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Respected Sir:

This is in response to your query on Pranayama in your enclosed mail in
relation to the KathOupanasid text.

Some months back one of the lady member of this group had enquired about
Pranaayama. This writer had made a posting. Extracts from the response are
being reproduced below for your consideration. Pranayama has got nothing to
do with the attainment mentioned in your mail,  and related concepts
directly. At best it is an aid, a tool and nothing more in our spiritual
practices.

There was a sage who got a glimpse of the Divine Feet when he got tired of
even his own prana. and was ready to give up Pranayama too

...............2. Pranayama may not be generally practiced without adequate
prior learning from a good, reliable guru
3, One has to become aware, become conscious of one's breathing and then
proceed very very very very
   cautiously and slowly.  No haste in pranayama
4.May be practiced any convenient timing, but mental state should not be
disturbed - eg. during the monthly 3 /4 days   when there are changes
taking place or during menopause when homonal changes happen when emotional
states   are quite volatile, disturbed and unclear.
5. Preferable to do after asanas. Logically pranayama falls after asana
anyway as per the Orthodox Patanjali Sutras
6. This implies (from 5 above) that simple asanas may be practiced,
attempted with the help of a good reliable guru    The asana will enable
one to get mastery over the body, muscles, physical structure etc. and then
you may proceed for Pranayama.  Rather than master, the correct word would
be beyond-normal understanding beyond-casual understanding of the body
/functions. For example we may not be generally aware of the circulation
patten in our hands/arms/shoulders. Simply stand straight and slowly very
very slowly ......... fixing your gaze straight at a point without
wavering, mentally being aware slowly as you try to move your arms, you
will immediately feel ........then experience the circulation. The whole
thing takes maybe 17 minutes or so. but when you try then you become aware
of minutes things in your hand, shoulders etc. which normally you may not
have bothered or cared for and over which you are very casual in general.

In the same way getting an experience and knowing each part of the body has
to be done before pranayama is attempted. This process will train your mind
to be more alert to subtle changes, subtle differences etc. and this will
greatly ease your pranayama.

Similarly, you can just focus on your breathing also  As you practice and
progress you will notice that the mind automaticaly calms and settles down
like a rock dropped into the lake.  Thoughts will tend to sink literally.

All these preliminary things will help you in your practices of pranayama.

7. The other important point is pranayama once undertaken may not be the
end in itself. Done diligently it will bring in more insights into various
things, topics etc. Your sense of awareness will sharpen. The other
practices like Pratyahara ........Dhyana stage which is single pointed
focus.

8.Coming specifically to your case, in case you are interested although
pranayama cannot really be taught over email or without direct personal
interaction. Other additional factors to be borne in mind:

f.  external environmental factors like place of work, study, stay - is it
in natural surroundings or otherwise. Example, a person in Brazil wrote
saying that his house is close to a slum area with factories, industries
nearby whereby he was subject to constant pollution and noise.   Similarly
there are some whose job involves more than 12 hours of continuous work
with computers in airconditioned rooms.  They are habituated to frequent
cups of coffee etc.........pranayamma requirements, ratios are different
for each case....
g. sleep levels i.e. whether you get normal sleep, dreams ?
h. timing of dinner, sleep, morning waking up; habits, tendencies i.e.level
of activity i.e by nature whether you are active person or a sluggish
person. There are basically 3 tendencies Satva, Tamas and Rajas -...... So
the basic personality trait is essential to be understood.
i. if females, whether undergone deliveries, if yes whether normal or
ceaserian?
j. any other relevant information. Example a lady in Chennai after her
husband's sudden demise had to look after her mother-in-law who was very
old and invalid/bedridden. Suddenly coupled with her career, her personal
problem without any assistance her whole life style took a different turn.
She undertook pranayama directly under some 'class' without giving any
background on the assumption that pranayama,yoga will work wonders and help
her cope with the problem. Her assumption may not have been wrong, but the
process, way to go about was quite abrupt and thus resulted in bringing up
more emotional problems. Had her state, present set of problems etc.been
taken into account before start of practices, then a different approach
could have been structured to gradually progress.

To come to your specific queries.

Regarding Pranayama, DO NOT STUDY AND LEARN FROM BOOKS, VCD, VIDEO,
CASSETTE ETC.

Check out whether you have a family priest. Learn from him. Alternatively,
identify a good temple nearby and find out orthodox visitors or people who
are elderly and who seem/appear to have some spiritual inclination. They
too can teach. Learning is only through the time-tested ancient Vedic
method of Sharavanam and Manannam

PRANAYAMA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST OFFERING ........... Do not bother about
Yogic methods. Right now learn to do the whole thing
regularly...............Do not attempt ratios and holding breath etc.

In these matters you must adopt the concept of Bhavana  - simplistically
put, meaning pretention. Your entire mental faculties must be focussed on a
single point of saying the prayers correctly.  The external, physical
ritual is of little importance. Ensure that your thoughts are not on your
office, career, family problems, sickness of near/dear, or some worry on
children's exam marks, an upcoming meeting etc.  Just isolate yourself
mentally and concentrate on ...................

The attitude is critical......Do not attempt things with breathing without
learning from a qualified person and practicing for long. Pranayama is full
of benefits and also full of pitfalls.

You may also consult your elders if you so feel.

Om tat Sat
Tat tvam asi
                                                                                
                           
                      Ramanan                                                   
                           
                      Rajagopalan              To:      "Sadagopan" 
<Oppiliappan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>          
                      <sriethiraja@ure         cc:                              
                           
                      ach.com>                 Subject: Re: [Oppiliappan] 
AshtOttharams: Why the number    
                                               108in Archanais ?                
                           
                      09/07/04 08:45                                            
                           
                      AM                                                        
                           
                      Please respond                                            
                           
                      to Oppiliappan                                            
                           
                                                                                
                           
                                                                                
                           




Dear mama,

Pranams!

The insight on the significance of 108 from KathOpanishad talks
about 7 steps of yogic realization. Does this phenomenon anyway
relates to the elavation of soul from earth to 7 lokas above it?
If so, is prAnAyAmam the way to achieve that?

Thanks,

Respectfully,
Ramanan




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