Breathwork and Pranayama are ancient practices with deep roots in various spiritual traditions, most notably in the yogic traditions of India. These practices involve the control and regulation of the breath to enhance physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

​When discussing their role in spiritual ascension, it is crucial to understand the fundamental belief that the breath, or “prana” in Sanskrit, is not merely oxygen but the vital life force energy that animates all living beings.

Here is an exploration of the role of breathwork and Pranayama in spiritual ascension and the enhancement of life force energy:

1. Prana, The Vital Force
Prana is considered the vital life force in many Eastern traditions. It is believed to be the bridge between the physical and subtle bodies. By harnessing and increasing prana through Pranayama, one can potentially accelerate their spiritual development.

2. Balancing Energy Centers
Our energy system comprises chakras, or energy centers, which are points in our subtle body that coincide with various physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Breathwork can help in clearing blockages in these centers, ensuring a smooth flow of energy, essential for spiritual growth.

3. Mind Control and Meditation
The mind is often compared to a monkey, jumping from one thought to another. Pranayama and breathwork can serve as tools to tame this monkey mind. A steady breath leads to a steady mind, which in turn is conducive to deeper meditation, a crucial aspect of spiritual ascension.

4. Altered States of Consciousness
Certain advanced breathwork techniques can induce altered states of consciousness, providing practitioners with profound spiritual experiences, insights, and sometimes even mystical visions. These experiences can catalyze a deeper understanding of oneself and the universe.

5. Physical Purification
Before ascending spiritually, it's believed that one's body should be purified. Pranayama assists in detoxifying the body, making it a more suitable vessel for higher energies.

6. Emotional Release and Healing
Traumas and suppressed emotions can act as barriers to spiritual growth. Specific breathwork practices have been developed to help release these emotions, facilitating healing and spiritual progression.

7. Cultivating Awareness
Regular breathwork can sharpen one's awareness, not only of their internal states but also of the external world. This heightened awareness can lead to a more profound connection with the surrounding environment and a clearer understanding of the interconnectedness of all things.

8. Raising Vibrational Frequency
There's a belief in spiritual circles that higher consciousness operates at a higher vibrational frequency. By cultivating and channeling prana, one can raise their vibrational frequency, aligning themselves more closely with higher realms of consciousness.

9. Connection with the Divine
Many Pranayama practices involve visualizations or mantras that connect the practitioner with divine energies. This constant remembrance and connection can pave the way for spiritual ascension.

Conclusion
Breathwork and Pranayama are much more than simple breathing exercises. They are gateways to harnessing the life force energy, vital for physical health, emotional balance, and, importantly, spiritual ascension. By practicing them diligently and under proper guidance, one can potentially expedite their journey towards higher states of consciousness and spiritual realization.
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We are all connected by invisible strands or quantum strings; called "Yoga Spanda" in ancient Sanskrit. So, when you wonder how your actions can matter in this vast universe- remember that even fluttering wings of a butterfly can create a storm on the other side of our globe. 
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We are all like pearls strung on the same strand, what happens to one can impact everyone else...

There are times in our lives when we wonder about the “meaning” (or lack thereof) in our life. As we go about our daily duties, we wonder if any of those actions can impact anyone beyond the few immediate people. Lest do we know the far-reaching extent of our thoughts and actions!!

According to Wikipedia: Chaos theory is a branch of mathematics focused on the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions. 'Chaos' is an interdisciplinary theory stating that within the apparent randomness of chaotic complex systems, there are underlying patterns, constant feedback loops, repetition, self-similarity, fractals, self-organization, and reliance on programming at the initial point known as sensitive dependence on initial conditions. The butterfly effect describes how a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state, e.g. a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can cause a tornado in Texas.

So, when we wonder how our seeming small actions can impact the greater good- remember that we are all connected. Each to everyone and everything else forming a web of matter and information- distinct and yet intertwined so that it is affected by the smallest of change.

Knowing this it is very important to carefully choose our thoughts and actions. There is so much pain and misery in our world- with rising anger and violence. Ordinary citizens like you and I may not be warriors on the frontline, but we can help to bring peace and equanimity by exhibiting it in our everyday actions. Being loving or at the very least kind to everyone we interact with, showing grace even when we may feel that the other person is totally out of line- such small actions can play a pivotal role in bringing balance to our increasingly un-balanced social and global environment.

