Baba
Essential for dhyana
Namaskar,
Our Ananda Marga sadhana system is unique—all the lessons hold deep value and none can be interchanged or discarded. All are needed, including pranayama.
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Práńáyáma: physical process that affects mind
As we know, pranayama controls the práńáh, or the ten váyus or ten vital airs. So it brings great resurgence to one's existence and works in a special manner. While most of our sadhana lessons use the repetition of mantra and mental ideation to bring a sense of calm and beatitude to one's physical existence, pranayama works from the opposite direction. It is primarily physical in nature - i.e. controlling of the breath - and by this way the mind becomes settled and quiet.
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "Pra'n'a'ya'ma is a physical process but its effect is on the mind. If the body is controlled, mind is also controlled." (1)
So pranayama works from physical to psychic, as opposed to other lessons which flow from psychic to physical, which is the case with first lesson and dhyana etc.
Without práńáyáma, 6th lesson is dream
Another fact about pranayama is that it is an absolute requirement for doing proper dhyana. Baba has told this on numerous occasions, as well as in reporting sessions when Baba would ask people about their dhyána. So from numerous angles of vision, we can understand that pranayama is an integral part of our sadhana system.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, “The practice of dhyána [meditation in which the psyche is directed towards Consciousness] becomes a time-consuming affair if práńáyáma is not adequately practised.” (2)
How to do práńáyáma
Per Baba’s warning, every practitioner should ensure the the mind is filled with cosmic ideation when doing pranayama. And verily that is how it is practiced in Ananda Marga sadhana.
Ananda Marga philosophy states “Closing the eyes, sit in either siddhásana, padmásana or bhojanásana. Do bhútashuddhi. After doing ásana shuddhi, concentrate your mind on the point that the ácárya will fix. Then, after doing cittashuddhi, ideate on the first syllable of your Iśt́a mantra, press and close the right nostril with the thumb of the right hand, and draw in a deep breath through the left nostril. During inhalation, ideate that infinite vital energy is entering the point from the infinite Brahma who is existing all around. After taking a full breath close the left nostril with the middle, ring and little fingers, and, taking the thumb away from the right nostril, slowly let out the air (Ideate that the infinite vital energy is returning from the point to that Infinite Brahma). During exhalation ideate on the remaining syllable of your Iśt́a mantra. When the breath has been fully expelled from the right nostril, inhale as fully as possible again through the right nostril. Afterwards, closing the right nostril with the thumb and removing the fingers, exhale the air through the left nostril. This completes one round.” (3)
In our Ananda Marga sadhana system, the practice of pranayama is imbibed with deep cosmic ideation. That is how every Ananda Margii has been taught and that is how it should be practiced. In contrast, those hatha yogis are prone to doing pranayama for their petty ends, devoid of cosmic ideation. So Ananda Margiis should not become overly fearful and skip 50% or 80% of their pranayama practice because they are so concerned and think their mind is not in a proper flow. Skipping pranayama is in itself harmful and detrimental as that will lead to a lazy and defective way of doing sadhana. And one will miss out on the various special benefits of this lesson.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Thus, one should be sure to keep pranayama as a mainstay of their sadhana practice.
Práńáyáma: mind becomes concentrated
Indeed, Baba encourages us to be strict and regular in pranayama. So one should not fall into any type of fear complex with pranayama. The way it is taught in Ananda Marga makes pranayama an ideal tool for spiritual progress.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “Through regular practice, the mind will become concentrated. Pra'n'a'ya'ma is meant for sa'dhakas." (4)
So for Ananda Marga, pranayama is a great boon for enhancing sadhana as in Ananda Marga pranayama is done with cosmic ideation. Whereas for those dry hatha yogis, pranayama can be quite dangerous and degrading.
Benefits of práńáyáma
Pranayama brings mental balance and control of mind; it makes the body healthy and the glands strong; it is an invaluable tool for enhancing one's concentration; it is a key practice for increasing one's vital energy. Indeed the benefits of pranayama are numerous.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
So one should not allow themselves to become habitually delinquent in pranayama because they feel insecure about their mental state. That is not the proper way. Rather, one should approach their pranayama lesson with great determination and make it a regular and proper practice. Then the mind will become strong and that lesson will be a vital point of their sadhana routine.
