Baba
Science of nostrils
Namaskar,
In day to day life, many, especially non-sadhakas, do not have much awareness about the practical process of breathing. In particular, they are not aware how the nostrils function and how the nostrils can be utilized to enhance their overall well-being.
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The science of tantra
In the teachings of tantra, however, one special science is entirely dedicated to the proper and correct use of the nostrils. And this teaching is highly advantageous and helpful as it details how we can best engage in daily life. Whether our activities and duties are physical, psychic, or spiritual - each is highly linked with breathing, and in particular with the nostrils. So within the practice of breathing and breath control, there is a specific science which explains, outlines, and describes which nostril should be used for physical work, mental activities, or spiritual practices. In Ananda Marga, most are well aware of this ancient science first propounded by Lord Shiva.
Svarashástra: first propounded by Lord Shiva
When Lord Shiva first introduced the science of breath control He named it svarashástra. And this science clarifies (a) which nostril is to be used when, (b) how to change the nostrils, and (c) all the related points about breath control and nostrils.
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Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Moreover, the process of breathing, depending upon whether the breath is flowing through the right nostril or the left nostril or both nostrils, influences people in various ways. It was Shiva who determined what kind of activity should be performed, depending on which nostril the breath was flowing through, and depending on whether the id́á or piungalá or suśumná channel was active. He set down specific rules and regulations as to when one should undertake physical, psychic or spiritual activities. He further instructed when and in what circumstances one should do ásanas, práńáyáma, dhárańá, dhyána, etc. This science, which Shiva invented and developed, was known as svara shástra or svarodaya [science of breath control]. Prior to Him, the world was not aware of this science. Shiva also gave clear instructions how this science could be applied by people in the practical field of action. In fact, this svara shástra did help the people later to solve many problems in their mundane as well as spiritual lives." (1)
Shiva was the first to propound the theory of breathing and use of nostrils. And Sadguru Baba has revealed all the practical aspects of this in Ananda Marga books and discourses - including a special chapter in the Acarya diary.
Using the proper nostril has a big effect on the entire body. Whether doing arduous physical labour, taking food, doing asanas, taking school examinations and studying, or while doing sadhana, proper breathing through the nostrils has a keen role to play. Sometimes a particular nostril should be dominant or used exclusively and other times it is best to have both working simultaneously. Naturally, being aware about this science is most helpful and beneficial.
Why right nostril: during eating and after
This svarashástra, or science of breath control, plays a tremendous role in each and every life activity. As a case in point we can look at the process of eating. The digestion system plays a very significant role in maintaining human health. Because if a person's physical health is good then one is able to move ahead in the psychic and spiritual realms. If the food is digested properly then the mind can think clearly and it is also highly beneficial for sadhana. So digestion is very important. And this entire process of digestion is intrinsically linked with breathing through the proper nostril at the right time.
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For example, if one is drinking water or taking any type of fruit juice etc, then the left nostril must be working. But if anyone is eating solid food, then prior to, during, and after the meal the right nostril must be dominant. Otherwise food will never be digested properly. Here are Baba's guidelines about this:
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Take solid food when the right nostril (Piungala Na'd'ii) is predominant." (2)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "When your left nostril (Ida' Na'd'ii) is active you should take liquid food." (3)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "It is good to take food when the main flow of breath is through the right nostril. Even after food, it is good if the flow of breath mainly through the right nostril continues for some time. Because that is the time when the digestive glands start secreting a sufficient quantity of fluids to help digestion." (4)
Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments says, "During mealtime and for an hour thereafter the breath should be flowing through the right nostril." (5)
According to Baba, the right nostril should be dominant before and after food. When that right nostril is active the stomach will secrete digestive enzymes etc. If one has yet to eat, the secretion will cause hunger; and, if one has eaten, the food in the stomach will digest properly. It is very important to have the right nostril dominant prior to, during, and after taking food.
Constipation cure
If one is experiencing indigestion, then they should not take any food and take steps to make the right nostril dominant. Then their digestion will improve dramatically. On a related manner, if anyone begins to feel hungry but they are involved in pressing work or for any reason they are unable to eat at the moment, then they should switch their nostrils and make the left side dominant. More about this is written in the next subheading. Part and parcel of eating is elimination. To clear the bowels properly, the right nostril must be dominant, otherwise one will suffer from constipation and elimination problems.
