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Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Maitrimilan talk - August 2, 2010

In the link you may listen to the voice recording of Maitrimilan talk of Raghuramji.

Maitrimilan (ie cordial gathering of all the inmates of prashanit Kuteeram the residential campus) took place in the auditorium of Vivekanda Yoga University.

http://www.nvraghuram.org/voice_files/Mitrimilan020810.WAV

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Video Upload: What is health (Part 1 & 2)

Sri NV Raghuram answers the questions:
1. What is health
2. What is the role of modern medicine in health.



Part 2:
1. how to go back to natural state?
2. what is the role of prana in health?
3. can healers help us to go back to this natural state?
4. are healers successful according to our belief?

Wednesday, September 08, 2010

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - Chapter 1 SAMĀDHI PĀDA verse 1 & 2

English meaning: "Now the exposition of yoga"
Listen to Sri NV Raghuramji's satsang on Verse 1: please click on.

English meaning: "Yoga is the restriction of the fluctuations of mind-stuff"
Listen to Sri NV Raghuramji's satsang on Verse 2: please click on.


To read the Patanjali's Yoga Sutras:
english translation: click for the online copy in pdf format
turkish translation: click for online copy in htm format 

Saturday, July 03, 2010

Video Upload: What is Bandhas and difficulties in practicing bandhas

Sri NV Raghuramji answers the questions:
1. What is a bandha?
2. What is the science behind the bandhas?



Sri NV Raghuramji answers the questions:
1) limitations of practicing bandhas
2) difficulties to learn bandhas
3) reasons of having a sequence in bandhas

Friday, July 02, 2010

Bhagavat Gita Talks - Chapter 2 - Sloka 58

Sri NV Raghuram gives an explanation to the sloka

"Yadaa samharate chaayam kurmo'ngaaneeva sarvashah,
Indriyaaneendriyaarthebhyas tasya prajnaa pratishthitaa."

"When, like the tortoise which withdraws its limbs on all sides,
he withdraws his senses from the sense objects, then his wisdom becomes steady."

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Audio recordings of recent activities in USA

Satsang / Bay Area-SF June 27, 2010
Listen or download Yoga and Stress Satsang

Video slide show that Saurabh made from pictures taken at Yoga and Stress Satsang



Sastriji Memorial 2010
Part 1: Listen or download Concept of Fullness satsang
Part 2: Listen or download Concept of Knowledge Satsang

Talk in Indianapolis 2010
Raja Yoga slokas
part 1 : Listen or download Raja Yoga Slokas Satsang Part 1
part 2 : Listen or download Raja Yoga Slokas Satsang Part 2

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Video upload: What is Enlightenment / Samadhi ?

Part 1:
Sri NV Raghuram explains;
1. What is Samadhi?
2. What to expect in realisation / samadhi state?
3. How do we know that the experience is real?
4. Should we use hallucinogens to get samadhi experience?



Sri NV Raghuram explains;
Can anyone succeed in siddhis, that are mentioned in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras?



Sri NV Raghuram explains;
1) Is it possible to reach siddhis, mentioned in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras?
2) Are siddhis signs of spiritual advancement?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Bhagavat Gita Talks - Chapter 2 - Sloka 69

Sri NV Raghuram gives an explanation to the sloka

"Yaanishaa sarvabhootaanaam tasyaam jaagarti samyamee;
Yasyaam jaagrati bhootaani saa nishaa pashyato muneh."

"That which is night to all beings, then the self-controlled man is awake;
when all beings are awake, that is night for the sage who sees."

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Video Upload: Initiation in Yoga

Part 1

Sri NV Raghuram answers the questions:
1. What is initiation
2. How is initiation done
3. Does initiation require ceremonies/rituals?



Part 2:

Sri NV Raghuram answers the questions:
1. Who is qualified to give initiation in yoga
2. Can something go wrong during initiation
3. Who should get initiation
4. Is spiritual progress possible without any initiation


Friday, March 26, 2010

Sanskrit Chanting in Germany

Sanskrit Chanting - 11/2009
Place: Bad Griesbach / Germany


Sri NV Raghuram & Dr Christopf Garner, KWA Klinik Stift Rottal Bad Griesbach Neurological Hospital


Thursday, March 04, 2010

Creativity or Killer Instinct?