Remember, there is no gain in being habitually delinquent in pranayama, rather there is a distinct loss.
To increase apperceptive power, control práńáh
Baba has graciously given an integrated and complete sadhana system that allows us to lead a healthy and peaceful life and reach up to Parama Purusa. Within this, pranayama is an absolute necessity.
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "The process by which the pra'n'as in the body are controlled is called pra'n'a'ya'ma. Pra'n'a, apa'na, sama'na, uda'na, vya'na, na'ga, ku'rma, krkara, devadatta, and dhanainjaya – the collective name of these ten vital forces is pra'n'a'h. If you wish to increase your apperceptive power you must control the pra'n'a'h. Through regular practice, the mind will become concentrated. Pra'n'a'ya'ma is meant for sa'dhakas." (5)
Namaskar,
in Him,
Brahma Svarup
~ In-depth study ~
Air pollution & pranayama
On select occasions, due to extenuating circumstances, some sadhakas however are forced to skip pranayama. They may have to forgo the practice of pranayama because the air quality is poor, or because their nose is too dry or too clogged, or because the general environment is not good. Other than that, pranayama is meant to be a mainstay in one’s sadhana practice.
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Caryacarya states, “Practitioners of práńáyáma should try to keep themselves away from dust, smoke, bad-smelling environments and excessive labour.” (6)
How pra'n'a'ya'ma can be exceedingly harmful
Baba has warned us about doing pranayama when the mind is imbalanced or thinking undesirable thoughts. At that time, pranayama will have a detrimental effect on the mind. Everyone should remember that in our Ananda Marga we practice pranayama with cosmic ideation.
Baba says, "There are abuses of pra'n'a'ya'ma also. If sa'dhakas during the period of pra'n'a'ya'ma-induced contraction, indulge themselves merely in the parading of their own petty vanity instead of using that force of contraction for the inculcation brahmabha'va (cosmic ideation); that is, if they devote themselves to the expression of their own little egos, they will gradually tend towards crudeness...Pra'n'a'ya'ma is exceedingly harmful – devastatingly disastrous – for those without cosmic ideation or Brahmabha'va." (7)
Sadhana needed
And sadhana is a needed practice in this modern world. Nowadays in this 21st century, so many people base their happiness and so-called mental stability on external worldly things. But that does not bring peace of mind or true happiness. That is why in this fast-paced modern era, when human beings are required to do so many things in order to survive, then most often those very wealthy or materialistic people suffer from so many psychic problems. We can readily find this to be the case.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
So what is missing then? Sadhana and all its practices, including pranayama. Not the fake pranayama that is taught in so many new-age yoga studios, but true pranayama that is part and parcel of our sahaja yoga system.
The way to lead a happy and balanced life is through sadhana as that will cultivate a healthy mind and proper mental outlook. In a phrase, one will have stability from within. So now, more than ever before, sadhana is needed for humanity, otherwise people will lose their sense of calm and become totally frazzled.
Ananda Marga ideology says, "These days many psychic diseases have appeared as a result of this mental complexity. Many people are committing suicide; many people are becoming lunatics. The reason is that people are unable to adjust with the various types of complexities in life." (8)
Práńáyáma gives huge boost
True enough, pranayama is a sensitive lesson and should not be mishandled—but that does not mean one should shy away from it or become fearful and skip it.
It is just like if one finds out that electricity can also be dangerous at times, so then in their paranoia they decide to build their new house without any electricity at all. Then they will inevitably experience so many problems and difficulties because of not having electricity. Not having any electricity at all is a losing proposition. It does not solve anything, rather it makes things worse.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Same is the case with pranayama. If one becomes skittish or fearful about doing pranayama because they think their mind is not balanced, then they will miss out on so many benefits. Their dhyana will be disturbed and so many other plus points related with their well-being will be utterly gone from their life. Because pranayama is so beneficial for the entire human existence and taking that away from one's life is a terrible loss.
