SCIENCE OF BREATH/PART 15
CHAPTER XV.
MORE PHENOMENA OF YOGI
PSYCHIC BREATHING.
(1) THOUGHT PROJECTION.
Thoughts
may be projected by following the last mentioned method (Distant Healing) and
others will feel the effect of thought so sent forth, it being remembered
always that no evil thought can ever injure another person whose thoughts are
good. Good thoughts are always positive to bad ones, and bad ones always
negative to good ones. One can, however, excite the interest and attention of
another by sending him thought waves in this way, charging the prana with the
message he wishes to convey. If you desire another's love and sympathy, and
possess love and sympathy for him, you can send him thoughts of this kind with
effect, providing your motives are pure. Never, however, attempt to influence
another to his hurt, or from impure or selfish motives, as such thoughts only
recoil upon the sender with redoubled force, and injure him, while the innocent
party is not affected. Psychic force when legitimately used is all right, but
beware of "black magic" or improper and unholy uses of it, as such
attempts are like playing with a dynamo, and the person attempting such things
will be surely punished by the result of the act itself. However, no person of
impure motives ever acquires a great degree of psychic power, and a pure heart
and mind is an invulnerable shield against improper psychic power. Keep
yourself pure and nothing can hurt you.
(2) FORMING AN AURA.
If
you are ever in the company of persons of a low order of mind, and you feel the
depressing influence of their thought, breathe rhythmically a few times, thus generating
an additional supply of prana, and then by means of the mental image method
surround yourself with an egg-shaped thought aura, which will protect you from
the gross thought and disturbing influences of others.
(3) RECHARGING YOURSELF.
If
you feel that your vital energy is at a low ebb, and that you need to store up
a new supply quickly, the best plan is to place the feet close together (side
by side, of course) and to lock the fingers of both hands in any way that seems
the most comfortable. This closes the circuit, as it were, and prevents any
escape of prana through the extremities. Then breathe rhythmically a few times,
and you will feel the effect of the recharging.
(4) RECHARGING OTHERS.
If
some friend is deficient in vitality you may aid him by sitting in front of
him, your toes touching his, and his hands in yours. Then both breathe
rhythmically, you forming the mental image of sending prana into his system,
and he holding the mental image of receiving the prana. Persons of weak
vitality or passive will should be careful with whom they try this experiment,
as the prana of a person of evil desires will be colored with the thoughts of
that person, and may give him a temporary influence over the weaker person. The
latter, however, may easily remove such influence by closing the circuit (as
before mentioned) and breathing a few rhythmic breaths, closing with the
Cleansing Breath.
(5) CHARGING WATER.
Water
may be charged with prana, by breathing rhythmically, and holding the glass of
water by the bottom, in the left hand, and then gathering the fingers of the
right hand together and shaking them gently over the water, as if you were
shaking drops of water off of your finger tips into the glass. The mental image
of the prana being passed into the water must also be held. Water thus charged
is found stimulating to weak or sick persons, particularly if a healing thought
accompanies the mental image of the transfer of the prana. The caution given in
the last exercise applies also to this one, although the danger exists only in
a greatly lessened degree.
(6) ACQUIRING MENTAL
QUALITIES.
Not
only can the body be controlled by the mind under direction of the will, but
the mind itself can be trained and cultivated by the exercise of the
controlling will. This, which the Western world knows as “Mental Science,”
etc., has proved to the West portions of that truth which the Yogi has known
for ages. The mere calm demand of the Will will accomplish wonders in this
direction, but if the mental exercise is accompanied by rhythmic breathing, the
effect is greatly increased. Desirable qualities may be acquired by holding the
proper mental image of what is desired during rhythmic breathing. Poise and
Self Control, desirable qualities; increased power, etc., may be acquired in
this way. Undesirable qualities may be eliminated by cultivating the opposite
qualities. Any or all the “Mental Science” exercises, “treatments” and “affirmations”
may be used with the Yogi Rhythmic Breath. The following is a good general
exercise for the acquirement and development of desirable mental qualities:
Lie
in a passive attitude, or sit erect. Picture to yourself the qualities you
desire to cultivate, seeing yourself as possessed of the qualities, and
demanding that your mind develop the quality. Breathe rhythmically, holding the
mental picture firmly. Carry the mental picture with you as much as possible,
and endeavor to live up to the ideal you have set up in your mind. You will
find yourself gradually growing up to your ideal. The rhythm of the breathing
assists the mind in forming new combinations, and the student who has followed
the Western system will find the Yogi Rhythmic wonderfull in his “Mental
Science” works.