Whenever I heard the phrase ‘killer instinct’, it always used to create ‘not a good feeling’ and made me very uncomfortable but I never thought about it deeply. Especially when we hear in sports, I never liked it at all. Recently I had to give thought to it when my nephew asked me to give some philosophical background about sports.       
Our seers and sages from the Vedic times held non-violence as the highest virtue with one of the most valuable sutra “Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah” . Parama dharma or the supreme reality or principle is creation. I consider anything that leads to destruction as the highest crime. All other virtues are simple virtues or simple dharmas and non-violence is the supreme virtue indicating that if there is any thing, which is directly opposite to creation, it is violence. The very concept of ‘killer instinct’ has the idea of violence at its core. Therefore, killer instinct is a very bad concept and just cannot be promoted however useful and effective and popular it is!       
In the Astanga yoga of Patanjali ‘ahimsa’ or non violence is given the first place. This is the first of five yamas or disciplines that form the prerequisites for the practice of yoga. When Patanjali gave all these practices such as yama, niyama, asana pranayama etc, it was clearly for ones own personal spiritual growth and definitely not with reference to the world outside. I found many speakers and writers talk about violence, as some thing that has reference only to the world out side. When you look at violence and nonviolence with respect to the world out side, it is obviously  a necessary discipline for a smooth functioning of the society. If some one violates these social norms he/she will become punishable. I feel that if we interpret ahimsa only in the context of social harmony it is a very superficial meaning of ahimsa. It becomes most meaningful if we look  at it as a tool for one’s own growth. Just think for a while--- what will be the amount of damage a person inflicts upon himself physically mentally and spiritually if he takes to the course of violence!
      As soon as we get any thought of violence, it creates a chain of negative reactions in our mind body complex. The mind gets into a state of agitation and the body chemistry gets terribly disturbed. We pour in huge quantities of adrenalin and steroidal chemicals into the blood that can create enormous amount of imbalance in the body. If you are a sensitive person, the damage done to your mind body complex by these thoughts is much more than the effect it can have on the outside. Interestingly for an insensitive person he will not even realize the damage it does. Whether one perceives it or not the damage is done. Therefore, both the faces of violence are terribly dangerous and cannot be promoted for whatever reason. However, sometimes when all others methods designed to bring about the desirable change in the society or the individual fail, harsh, firm and violent methods are to be used. This does not come under the concept of Ahimsa which is a discipline recommended for individual or social health. After all if any one becomes violent towards the society, the state legislation has provided enough protective measures at different levels starting from the police force to the military , the team that protects law and order. That is a part of the social system and no spiritual teaching is necessary to take care of it.
      Therefore, Indian philosophy prescribes the concept of non-violence basically for protecting your core personality and the idea of external non violence becomes a by-product of this discipline. Since yoga is a system for developing one’s peace of mind, every recommendation is for the sake of self evolution through introspective correction and not with reference to the world around. Several instructions are recommended for the practice of non-violence as a spiritual discipline and it has to be practiced  kaya, vacha manasa—i.e. at mental level  and through words and action. But for any reason if you need to use harshness for correcting  the evil violent forces, then the suggestion by Sri Krishna in Bhagavadgita is to use violence or anger with complete mastery only when necessary as a last resort. And  show harshness and violence outside but never have anger within.your words and  action may look violent but never be harsh in the mind. Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa used to say ‘hiss’ like a snake when necessary but never bite. 
      Coming back to the concept of ‘killer instinct’ that is widely promoted today in competitive games or sports,I strongly feel that this concept is totally against the very philosophy of sports.It is poisonous because this puts the player’s mind also into a killing mode . It makes him contemplate on killing the opponent. With this very posture, we are harming ourselves and the others..
      The contemplation on this thought of ‘killer instinct’ snowballs over time and  the idea goes so deep into ones mind that the person is emotionally charged with the instinct. This preoccupation aoaks in to the system so much, that when he wins he is a killer but when he looses it kills him!  As a result, his whole life is going to be filled with nothing but violence. This same violence shows up in all other activities. 
