Theos Bernard - Hatha Yoga

There is a traditional technique used for closing the nostrils. 11 Press thefirstfingerandthemiddlefingeragainstthepalmandusethethumb to close one nostril and the ring finger and the little finger to close the othernostril.Whenbothnostrilsareopen,thefingersmayrestonthe bridgeofthenose.Whenitisnotnecessarytoregulatetheflowofthe breathfromonenostriltotheother,itiscustomarytoplacethehandsin thelap,lettingonehandrestinthepalmoftheother. Anotherwayisto jointhetipofthethumbandthetipofthefirstfingerandletthebackof the wrists rest onthe respective knees with the fingers extended. Thedescriptioninthetextofthenextpractice,calledujjayi(victorious) issimple. Havingclosedthemouththeairshouldbedrawnagainandagainthroughthenostrilsin suchawaythatitgoestouchingfromthethroattothechest,andmakingnoisewhile passing.Itshouldberestrained,asbefore,andthenletoutthroughIda(theleftnostril). This removes slesma (phlegm) in the throat and increases the appetite. It destroys the defectsofthenadis,dropsyanddisordersofDhatu(humours).Ujjayishouldbeperformed inallconditionsoflife, even while walking orsitting.12

Thisisaneasymethodofdeep-chestbreathingwithaslightlyclosed glottis.Anyposturesuitableforpranayamaisallowed.Itmaybepractised inalmostanyconditionoflife,whilestanding,sitting,orevenwalking; however,Ihaveneverhadoccasiontotestitinanyposturebutthepostures ofmeditation.Iwastaughttowashthetongueandmouth beforestarting thepractice.Thetechniqueisaccomplishedbyinhalinginsuchamanner thatasoft sobbingsoundofuniform pitchismade.Afterthesuspension, swallow, do jalandhara, and suspend. While holding the breath, elevate the chest and contract the muscles of the abdominal walls as in the ractice ustdescribed.Thetextadvisestoexhalethrou htheleftnostril;

however, I was permitted to exhale through both nostrils, making a sound similar to the one made during the inhalation. The abdominal ll

GherandaSamhita, v,53 :"Lethimpractise,thusalternatingthenostrilsagainandagain. When inhalationiscompleted,closebothnostrils,therightonebythethumbandtheleftonebytheringfingerandlittle-finger,neverusingtheindexandmiddle-fingers.Thisnostrilistobeclosedsolong asKumbhakais." 12

HathaYogaPradipika, ii,51-3.Compare GherandaSamhita, v,69-72:"Closethemouth,draw intheexternalairbyboththenostrils,andpulltheinternalairfromthelungsandthroat;retainthem inthemo uth. Thenhavingwashedthemouth(i.e. expelledtheairthroughmouth)performJalan dhara.LethimperformKumbhakawithallhismightandretaintheairunhindered.Allworksare accomplishedbyUjjayiKumbhaka.Heisneverattackedbyphlegm-diseases,ornerve-diseases,or indigestion,ordysentery,orconsumption,orcough;orfever,or(enlarged)spleen.Letamanperform Ujjayitodestroydecayanddeath."

PRANAYAMA

53

musclesshouldbecontracteduntilthelastvestigeofairhasbeenremoved fromthelungs. The exhalationshould betwice thelengthoftheinhala tion, but it should not be prolonged until it is impossible to proceed immediatelytothenextinhalationwithout snatching afewextra breaths. Each step must be regulated so that a process of rhythmic breathing is established.Toprepareforthispracticeitispermissibletoomitthesus pensionforthefirstweekorsoanddevelopcontroloftheinhalationand exhalation.Istartedwithfourroundsaminuteandwasabletoestablish controlwithinaweek. The next two practices should be described together. Sitkari[hissingsound]isperformedbydrawingintheairthroughthemout h,keepingthe tonguebetweenthelips.Theairthusdrawninshouldnotbeexpelledthroughthemouth , but bythenostril. Bypractising inthisway, one becomesnexttotheGodof Love in beauty.HeisregardedadorablebytheYoginis[femaleyogis]andbecomestheauthor and destroyer of the cycle of creation. He is not afflicted with hunger, thirst, sleep, or lassitude. The Sattva ofhis body becomes free from all the disturbances. In truth, he 13 becomesthelordoftheYogisinthisworld.

Thenexttechniquefollows: Trying to print this document?

