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Pranayama (प्राणायामः) (view source)
Revision as of 18:22, 26 December 2022
, 18:22, 26 December 2022Adding content
After the pranas have awakened, the practitioner is ready to undertake the practice of prana vidya. The practitioner must be able to direct prana as necessary, not only within his own body but also the omnipresent, manifest power from which all energies originate. One can learn to use the cosmic energy, which is freely available to all, to create further changes in the patterns of the body, mind and consciousness. Such an awakening of pranic energy indicates the evolution of pranamaya kosha, whereby one is able to go deep into and become established in the higher meditative states.<ref name=":9" />
After the pranas have awakened, the practitioner is ready to undertake the practice of prana vidya. The practitioner must be able to direct prana as necessary, not only within his own body but also the omnipresent, manifest power from which all energies originate. One can learn to use the cosmic energy, which is freely available to all, to create further changes in the patterns of the body, mind and consciousness. Such an awakening of pranic energy indicates the evolution of pranamaya kosha, whereby one is able to go deep into and become established in the higher meditative states.<ref name=":9" />
=== Extension of Prana to higher Ayamas ===
When pranayama is understood as prana + ayama, it refers to a process of stretching, extending or expanding. In this context, pranayama is the process by which the internal pranic dimension is expanded, increased and held, thereby activating the quantum of prana in the body to a higher frequency.
The scriptures describe seven ayamas, or planes of individual existence. The first ayama is bhur loka, the gross physical dimension, perceptible to the mind and senses. The second is bhuva loka in which one perceives dreams and experiences moments of hallucinations. The third is swah loka, perceived in deep sleep. The consciousness traverses these three ayamas in waking, dreaming and sleeping states. When a child is conceived, prana is created in its physical body and gradually extends the area of control to these three fields of human experience, but no further. Normally human perception is confined to these three states and one is not able to perceive the deeper levels of existence.
The four higher dimensions of existence are described symbolically as maha loka, janah loka, tapah loka and satya loka. The gross prana is incapable of penetrating into these subtle dimensions. The purpose of pranayama, therefore, is to refine and transform prana into a subtler force and then extend it into the higher lokas or ayamas. When the pranas are awakened beyond the first three dimensions, then the real purpose of pranayama is fulfilled.<ref name=":9" />
== प्राणायामस्य प्रकाराः ॥ Types of Pranayama ==
== प्राणायामस्य प्रकाराः ॥ Types of Pranayama ==