      You may tell me ‘ok. I agree that this word is not good; this attitude is not good and not very pleasant. But if I give-up this how can I perform in this competitive world! I will become non-active and a non-performer, leave alone winning in a competitive situation. Is there anything else that you can suggest to be a winner without using this cocept of a killer?’Yes. There is a much healthier attitude. ;an attitude in tune with nature; a concept that can never promote violence; an attitude very much in tune with the discipline of ahimsa. This wonderful life enhancing all encompassing spiritually acceptable concept is that of ‘creativity’.
      Become an artist .Who is an artist? He is one whose performance is far far away from any thought of violence. He creates a mesmerizing art piece out of a simple piece of canvas and pencil. A sculptor creates a sculpture out of raw wood or stone. He has an ability to see the hidden beauty and the successful outcome that exists in the plain colorless sheet or the rough piece of stone. The final winning performance is already there even before he puts the first stroke. He only sees the master piece of beauty as if hiding behind the canvas. The sculptor approaches the stone as though the final figure is   pleading him to unfold herself. Once Michel-Angelo was passing by a stone shop and found there was a stone lying by the side of the shop. He went to the owner and wanted to purchase.it. The shop fellow told him ‘why do you want to buy this stone? in fact  I have actually been waiting to get it out of my way .I will only be thankful if you remove it from here. Michel Angelo smiled and said ‘I will show you this stone after an year’ and took that stone. A year later, Michel invited the shopkeeper to a big function which was organized for unveiling a sculpture. Michel told the shop keeper ‘this is the same stone that I brought from your place last year. As I was passing by your shop I heard this beauty asking me to take me and release from the bondage within this hard stone’. The friend could not believe him. A sculptor, an artist, a creator can hear the voice of life from lifeless. He unfolds the beauty hidden and he will bring about the seemingly impossible. For others it may look to be a challenge, a struggle but for the artist it is like an enchanting journey where every moment is a celebration.
      Every activity can be done in two ways-- one is the way of fighting and the other is the way of creating. A child’s growth is not a fight but it is like unfolding the inner potential. This is ‘creativity’. Even a game that we play can be in a killer’s way or a creative way. When we do this in a killer’s way as I explained earlier, our focus will be on the opponent and if we are in a creative way then our attention will be on self. When we are in killer’s way we will be spoiling our body chemistry with the bad chemicals in our blood stream where as if we are playing in a creative way then we vitalize the system by pouring in health rejuvenating chemicals such as endorphins into our blood stream. In creative way of playing, there is always a rhythm and in a killer’s way there is a fatigue and break down of the system. One who takes the game in a creative way he will be able to appreciate the game whether he is a winner or looser. Then ‘I’ is not important but the game becomes important. Interestingly when the spectators watch the game, they also do not feel that it is a war but it is a graceful artwork beautifully shaped into some thing worth watching. I watch the Indian cricket team playing. Whether the score is high or low we can see that Virendra Sehwag’s play is so graceful and it is more like an art work than a war. Once, in an interview when the interviewer asked him how he could play against one of the tough bowlers, his reply was so innocent that he said ‘I do not play according to the bowler but I look at each ball and according to its merit’. The same case is with Roger Fedrer playing tennis. It is so graceful to see how he merges in the game and handles it so smoothly and gracefully. He seems to forget both himself  and the opponent. This is probably the reason that we do not see him running around like a mad man in the court and lose his energy.
      Every skill depends on the training you had. The real skill in training is not only the actual learning of the intricate details of the skill but there is something more. It needs a training in converting all activity into an art piece , an a act of creativity. This is the process of shifting the focus from outside to inside. You need to do it from within and not to focus on the outside. The out side is a situation and ability is inside. Situations are inert. You are the vibrant able being facing all situations.The ability to change the situation to move towards success is the process of training; more challenging the situation more the reward of achievement; more the expression of the inbuilt  freedom.  