Asintheabove(Sitkari),thetonguetobeprotrudedalittleoutofthelips,whentheairis drawnin. asbefore, and work thenwell. expelledslowly through the nostrils. Unfortunately, printingItis Scribdkeptconfined, documents from your browser doesn't Instead, we recommend you download this documentThis as a PDF file and use your PDF reader to print. Sitali [cooling] Kumbhaka cures colic (enlarged) spleen, fever, disorders of bile, 14 hunger,thirst,andcounteractspoisons. Download and Print

Thereis littleneedfor specialcommentonthesetwomethods. They are supposed to be used for cooling the system; however, I have never hadoccasiontotestthemforthispurpose.Thefirstisdonebylocking theteethandsuspendingthetonguesothatitdoesnottouchanypartof themouth.Suckintheairbetweentheteeth,makingallthenoisepossible, and then exhale through the nose without suspending. I was taught two ways of doing sitali. The first is to turn the tongue back until it touches the soft palate and then inhale, do the chin lock, and suspend. Thesecondisto rollthetonguelengthwiseintoatroughand thenpro trudeitalittlebeyondthelips.Whileholdingthetongueinthisposition, 13

HathaYogaPradipika, ii,54-6.Thisfirststageisnotlistedinthe GherandaSamhita.

14

Ibid., 57-8. Compare GherandaSamhita, v,73-4:"Drawintheairthroughthemouth(with

thelips contractedandtongue thrownout), andfill thestomach slowly. Retainitthere for ashort time.Thenexhaleitthroughboththenostrils.LettheYoginalwayspractisethisSitaliKumbhaka, giverofbliss;bysodoinghewillbefreefromindigestion,phlegmandbiliousdisorders."

draw in the air, perform the chin lock, and suspend. In both instances exhalation should be through the nostrils. No special problem should arise with these two practices. 15 The next practice is bhastrika, which was discussed above as a purification technique. The remaining kumbhakas listed in the text are bhramari, murchha, and plavini. "Bhramari consists in filling the air withforce,whichmakesnoiselikeamalebee,andinexpellingitslowly whichmakesanoiselikeafemalebee;thispracticecausesasortofecstasy 16 in the minds of Yogindras." "Closing the passages with Jalandhara BandhafirmlyattheendofPuraka,andexpellingtheairslowly,iscalled Murchha, from its causing the mind to swoon and giving comfort." 17 This practice derives its name from the fact that it causes the mind to faint.Thisisaccomplishedbylockingtheairwithinthebodyduringthe suspension and focusing the mind on the space between the eyebrows

un swoons. was a so aug o o s y suspen ng e rea ou  sidethelungs.Thebeginnerisadvisednottoworkonthispracticeduring hispreparatoryperiod.Ithasanormalplaceinthemorehighlydeveloped stagesofpranayamawhenworkingwiththemind."Whenthebellyis filled with air freely circulating within the body, the body easily floats eveninthedeepestwater,liketheleafofalotus." 18 Thisconditionobtainsonlyforthosewhohavemasteredpranayama initsadvancedstages.ThesearetechniquesforinducingcertainpsychoI5

Seeabove,pp.44-45.

16

See  HathaYogaPradipika, ii,68.Compare GherandaSamhita, v,78-82:"Atpastmidnightin aplacewhere thereare nosoundsofanimals, etc.,tobeheard, let theYogin practisePurakaand Kumbhaka,closingtheearsbythehands.Hewillthenhearvariousinternalsoundsinhisrightear. Thefirstsoundwillbelikethatofcrickets,thenthatofaflute,thenthatofabeetle,thenthatofbells, thenthoseofgongsofbell-metal,trumpets,kettle-drums,mrdanga,militarydrums,anddundubhi, etc.Thusvarioussounds are cognisedby dailypractise ofthisKumbhaka.Lastofall isheard the Anahatasoundrisingfromtheheart;ofthissoundthereisaresonance,inthatresonancethereisa Light.In thatLightthemindshouldbe immersed. Whenthemindisabsorbedthen itreachesthe highest seat of Visnu (parama-pada). By success in this Bhramari Kumbhaka one gets success in Samadhi." This practice isfrequentlycalledthe 'beetle-droning kumbhaka'. Itcanbedoneinany comfortablepostureandisbestpractisedatmidnightinabsolutesilence.Thesoundisaccomplished byuttering 'Ah'aslowinthethroatas possiblevibratingthepalate. Eventually thistonebecomes clear.Thispracticeisdesignedtoproduceaspecificconditioninthemind,butthiscannotbeeffected untilitispossibletoholdthebreathforseveralminutesatatime.Onlythemosthighlydeveloped Yogisexperiencethesevarioussounds. 17

See  Hatha Yoga Pradipika, ii, 69. Compare GherandaSamhita, v, 83: "Having performed Kumbhakawithcomfort,lethimwithdrawthemindfromallobjectsandfixitinthespacebetween theeyebrows.Thiscausesfaintingofthemindandgiveshappiness.For,bythusjoiningtheManas (Mind)withtheAtman(Soul),theblissofYogaiscertainlyobtained." 18

See HathaYogaPradipika, ii,70.