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Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments says, "It is desirable to take food or to defecate when the main flow of breath is through the right nostril. Even after food, it is desirable if the flow of breath mainly through the right nostril continues for some time. Because that is the time when the digestive glands start secreting a sufficient quantity of fluids to help digestion." (6)
Switching the nostrils
There are essentially four ways by which one may switch the nostrils: From a lying position, a seated stance, a standing position, and in viirasana. Future letters will address all three techniques. Since the lying down technique may be the easiest, that I will describe here. If you wish to make the right nostril active, then simply lie on your left side. By remaining in that position for a short while (just a few minutes) then you will notice that the right nostril has become dominant. You can make the left dominant by doing just the opposite. Viirasana will also facilitate making the left nostril dominant. This is discussed in Caryacarya and in Senior Acarya Diary. The other techniques for changing the nostril will be written about in future letters on this topic.
Good digestion
Some people may be thinking that all this is very strange because they never paid any attention to the use of nostrils, yet their food was digested nicely. But if they look carefully, they will see that within their unit structure, automatically, the whole science of the use of nostrils is happening - unbeknownst to them.
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Ultimately it is just like how breathing goes on when one is sleeping or how the heart works even if one is not aware about its functioning. Similarly the same thing happens with respect to the nostrils. That's why when right nostril starts functioning and the digestive juices are released, then automatically one starts feeling hungry. So during the time of food only their right nostril is working. In that case their digestion will be alright.
The problem comes for those without good digestion. Then they will see that when they eat, their right nostril is closed - or working less. In that case, they should apply one or more of the techniques of positioning the body whereby the proper nostril can be activated. Those with poor digestion will be greatly benefited.
Nostrils: when, which, what, why?
Not just with eating and digesting food, but in all the spheres of life, the nostrils have a big role to play. When reading or studying, the left nostril needs to be dominant. But if while reading the right nostril is being used more, the mind will be fickle and less focused. Whereas having the left nostril open will enable the mind to be more concentrated. During sadhana it is best if both nostrils are working equally - yet if one is a little stronger then it should be the left nostril, not the right one.
Verily, in all the spheres of existence, the use of the proper nostril is key and highly beneficial. It yields a positive result.
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Ananda Marga philosophy says, "This svarashastra [science of breathing] did help the people later to solve many problems in their mundane as well as spiritual lives." (7)
Should I block the nostril? Some naive people may be wondering if using superficial measures to control the nostrils are needed. But the answer is no. One need not do things like stick cotton up the nose to try and block the left nostril in order to make the right one dominant, or vice versa. This is not the way - rather that will be harmful.
Very helpful & practical technique
This entire science of svarashástra is highly significant and occurs deep within the subtle processes of the body. All this occurs within the internal workings of the human structure. It happens automatically-- deep within all this is going on.
Because when the body is in a state of balance and health then automatically the proper nostril will be working according to the type of activity one is involved in. If anyone is not accustomed to or less aware about this, then at any given time they can test which nostril is working by placing their finger(s) just below the two nostrils while exhaling. Then one can feel the air flow and it becomes quite evident which nostril is dominating.
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So again, this all happens quite naturally when the body is healthy.
The purpose of this letter is to bring awareness to times when the body is not functioning properly and empower one with the ability to make the body healthy and balanced by changing the dominant nostril. This is one very helpful and practical technique.
For better sadhana
And this applies not just to physical health but psycho-spiritual well-being also. For instance, if sadhana is not pointed and the mind is running hither and thither, then check to see if the left nostril is dominant. If not, then make it dominant by lying on the right side for a few minutes. Once the left nostril becomes dominant, return to your sadhana and certainly you will experience a shift in the quality of your meditation.
For better sadhana it is ideal for both nostrils to be of equal flow. But that is extremely rare and it is difficult to create this artificially. So the next best scenario is to have the left nostril dominant - and that will help in sadhana.
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Our life is three-fold and we are fortunate Baba has told us all the key points for each and every aspect of human life. By following them we the have the best opportunity to develop and grow - in all the realms. Accordingly the use of nostrils has a big effect. In practical life the science of breath control and the flow of air has a grand role to play.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Prabhakar
~ In-depth study ~
Best nostril for sadhana
In Acarya Diary Baba explains that the best time for sadhana is when the susumna nadii flows freely. When the susumna nadii is flowing properly then both the ida and piungala - left and right nostril - are perfectly balanced - each at 50%. That is the ideal time for sadhana. But this is rare. Short of this ideal, the next best time is to do sadhana when the ida nadii is more active. And the worst time for sadhana is when the piungala nadii is most active.
