Science of Breath
CHAPTER
XVI.
YOGI SPIRITUAL BREATHING
The
Yogis not only bring about desired
mental qualities and properties by
will-power coupled with rhythmic
breathing, but they also develop
spiritual faculties, or rather aid in
their unfoldment, in the same way.
The Oriental philosophies teach that man
has many faculties which are at present
in a dormant state, but which will
become unfolded as the race
progresses. They also teach that
man, by the proper effort of the will,
aided by favorable conditions, may aid
in the unfoldment of these spiritual
faculties, and develop them much sooner
than in the ordinary process of
evolution. In other words, one may
even now develop spiritual powers of
consciousness which will not become the
common property of the race until after
long ages of gradual development under
the law of evolution. In all of
the exercises directed toward this end,
rhythmic breathing plays an important
part. There is of course no mystic
property in the breath itself which
produces such wonderful results, but the
rhythm produced by the Yogi breath is
such as to bring the whole system,
including the brain, under perfect
control, and in perfect harmony, and by
this means, the most perfect condition
is obtained for the unfoldment of these
latent faculties.
In this work we cannot go
deeply into the philosophy of the East
regarding spiritual development, because
this subject would require volumes to
cover it, and then again the subject is
too abstruse to interest the average
reader. There are also other
reasons, well known to occultists, why
this knowledge should not be spread
broadcast at this time. Rest
assured, dear student, that when the
time comes for you to take the next
step, the way will be opened out before
you. 'When the chela (student) is
ready, the guru (master) appears.'
In this chapter we will give you
directions for the development of two
phases of spiritual consciousness, i.e.,
(1) the consciousness of the identity of
the Soul, and (2) the consciousness of
the connection of the Soul with the
Universal Life. Both of the
exercises given below are simple, and
consist of mental images firmly held,
accompanied with rhythmic
breathing. The student must not
expect too much at the start, but must
make haste slowly, and be content to
develop as does the flower, from seed to
blossom.
SOUL CONSCIOUSNESS.
The real Self is not the
body or even the mind of man.
These things are but a part of his
personality, the lesser self. The
real Self is the Ego, whose
manifestation is in individuality.
The real Self is independent of the
body, which it inhabits, and is even
independent of the mechanism of the
mind, which it uses as an
instrument. The real Self is a
drop from the Divine Ocean, and is
eternal and indestructible. It
cannot die or be annihilated, and no
matter what becomes of the body, the
real Self still exists. It is the
Soul. Do not think of your Soul as
a thing apart from you, for you are the
Soul, and the body is the unreal and
transitory part of you which is changing
in material every day, and which you
will some day discard. You may
develop the faculties so that they will
be conscious of the reality of the Soul,
and its independence of the body.
The Yogi plan for such development is by
meditation upon the real Self or Soul,
accompanied by rhythmic breathing.
The following exercise is the simplest
form.
Exercise. Place your
body in a relaxed, reclining
position. Breathe rhythmically,
and meditate upon the real Self,
thinking of yourself as an entity
independent of the body, although
inhabiting it and being able to leave it
at will. Think of yourself, not as
the body, but as a spirit, and of your
body as but a shell, useful and
comfortable, but not a part of the real
You. Think of yourself as an
independent being, using the body only
as a convenience. While
meditating, ignore the body entirely,
and you will find that you will often
become almost entirely unconscious of
it, and will seem to be out of the body
to which you may return when you are
through with the exercise.
This is the gist of the
Yogi meditative breathing methods, and
if persisted in will give one a
wonderful sense of the reality of the
Soul, and will make him seem almost
independent of the body. The sense
of immortality will often come with this
increased consciousness, and the person
will begin to show signs of spiritual
development which will be noticeable to
himself and others. But he must
not allow himself to live too much in
the upper regions, or to despise his
body, for he is here on this plane for a
purpose, and he must not neglect his
opportunity to gain the experiences
necessary to round him out, nor must he
fail to respect his body, which is the
Temple of the Spirit.
THE UNIVERSAL
CONSCIOUSNESS.
The Spirit in man, which
is the highest manifestation of his
Soul, is a drop in the ocean of Spirit,
apparently separate and distinct, but
yet really in touch with the ocean
itself, and with every other drop in
it. As man unfolds in spiritual
consciousness he becomes more and more
aware of his relation to the Universal
Spirit, or Universal Mind as some term
it. He feels at times as if he
were almost at-one-ment with it, and
then again he loses the sense of contact
and relationship. The Yogis seek
to attain this state of Universal
Consciousness by meditation and rhythmic
breathing, and many have thus attained
the highest degree of spiritual
attainment possible to man in this stage
of his existence. The student of
this work will not need the higher
instruction regarding adeptship at this
time, as he has much to do and
accomplish before he reaches that stage,
but it may be well to initiate him into
the elementary stages of the Yogi
exercises for developing Universal
Consciousness, and if he is in earnest
he will discover means and methods
whereby he may progress. The way
is always opened to him who is ready to
tread the path. The following
exercise will be found to do much toward
developing the Universal Consciousness
in those who faithfully practice it.
Exercise. Place your
body in a reclining, relaxed
position. Breathe rhythmically,
and meditate upon your relationship with
the Universal Mind of which you are but
an atom. Think of yourself as
being in touch with All, and at-one-ment
with All. See All as One, and your
Soul as a part of that One. Feel
that you are receiving the vibrations
from the great Universal Mind, and are
partaking of its power and strength and
wisdom. The two following lines of
meditation may be followed.
(a) With each inhalation,
think of yourself as drawing in to
yourself the strength and power of the
Universal Mind. When exhaling
think of yourself as passing out to
others that same power, at the same time
being filled with love for every living
thing, and desiring that it be a
partaker of the same blessings which you
are now receiving. Let the
Universal Power circulate through you.
(b) Place your mind in a
reverential state, and meditate upon the
grandeur of the Universal Mind, and open
yourself to the inflow of the Divine
Wisdom, which will fill you with
illuminating wisdom, and then let the
same flow out from you to your brothers
and sisters whom you love and would
help.
This exercise leaves with
those who have practiced it a new-found
sense of strength, power and wisdom, and
a feeling of spiritual exaltation and
bliss. It must be practiced only
in a serious, reverential mood, and must
not be approached triflingly or lightly.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS.
The exercises given in
this chapter require the proper mental
attitude and conditions, and the trifler
and person of a non-serious nature, or
one without a sense of spirituality and
reverence, had better pass them by, as
no results will be obtained by such
persons, and besides it is a wilful
trifling with things of a high order,
which course never benefits those who
pursue it. These exercises are for
the few who can understand them, and the
others will feel no attraction to try
them.
During meditation let the
mind dwell upon the ideas given in the
exercise, until it becomes clear to the
mind, and gradually manifests in real
consciousness within you. The mind
will gradually become passive and at
rest, and the mental image will manifest
clearly. Do not indulge in these
exercises too often, and do not allow
the blissful state produced to render
you dissatisfied with the affairs of
everyday life, as the latter are useful
and necessary for you, and you must
never shirk a lesson, however
disagreeable to you it may be. Let
the joy arising from the unfolding
consciousness buoy you up and nerve you
for the trials of life, and not make you
dissatisfied and disgusted. All is
good, and everything has its
place. Many of the students who
practice these exercises will in time
wish to know more. Rest assured
that when the time comes we will see
that you do not seek in vain. Go
on in courage and confidence, keeping
your face toward the East, from whence
comes the rising Sun.
Peace be unto you, and unto
all men.
AUM.
Body
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