Category:Pranayama
Theme Analysis
The quotes in this category comprehensively illustrate that prāṇāyāma is not merely a secular breathing exercise for physical health, but a vital component of the eightfold aṣṭāṅga-yoga system designed for spiritual elevation. When Śrīla Prabhupāda explains the progression from yama and niyama through āsana to prāṇāyāma, he emphasizes that the mechanical control of the life air is strictly a tool to subdue the materially absorbed mind and senses. This physiological regulation aims to elevate the practitioner to the stages of pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, and dhyāna, culminating in samādhi. The ultimate perfection of this trance is not a void state, but the realization of the Supersoul, Lord Viṣṇu, within the core of the heart. For modern society, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out the extreme difficulty and frequent failure of this mechanical process, contrasting it with the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, where the simple acts of chanting the holy names and engaging the mind upon the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa constitute perpetual and perfect prāṇāyāma without the severe physical austerities.
- The Eightfold Path of Mysticism: The practice of prāṇāyāma is firmly situated within a progressive sequence of disciplines known as aṣṭāṅga-yoga, which requires strict regulation of life and sitting postures before breath control can even begin.
- Eradication of Material Contamination: By regulating the internal air currents, the yogic breathing process seeks to neutralize physiological disturbances, thereby checking the mind from engaging in fruitive activities and sense gratification.
- The Ultimate Target is Viṣṇu: The goal of the entire system is samādhi, which is explicitly defined as absorbing oneself in seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the localized Paramātmā within the heart.
- Limitations in the Modern Age: Because the mind is deeply absorbed in bodily necessities, even advanced yogis frequently fail to achieve true samādhi, exposing the extreme difficulty of successfully performing this system today.
- Perpetual Trance Through Devotion: Engaging directly in the loving service of Kṛṣṇa, particularly through the chanting of the holy names and dancing in ecstasy, automatically fulfills and surpasses the goals of mechanical breath control.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Understanding the True Purpose of Prāṇāyāma Yoga.
Pages in category "Pranayama"
The following 56 pages are in this category, out of 56 total.
A
- According to Srila Jiva Gosvami, the fire of pranayama is mental satisfaction. That fire was perceived by the Supersoul, Visnu, and thereby Lord Brahma and Siva also perceived it
- After practicing the yogasana for mystic yoga, the Pracetas managed to control their life air, mind, words and external vision. Thus by the pranayama process they were completely relieved of material attachment
- As far as pranayama is concerned, chanting of the holy name of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy are also considered pranayama
- As far as the inhabitants of Siddhaloka are concerned, they are endowed with all mystic powers. The yogis in this planet practice the eightfold yogic mysticism - namely yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi
B
- By all these stages of practice (yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi) one must realize Lord Visnu, who is the target of all yoga
- By performing karma-yoga one comes to the platform of jnana-yoga, knowledge. And from knowledge to this astanga-yoga, eightfold yoga system - dhyana, dharana, pranayama, asana - like that, those who are practicing the astanga-yoga
- By practicing hatha-yoga, pranayama and so forth one should counteract sufferings due to the body and mind. Similarly, by developing the mode of goodness, especially in regard to eating, one should conquer sleep
- By practicing pranayama to control the air within the body through yoga, and by eating only air and dry leaves fallen from the trees, you (Vasudeva and Devaki) cleansed from your minds all dirty things - SB 10.3.34-35
- By practicing the process of pranayama, one can eradicate the contamination of his physiological condition, and by concentrating the mind one can become free from all sinful activities
- By practicing the yoga exercises of pranayama, the usual breathing exercises, he would concentrate his mind
- By remaining perpendicular, they could concentrate their minds on the uppermost Brahman. While they were practicing this pranayama, the great sage Narada, who is worshiped both by demons and by demigods, came to see them
H
- Here (in SB 3.28.11) it is recommended that by practicing the breathing process of pranayama one can be released from contamination created by the principal physiological elements
- Here you will find the students, although they are not exercising the bodily asana, pranayama, it is automatically being done because the mind is the center of all activities. So mind is always engaged in Krsna. That is bhagavata-dharma
I
- If you simply engage your mind on the lotus feet of Krsna, that is perpetual pranayama. Not for one hour, two hour, or a minute
- In spite of their (empiric philosophers and yogis) strict adherence to the principles of yama, niyama, asana, dhyana, dharana and pranayama, the great yogis and jnanis are unable to enter into the internal potency of the Lord
- In this way (by pranayama yoga, and by eating only air and dry leaves fallen from the trees cleansed your minds from all dirty things), desiring a benediction from Me (Krsna), you (Devaki and Vasudeva) worshiped Me with peaceful minds - SB 10.3.34-35
M
- Maharaja Prthu, practicing the pranayama-yoga system, engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as advised by the saint Sanat-kumara
- Mind, being absorbed in the Supreme, they can see. Yam pasyanti yoginah. The yogi sees. That is samadhi. That is . . . pranayama, of course, they controlling the breathing. So these things are very difficult in this age
O
- One must have regulated life. That is called yama-niyama. Then practice asana. There is mechanical process of sitting which will help you, concentration of the mind, asana. Then pranayama, concentration of the mind. Then meditation
- One should control the sitting posture, regulate the breathing process by the yogic pranayama and thus control the mind and senses and with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord
S
- Sense restriction by some spiritual process like astanga-yoga, in the matter of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, etc., is recommended for less intelligent persons who have no better knowledge. BG 1972 purports
- Sometimes he would take his bath in the River Godavari. After taking his bath he would sit in a secluded place on the bank of the river, and, by practicing the yoga exercises of pranayama, the usual breathing exercise, he would concentrate his mind
T
- The apana air goes downward, and the prana air goes up. The pranayama yogi practices breathing the opposite way until the currents are neutralized into puraka, equilibrium. BG 1972 purports
- The eightfold yoga mysticism is automatically practiced in KC because the ultimate purpose is served. There is gradual process of elevation in the practice of yama, niyama, asana, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, pranayama, and samadhi. BG 1972 purports
- The eightfold yoga practice - yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, and so on - gives quick results, and one feels that he is doing something substantial
- The first process of spiritualizing the mind by mechanical chanting of the pranava (omkara) and by control of the breathing system is technically called the mystic or yogic process of pranayama, or fully controlling the breathing air
- The inhabitants of those islands are also divided into four castes - Rtavrata, Satyavrata, Danavrata and Anuvrata - which exactly resemble brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya and sudra. They practice pranayama and mystic yoga
- The Kurus thought, "If they (Yadus) come to challenge us because their son was arrested, we shall accept the fight & teach them a lesson, automatically they will be subdued under pressure, as the senses are subdued by the mystic yoga process of pranayam"
- The mystic yogis simply try to control the senses by practicing the eight divisions of yoga-yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, etc. - and the jnanis try by mental reasoning to understand that sense enjoyment is false
- The practice of mysticism or yoga, known as astanga-yoga, which is divisible into an eightfold procedure called yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. BG 1972 purports
- The preliminary activities of the way of yoga are asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, etc
- The purpose of pranayama, or mystic yoga, is to stop the mind and senses from engaging in fruitive activities
- The sages practice pranayama (trance) by controlling the breathing process, mind and senses through the mystic yoga practice. Thus they try to merge into the Supreme Brahman
- The so-called yogis who practice in Western countries have no idea of this. The aim of pranayama is not to make the body strong and fit for working hard. The aim is worship of Krsna
- The ultimate state of this pranayama system is to be fixed in trance, technically called samadhi. But experience has proven that even the samadhi stage also fails to control the materially absorbed mind
- The word pranayama does not refer to any ulterior motive. The actual aim is to strengthen the mind and senses in order to engage them in devotional service
- The word pranayamaih is very important in this verse (SB 4.23.8) because the hatha-yogis and astanga-yogis practice pranayama, but generally they do not know the purpose behind it
- The word pratyak is significant. In yogic practice, the eight divisions are yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Pratyahara means to wind up the activities of the senses
- The yogis who try to elevate themselves by controlling the senses and who meditate upon Me by practicing the breathing exercise of pranayama are not so thoroughly freed from material desires
- These (the practice of yama, niyama, asana, pratyahara, dhyana, dharana, pranayama, and samadhi) only preface perfection by devotional service, which alone can award peace to the human being. It is the highest perfection of life. BG 1972 purports
- This process of turning the senses from material attachment to the loving transcendental service of the Lord is called pratyahara, and the very process is called pranayama, ending in samadhi, or absorption in pleasing the Supreme Lord Hari by all means
- This system of yoga for controlling the breathing process is called pranayama, and in the beginning it is practiced in the hatha-yoga system through different sitting postures. BG 1972 purports
- Those who are too addicted to sense gratification are advised to practice the mystic yoga system, or astanga-yoga system, consisting of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyhara and so on. In this way, one can control the senses
- Those who are very much addicted to the bodily necessities of life, for them this hatha-yoga system. Hatha-yoga system means astanga-yoga. Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, dhyana, dharana, pratyahara, samadhi
- Through the mystic yoga practice called pranayama, the yogi controls the airs within the body to maintain the body in a healthy condition. In this way, the yogi comes to the point of trance and tries to see the Supersoul within the core of his heart
W
- Whatever austerity, pranayama and mystic yoga practices Prthu performed were performed for the sake of worshiping Krsna. Prthu Maharaja serves as a perfect example for yogis also. Whatever he did, he did to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krsna
- When you are not perfect, you accept this yoga system of asana, astanga-yoga system; pranayama, sitting process, controlling the breathing exercise. But when you become perfect, you need not. You give up
Y
- Yoga is practiced in eight different stages: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi
- Yoga means to get into touch with the SL. The process, however, includes several bodily features such as asana, dhyana, pranayama and meditation, and all of them are meant for concentrating upon the localized aspect of Vasudeva represented as Paramatma
- Yogis have a bodily concept of life - they think that they can achieve something spiritual by exercising the body through dharana, asana, pranayama, etc
- Yogis may undergo severe austerities and penances for many births by practicing yama, niyama, asana and pranayama, none of which are easily performed - SB 10.12.12