This is the purpose of playing a game or training in nay skill. This ability to express your inner freedom is called ‘karmasu kaushalam’ by Sri Krishna. This is the choice element that is inbuilt into all living systems. This ability is there in every animal too. You can see this in the monkeys in Amazon forest. They jump from one tree to another tree in a highly skilled artistic way. They only assess and decide about the next leap to the next branch. No other thing is in their purview. They simply express their inner ability. You must see how the little ones are trained by the mother monkey. It is obvious to see how natural it is to become skilled if we do not have the hang ups about the targets but just learn to express the inbuilt inner ability. The difference with man and animals is that they do not know that they are skilled but we as humans have the ability to know that I am the wonderful performer and hence can en joy this expression of the nature’s gift. Now can you see how we have moved from violence and killer instinct to become an artist and a joyful performer? You are an achiever because you could process the expression of the nature’s gift – the ability to adapt and tune to the challenging situation that is inbuilt within all of us. This is what Swami Vivekananda meant when he said ‘each soul is potentially free (divine) and the goal is to manifest this freedom within by controlling nature within and without’. You would be the best player if you decide to express this inbuilt ability in the situation of sports; you would be the best scientist if you chose to express this freedom in the field of unraveling the miseries of nature through mathematical formulae; you will tower the world of music if you express this freedom through culturing the muscles of your fingers on a musical instrument or the muscles of the voice box.
      Now a days, it is unfortunate that we are hearing more and more incidents of shocking incidents of violence amongst big achievers in any field. It is most disheartening to see this happening amongst sportsmen although the philosophy of sports and games is basically to move away from violence and channelize our energies towards comradeship, team spirit, give and take etc. We have been seeing several such incidents such as misbehavior of sports persons with air-hostesses,; Use of banned drugs for enhancing the performance; loose sexual conduct of reputed sports personnel etc. It is not only these social evils. We are seeing several examples of life style related diseases; e.g. we read that a reputed WWF player died of heart attack at the age of 40 years! This is only one example of several hundred early deaths.
      Another important feature of the ‘killer instinct’ is that it is like Opium. It takes away your awareness; when you get into the attitude of working for unfolding the creativity, you are deeply set in your awareness. It enhances your awareness; it opens up the inner doors towards purity which can only manifest as more and more compassion and non-violence. Every evil is characterized by lack of awareness. All violent emotions essentially benumb your awareness. Killer instinct is the height of anger against the opponent. Whenever we are angry we lose our awareness to the extent that we do not even know that we are angry and violent.
      Sri Krishna told Arjuna in Bhagavad-Gita ‘you must participate in the dharma yuddha ( war to remove the incorrigible unrighteous elements in the society) with full awareness; killing is not the thrust ;  to establish the righteousness in the society is the goal ;we had no choice than to adopt this path of war which we accept is violence; but this is the only way to punish the wicked.; oh! Arjuna, become a warrior with full awareness of the purpose and fight for the goal ; establish  a healthy society; this is your duty as a man belonging to the royal dynasty; this is your dharma; in the process you will only manifest your nature, your freedom to be in tune with divinity; you are not the sinner who kills for selfish achievements ; you have to just tune to your inner being and fight’.  
      When we as human beings are capable of recognizing such wonderful truths, when we are bestowed with these abilities how can we behave like unaware instinctual beings? Fighting is an instinct for survival. Here we are not trying to survive for earning our bread. Excelling in any field does not need a killer instinct; it only needs a change in our mind set; it is a wonderful expression of creativity; excelling is flowering .For a plant to come out of the soil it needs a little effort of violence but flowering is effortless; it is softness; it is joy ; it is enchanting; it spreads fragrance. How can we accept that sportsmen should have killer instinct? Krishna continues –‘You cannot fight the war efficiently if you do not have inner peace. Your skill comes from the peace within and not when you are driven by your emotions’. If war can become efficient n  a war with your peace within why do we have to think that a player should cherish this poison of killer instinct to be successful? This is the basic notional correction that is necessary for mankind today in any field of achievement; let us promote this change in mind set.




