The Greatest Healer is You

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#29

“would lead one to put prana, the life force in charge of the system, rather than ego”

There are many levels to healing. There is that kind of healing which is just concerned with the body. That is of the most superficial and least effective kind. There is that kind of healing which deals with the mind, that is less superficial and more effective than that which is only concerned with the mind. Then there is that kind of healing which deals with not the body or the mind, but the subtle energies which are maintaining the mind and body. That is of a far deeper level. But there is that which is even deeper than dealing with prana, but in coming into contact with the source from which prana arises.

#30

[QUOTE=AmirMourad;63908]“would lead one to put prana, the life force in charge of the system, rather than ego”

There are many levels to healing. There is that kind of healing which is just concerned with the body. That is of the most superficial and least effective kind. There is that kind of healing which deals with the mind, that is less superficial and more effective than that which is only concerned with the mind. Then there is that kind of healing which deals with not the body or the mind, but the subtle energies which are maintaining the mind and body. That is of a far deeper level. But there is that which is even deeper than dealing with prana, but in coming into contact with the source from which prana arises.[/QUOTE]

Dear friend:

But there is that which is even deeper than dealing with prana, but in coming into contact with the source from which prana arises.

Would like to understand.

regards
anand

#31

yes, me too…

#32

if there any sense, it must be deep

#33

Anand,

What you are referring to as prana refers to the whole spectrum of subtle energies in the subtle body, such as udana at the throat which assists in speaking, samana at the navel which assists in digestion, apana below the navel which assists in excreation, prana at the chest which assists in breathing and heart regulation, vyana which is pervading all over the body, and so on. So one method of healing is through manipulation of these various subtle energies of the subtle body. Ones awareness will have to be very sensitive for this, very subtle. Before even manipulating with anothers subtle body, you will first have to learn how to obtain a certain amount of control over your own. Beyond this - if your awareness penetrates even deeper beyond these pranas which maintain the mind and body, then you can open up the mind and body to be receptive not just to the pranas of the subtle body - but to one`s own divine nature, the source of existence itself.

To make it simpler to understand - your awareness can be sensitive to various different levels of your being, the physical, the mental body, the astral body, the etheric body, the causal body, or the so called spiritual body. In yogic terminology - this would be the koshas, annamaya kosha (the sheath of the physical), pranamaya kosha (the sheath of prana), manomaya kosha (the sheath of the mind), vijnanamaya kosha (the sheath of knowledge or intellect), anandamaya kosha (the sheath of bliss, because when you come into contact with it, one experiences bliss), and a sheath beyond this which has no name - which is one`s own true nature. The kind of healing which is just concerned with prana just involves the pranamaya kosha, the sheath of prana. There are healings which happen by coming into contact with subtler levels than this.

#34

[QUOTE=AmirMourad;63929]Anand,

What you are referring to as prana refers to the whole spectrum of subtle energies in the subtle body, such as udana at the throat which assists in speaking, samana at the navel which assists in digestion, apana below the navel which assists in excreation, prana at the chest which assists in breathing and heart regulation, vyana which is pervading all over the body, and so on. So one method of healing is through manipulation of these various subtle energies of the subtle body. Ones awareness will have to be very sensitive for this, very subtle. Before even manipulating with anothers subtle body, you will first have to learn how to obtain a certain amount of control over your own. Beyond this - if your awareness penetrates even deeper beyond these pranas which maintain the mind and body, then you can open up the mind and body to be receptive not just to the pranas of the subtle body - but to one`s own divine nature, the source of existence itself.

To make it simpler to understand - your awareness can be sensitive to various different levels of your being, the physical, the mental body, the astral body, the etheric body, the causal body, or the so called spiritual body. In yogic terminology - this would be the koshas, annamaya kosha (the sheath of the physical), pranamaya kosha (the sheath of prana), manomaya kosha (the sheath of the mind), vijnanamaya kosha (the sheath of knowledge or intellect), anandamaya kosha (the sheath of bliss, because when you come into contact with it, one experiences bliss), and a sheath beyond this which has no name - which is one`s own true nature. The kind of healing which is just concerned with prana just involves the pranamaya kosha, the sheath of prana. There are healings which happen by coming into contact with subtler levels than this.[/QUOTE]

Dear Friend:

Yes you are right, I’m referring to the whole spectrum of [I]Pranas[/I]. In fact I am referring to [I][B]“Chaitanya”[/B][/I] that name for [B]Universal Prana[/B] which is enlivens the soul and subsequently assumes the five forms that you have mentioned.

