by Gurani Anjali
The movement of life is the rhythm of breath. There are times when the breath is stabilized and in perfect equilibrium. At times when there is anxiety and stress in relationships and in circumstances, the breath begins to fluctuate and does not have a steady rhythm. When that equilibrium is disturbed, the body goes through a lot of physical changes and the mind has distracting thoughts. So the breath is a wonderful gift we have, a power within us to rejuvenate ourselves, so that we may become perfect. The breath has been working since before you were born in your mother’s womb. It has continued to be a vital source up to this time in your life. If you find you have no one to turn to, turn to your breath and move with it, not against it, but with it. We go against the breath when we get involved in circumstances that are filled with negativities coming from the afflictions of life, the kleshas. The breath then goes out of rhythm because the activities at hand are too demanding. It is necessary for each one of you to return to the breath at least once a day. Give it the attention that is owed to it so that you may be ignited and uplifted, so that you may stabilize your internal and external life, and so that you may be made fit for the higher levels of consciousness.
Humans tend to be at the first three levels of consciousness. The mula-dhara (the lowest cakra located at the perineum), the svadhisthana (the second center, located at the genitals), and the nabhi (third cakra, located at the navel). These three levels of consciousness are constantly sending the average individual into states of irregularity and unrest. So one is to achieve the endurance and strength to overcome these three basic levels of consciousness and go upward into the anahata cakra (the heart center) which is the seat of compassion. It is well for you to do that. Make sure that at least once a day, you return to your breath and come out of the three lower levels of consciousness, so that you may become an individual who has compassion. Compassion only comes out when one reaches the heart center. Other than that, you may try very hard to be compassionate in the lower levels of consciousness, but that would be only trying. You cannot achieve it there. Those three states of consciousness do give mankind a lot of unrest. After one has suffered much unrest, one has no choice, but to say, “I’m getting out.” And then one does get out. The three basic levels do create a lot of pain, so that through that pain, through that suffering, one may let go and go higher into anahata cakra.
When one reaches the anahata cakra, that is when a bodhisattva emerges, a being who is ready for compassion, who sees the suffering in the world and who goes out of his or her way to eliminate suffering when it comes before him or her. Attend to the breath at least once a day. Hold the breath within you for at least one minute. If you can go to a minute and a half, terrific. Also hold the breath outside the body, as is done during the practice of pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses). Bahya kumbhaka (the outward held breath) is also to be held for one minute. See if you can do it. Try it. Do it at least once a day. If you can do it three times a day, that’s wonderful. The more you do it, the quicker you will advance. Body sickness, body ailments, all these can be changed by the power of the breath. It moves within. Moves. It is a great mover. Attend to it. Om shanti.