The degeneration in sports today resulting in misconduct is a manifestation of this concept of ‘killer instinct’ . Let us make sports healthier by changing the mind set and become creative. This will make sportsmen better human beings.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Video upload: What is Ahimsa - Non-violence

Questions answered in 4 parts:

Part 1 :
1. What is ahimsa according to yoga?



Part 2:
1. Is violence necessary for living
2. Was Jesus Christ's words "you are responsible of your thoughts" reflect ahimsa principle
3. do we see animosity in our lives due to our past karmas.




Part 3:
1. Does the animosity in the outside world perishes immediately after we start good karmas?
2. Does ahimsa promotes staying passive in life and to accept whatever comes to your way. 




Part 4:
Questions: 1. Does ahimsa promote selfless action?
2. Do we use suffering to draw attention? 2. Is creating violence necessary for charity work?

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Sunday, February 07, 2010

Lecture video : Karma Yoga

Maitri Milan talk on January 24, 2010 by Sri NV Raghuram. Maitri Milan is the auditorium of Swami Vivekananda Yoga University, in Bangalore, India.


Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Lecture video : Jnana / Knowledge (part 2)

Maitri Milan Talk of Sri NV Raghuramji, international yoga professor of Swami Vivekananda Yoga University, on January 17, 2010. Maitri Milan is the auditorium of Swami Vivekananda Yoga University in Bangalore/India.




The first part of the talk can be watched in the following link:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2010/01/jnana-knowledge.html

Friday, January 29, 2010

video upload: significance of Chakras in spiritual path

Sri NV Raghuramji gives answers to the questions below:
how many chakras do we have?
how to know whether chakras are working properly?
feeling chakras show spiritual advancement?
can feeling chakras be an obstacle on spiritual path?

Monday, January 25, 2010

Mail to Raghuramji and Nagendraji regarding Lalitaji's lefting her body


We are all affected by the vacuum of elders . one generation of elders in the VYASA family gone.
she was 87, ailing for some time, was very sad after aunti went, was praying - in fact fighting with devi saraswati ( her ishta devata) daily to take her away; is it not confrting to know that she left ehr body without an iota of suffering? her prayers were heard as the end  happened on vasanta panchami day which is the auspicious day on which a grand sraswati puja  celebration happens in the country (specially bengal and orissa0 almost to the same degree of austerity and granduer as durga puja. our parents have been so great and we are blessed and could not ask for more . the divine  family wherein our father whose name was ramarao -left his body on ramanavami day.
 sri sheshadriji -- a naotionalist who wrote about the ' dark night of indian history- the 14 th august 1947' if you have not read that book you should read-- he left his body on 14th august. lakshmi amma the great rambhakta who was a great source of shakti for prashanthi left her body on ekadashi after hugging  the huge durgama statue in prarthana mandir on vijayadasami day--we feel she has gone away for the jaitrayatra ( like  sri rama and krishna (through pandavas)  started the work on this day for dushta nigraha  and shista rakshana) for her further sojourn in a healthy body as she was full of energy to do more for women's problems in the world . and now  amma, a saraswathi bhakte, who was the mother of 5 of us who were all educated with so much ease to get the best of the education from  both east and west and use it for 'be and make' . two of us for complete inner growth, three of us for offering it to the society and  the family .rahguramji,  phani , sameer and, latha who joins the family in wedlock also involved in simlar adhyatmika and seva work.the job of guruji has been made easy by the extended family which has now branched off like a banyan tree. the family tree started growing fast that included mohanji first, subhadra next , dayananda as a small boy and then the hiararchy of all at prashanthi fully committed to the mission and vision of 'be and make'. what a grand family we have-- a huge family of thousands who feel the oneness --
it is a pride that we have you both in our vivekanada family. looking forward to your inputs for our students at S-VYASA.

  Dear Nagendra ji, Nagarathna didi, and Raghuram ji:

We are extremely saddened by the news of the sad demise of
revered Smt Lalithamma ji. This a major blow to the extended
family of Prashanti within a short span after auntie ji's
nirvana.

May the Lord give you strength to face this terrible loss.

--Anand and Meena Paranjpe

Friday, January 22, 2010

Lecture video : Jnana / Knowledge

Maitri Milan Talk of Sri NV Raghuramji on January 16, 2010. Maitri Milan is the auditorium of Swami Vivekananda Yoga University in Bangalore/India.



The second part of the talk can be watched in the below link:
http://nvraghuram.blogspot.com/2010/02/lecture-video-jnana-knowledge-part-2.html

Beloved Amma, Smt Lalthamma, left for her heavenly abode



Lalithamma very fondly called by all her relatives as Doddamma is a personification of love. She is one person who is one simple person amongst all intellectual successful well known personalities in that house. But her love is so powerful that in the peoples heart on a balance if you keep her on one side and all other members of the family
On the other side of the balance still the balance slides on her side. we may not remember about so many people who we might have come across but she not only remembers all of them and their families but she also very fondly enquires about all.


