Pranayama Part-1- What is Prana

Breath is the basis of life within us. It sustains us and is the expression of the source of life energy within. We breathe to indicate that there are valid gross life forces inside. When breathing stops one dimension of the expression is disconnected from or transcended to find another kind of expression depending on the Karmic imprints. Breathing is an indication that one is actively engaged in the building and opening of the channels between the Purusha with Prakruti.

Many times, the engagement becomes so dominant that the expression which forms the basis of this engagement is overridden. Redirecting basic attention back to this expression results in a substantial experience on the physical and energetic dimensions. And taking further this awareness on this expression opens up new dimensions of experience resulting in expanded consciousness transcending into the spiritual dimension.

Also Read: Silence- A Spiritual Practice

All of the material existence is made up of energy. Modern science tells us that all matter is empty space made to behave as expressed by the polarities of energy dynamics inside. All of these dynamics in the vacuum of space, making the appearance of matter, is according to the laws of nature. These laws of nature are constantly in the application whether we have realized it or not. With the evolution of our understanding more and more of the nature of matter and the laws are predictable. Science has helped us communicate this through various systems.

Similarly, when matter takes the form of living things such as plants, animals and human beings much can be predicted about the physicality of life. But, there is something more manifesting in living things. The energies are still there creating the appearance of matter. Yet, something more is operating to bring the matter together into an intelligent expression, an intelligent and evolving system. This something else the ancient yogis from India called Prana. Prana literally means FIRST UNIT or FIRST MANIFESTATION. Yoga regards the manifestation of all matter both Purusha and Prakruti are a manifestation of prana, and therefore intelligent. All that exists, all that is born of energy is an expression of prana. The rocks and earth are expressions of prana. The seas are an expression of prana. The air is an expression of prana. And all of animate life is an expression of prana. In the Yogic way of understanding it, the entire material existence is an expression of prana. And it is all imprinted with innate intelligence.

What is this Prana?

Whether we go to the spiritual teachings or to modern quantum physics, we will find a similar answer – STILLNESS is the source of prana. Stillness is the life force that energizes the universe we experience. The stillness that we speak of is of a special kind- A stillness that is filled with possibilities. It is an awareness that does not move. Yet, all that we experience springs from it and is it. If all the possibilities that are born of this Stillness are to be collectively expressed then the Vedic tradition names it ISHWARA. In yoga, we call it BRAHMAN or SAT-CHIT-ANANDA. This source of Stillness is where the sound of OM originates from. Sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras (the 27th sutra of the Samadhi pada) says

TASYA VACHAKA PRANAVAH

OM is the designator of this STILLNESS or ISHWARA.

Whatever name we give it to communicate the idea, it is underlying all the activities of the life forces, and everything we do in life. The cultivation of this STILLNESS moves from a gross layer to a subtle one as proposed by Sage Patanjali in his description of the eightfold path called ASHTAANGA. The stillness transcends from the external to the internal and finally arrives at the source of Prana, the state of the union. Many layers are united in the pathway to Personal Freedom- KAIVALYA.

How do we experience this Prana?

Yoga has a branch of practice – the fourth limb of ASHTAANGA called PRANAYAMA.
Once the practice of the previous three limbs of YAMA NIYAMA and AASANA set to a certain degree there is a heightened experience of this Prana wherein the senses are engaged in a limited way. With the introduction of certain awareness and restraints on the breath, the practice of PRANAYAMA begins. Here, there is further enhancement of the experience of Prana. The last four limbs of ASHTAANGA (PRATYAHARA, DHARANA, DHYANA, and SAMADHI) then move into the inner subtler dimensions to work the Prana with the consciousness. Now, let us examine PRANAYAMA.

What is PRANAYAMA?

…to be cont in part 2
Author: Yoga Sadhaka Narendhran- Teacher at Ek Omkar Yoga Center