However, one must know that even out of the five [I]Pranas[/I] you mention, how is a beginner to get mind awareness or control as you say, over them except maybe [I]Prana[/I] and [I]Apana.[/I]

Further, just as it it is illogical to try and lift a bucket while standing in that very bucket, it would be futile to attempt “control” of that very divine force that created you.

Hence it is best to surrender to the all pervading [I][B]Chaitanya-Prana[/B][/I]. This is most easily possible by means of the simple practice given in[I][B] mahayoga[/B][/I].

Let [I][B]Chaitanya-Prana[/B][/I] do the inner work. The Chaitanya_Prana in you will generate healing [I][B]yoga-kriyas.[/B][/I]

regards
anand

#35

Ananda,

“it would be futile to attempt “control” of that very divine force that created you”

That is true. That is why I have not said anything about control of the divine, but of coming to a deep receptivity which is capable of opening the mind and body to a dimension which is beyond the mind and body. To me, that is the deepest level of healing, but that is when healing becomes just a side-effect of enlightenment. So I was simply making a distinction between healing which happens as a result of intentionally trying to heal, and healing which happens just as a side-effect of enlightenment. Because there are things which can only be “healed” through enlightenment - no amount of control of prana is going to be of much assistance. You may be able to get rid of a headache, or a cold, or you may even be paralyzed in some part of the body and learn how to walk again, or you may have a certain psychological sickness - depression, neurosis, paranoia, and influencing the pranas of one’s system may be useful for such things. But as far as the basic root causes of man’s sufferings are concerned, one will have to enter into the depths of the unconscious and uproot the weeds completely through a flame of insight. Without insight, without wisdom - all of this pranic manipulation by itself is fruitless as far as one’s psychological sufferings are concerned, nor is it going to dissolve the obstacles which are preventing oneself from coming to more awareness. Control at the most can only help prepare ones mind to be struck by insight like lightning, but it cannot do more than that - in itself it cannot produce insight. Insight always happens when you are least expecting it, it is not something you can force into your fist.

“Hence it is best to surrender to the all pervading Chaitanya-Prana. This is most easily possible by means of the simple practice given in mahayoga.”

No, it is not most easily done through Mahayoga. You are just speaking on behalf of your entanglement in your own tradition. Of course, others who are entangled in their own tradition have also claimed that theirs is the easiest, the fastest, the most efficient. Some followers of kriya yoga have referred to it as the “lightning path” to enlightenment, because they claim it is the fastest method to enlightenment. But the reality is, that any method is going to be more or less effective depending on the programming of the individual. For one person - one method may work very well for him. For another person - the same method is a hindrance. It is just like any principle of medicine, you cannot give the same prescription for all of the different ailments. Because what might be medicine in one context, may become poison in another. So no, surrender is not “most easily possible by means of the simple practice given in mahayoga”. Perhaps, for some, certain methods may be the most effective according to their unique situation.

#36

[QUOTE=AmirMourad;63936]Ananda,

“it would be futile to attempt “control” of that very divine force that created you”

That is true. That is why I have not said anything about control of the divine, but of coming to a deep receptivity which is capable of opening the mind and body to a dimension which is beyond the mind and body. To me, that is the deepest level of healing, but that is when healing becomes just a side-effect of enlightenment. So I was simply making a distinction between healing which happens as a result of intentionally trying to heal, and healing which happens just as a side-effect of enlightenment. Because there are things which can only be “healed” through enlightenment - no amount of control of prana is going to be of much assistance. You may be able to get rid of a headache, or a cold, or you may even be paralyzed in some part of the body and learn how to walk again, or you may have a certain psychological sickness - depression, neurosis, paranoia, and influencing the pranas of one’s system may be useful for such things. But as far as the basic root causes of man’s sufferings are concerned, one will have to enter into the depths of the unconscious and uproot the weeds completely through a flame of insight. Without insight, without wisdom - all of this pranic manipulation by itself is fruitless as far as one’s psychological sufferings are concerned, nor is it going to dissolve the obstacles which are preventing oneself from coming to more awareness. Control at the most can only help prepare ones mind to be struck by insight like lightning, but it cannot do more than that - in itself it cannot produce insight. Insight always happens when you are least expecting it, it is not something you can force into your fist.

“Hence it is best to surrender to the all pervading Chaitanya-Prana. This is most easily possible by means of the simple practice given in mahayoga.”