PRANAYAMA

55

logicalphenomenawhichareoutofplaceatthistime.Iwasnotgiven thesepractices until I had. fully developed pranayama. The concluding discussion of the text presents the ultimate aim of

. Considering Puraka (filling), Rechaka (expelling) and Kumbhaka (confining), Prana yamaisofthreekinds.AccompaniedbyPurakaandRechaka,andwithoutthese,Kum bhakaisoftwokindsonly,i.e.,Sahita1 9 (with) and Kevala2 0 (alone). Exercise in Sahita 19

Compare GherandaSamhita, v,47-57:"TheSahitaKumbhakaisoftwosorts;Sagarbhaand Nigarbha(SoundandWithoutSound).TheKumbhakaperformedbytherepetitionofBijaMantra isSagarbha;thatdonewithoutsuchrepetitionisNigarbha.FirstIshalltelltheetheSagarbhaPrana yama.SittinginSukhasanaposture,facingeastornorth,letonecontemplateonBrahmafullofRajas qualityofa blood-redcolour,in theform oftheletter'A'.Letthewisepractitionerinhale bythe leftnostril,repeating'A'sixteentimes.Thenbeforehebeginsretention(butattheendofinhalation), let himperform Uddiyana Bandha. Then let him retainbreath by repeating 'U' sixty-fourtimes, contemplatingonHari,ofablackcolourandSattvaquality.Thenlethimexhalethebreaththrough therightnostrilbyrepeatingmakarathirty-twotimes,contemplatingSivaofawhitecolourandof Tamas quality. Then again inhale through Pingala (right nostril), retain by Kumbhaka, and exhale byIda(leftnostril),inthemethodtaughtabove,changingthenostrilsalternately.Lethimpractise, thus alternating thenostrilsagainand again.Wheninhalationis completed, closeboth nostrils,the right onebythethumb andtheleftonebythering-fingerandlittle-finger,neverusingtheindexand middle-fingers.ThenostrilstobeclosedaslongasKumbhakais. "The Nigarbha (or simple ormantraless)Pranayama isperformed without the repetitionof Bija mantra;andtheperiodofPuraka(inhalationofinspiration),Kumbhaka(retention),andRechaka (expiration),maybeextendedfromonetohundredmatras.ThebestistwentyMatras:i.e.,Puraka 20seconds,Kumbhaka80,and Rechaka40seconds. The sixteenmatrasismiddling,i.e. 16,64,32. Thetwelvematrasisthelowest, i.e.12,48,24. Thus thePranayamaisofthreesorts.By practising the lowest Pranayama for some time, the body begins to quiver (especially there is a feeling of quivering alongthe spinalcord). BythehighestPranayamaoneleavestheground, i.e.thereislevitation. Thesesignsattendthe success ofthesethreesortsof Pranayama. ByPranayama isattained thepower oflevitation(KhecariSakti), by Pranayamadiseases are cured, byPranayamathe Sakti (spiritual energy) is awakened, by Pranayama is obtained the calmness of mind and exaltation of mental powers (clairvoyance, etc.); by this, mind becomes full of bliss; verily the practitioner of Pranayamaishappy." 20Kevaliistheeighthkumbhakalistedin GherandaSamhita andisdescribedatlength;seev,84-96: "Thebreathofeverypersoninenteringmakesthesoundof'sah'andincomingoutthatof'ham'. Thesetwosoundsmake(so'ham'IamHe')or(hamsah"TheGreatSwan').Throughoutadayand anighttherearetwenty-onethousandandsixhundredsuchrespirations(thatis,15respirationsper minute).Everylivingbeing(Jiva)performsthisjapa(repetition)unconsciously,butconstantly.This is called Ajapa gayattri. This Ajapa-japa is performed in three places, i.e. in the Muladhara (the spacebetweentheanusandmembranumvirile),intheAnahatalotus(heart)andtheAjnalotus(the spacewherethenostrilsunite).T hisbodyisninety-sixdigitslong(i.e. sixfeet) asa standard. The ordinarylengthof theaircurrentwhenexpired istwelve digits(nineinches); insinging,its length becomessixteendigits(onefoot);ineating,itistwentydigits(15inches),inwalking,itistwenty-four digits(18 inches);insleep,itisthirtydigits(22iinches);incopulationitisthirty-sixdigits(27inches), andintakingphysicalexercises,itismorethanthat.Bydecreasingthenaturallengthoftheexpired current from nine inches to less and less, there takes place increase of life; and by increasing the current,thereisdecreaseoflife.Solongasbreathremainsinthebodythereisnodeath.Whenthefull lengthofthewindisallconfinedinthebody,nothingbeingallowedtogoout,itisKevelaKumbhaka