​Categories: 
Ascension, Conscious Living, Journey To Oneness,   Our Path Our Journey,  and Yoga

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Right now, as we look around us- there seems to be ‘craziness’ all around us!! This past year has been challenging to every single person on this planet in their own way. I recently wrote about the way in which we can best addresses any challenges or issues that we come across in our life. If you have not read that article, then you can check it here…
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We know that our attitude determines our altitude. So, the question is, how should we maintain ourselves as we are facing various situations in our life. Ofcourse, not every single moment of everyday is fraught with challenges. There will be good times and bad times, maybe certain days have a significant number of bad times or challenging issues, but in life, we are always going to experience a combination of these good and bad experiences. 

The ancients depicted our life as a wheel. They called it the “Wheel of Time” (Kaal Chakra) or the “Circle of Life”. Because we find that the activities in our life follow a circular repetitive pattern. At any given time, there are parts of us feeling up and at that same time, there are also parts of us feeling down. Like the individual spokes of a wheel, we experience different emotional and mental states at any given time. 

But if one is to note the center of the wheel- it is calm and stationary. Even though the wheel as a whole is moving forward on its journey, and the individual spokes move up and down, the center of the wheel stays calm. 

The ancients asked us to maintain this attitude of the “Center of the Wheel” in our life. When we live our life from our center- i.e., we take the time to reflect upon the various activities and situations of our life and focus within and center within the deeper recesses of our being (meditation helps with this), then it allows us to stay centered and focused within our core existence. 

Then we can carry on with the various activities of our life- some which will make us feel jubilant and happy and others that may upset or challenge us; but as we operate from our center, we will always feel calm and at peace. This will be the case, even if the happy or challenging situations are in our vicinity or are aspects of our life, i.e., our external situation or our life situations, neither will be able to ruffle or agitate us, because we are centered and operating from our core. 

This is the first step of Yoga. Yoga is the way to be in-sync with the Divine. By centering within our ourselves and operating from a calm, centered core- we complete the first step of Yoga- we get in unison with our own inner being. 
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We bring all the fragmented aspect of ourselves into our center- we bring ourselves together. We become united; this then allows us to continue with our ascension journey to further become united with the Cosmic Self.  

​Categories: 
Ancient Wisdom, Ascension,   Conscious Living,    Emotional Wellbeing,  Our Path Our Journey ,    Self Development   and   Yoga

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​This is such an inspiring quote from the Bhagavad Gita.  In the Bhagavad Gita we find the concept of A-karma (correctly written as a-karm), i.e. the way to do action without creating the repercussion or feedback loop, which the usual karmas do! 

It may seem like a small thing- but, it has immense power. It helps us to realize the false-ness of our ego- which believes it is the 'doer' and as we truly live by the principle of A-karma, we can find power and strength to do what is needed at any given time. You can read more about a-karm:   Karma Yoga- The Yoga of Non-action 

Of course, a-karma is not about being without a conscience and thoughtlessly doing whatever we want; as after all, not we, but the divine is the “do-er”!! 
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In fact, it is the exact opposite- it is doing actions in an aware manner, as we are aware of what we are doing, being totally conscious about it and ensuring that our actions are not only for our own good and those of our loved ones, but also is in the well-being of our society at large.

As we go through each day, it is wise to remember that ultimately it is the Divine that operates through us and our simple daily prayers should be “Not my will, but let your will prevail”. Become the instrument through which the divine can play it’s music and then start seeing your life positively transform in ways that you could never even have imagined as possible!

Categories: 
Journey To Oneness,     Our World Today ,    Self Development   and   Yoga

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We may think that we did such and such thing. But in reality, it is always the divine that is living thru us.   We feel like we have a free will and that we are free to choose whatever it is that we want to do and then be able to do it. Is that really so?? 

Rousseau once said- Man is born free and is everywhere in chains! Lord Krishna explained the reason behind this several hundreds of years ago. We are identified with being the do-er, without realizing that the divine is the dancer and we are the dance. Because of this deluded thinking, we end up getting caught in the karmic cycle of repeated births and deaths.