No, it is not most easily done through Mahayoga. You are just speaking on behalf of your entanglement in your own tradition. Of course, others who are entangled in their own tradition have also claimed that theirs is the easiest, the fastest, the most efficient. Some followers of kriya yoga have referred to it as the “lightning path” to enlightenment, because they claim it is the fastest method to enlightenment. But the reality is, that any method is going to be more or less effective depending on the programming of the individual. For one person - one method may work very well for him. For another person - the same method is a hindrance. It is just like any principle of medicine, you cannot give the same prescription for all of the different ailments. Because what might be medicine in one context, may become poison in another. So no, surrender is not “most easily possible by means of the simple practice given in mahayoga”. Perhaps, for some, certain methods may be the most effective according to their unique situation.[/QUOTE]

Thanks and regards
anand

#37

Hi,

In fact the only healer in this world is you.

Ashwin

#38

Amir mentioned the five major prana?s: udana, samana, apana, `prana?, vyana. All ten (major, minor) prana?s are usually referred to as the prana?s since the ?prana? (chest/breath) is how we access and become aware of all ten. If the mind stands between us and reality we must manage the mind, one of the skillful ways to gain control of the mind is to become in tune with the subtler force called prana and feel its affects throughout our systems as vice versa. The human vessel, conduit or body is sustained by the same energy that sustains the universe and just as the vastness of the oceans is completely represented by one drop of water such is the same for cosmic prana. These concepts are nothing to believe or accept rather experience beyond question during Samadhi.

#39

you are so right, artof living…

#40

[QUOTE=ray_killeen;63947]Amir mentioned the five major prana’s: udana, samana, apana, `prana’, vyana. All ten (major, minor) prana’s are usually referred to as the prana’s since the ‘prana’ (chest/breath) is how we access and become aware of all ten. If the mind stands between us and reality we must manage the mind, one of the skillful ways to gain control of the mind is to become in tune with the subtler force called prana and feel its affects throughout our systems as vice versa. The human vessel, conduit or body is sustained by the same energy that sustains the universe and just as the vastness of the oceans is completely represented by one drop of water such is the same for cosmic prana. These concepts are nothing to believe or accept rather experience beyond question during Samadhi.[/QUOTE]

Dear Friend:

Yes, all yoga aspirants are told about the five main and the five sub-pranas (Naga, Kurma, Krikara, Devadatta and Dhananjaya). Even apart from these, there are numerous pranas since there are numerous sub-functions to be carried out within us.

I think you will agree that it would futile to attempt control over these [I]pranas[/I] or even develop an awareness of these [I]pranas[/I]. Moreover. what purpose would it serve? It would be like an errand boy keeping a watch over the chairperson of the company he works for!!

Coming to the superiority of Mahayoga, I am not repeating it out of any attachment as some here may misunderstand. There are valid reasons which everyone can test out.

[ol]
[li]In [I]Mahayoga[/I], unlike other yogas, the doership is replaced by seership. This way, there is neither a chance of doing the wrong yoga or doing yoga wrongly. The [I]yoga-kriyas[/I] that divine chaitanya-prana precipitates are the ones that are appropriate for the particular aspirant.[/li][li][I]Mahayoga[/I] is devoid of body and mind, the two biggest hurdles for inner purification.[/li][li][I]Mahayoga[/I] gives the yoga aspirant divine inner joy i.e. that joy which is totally independent of mind.[/li][li]Lastly and importantly, [I]Mahayoga[/I] is not named after any person or institution, since it not created by any person as such. So there is no question of any cult.[/li][/ol]

Being trained in science and engineering, I too started my yoga journey by learning different things in Hatha, Mantra etc., no doubt attaining some amount of progress which I now say is was germination of yoga disposition. However now, after adopting Mahayoga, I can say that when Guru’ Grace descends, [I]Prana Shakti[/I] ascends.

regards
anand

#41

this text is so hard to understand. can you explain in plain words

#42

[QUOTE=Anand Kulkarni;63962]Yes, all yoga aspirants are told about the five main and the five sub-pranas…[/QUOTE]

Daily routines include various pranayama with no desire for absolute control rather the positive influences the practices have along the way. Pleased to hear your chosen path progresses a positive direction, my predisposition has been mostly towards Raja yoga however drastic times call for drastic measures and although it requires much research (often misunderstood), meticulous incorporation of Tantric practices have also been integrated. I’ve crossed paths with numerous persons who have alone persisted and navigated successfully the yogic sciences (Raja, Hatha, Tantric, etc.) with little to no guidance other then literature, internet, audio and video. I read your post with interest since much incite has arisen from written/verbal discussions with other yogis/yoginis as well those of Hindu, Buddhist and Zen influences, although dogma has proved a stumbling block along the way. Obviously you refer to Amir’s responses, even though I’ve never met him beyond this Forum let it be known his words resonate in tune with my inner nature.

#43

[QUOTE=john32;63980]this text is so hard to understand. can you explain in plain words[/QUOTE]

Dear Friend:

I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience I caused to you.

