Page 134 - Wisdom Unfurled

number in the traditional literature, the padmasana or the lotus posture being the most well known and much appreciated among them. Lord Shiva and Lord Buddha are portrayed often in this posture as also Swami Vivekananda and his Master from among the modern saints. Saint Jnanadeva talks about the Mula bandha or Vajrasana and the ability it confers on the aspirant for doing meditation undisturbed for a long time in detail in his commentary Jnaneswari, on the Gita (Ch.VI). In addition to the above, there are references to the siddhasana (the steady pose) and the sukhasana (easy and comfortable pose).
The attainment of steadiness or asana jaya as it is called is achieved only through regular practice. We find that the Master as also His Master seated in a simple cross-legged posture which is put into practice easily by all aspirants of normal health. This indicates clearly that posture is only of secondary importance as compared to the observation of the various meditational and purifiactory practices under PAM.
Pranayama is control of breath and is believed to have been practiced extensively by the yogis and also the Buddhist seekers. It has been the experience of the yogis that control of breath leads to the calming and control of mind which could be considered as an extension of the principle of a sound mind in a sound body-mens sana corporea sano.
There is a great variety of pranayama techniques essentially consisting of rechaka-exhalation, puraka-inhalation and kumbaka-retention and the proportion in duration amongst the three activities with their attendant benefits. However the Pranahuti or the influx of the divine consciousness is able to produce an almost instantaneous calming effect and the aspirant is able to experience the silent mind almost effortlessly due to this influx in PAM so that the Master dispenses totally with pranayama itself considered by all yoga practicants and the hathayogis among them in particular, as an indispensable part of yoga practice itself. PAM is indeed a great boon for the householders wishing to embark upon the path of yoga that they need not learn and master the intricacies of pranayama for achieving success on the path as most of the pranayama techniques are quite difficult to master even for the adepts following the ascetic life and prove impossible for ordinary persons who do not have the robust health, can not follow a strict celibate life and spare the time for the exercises. It is also to be kept in mind that the attention to be paid on the breath for its control in pranayama externalizes one’s view and this comes in the way of achieving internalization which is required in the spiritual path.
Pranayama and Pranahuti
Pranayama is replaced with Pranahuti in PAM; the Master gives a new