(7) ACQUIRING PHYSICAL
QUALITIES.
Physical
qualities may be acquired by the same methods as above mentioned in connection
with mental qualities. We do not mean, of course, that short men can be made
tall, or that amputated limbs may be replaced, or similar miracles. But the
expression of the countenance may be changed; courage and general physical
characteristics improved by the control of the Will, accompanied by rhythmic
breathing. As a man thinks so does he look, act, walk, sit, etc. Improved
thinking will mean improved looks and actions. To develop any part of the body,
direct the attention to it, while breathing rhythmically, holding the mental
picture that you are sending an increased amount of prana, or nerve force, to
the part, and thus increasing its vitality and developing it. This plan applies
equally well to any part of the body which you wish to develop. Many Western
athletes use a modification of this plan in their exercises. The student who
has followed our instructions so far will readily understand haw to apply the
Yogi principles in the above work. The general rule of exercise is the same as
in the preceding exercise (acquiring Mental Qualities). We have touched upon
the subject of the cure of physical ailments in preceding pages.
(8) CONTROLLING THE
EMOTIONS.
The
undesirable emotions, such as Fear, Worry, Anxiety, Hate, Anger, Jealousy,
Envy, Melancholy, Excitement, Grief, etc., are amenable to the control of the
Will, and the Will is enabled to operate more easily in such cases if rhythmic
breathing is practiced while the student is "willing." The following
exercise has been found most effective by the Yogi students, although the
advanced Yogi has but little need of it, as he has long since gotten rid of
these undesirable mental qualities by growing spiritually beyond them. The Yogi
student, however, finds the exercise a great help to him while he is growing.
Breathe
rhythmically, concentrating the attention upon the Solar Plexus, and sending to
it the mental command "Get Out." Send the mental command firmly, just
as you begin to exhale, and form the mental picture of the undesirable emotions
being carried away with the exhaled breath. Repeat seven times, and finish with
the Cleansing Breath, and then see how good you feel. The mental command must
be given "in earnest," as trifling will not do the work.
(9) TRANSMUTATION OF THE
REPRODUCTIVE ENERGY.
The
Yogis possess great knowledge regarding the use and abuse of the reproductive
principle in both sexes. Some hints of this esoteric knowledge have filtered
out and have been used by Western writers on the subject, and much good has
been accomplished in this way. In this little book we cannot do more than touch
upon the subject, and omitting all except a bare mention of theory, we will
give a practical breathing exercise whereby the student will be enabled to
transmute the reproductive energy into vitality for the entire system, instead
of dissipating and wasting it in lustful indulgences in or out of the marriage
relations. The reproductive energy is creative energy, and may be taken up by
the system and transmuted into strength and vitality, thus serving the purpose
of regeneration instead of generation. If the young men of the Western world
understood these underlying principles they would be saved much misery and unhappiness
in after years, and would be stronger mentally, morally and physically.
This
transmutation of the reproductive energy gives great vitality to those
practicing it. They will be filled with great vital force, which will radiate
from them and will manifest in what has been called "personal
magnetism." The energy thus transmuted may be turned into new channels and
used to great advantage. Nature has condensed one of its most powerful
manifestations of prana into reproductive energy, as its purpose is to create.
The greatest amount of vital force is concentrated in the smallest area. The
reproductive organism is the most powerful storage battery in animal life, and
its force can be drawn upward and used, as well as expended in the ordinary
functions of reproduction, or wasted in riotous lust. The majority of our
students know something of the theories of regeneration; and we can do little
more than to state the above facts, without attempting to prove them.