"AllJivasareconstantlyandunconsciouslyrecitingthisAjapaMantra,onlyforafixednumberof timeseveryday.ButaYoginshouldrecitethisconsciouslyandcountingthenumbers.Bydoubling

. air with ease, without Rechaka and Puraka. This unassisted Kumbhaka is Pranayama 21 par excellence. When it can be performed successfully without Rechaka and Puraka, there is nothing in the three worlds which may be difficult to obtain. He who is com petent to keep the air confined according to pleasure, by means ofKevala Kumbhaka, o bt ai ns  t he  p os it io n  o f R aj a Y og a  u nd ou b t ed l y . K un da li ni  a wa ke ns  b y K um bh ak a,2 2 andbyitsawakeningSusumnabecomesfreefromimpuritiesandsuccessinHathaYoga isaccomplished.NosuccessinRajaYogawithoutHathaYoga,andnosuccessinHatha YogawithoutRajaYoga. 2 3 One should, therefore, practise both ofthesewell, tillco m plete success isgained. Onthe completion ofKumb haka ,the mind should begiven rest. By  pra ct is in g  i n t hi s w a y  o ne  is  r ais ed  t o t he  po s it io n  o f ( su cce ed s i n g et ti n g) Raj a Yoga. 2 4

thenumberofAjapa(i.e.by30respirationsperminute),thestateofManonmani(fixednessofmind) isattained.TherearenoregularRechakaandPurakainthisprocess.Itisonly(Kevala)Kumbhaka. Byinspiringairbynostrils,lethimperformKevalaKumbhaka.Onthefirstdaylethimretainbreath fromonetosixty-fourtimes.ThisKevalishouldbeperformedeighttimesaday,onceeverythree hours;oronemaydoitfivetimesaday,asIshalltellthee.Firstintheearlymorning,thenatnoon, theninthetwilight,thenatmidnight,andtheninthefourthquarterofthenight.Oronemaydoit thriceaday,i.e.,inthemorning,noonandevening.SolongassuccessisnotobtainedinKevali,he shouldincreasethelengthofajapa-japaeveryday,onetofivetimes.HewhoknowsPranayamaand Kevali is the real Yogin. What can he not accomplish in this world who has acquired success in KevaliKumbhaka?" 21

Compare SivaSamhita, iii,39: "Whe ntheYogican,ofhiswill,regulatetheairandstopthe breath(wheneverandho wlong)helikes,thencertainlyhegetssuccessinKumbhaka,andfromsuccess inKumbhakaonly,whatthings cannottheYogicommand here?" 22

Kundalini is believed to be the static background against which the phenomena of life are manifest.Inordertounderstandthefullimplicationofthisterm,whichhasnoWesternequivalent, see SerpentPower, by ArthurAvalon. Itis fully discussed in that volume. The awakening of this latent forcewhich isbelievedtoresideinmanisthefinal aimof all HathaYoga. Thatiswhyitis frequentlycalledKundaliniYoga;however,specialtechniquesareneededtoeffectthisresult.Compare thestatementon"TheAwakeningofKundalini,"in SivaSamhita, iv,12-14:"NowIshalltellyou thebestmeansofattainingsuccessinYoga.Thepractitionersshouldkeepitsecret.Itistheinaccessible Yoga. When the sleeping goddess Kundalini is awakened through the grace of Guru, then all the lotuses (nerve centres)andthe bonds are readily pierced through andthrough. Therefore,in order thatthegoddess,whoisasleep(latent)inthemout hoftheBrahmarandhrabeawakened,theMudras shouldbepractisedwiththegreatestcare.""Brahmarandhra"issaidtobethe fontanel. 23