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Lifting a very heavy load
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "When doing a heavy job while breathing normally, a person might have serious difficulties - perhaps one's limbs might be broken - but in a state of baddha kumbhaka or purna kumbhaka (with the lungs full), one can easily do the same work. While doing some over-strenuous activity in a state of shunya kumbhaka (with the lungs empty) one might even die." (8)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Suppose you are climbing to a high place or lifting a very heavy load. If you do not follow the system of breathing while lifting the load, your hands may become painful or your bones dislocated. If you do the same work in a state of shunya kumbhaka (lungs empty), you will have great difficulty - you may even collapse. If on the contrary, you perform any strenuous activity in purna kumbhaka, taking a deep breath, you can easily do it. All this comes within the scope of that svaravijinana." (9)
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "You might have read in the Ramayana that Hanuman, by taking a deep breath, made his body swell and lifted a whole mountain. Although it is a mythological story, it refers to the science of svaravijinana." (10)
Dyspepsia treatment
Ananda Marga Yogic Treatments says, "As with dyspepsia, during mealtime and for an hour thereafter breath should be flowing through the patient's right nostril. At the time of severe colic pain, the dominant flow of breath should be changed from the nostril through which it was flowing at the time the pain started to the other nostril. Allowing the bile to accumulate by not taking something when one is hungry should never be permitted, because in that event the undigested bile itself will become the cause of acidity." (11)
Practise asanas - nostrils
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "Practise Asanas only while breath is flowing through the left nostril or both nostrils; do not practise asanas when the breath flows only through the right nostril." (12)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "There is no restriction of nostrils for the following asanas: Padmasana (lotus posture), Siddhasana (Siddha posture), Ardhasiddhasana (half Siddha posture), Bhojanasana ('cross-legged sitting posture'), Viirasana (Viira posture), Diirgha Pranama (long bowing posture), Yogasana (Yoga posture) and Bhujaungasana (snake posture)." (13)
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "For all those asanas where there is no restriction of nostrils, there is no restriction on food either." (14)
References
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, 95 Edn, p. 25-6
2. Caryacarya - 2, Social Norms, point #35
3. Caryacarya - 2, Social Norms, point #35
4. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Eating
5. Yogic Treatment, Acidity
6. Yogic Treatment - Dyspepsia (Indigestion)
7. Namah Shiva Shantaya, '95 Edn, p.26
8. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva – the Focal Point of Everything (Discourse 3)
9. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva – the Focal Point of Everything (Discourse 3)
10. Namah Shivaya Shantaya, Shiva – the Focal Point of Everything (Discourse 3)
11. Yogic Treatments, Acidity
12. Caryacarya Part III, chapter 8, pt #6
13. Caryacarya Part III, chapter 8, pt #19
14. Caryacarya Part III, chapter 8, pt #20
== Section 2: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Your infinite compassion
"Pitá mátá bandhu sakhá, ándháre áloka vartiká'..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0218)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You are my Father, my Mother, my bandhu, as well as my eternal Companion. My Dearmost, You are my everything - my One and only - and that divine lamp of refulgence, always guiding me along the supreme path in life. In all the lands - whatever exists - You are that. You are everywhere, all-pervading. No one is ever alone or helpless. You are ever-present carefully watching over everyone and always residing in my heart. You are my most intimate and loving One and so close.
Baba, my Supreme Entity, with Your infinite compassion, no matter how difficult the circumstances are, You are always present to provide a gentle touch. In the thorns of sorrow, You are the lotus. In the burning suffering, You are that refreshing, calm, cool balm of sandalwood. Divine One, You are the ultimate Savior and touchstone for those who lost everything. When one has incurred terrible loss, then in that bleak hour You are the only shelter and that Great Entity which transforms everything into a shining jewel. By Your touch, unit beings become divine. That is Your causeless grace. Ever-Present Entity, You are the best of everything. In the beautiful rose garden where all the flowers are aromatic and fragrant, You are the most gorgeous, beautiful garland - the most illumined Entity in this vast universe.
Baba, the Supreme Entity, You are the final cause of everything. You are the source as well as the origin. Because You are, I am. You are the breath of my very life. Without You, my whole existence is meaningless. You are my Dearmost and my everything. You alone are the eternal lamp of my heart. Please keep me in Your loving shelter...
Note For Prabhat Samgiita #0218:
[1] In the thorns of sorrow, You are the lotus: Here it is described how even when people are surrounded by struggle and strife then Parama Purusa is there to comfort them, just like how on a thorny stem, the lotus flower blooms. (Note: The stem of the lotus plant is very thorny, yet always the flower blooms on top.)
