Mental calmness by breathing exercises

Pathanjali Yoga Sutras: Samadhi pada

Sutra 34: 'Prachchardhan - vidharanabhyaam vaa pranaasyah'

The mind may also be calmed by expulsion and retention of the breath.

Explanation:

The word used here by Pathanjali is Prana. Prana actually means energy - the vital energy which we draw into ourselves from the surrounding universe. Since this energy is obtained primarily by breathing, we may translate prana as 'breath' in this particular context.

Later on, we shall learn more about the system of breathing exercises to which Pathanjali refers. It is known as Pranayama. But, without going into details, it is necessary to make two general observations here.

First, we must note that Pathanjali sees control of the mind as a psychological problem. In this he agrees with modern scientific thought. Studies of breathing have shown that the method of respiration affects the whole organism. Calmness can actually be induced by deep steady inhalations and exhalations. Mental disturbances and despondency are accompanied ( as Pathanjali notes in sutra 31 of this chapter) by irregular breathing; rapid, shallow and uncontrolled.

Secondly, it must never be forgotten that Pranayama is merely a physical means to a spiritual end. Many uninformed people imagine that yoga is nothing but a system of breathing exercises and complicated postures -- "holding your breath and standing on your head". When they speak of "yoga" they really mean Hatha yoga, which is the correct name for this system of exercises, as originally practiced in ancient India. Hatha yoga was designed to prepare the aspirant for spiritual experience by perfecting his body; but it has been condemned by spiritual teachers because it tends, in practice, to concentrate the mind upon the body itself. In the West, it is to be found in a completely degenerated form, as a cult of physical beauty and prolonged youth. As such it may be effective, certainly, but also dangerous. Overindulgence in breathing exercises, just for the sake of agreeable "Oxygen-jag" which they produce, may lead to hallucinations and possibly, insanity. And even at best, an excessive preoccupation with our physical appearance and well-being is obviously a distraction, causing us to forget, in silly vanity, our proper purpose.

--Swami Prabhavanada.

How we should be with others?

Pathanjali's Yoga Sutras: Samadhi pada

Sutra 33) 'Maithri -karunaa muditha upekshanaam sukha dukha punya apunya vishayanam bhavanaath ashchitta prashadanam'

Undisturbed calmness of mind is attained by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and indiffrence toward the wicked.

Explanation:

In order to achieve concentration, we must calm and purify our minds. Pathanjali now tells us how to do this. He prescribes the mental attitude we should take toward our neighbors in this world. If we meet someone who is happy in his way of life, we are inclined to envy him and be jealous of his success. We must learn to rejoice in it, as we take pleasure in the happiness of a friend. If someone is unhappy, we should feel sorry for him, instead of despising him or criticizing him for bringing misfortunes upon himself. The virtue of others is apt to irritate us, because we take it as a reflection upon our own shortcomings. We are tempted to sneer at it and suggest that it is only hypocrisy. On the contrary, we should delight in it and see it as an inspiration to ourselves to do better. As for the wicked, we must remember Christ's words: "Be not overcome of evil". If someone harms us or hates us, our first instinct is to answer him with hatred and injury. We may succeed in injuring him, but we shall be injuring ourselves much more, and our hatred will throw our own minds into confusion. So we must practice indifference toward the hurts we receive from others with awareness. We must go behind the wickedness of the wicked and try to understand what makes them treat us in that way. Very often we shall discover that we ourselves are partly to blame for their attitude.There may be provocation on both sides.

Our proper approach toward our fellow human beings is summed up in one of the first of the Hindu monastic vows:"The bees seek honey. I will shun the habit of the flies and follow that of the bees. I will refrain from finding faults in others and look only for the good which is in them". That is a vow which we should all take and try to live up to.

- Swami Prabhavananda.

Single mindedness

Pathanjali's Yoga Sutras: Samadhi pada

Sutra 32: 'Tatprathishedhaartham ekatva abhyaasah'

They (Obstacles to knowledge) can be removed by the practice of concentration upon a single truth.

Explanation:

God has many aspects, and so there are innumerable approaches to him. Pathanjali will deal with some of them, later, in detail. This sutra simply stresses the importance of single-mindedness. When the aspirant has chosen his ideal form of the Godhead and his way of approaching it, he must host fast to that. Some people are apt to be too catholic in their attitude to religion; they try a little of this cult, a little of that, and fail to follow any one path through to the goal where all are united. Sri Ramakrishna compared them to the man who digs a number of shallow wells, but never goes deep enough to find water anywhere.

In order to achieve this concentration, we must calm and purify our minds. Pathanjali tells us how to do this. We will know about this in next sutra.