The
Yogi exercise for transmuting reproductive energy is simple. It is coupled with
rhythmic breathing, and can be easily performed. It may be practiced at any
time, but is specially recommended when one feels the instinct most strongly,
at which time the reproductive energy is manifesting and may be most easily
transmuted for regenerative purposes. The exercise is as follows: Keep the mind
fixed on the idea of Energy, and away from ordinary sexual thoughts or
imaginings. If these thoughts come into the mind do not be discouraged, but
regard them as manifestations of a force which you intend using for the
purposes of strengthening the body and mind. Lie passively or sit erect, and
fix your mind on the idea of drawing the reproductive energy upward to the
Solar Plexus, where it will be transmuted and stored away as a reserve force of
vital energy. Then breathe rhythmically, forming the mental image of drawing up
the reproductive energy with each inhalation. With each inhalation make a
command of the Will that the energy be drawn upward from the reproductive organization
to the Solar Plexus. If the rhythm is fairly established and the mental image
is clear, you will be conscious of the upward passage of the energy, and will
feel its stimulating effect. If you desire an increase in mental force, you may
draw it up to the brain instead of to the Solar Plexus, by giving the mental
command and holding the mental image of the transmission to the brain. The man
or woman doing metal creative work, or bodily creative work, will be able to
use this creative energy in their work by following the above exercise, drawing
up the energy with the inhalation and sending it forth with the exhalation. In
this last form of exercise, only such portions as are needed in the work will
pass into the work being done, the balance remaining stored up in the Solar
Plexus. You will understand, of course, that it is not the reproductive fluids
which are drawn up and used, but the etheripranic energy which animates the
latter, the soul of the reproductive organism, as it were. It is usual to allow
the head to bend forward easily and naturally during the transmuting exercise.
(10) BRAIN STIMULATING.
The
Yogis have found the following exercise most useful in stimulating the action
of the brain for the purpose of producing clear thinking and reasoning. It has
a wonderful effect in clearing the brain and nervous system, and those engaged
in mental work will find it most useful to them, both in the direction of
enabling them to do better work and also as a means of refreshing the mind and
clearing it after arduous mental labor.
Sit
in an erect posture, keeping the spinal column straight, and the eyes well to
the front, letting the hands rest on the upper part of the legs. Breathe
rhythmically, but instead of breathing through both nostrils as in the ordinary
exercises, press the left nostril close with the thumb, and inhale through the
right nostril. Then remove the thumb, and close the right nostril with the
finger, and then exhale through the left nostril. Then, without changing the
fingers, inhale through the left nostril, and changing fingers, exhale through
the right. Then inhale through right and exhale through left, and so on,
alternating nostrils as above mentioned, closing the unused nostril with the
thumb or forefinger. This is one of the oldest forms of Yogi breathing, and is
quite important and valuable, and is well worthy of acquirement. But it is
quite amusing to the Yogis to know that to the Western world this method is
often held out as being the "whole secret" of Yogi Breathing. To the
minds of many Western readers, "Yogi Breathing" suggests nothing more
than a picture of a Hindu, sitting erect, and alternating nostrils in the act
of breathing. "Only this and nothing more." We trust that this little
work will open the eyes of the Western world to the great possibilities of Yogi
Breathing, and the numerous methods whereby it may be employed.
(11) THE GRAND YOGI
PSYCHIC BREATH.
The
Yogis have a favorite form of psychic breathing which they practice
occasionally, to which has been given a Sanscrit term of which the above is a
general equivalent. We have given it last, as it requires practice on the part
of the student in the line of rhythmic breathing and mental imagery, which he
has now acquired by means of the preceding exercises. The general principles of
the Grand Breath may be summed up in the old Hindu saying: "Blessed is the
Yogi who can breathe through his bones." This exercise will fill the
entire system with prana, and the student will emerge from it with every bone,
muscle, nerve, cell, tissue, organ and part energized and attuned by the prana
and the rhythm of the breath. It is a general housecleaning of the system, and
he who practices it carefully will feel as if he had been given a new body,
freshly created, from the crown of his head to the tips of his toes. We will
let the exercise speak for itself.
(1)
Lie in a relaxed position, at perfect ease.
(2)
Breathe rhythmically until the rhythm is perfectly established.
(3)
Then, inhaling and exhaling, form the mental image of the breath being drawn up
through the bones of the legs, and then forced out through them; then through
the bones of the arms; then through the top of the skull; then through the
stomach; then through the reproductive region; then as if it were traveling
upward and downward along the spinal column; and then as if the breath were
being inhaled and exhaled through every pore of the skin, the whole body being
filled with prana and life.
(4)
Then (breathing rhythmically) send the current of prana to the Seven Vital Centers,
in turn, as follows, using the mental picture as in previous exercises:
(a)
To the forehead.
(b)
To the back of the head.
(c)
To the base of the brain.
(d)
To the Solar Plexus.
(e)
To the Sacral Region (lower part of the spine).
(f)
To the region of the navel.
(g)
To the reproductive region.
Finish
by sweeping the current of prana, to and fro from head to feet several times.
(5)
Finish with Cleansing Breath.
NEXT CHAPTER
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