"Pitá mátá bandhu sakhá, ándháre áloka vartiká'..." (Prabhat Samgiita #0218)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You are my Father, my Mother, my bandhu, as well as my eternal Companion. My Dearmost, You are my everything - my One and only - and that divine lamp of refulgence, always guiding me along the supreme path in life. In all the lands - whatever exists - You are that. You are everywhere, all-pervading. No one is ever alone or helpless. You are ever-present carefully watching over everyone and always residing in my heart. You are my most intimate and loving One and so close.
Refrain / Repetition: In the cimmerian darkness of my life You are the bright luminescence who guides me always. When I am immersed in darkness, confused, and lose the path, You are there to save me. You are that bright light always leading me along the proper path.
Baba, my Supreme Entity, with Your infinite compassion, no matter how difficult the circumstances are, You are always present to provide a gentle touch. In the thorns of sorrow, You are the lotus. In the burning suffering, You are that refreshing, calm, cool balm of sandalwood. Divine One, You are the ultimate Savior and touchstone for those who lost everything. When one has incurred terrible loss, then in that bleak hour You are the only shelter and that Great Entity which transforms everything into a shining jewel. By Your touch, unit beings become divine. That is Your causeless grace. Ever-Present Entity, You are the best of everything. In the beautiful rose garden where all the flowers are aromatic and fragrant, You are the most gorgeous, beautiful garland - the most illumined Entity in this vast universe.
Refrain / Repetition: In the cimmerian darkness of my life You are the bright luminescence who guides me always. When I am immersed in darkness, confused, and lose the path, You are there to save me. You are that bright light always leading me along the proper path.
Baba, the Supreme Entity, You are the final cause of everything. You are the source as well as the origin. Because You are, I am. You are the breath of my very life. Without You, my whole existence is meaningless. You are my Dearmost and my everything. You alone are the eternal lamp of my heart. Please keep me in Your loving shelter...
Refrain / Repetition: In the cimmerian darkness of my life You are the bright luminescence who guides me always. When I am immersed in darkness, confused, and lose the path, You are there to save me. You are that bright light always leading me along the proper path.
Note For Prabhat Samgiita #0218:
[1] In the thorns of sorrow, You are the lotus: Here it is described how even when people are surrounded by struggle and strife then Parama Purusa is there to comfort them, just like how on a thorny stem, the lotus flower blooms. (Note: The stem of the lotus plant is very thorny, yet always the flower blooms on top.)
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Where education is not in mother tongueProut philosophy states, “Primary school education should be in the people’s language, and primary school books... should be introduced.” (1)
Prout philosophy states, “If people’s mother tongue is suppressed, it is equivalent to strangling them. The suppression of people’s mother tongue is a sin.” (2)
Prout philosophy states, “Students may feel inconvenience if the medium of instruction is English only or if the question papers are in English only.” (3)
Baba's system is: Education in one's mother tongue, with one class being that of English as the current international language. Everything in Ananda Marga is natural; and, it is natural that people should learn in their mother tongue. In addition, people should be taught English so they can communicate with others around the world.
In Spain people learn engineering, medicine, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and all other subjects in Spanish. And in all these fields, in Spain professionals themselves work and communicate in Spanish. The same is the case with students and professionals in France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia, Brazil-- all around the world, people study and work in all the scientific and technical fields in their mother tongue. The only places this is not the case are countries which were exploited by another country and had that imposing country's language thrust upon them as something superior. For that reason, students and professionals in Africa study and work using the language of their colonizer country: those who were controlled by France use French; those who were controlled by England use English etc. India falls in this category of countries around the world which were exploited by another country and had that country's language imposed upon them as something superior. That is the only reason English is used in India in engineering and other professional fields. In the rest of the countries around the world-- the great majority of countries-- all the professional fields are taught and conducted in the local language of that home country. And that is how it should be.
Engineering does not need the grammar of any particular language; that is why if one asks an engineering student or an engineer in France what language they would prefer to learn / work in-- French or English-- without having to think for a moment they will say "French". Everyone prefers their own mother tongue; that is the natural way. And that is Baba's teaching. Ananda Marga philosophy is very natural.
References
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 19, Bihar
2. Prout in a Nutshell - 16, Three Cardinal Socio-Political Principles
3. To the Patriots
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “In ancient times powerful rájas and mahárájas used to perform yajiṋas or sacrifices to declare that they were heroes, but this was also a form of exploitation. They erected many temples to hide their ill-deeds, not out of devotional spirit. There was an unholy alliance between physical exploiters and intellectual exploiters. Intellectuals have praised these rájas and mahárájas in all ages. Another form of exploitation is the priesthood. Capitalism will never go against the priesthood nor will priests go against capitalism. In order to create inferiority complexes in the minds of the people, intellectuals have composed many stories and myths. These stories are illogical and concocted to exploit the sentiments of the common mass. One glaring instance is the following verse composed by satanic opportunists.”
