimate realization of the universal energy of prana. Body, breath, nerves, mind, prana and the Universe are all part of a Continuum.

Body, Mind and Disease

The energy of prana includes both physical and mental energies, body and mind both being sustained by prana, and body and mind interact. Disease is a manifestation of an imbalance in the flow of prana. The interrelationship between body and mind is the influence of emotions on the breathing. When one fearful, the breathing becomes shallow and rapid; when depressed, the breathing becomes heavy and labored.

There is a correspondence between personality types and breathing patterns. According to yoga, the relationships between the breath and the mind are reciprocal. If a certain state of mind results in a certain mode of breathing, then, conversely, by adopting that mode of breathing consciously one can evoke the corresponding state of mind. When the mind is disturbed the breath is disturbed and becomes shallow, rapid and uneven.

There is a correspondence between personality type and pattern of breathing. Changing the pattern of breathing one can transform the personality. By consciously making the breath deep, even and regular, one will experience a noticeable release of tension and an increased sense of relaxation and tranquility.

 

Swarodaya : The Breath

 

 

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