In our ancient Vedic texts, it is said that the Divine is the dancer and we are the dance.  It is important to differentiate between taking   responsibility for right action with mistaking oneself as the do-er. 

Though we may think of our self as a do-er, in reality, we are the outcome or result of all that is going on. This does not mean that one shirks responsibility! In fact, it is essential that we take responsibility for all that we do- in mind, body and spirit.

​But at the same time, when we conduct all the actions with the knowledge that it is the divine that is truly living and acting thru us, then those very same actions, become our path of Karma Yoga.

Are you holding someone responsible for something negative they did to you? E.g. lie to you… cheat on you and so on. This does not have to be in any profound way.

​There are many instances in life where we may not outright blame someone else for our problem or situation, but deep within, we believe they are responsible for our peril and because of it, we resent them. It could be parents, friends, coworkers, a stranger or even the government.

Do whatever action you need to take in the situation AND let go of your negative impression, resentment and blaming behavior. Know that ultimately all that happens to you, is part of the divine will and learn to surrender to this divine intension.

You will be surprised as to how this one simple action on your part will open up many opportunities for you that could never have been possible otherwise. Once you see the Divine as the real do-er, it frees up all the energy that you are currently wasting to uphold your false paradigm. You can then start achieving success and recognition beyond your wildest of dreams!!

Categories:   
Ascension,   Guidance,   Journey To Oneness,   Our Path Our Journey,   Spiritual Awareness ,   Spiritual Lessons  and   Yoga

​Keywords & Tags:   
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​“It is not the outside circumstances, but the inner blossoming of wellbeing which transforms our lives. It can be experienced as an intrinsic benefit of practicing Yoga.”

Most of us tend to live our lives from outside-in. By that I mean, we tend to think that when such and such thing occurs, I will be happy. When I achieve this or that I will feel better. And such thoughts are not just about accomplishments and achievements, but also we think the same about other aspects such as feeling better, not worrying, addressing physical or emotional pain and so on.

But the key lesson in life is that- it all works from inside-out. That is, whatever is inside of us, will manifest in time to what we experience in the outside world.

I am sure many of you will say that hey- I did not “choose” this pain or that I did not “want” this negativity, hurt and anger in my life. But- Universe does not function with our chosen labels for these thoughts and emotions. The key questions to consider are: are you worried about what will happen to you or a dear one? Are you angry at someone including yourself?

​Even though we may think of them separately, they all in a way are negative emotions and the Universe is going to reflect back to us what we send forth. So, if what we are sending out thru our thoughts, emotions and actions is negative then those are the very things we will receive back. By the same token, if we are to send out positive thoughts, emotions and actions then those are the things we will receive.

I can almost hear you say: “hey- you don’t understand. I just lost my job and I have kids to feed and a mortgage to pay- of course I am worried. Am I not human?” It is true that such “worrying” is considered quite acceptable in our society as “normal”. But does it really serve any purpose? We all know the physical impact of stress and worrying.

So, irrespective of spiritual reasons- think about this for a minute purely from a material-logical standpoint. When you don’t have a job, do you want the added expense of medical bills, not to mention bad health, which will further prevent you from efficiently and energetically searching for a new position?

Now, do you see- how worrying is a wasteful emotion? It is not only meaningless, but in fact aggravates the very situation which initially caused it!! Even though I have taken worrying as an example here, the same holds true for other negative emotions like anger, greed and so on.

Then why do we as humans engage in this behavior? In a way, it is to make ourselves feel more worthy! You see, deep down we all want to be recognized- this is not about fame, but simple recognition of “being-ness”. Unfortunately who we identify as “us” is not our true being-ness, but “an identity” of what we think is our “true self”.

This false sense of our identity or individuality is called as the ego- or ahamkara in Sanskrit. It is Ego that wants to feel that it (which for you is you) exists! When things are good, it leads to one type of ego boost- where all the recognitions and praise, make you feel like you exist- and when things are not as good and you feel ignored and left-out by the world- your own mind creates emotions like worry (“what will happen to me”?), anger (“how can they do this to me?”), greed (“how can I get this for me?”) and so on…

Till we are alive in our human bodies, ego is a mandatory and required aspect. And if left unaddressed, ego will want to continue to “exist and expand” as survival is the most basic instinct in all of creation. There are countless spiritual books which indicate that we need to live consciously and “stop identifying with the ego”. Many of us truly try. But how do we go about denying something, which is the “only thing” we have ever known as us!!

