READ PART-1 FOR FIRST THREE STEPS TO ATTAIN SALVATION WHICH INCLUDE YAMA, NIYAMA AND ASNA SEE THE LINK BELOW
STEPS
TO SALVATION .......PRANYAMA TO SAMADHI
PRANAYAMA: Prana means breath, respiration, life, vitality, wind, energy or strength. It also implies the soul. The word has double meaning to indicate vital breath. AYAMA means length, expansion, stretching. PRANAYAMA thus implies extension of breath and its control. This control is over all function of breathing namely
· Inhalation or inspiration which is termed puraka or filling up
· Exhalation or expiration, which is called rechaka (emptying of lungs)
· Retention or holding of breath, a state where there is no expiration or inspiration , which is termed kumbhaka. There are two states of kumbhaka namely when breathing is suspended after full inhalation (when the lungs is completely filled with oxygen), but before exhalation begins is known as antara kumbhaka. Second state when the breathing is suspended after full exhalation (lungs is emptied of all impure air), but before inhalation begins is known as bahya kumbhaka. Antara means inner or interior, while bahya means exterior.
PRANYAMA can be rightly known as science of breath. Further it deals with different methods of breathing exercises which has to be learnt from a teacher (guru) other wise it kills the practitioner. Pranayama strengthens respiratory system, soothe the nervous system, and reduces craving. As desires and cravings is reduced, the mind is set free and thus concentration increases. BKS IYENKER in his book light on yoga gives a natural comparison “as the fire blazes brightly when the covering of ash over it is blown by wind, the divine fire within the body shines in all its majesty when ashes of desire are scattered by paranayama.”
Some of the pranayama’s described briefly. One should learn pranayama from a teacher.
BHARSRIKA PRANYAMA: bhastrika pranayama means a bellow used in furnace. Here the air is forcibly drawn in and out as in blacksmith’s bellows.
KAPALABHATI PRANYAMA: is a milder form of bhastrika pranayama. Here inhalation is slow but exhalation is forcible or vigorous.
VILOMA PRANAYAMA: loma means hair. The particle vi is used to denote negation or privation. Viloma thus means against hair, against the grain, against the natural order of things. For example if continuous inhalation to fill the lungs or continuous exhalation to expel air were to take 15 sec in each, in viloma there would be a pause of 2 seconds after every third second of inhalation or of exhalation. The process of inhalation or exhalation thus lengthens to 25 second.
ANULOMA PRANYAMA: Anu means with, along with or connected, also in orderly succession. Anuloma thus means with regular gradation, with hair (loma=hair) natural order. In anuloma parnayama inhalation is done with both nostrils and exhalation alternately through either nostril.
PRATLOMA PRANYAMA: Prati means opposite. This type of pranayama is the converse of anuloma. In it inhalation is alternate through either nostril and then exhalation is both nostril as in UJJAYI.
Other Pranayama includes Ujjayi, Sahita, Kevala kumbhaka pranayama, Sama vrtti pranayamam, Sitakari pranayama, Visama vrtti pranayama, Bhamari pranayama.
PRATYAHARA: By practicing yama- niyama, asnas one become healthy in body. Pranyama increases the concentration and reduction of cravings and desire & he naturally turns inward which is the fifth stage other wise known as Pratyahara where the sense are brought under the control.
DHARANA: When the body is treated by asanas, when the mind has been refined by fire of pranayama and when the senses have been brought under control by pratyahara, the seeker reaches the sixth stage called dharana.concentration or DHARANA is holding the mind within a center of spiritual consciousness in the body or fixing it on some divine form, either within body or outside it. The mind has been stilled in order to achieve this state of complete absorption.
DHAYANA/
MEDITATION: Those who have practiced asnas, Pranayama and was able to control the mind by pratyhara and dharana he becomes into the seventh stage called meditation or dhyana. Yogis body breath, senses, mind, reason, and ego all integrated into his object of contemplation- the universal spirit. He realises that his spirit like all other mortal spirit is only part of universal spirit.
SAMADHI OR SALVATION: At peak of his meditation, he passes into a state of samadhi, where his body and sense are at rest as if he is asleep, his faculties of mind and reason are alert as if he is awake, yet he is beyond consciousness.