Tuesday, March 25, 2008

What is Lifeforce - Energy, Prana?


PRANA THE ENERGY THAT BINDS THE MATTER

EVERYDAY we breathe whether we want to or not but the breathing continues. The prana what we are referring to now is the life force present in our body that makes us breathe. Breath is not prana or the process of breathing is not prana. Prana is the force behind all these activities such as breathing, seeing, listening, walking, sleeping etc. The modern science refers to prana as energy. This energy is present through out the universe in the different forms i.e. From gross to the subtlest. The very same energy is responsible for all the matter present in this universe in different forms whether dead or alive. The different molecules combine with each other with the help of this energy (prana) to form different matter e.g. Earth, water, fire, air & ether. Everything present in all these forms of matter is the result of the energy (prana) present in it at different levels (gross to subtle).
The power of the energy present at the molecular and the atomic level is tremendous. This level of energy is very subtle but not the subtlest. We have experienced the power of the atomic bomb i.e. Nothing but the force of the energy released at a very high subtle level. We can imagine if we keep discovering the most subtlest levels how much energy will we discover, lets hope that the discoveries will be used for human progress & maintaining nature at its best, that’s how we all will be able to survive longer on this planet as we all know and understand that nothing is going to last forever nothing is permanent.
Our mind is also a form of energy present at a very subtler level than the body. The mind itself is a bundle of energy within our reach ready to be tapped and explored. We should be grateful to the almighty for giving us a chance to be so close to so much power & so much energy. We have been given all the means to culture this energy & chanelize this energy for our progress to the next level.
Those who have been able to realize this energy and go beyond it have experienced tremendous power, strength & superhuman capabilities. We know them as yogis, spiritual leaders and many prefer to stay unknown. People who work selflessly for the betterment of humanity. People who spread love & worship we all know them and we all love them & we all worship them. These are the people whose presence in this world even for a minute has made a difference for millions and is still making. We have known them as Buddha, Christ, Mohammed, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Adi Shankarcharya, Ram Krishna Paramhansa, Swami Vivekananda and many more the list goes on. The mere presence of all these great people on the planet for much less time than most of us has made a big impact on millions of people all around the world and is still doing.
All these great people had understood and experienced the power of mind. Our first step is to approach the mind with discipline & respect. To follow a certain discipline and do exercises you have to find a right teacher (guru). Doing the exercises on your own can harm a person instead of helping.
The eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga (path of psychic control) are the best way to discipline the mind. Patanjali has beautifully given all the do and dont’s in yoga sutras of patanjali. The first line itself welcomes you to the discipline of yoga and its lifestyle. He says only if you are ready to follow the discipline only then will you get the benefits. Only if you are prepared mentally you may start with the first step i.e Yama – yama refers to the great universal commandments. It is the control of the body, speech and mind, followed with Niyama – niyama refers to personal disciplines or the obedience of proper conduct. The next step is Asana (physical exercises) done with an attitude of enjoyment & stability with control over breath, awareness & expansion of the mind to all the changes – physical & mental & the deeper organs. Then comes Pranayama (breath control of bio energy) pranayama if done correctly will help a person cure all diseases and help him discover the power of the mind through Pratyahara, Dharana & Dhyana. All these 7 steps together takes person to the last step i.e. Samadhi.
Samadhi is the state in which a person experiences freewill, the will to become free from the cycle of life & death, the will to be where he wants for how long, he has the strength of love he becomes the source of love and spreads it amongst the people in various ways and in various forms. Forms unknown to us unknown to the human kind unknown to the naked eye. We all experience it in the form miracles and magic. In the state of samadhi the matter stops to exist in different forms. Matter becomes one the vision of the yogi in the state of samadhi sees no difference between earth & water or between fire and ice or dog & fish. Everything is broken down to the level of energy at a very subtle level. This state of energy is the ultimate form of energy present in the universe. This is the base of all the energy present in all the matter present here on earth or anywhere in the universe. The hindu prayer for the prana(energy) is the best description of its omnipresence & power.


PRANAYAM MANTRA

Pranasyedam vashe sarvam
Tridev yat pratishthitam
Mateva putrana rakshashvam
Shrischa prdnyascha videhi na itii

Meaning:
---Whatever exists in three worlds,
Is all under the control of prana
(O prana) protect as a mother protects her sons
give us affluence and intelligence---


Story:-
Once their was a argument between all the body parts about who is the greatest. The eyes, the ears, nose, stomach etc. All of them went to brahma dev to ask who is the greatest amongst them. Brahma dev said why don’t you find out for yourself, i will suggest you a way. Every part should leave the body for a year and then return back. Everyone agreed. Ear left for a year and came back. Nose left for a year came back, stomach left and came back and it continued with few difficulties but the body survived. Finally the prana decided to leave the body the moment prana started to move out. All the body parts were in trouble as they could not function without prana. They all requested o great prana please don’t leave the body as you are the greatest amongst us.

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