By that I mean, all your experience and understanding of this world about you is as “you”. And the only you, you have ever known is you- with the identities of name, family, race, caste, creed, sex and so on. So, it’s one thing when spiritual guides ask you to stop identifying with who you are and it is true that as one advances in one’s spiritual pursuits, one can start to realize that there is more to us than what we had previously thought. But when one starts on the journey, it gets difficult to learn to dis-engage from the ego.  

That is why Yoga helps in addressing the ego. Yoga means to be in unison with the supreme energy of the universe. Each time you do Yoga, somewhere you are expanding and at the same time rarefying your ‘sense of identify’. And like all facades when you start removing these fake layers (your identity about you or the ego) your true “being-ness” shines forth. And this being-ness will over time (linearly speaking) slowly merge into the Universal consciousness.

By doing Yoga, particularly in the initial stages of your spiritual journey, you start becoming conscious of a greater dimension than your own self almost like a higher harmonic/octave of your current note. This sense provide the assurance of “existing” to your ego, so in a way your ego identification need is addressed or should I say tamed so that you don’t feel the urge to indulge in negativities that boost it. For this reason, Ashtanga Yoga, which means the eight limbs of Yoga is the best approach, where asanas, what is usually taught in the west, is one of the limbs.

I will address the eight limbs of Yoga and how they can be utilized in this rarefying of our identification in another post. Hope you start with Yoga. Even a little bit of asanas, a little conscious breathing (called Pranayam) will all go a long way in setting you on the right path of your own spiritual pursuit.

​Categories:   
Ascension,   Guidance,   Journey To Oneness,   Our Path Our Journey,   Spiritual Awareness ,   Spiritual Lessons  and Yoga

Keywords & Tags:   
#DissolvingtheEgo #RemoveNegativeFeelings #AshtangaYoga #YogaforEmotionalWellbeing   #ascension #spirituallesson #spiritualjourney #Karma   #FruitsofAction #Regression #situationalanalysis   #dealingwithdifficultpeople   

Most of the Tantric images show some form of erotic representation, where the yoni (vagina) of the goddess (female energy principle) is touching or interacting with the lingam- phallus of the god (male energy principle).

Such depiction can seem very “blasphemous” to the traditional pundits, but when viewed from the perspective of tantric symbolism, it makes perfect sense. 
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In tantric traditions, yoni represents the primordial female principle of creation and the phallus (lingam) symbolizes the primordial male principle of creation. 

Because of this the union of the male and the female (as indicated in a sexual intercourse) is considered as the true yoga (union) of Shiva and Shakti, the male and the female principle. This is not the crude or casual sex which simply leads to procreation of a progeny.

​The tantric union is meant to be done with proper protocol and guidance and when done correctly, allows both the individuals- the male and the female, to go beyond the limitations of their own individual limited form (of a male or a female) and rise higher to merge into the formless. 

When a male and female unite in a tantric union, they start to rise their individual energies into higher planes of existence… finally merging with the divine!!

In this world of duality- everything is ultimately represented by the male & female principle- the anima and the animus. As these two core principles start to merge into one another, they slowly start to lose their ‘individual- existence’ which is part of the ‘duality’ to become ‘singular’- the Divine.

This rise in energy, ascension, is seen as the rise of the Kundalini energy which rises from its state of lying dormant at the base of the spine, thru the various chakras to ultimately reach the highest chakra- 7th chakra of Sahasrara to take the individual (male or female) beyond the duality of all kinds of this material existence, to merge into the singular presence of the Divine God-head (supreme cosmic energy-form).
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This also explains why in Tantra, the Gods and Goddesses are typically depicted with erotic imagery. They are merely form representations of an energy-union, which will lead them into the formless- singular essence.

Today seems like a real special day all around!! For starters, we have Father’s Day and then we also have a powerful Solar Eclipse and it is also the start of Ashada Gupt Navratri and then to top it up- it is also the International Yoga Day.