Bráhmańásya mukhamásiit váhurájano’bhavat
Madhya tadasya yad vaeshyahpadbhyaḿ shudrojáyata.
“Brahmins came out of the mouth, Kśatriyas were born out of the arms,
Vaeshyas came out of the trunk of the body, and Shúdras were born out of the legs.”
“In the capitalist structure, industry or production is governed by the profit motive, but in the Proutistic structure production will be governed by the motive of consumption.” (1)
Reference
1. Prout in a Nutshell - 15, Talks on Prout
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
उच्च कोटि के भक्त की पुकार
प्रभात संगीत 0201 चैती हवाय मन जारे चाय, से जे गो कतो दूर…
परिचय 1- भक्त तीन प्रकार के होते हैं, तीसरे अर्थात निचले स्तर के भक्त परमपुरुष से भौतिक संसार की चीजें माॅंगते हैं। दूसरे अर्थात मध्यम स्तर के भक्त उनसे सिद्धियाॅं और मुक्ति या मोक्ष माॅंगते हैं। पहले अर्थात सबसे अच्छे स्तर के भक्त केवल परम पुरुष को ही चाहते हैं। उनकी कृपा से वे उनसे उनको ही माॅंग लेते हैं और अपने आपको उन्हें देकर उन्हीं में मिल जाते हैं। भक्ति की यह चरम अवस्था अर्थात सबसे ऊँचा स्तर कहलाता है।
परिचय 2- प्रभात संगीत में अधिकतर परमपुरुष और भक्त सीधे ही आपस में बातचीत करते पाये जाते हैं। कुछ गीतों में यह बातें परोक्ष रूप में भी पाई जाती हैं। लेकिन इसका अर्थ यह नहीं है कि भक्त किसी दूसरे भक्त से बात कर रहा है बल्कि भक्त परमपुरुष से आमने सामने ही परोक्ष भाषा में बात कर रहा है। इसी प्रकार इस प्रभात संगीत में भी भक्त परमपुरुष से अपने बिछोह के कारण होनेवाले कष्ट को आमने सामने कह रहा है परमपुरुष से।
भावार्थ
ओह ! जिसको मेरा मन सबसे अधिक चाहता है, वे दिव्य अलौकिक सत्ता मुझसे कितनी दूर हैं ! इस चैत्र मास में बसन्त ऋतु की सुखद सुगन्धित हवा के मौसम में मेरा मन उन प्रभु के साथ मिलना चाहता है। इस प्यारे मौसम में वे बहुत अधिक दूर हैं। मेरा मन दुखी है और बार बार उनके आनेवाले रास्ते में उनकी एक झलक पाने के लिए आॅंखें गड़ाये है।
वे मेरे सबसे अधिक प्रिय हैं, फिर भी मुझसे बहुत दूर क्यों रहते हैं ? जिस किसी व्यक्ति को इसका उत्तर पता है वह मुझे कृपा कर बताए कि वे मुझसे दूर क्यों हैं। मैं उनकी याद में बेचैन हूँ। मैं उनकी याद में डूबा हुआ हूँ । मैं विवश हूॅं ,उनके प्रेम में पड़कर कर बँध गया हूॅं। मैं अपने प्रिय को भूल नहीं सकता हॅू।
वे परमपुरुष, मेरे हृदय के भी हृदय और मेरे सबकुछ हैं। उनकी चाह में, मैं अकेला इस पूर्णिमा की रात में अपार कष्ट से रो-रोकर परेशान हॅूं। यद्यपि मुझे आशा नहीं है कि उनसे कभी मुलाकात होगी, परन्तु ये काली मधुमक्खियाॅं मधुर स्वर में सुरीला गाना फुसफुसा कर मुझे दिलासा दे रहीं हैं कि तुम्हारे प्रियतम परमपुरुष तुम्हारे पास शीघ्र ही आएँगे।
हे मेरे परम-प्रिय बाबा ! तुम इतनी दूर क्यों बने हुए हो मेरा हृदय बेचैन है, कृपया मेरे सामने आकर अपनी कृपा की वर्षा कर दो।
== Section 3: Links ==
- #3: How this started
Other topics of interest