One should cultivate a strong and healthy pranayama practice such that when that lesson is started the mind is vibrated and ready. Then that will give a huge boost to sadhana and in particular dhyana.
Everyone then should be absolutely vigilant to generate a strong practice of pranayama by His grace. Because, pranayama is one needed step for taking sadhana to a higher realm.
References
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 15, Service to Humanity Is the Supreme Ideology of Life
2. Caryacarya - 1, Sadhana, Point #4
3. Caryacarya - 3, Pranayama
4. Caryacarya - 3, Práńáyáma
5. Caryacarya - 3, Práńáyáma
6. Caryacarya - 3, Práńáyáma
7. Ananda Marga Ideology and Way of Life - 5, The Chariot and the Charioteer
8. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 22, Serve the Supreme by Kiirtana
* * *
The below sections are entirely different topics, unrelated to the above material.
They stand on their own as points of interest.
* * *
== Section 2: Important Teaching ==
Counteract food poisoning
The following is an English summary of Baba’s Bangla discourse from Shabda Cayanika:
Antidotes of poison - green turmeric, spinach leaves, basil...mainly black basil and secondly white basil or any kinds of basil.
If some negative effect is going on due to food poisoning or because of eating poisonous fish, then without any delay a sufficient quantity of spinach leaves should be eaten and by that way the poison will be antidoted. (English summary) (1)
Reference
1. Shabda Cayanika - 20 Bangla, disc 156
== Section: Important Teaching ==
The words Hindu, India, and Indians are not terms from Bharatavarsa. See here Baba's below teaching:
Ananda Marga philosophy says, "Clearly, the word “Hindu” did not exist during that era. Hindu is a Farsi word whose fundamental meaning is “Indus River-basin” or the community of people living in the nearby areas. All of them, regardless of what religion they followed, were Hindus. In other words, the word hindu is a completely geographical word. Those whom we call “Hindu” today are indeed Hindus in the geographical sense. In terms of religion they are followers of the Árśa doctrine. However since nowadays the word “Hindu” is used instead of “Árśa” those who are called Hindu today are Hindus both in the geographical sense and in the religious sense. But those who belong to the various other so-called sects in India are Hindus in the geographical sense but not in the religious sense. They have their own religions." (1)
Note 1: The irony is that Indians think these terms (Hindu, India, and Indians) are their own.
Note 2: The country’s original name is Bharatavarsa. And we wanted to use the original term Bharatavarsa in the title but if we wrote that then nobody around the world would know what we were talking about. So we had no choice - we had to use the word India.
Reference
1. Varńa Vijiṋána, Derivation, Emanation and Distortion (Discourse 19)
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Material wealth brings psychic suffering
Here is an English summary of Baba’s original Hindi teaching from Allahabad, DMC 1984:
If money or wealth would have been the solution to all the problems then in that case rich persons would have always enjoyed being in a state of bliss. But in society it is not like that. The suffering of the rich is more than the poor. (English summary, Allahabad, DMC 1984)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Human desire knows no end. Millionaires want to become multimillionaires, because they are not satisfied with their million. Ask the millionaires if they are happy with their money. They will say, “Where is the money? I am somehow pulling on.” This answer indicates their ignorance of aparigraha. But such feelings have another adverse effect on body and mind. Out of excessive fondness for physical or mental pleasures people become mad to earn money and amass wealth. As money becomes the be-all and end-all of life, the mind gets crudified. Constant hankering after money results in negligence of one’s health, and this makes the body unfit. Therefore, santośa sádhaná lies in being contented with the earnings of normal labour, without any undue pressure on the body and mind. To remain contented, one has to make a special type of mental effort to keep aloof from external allurements.” (1)
Note: In some of our western countries nowadays, and wherever materialism reigns supreme and money is more free-flowing, the number of psychic diseases is multiplying day by day. The "haves" are coming under the grip of mental ailments like depression, frustration, hopelessness, and melancholia. Many are conflicted and suffer from a degrading psychic flow. That is why so many westerners, buckled by materialism, go to psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and other counselors for their mental health issues. And the number of adults being treated with antidepressant medications / drugs has more than doubled since 1999 to an alarming 15% of the US adult population. Without medication and counseling etc, they fall into a tailspin of moderate to deep depression. Even then those two therapies (i.e. counseling and medication) are just band-aid measures. They do not address and resolve the problem in a meaningful, permanent manner. The only true cure is psycho-spiritual practices like sadhana etc. Only then may one develop a balanced mind and achieve equipoise and peace.