Btw- if you have not still read my posts on all the other significances for today, then be sure to check them out. Particularly the special message for the powerful Solar Eclipse, we are having today!

United Nations General Assembly declared 21 June as International Yoga Day. In 2020, we will be celebrating the 6th. year of celebrating International Yoga Day.

21 June is the summer solstice. It is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is believed to be the day, where Sun is shining at its brightest with total power- after all it is the longest day of the year (atleast for us folks in the Northern Hemisphere). 

In many cultures and spiritual traditions this day of summer solstice has many spiritual significances. It is considered to symbolize the victory of light over darkness. So, it makes perfect sense that this day be chosen to represent the International Yoga Day.
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After all, Yoga is not about bending, twisting, and turning… that is what gymnasts do!! 

In Yoga- we seek unison with the Divine- our very inner essence. Ultimately this inner essence is also the larger Divine essence. When we do Yoga, we are seeking inner balance and peace. This further allows us not only to achieve great physical health and well-being, but it also allows us to feel an increased sense of joy and happiness. 

 Routinely practicing Yoga helps us to feel vibrantly alive. 

If you already practice true Yoga (not acrobatics or gymnastics), then great- you can pat yourself on the back.   But, in case, you do not then why not make a pact with yourself on this occasion of International Yoga Day, that you will spend atleast a few minutes each day- doing simple yoga postures and breathing exercises. 

This will be your commitment towards ensuring you have better health and vitality.

​#Yoga #Pranayama #InternationalYogaDay #SummerSolstice #benefitsofYoga #YogaExercises

We typically think of bad actions as being detrimental. And yes, it is very true. Bad actions particularly those conducted with malicious intent have extremely bad karma attached with it.

But what Lord Krishna teaches us in The Bhagavad Gita is that, typically, there are three types of actions- action (all kinds- performed with the belief that we are the do-er) called as Karma, bad action (any action which is detrimental to human well-being) called as vikarma and no-action (inertia) which is called as akarma. 
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Note that vi is a suffix used to indicate negative and a is a suffix used to indicate lack or absence. Because of which vikarma is bad or negative action and akarma being inertia or no-action.

All these three types of action have karma attached with it. We conduct these three types of action, while identifying with our self to be the do-er of that action. It is because of this, that when we conduct such actions, we are bound to the ‘cause and effect’ as well as the feedback mechanism of karma. 

Our incorrect association with our identity (ego) leads us to conduct actions which has karma associated with it and because of this, these three types of action behave like ropes of materialism, that keep us (as the eternal soul) attached and bound to this material existence.

​Once we are bound to karma, we are bound to this material existence and along with it, we are stuck in these repeated cycles of birth and death.

Now there is a type of action which is not tarnished by karma. Such a type of action is called non-action. This gives us the concept of Karma Yoga. 

Lord Krishna explains the concept of ‘non-action’, where we perform our actions as a “non-doer”. We perform the actions with the knowledge that the divine is ultimately the true ‘do-er’ of all actions. We perform our actions as a guidance from the divine. We do what is needed (keeping the principles of self, social and human well-being in perspective) to the best of our capability- with the knowledge that the divine is the real dancer and we are its dance. 

When we perform actions in such a consciously evolved manner, while not identified with our physical self (our ego); we also tend to relinquish our desire to the fruits of that action. Because of which, we also somewhere relinquish our attachment to the very action itself. 

Do note that not being attached with the action itself, does not mean lack of focus, determination or apathy. Infact, when we perform action with complete and conscious involvement with no expectation for results or outcome (fruits) then we can perform that action with total clarity, proper focus and required dexterity to the best of our competence and ability.

And it is this detachment, which allows for non-action to NOT be bound by karma and its effect of feedback and law of cause and effect.

An action performed in this manner becomes non-action and the person performing such a non-action, is not caught in the web of karma. Such a person is called as a Karma Yogi, one who performs Karma Yoga- the Yoga of non-action.

​#karmayoga #TheBhagavadGita #KrishnaConsciousness #consciousliving #Karma #yoga #karmayogi #akarm #vikarm #maitreyiparadigm #maitreyigautam #nonaction #karmicclearing #spiritualregression #spiritualawareness #ascension #clearingkarma #guidance #ourjourney #lifepath #spirituallesson