I was trying to point out an amazing thing about Mahayoga. I all other forms of yoga such as [I]Hatha Yoga[/I] for example, the teacher has to ascertain which postures would help you. Here itself, there can be an error of judgment. Thereafter they have to be learnt. Then, there can be mistakes in performing them.

That amazing thing is that in [I]Mahayoga[/I], one does not have to do anything on his own. This is because, in its original form, [I]Prana is a divine and living force.[/I] Without [I]Prana[/I], our body is useless.

So, in Mahayoga, Prana becomes the doer, i.e. takes the responsibility of performing or doing yoga actions. During this period, the mind becomes a mere witness or a seer.

In one of my earlier posts, I have given the steps to be practised regularly before one can actually experience the truth in what I am saying. Also the experience will be quicker for the person who has inner readiness of surrendering to Divine Prana.

I am giving the steps again so that you may try out for some days. I suggest at least 42 days.

[ol]
[li]Sit in any comfortable position and calmly close the eyes.
[/li][li]Relax the body to the maximum, as if body is not there.
[/li][li][B]Allow[/B] the [B]automatic[/B] breathing to take place.
[/li][li]Feel the [B]Mother Air going in and out of the body.[/B] Offer the breathing process [B]full liberty[/B]. Please [B]don?t do[/B] anything yourself. This is the essence of this [I]Mahayoga[/I] practice.
[/li][li]Continue this practice [B]daily[/B], as per available time.
[/li][/ol]

Thousands of people have experienced inner peace through this practice. This is a result of relaxation of body and merging all thoughts in [B]only and only[/B] the Divine Air Mother.

regards
anand

#44

[QUOTE=ray_killeen;63981]Daily routines include various pranayama with no desire for absolute control rather the positive influences the practices have along the way. Pleased to hear your chosen path progresses a positive direction, my predisposition has been mostly towards Raja yoga however drastic times call for drastic measures and although it requires much research (often misunderstood), meticulous incorporation of Tantric practices have also been integrated. I’ve crossed paths with numerous persons who have alone persisted and navigated successfully the yogic sciences (Raja, Hatha, Tantric, etc.) with little to no guidance other then literature, internet, audio and video. I read your post with interest since much incite has arisen from written/verbal discussions with other yogis/yoginis as well those of Hindu, Buddhist and Zen influences, although dogma has proved a stumbling block along the way. Obviously you refer to Amir’s responses, even though I’ve never met him beyond this Forum let it be known his words resonate in tune with my inner nature.[/QUOTE]

Dear friend:

How I wish it was “insight” rather than “incite”!!

According to The Bhagavad Gita, those who have navigated themselves surely are the blessed yogis who have stumbled and fallen in the path of yoga in their past lives. Such ones continue on their path in the present birth. Some may not even require the external aids you mention.

I wish to draw your attention to the following verse from [I][B]Yoga-Shikhopanishada:[/B][/I]

[I][B]mantro layo hatho raja yogontarabhoomikah kramaat |
eka evachaturdhaayam mahayogo~bhidheeyate ||[/B][/I]

meaning that, ordinarily, one thinks that hatha-yoga, mantra-yoga, laya-yoga and raja-yoga are separate yogas. But that is not so. Upon Mother [I]Kundalini[/I] awakening, all these four yogas precipitate automatically. This is known as [I][B]Mahayoga.[/B][/I]

regards
anand

#45

[QUOTE=Anand Kulkarni;63983] Thereafter they have to be learnt. Then, there can be mistakes in performing them.[/QUOTE]

learn by mistakes. relation between body-mind-spirit rectifies The asana.

And The ether state, where the show just begins…

#46

… in thoughtless

#47

[QUOTE=bjoy;63986]learn by mistakes. relation between body-mind-spirit rectifies The asana.

And The ether state, where the show just begins…[/QUOTE]

Yes, true. With mind alone, one may not even realise the mistakes.

The relation between body-mind-spirit is the serpent power herself.

regards
anand

#48

[QUOTE=Anand Kulkarni;63985]
How I wish it was “insight” rather than “incite”!![/QUOTE]

Yes good clarification “insight” intended, mistakenly “incite” typed.

[QUOTE=Anand Kulkarni;63985]
meaning that, ordinarily, one thinks that hatha-yoga, mantra-yoga, laya-yoga and raja-yoga are separate yogas. But that is not so. Upon Mother [I]Kundalini[/I] awakening, all these four yogas precipitate automatically. This is known as [I][B]Mahayoga.[/B][/I][/QUOTE]

Yes a predisposition to a certain distinction such as Raja, Jnana, Karma, Bhakti etc. but must not forsake others for one, obviously all will need to be experienced.