Page 120 - Bodhayanti Parasparam Vol 1
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BODHAYANTI PARASPARAM
oriented towards the Realisation of self as such. It has its goal in the materialistic sphere. Pranahuti is essentially a spiritual tool for spiritual purposes.
In the traditional yoga processes the most important thing is control of prana. The chitta vrittis or thought process is sought to be controlled by Pranayama. As a matter of fact anything to be achieved is to be achieved only through pranayama. Without regulation of thought nothing is possible and that is sought to be achieved through pranayama. Though it is clearly understood in traditional yoga that prana is not equivalent to breath, no other way was it sought to be manipulated than exercises of breath control. Breath control has become synonymous with pranayama. Puraka, kumbhaka and rechaka i.e. inhalation, retention and exhalation done in a particular proportion of time (usually 4-8-4) is all that pranayama was about. Once kumbhaka is achieved with certain amount of perfection the sadhaka has to apply the force at the ‘muladhara’ to rouse kundalini so as to enable it move upwards to sahasrara which is the goal. The difficulties in this path are represented better in many books and most of the sadhakas fail to move further in the path for various reasons.
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