References:
1. Guide to Human Conduct, Santosa
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
प्रभात संगीत 2199 तोमार तरे विश्व घुरे, बेरियाछिलुम, शुधु शुधु...
भावार्थ
बाबा, मैं इस विशाल संसार में घूमता रहा, केवल तुमको ही खोजता रहा, पर कहीं भी न तो देख पाया और न ही पा सका। मैं अनेक तथाकथित तीर्थों, पवित्र गाॅंवों, नगरों और महानगरों में तुम्हारे दर्शनों की अभिलाषा में भटकता रहा, बनारस, पुरी, मक्का, रोम, यरुशलम इतना ही नहीं आनन्दनगर, तिलजला और जमालपुर जैसे तथाकथित तीर्थों में भी गया पर तुम्हारे दर्शनों की मेरी प्यास नहीं बुझी। तुम मुझे वहाॅं दिखे ही नहीं , मैं तुम्हें वहाॅं नहीं पा सका। हे मेरे परमप्रभु! मैं उन किन्हीं भी स्थलों पर अपने मन की मधुर सत्ता को नहीं पा सका।
हे परम प्रभु, बाबा! तुम्हारे बारे में विभिन्न लोग भिन्न भिन्न प्रकार की बातें करते हैं। कुछ लोग व्यर्थ तर्क देकर मूर्खता पूर्ण प्रलाप करते हैं । और ए मेरे विधु! ए मेरे चंद्रमा! कुछ लोग तो यह भी कहते हैं कि तुम्हें दर्शनशास्त्रों के अध्ययन और आध्यात्मिक विज्ञान के अभ्यास से भी नहीं पाया जा सकता...... ....।
मेरे प्रभु बाबा! मेरे पास कोई आध्यात्मिक संपदा या आत्मज्ञान नहीं है कि तुम्हें पा सकॅूं, पर मैं इतना अवश्य जानता हॅूं कि तुम सब कुछ के सार हो। तुम ही मेरे लक्ष्य हो। तुम्हारी कृपा से मैं बस इतना जानता हूूं कि जब तुम अपनी तनिक सी भी कृपा बरसा दोगे तब मैं मेरा धरती पर आना सार्थक हो जाएगा।
बाबा! मुझ पर अपनी कृपा करो.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
“मनुष्य ज्ञानार्जन करते हैं, किस तरह से ? कोई आँख से पढ़ते हैं; कोई कान से पढ़ते हैं; कोई इङ्गित से, मुद्रा से, पढ़ते हैं | जैसे प्राचीन भारत में literate का percentage; अ, आ, क, ख, जाननेवालों का percentage बहुत कम था | अर्थात् साक्षर की सङ्ख्या कम थी; मगर विद्वान की, शिक्षित की सङ्ख्या अधिक थी | क्यों ? न, धर्म-कथा, उस सब में वे लोग क्या कहते हैं---उसी से लोग सीख लेते थे | अर्थात् आँख से नहीं पढ़ते थे, कान से अधिक आदमी पढ़ते थे | और आज के लोग आँख से पढ़ते हैं, मगर कान से कम पढ़ते हैं | इसलिए साक्षर की सङ्ख्या अधिक है, शिक्षित की सङ्ख्या घट गई है |”
Reference
1. GD 25 July 1970 Purnia
== Section 3: Links ==
Other topics of interest