Compare SivaSamhita, v, 181: "The  Hatha Yoga cannotbeobtainedwithouttheRajaYoga, norcantheRajaYogabeattainedwithouttheHathaYoga.Therefore,lettheYogifirstlearnthe HathaYogafromtheinstructionsofthewiseGuru." 24

HathaYogaPradipika, ii,71-7.Patanjalimentionsonlyfourkindsofpranayama;seethe Yoga SutrasofPatanjali, ii,50-1:"Manifestationasexternal,internalandtotalrestraintisregulatedby place,time,andnumber;andthusitbecomeslongindurationandsubtle.Thefourthisthatwhich follows when the spheres of the external and internal have-been-passed." By place is meant the durationofthesewhichiscalledMatra.Thisisgenerallyconsideredtobeequivalenttooursecond. VachaspatiinhisGlossonthisaphorismsays,"A'matra'(measure)isthetimewhichistakenupby thriceturningupone'shandoverone'skneeandthensnappingthefingersonce.Measuredbythirtysixsuchmatrasisthefirstattempt(udghata)whichismild.Twicethatisthesecond,whichismiddling. Thricethatisthethird,whichisintense.ThisisthePranayamaasmeasuredbynumber."

Theos Bernard - Hatha Yoga Download or Print Add To Collection 2.3K Reads 38 Readcasts 20 Embed Views

Published by Oskar Prieto Blanco Follow Search This Document

Search TIP Press Ctrl-F⌘F to search anywhere in the document.

Get Scribd Mobile To get Scribd mobile enter your number and we'll send you a link to the Scribd app for iPhone & Android.We've sent a link to the Scribd app. If you didn't receive it, try again. (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Text me We'll never share your phone number.

iTunes App Store | Google Play Store

Info and Rating Category:

How-To Guides/Manuals > Automobiles

Rating: Upload Date: 06/17/2012 Copyright: Attribution Non-commercial Tags:  No tags Free download as Text file (.txt), PDF File (.pdf) or read online for free. Flag for inappropriate content

.PDF

.TXT Download

Recommended Next

32 p. Zangdok Palri: The Lotus Light Palace of Guru Rinpoche tibetanreader 1131 Reads

455 p. Lamotte, Etienne; Boin, Sara (Trs); Vimalakirti - Teaching of Vimal... ShakyaShribhadra 199 Reads

101 p. HA-THA YOGA THEOS BERNARD.pdf  Vajrasatwa Pablo Elias Gomez Posse 283 Reads

348 p. Peter Matthiessen - The Snow Leopard 304 Reads Next

More From This User

130 p. Manning - Secrets of the JavaScript Ninja Oskar Prieto Blanco 48 Reads

147 p. Yoga HathaYoga Theos Bernard Oskar Prieto Blanco 194 Reads

5 p. Rosen Before Iyengar Oskar Prieto Blanco 52 Reads Notes Add a note. (Limit 400 characters)

Privacy:publicPost Note Cyberterton29 months ago I was looking fo this for a long time...

About About Scribd

Get Scribd Mobile To get Scribd mobile enter your number and we'll send you a link to the Scribd app for iPhone & Android.We've sent a link to the Scribd app. If you didn't receive it, try again. (xxx) xxx-xxxx

Text me We'll never share your phone number.

iTunes App Store | Google Play Store

Info and Rating Category:

How-To Guides/Manuals > Automobiles

Rating: Upload Date: 06/17/2012 Copyright: Attribution Non-commercial Tags:  No tags Free download as Text file (.txt), PDF File (.pdf) or read online for free. Flag for inappropriate content

.PDF

.TXT Download

Recommended Next

32 p. Zangdok Palri: The Lotus Light Palace of Guru Rinpoche tibetanreader 1131 Reads

Theos Bernard - Hatha Yoga Download or Print Add To Collection 2.3K Reads 38 Readcasts 20 Embed Views

Published by Oskar Prieto Blanco Follow Search This Document

Search TIP Press Ctrl-F⌘F to search anywhere in the document.

455 p. Lamotte, Etienne; Boin, Sara (Trs); Vimalakirti - Teaching of Vimal... ShakyaShribhadra 199 Reads

101 p. HA-THA YOGA THEOS BERNARD.pdf  Vajrasatwa Pablo Elias Gomez Posse 283 Reads

348 p. Peter Matthiessen - The Snow Leopard 304 Reads Next

More From This User