Even though Seetha mentioned the names of all of us and our connection with her  in her message she is one who is very dearly connected with Doddamma. Right form the childhood whenever Seetha or her sister would come to our home she would directly go to Doddamma and spend hours with her. Especially after coming to US she and her children would invariably spend a day with her. The bondage between them is very unique and beyond words. Therefore the death of Lalitha Doddamma left a great void in the hearts of seetha and her family members.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Collection of Yoga Gems -1 & 2-

Pooja vs Prayer and Worship & Sarve Bhaantu Sukhinah



The Essence of Suryanamaskaras

Monday, January 11, 2010

Message for Swamiji's Birthday


Wish you all the very best on this youth day which is the birthday celebrations of Swami Vivekananda on 12th January 2010.
  Swami Vivekananda is inspiring youth since the time he represented the Sanathana Dharma at the parliament of world religions in Chicago in 1893.
  His several statements for recognizing the inner strength and  self respect have stirred the blood in many youth not only in India but also all over the world not only during his times but even today many  new organisations are springing up taking inspiration for the good work to the needy by youngsters all over the world. That is the reason this is considered rightly as youth day!
  When we call it as youth day it does not mean that only young people have to observe the day. It means that  there is always a young person within us constantly wanting to guide us but some how we tend to over look him. On this day let us remember this youth in us and be inspired.
        An obvious question comes up that how do I recognize this youth in us. An answer for that is that the youth is always with these important qualities and if we recognize and identify with this than we are listening to the youth in us! a young person is

1             open to  enhancing his or her knowledge.
2             Creative and prepared to learn any thing new not known
3             Free from ego trips. A youth is humble and has no false pride  saying I know every thing and I need not learn any more.
4             Free and not stuck to ways of orthodox practices
5             Positive in his approach whether it is successful or a failure.

On this day of 12th January 2010 let us all find this youth in us and march forward!!
Especially my birthday wishes to all those lucky ones, who share the birthday along with Swami Vivekananda and let them also be inspired. Swami Vivekananda has to take birth some where he took birth in India. He has to belong to some culture he is born in Indian culture but let us not localize this personality by identifying him with a culture caste creed and religion.
Love,
Raghuram

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Video Uploads: Basics of Pranayama & Yogasanas versus physical excercise

Basics of Pranayama




Yogasanas versus physical excercise

Saturday, January 02, 2010

More Question and Answers / 18th international yoga conference

Question: for scientists and medical professionals only air and its movement up to lungs make sense. On the contrary, yogis believed to have seen 10 pranas [and nadis]. How can or will scientists understand the role of panca pranas in healing?

Answer:  Modern day scientists can understand that in order for the lungs to move we require power behind lung muscles and this power is a form of energy because for performing any kind of activity we require energy. The growth of an individual also requires energy.  The only source of energy we have is the food we consume. This alone cannot explain every activity we do. Therefore, Indian philosophy has given the idea that we are born with some thing similar to energy, which is called as prana. In my talk, I explained that prana is not what in the lungs but it is that which is behind the lung muscles, which makes respiratory system to function like other systems namely circulatory nervous and digestive systems function.

Yoga science and for that matter all Indian philosophy is based on the inner observation. Accordingly we all perceive inner activity going on and some inner scientists have divided it into five parts an some have given it is seven parts  and some in ten. What matters is what we do with this division. If that division is helping us to proceed in establishing our mastery over self then it is useful. If that division is not helpful in developing mastery over self but for academic interest then we do not have to give importance to it so much. If we can explain prana or pranic healing in this language then we can convince an open-minded thinker be it a scientist or anybody else.

Question: will you help in negative thinking? Please give the way.

Answer:  the whole purpose of spiritual knowledge is to help one to have positive thinking. If we start taking simple steps in life and seeing that, we are capable of doing them then we develop positive outlook of life. If we are looking at only failures in life and if we are looking at the inefficiencies of the world then we are filled with negativity. In addition, to look at things negative we do not require any awareness and to look at things positive it is a conscious process!

Question: mind consists of manas buddhi chitta ahankara – so what happens in a particular situation especially when one is in stressful situation; not able to have a discerning ability of what is right or wrong – real or unreal in the particular situation.

Answer: according to the Indian philosophy all that which is available for the sensory organs is called as GROSS WORLD or stula world. Then they have categorized what can be experienced directly by the sensory organs or the instruments, is called as Sukshma world. In that, we have in our experience two things. One is the force, which is responsible for activities, which is called as prana.  We have another aspect which is responsible for further  inner layer of activity which is called as further sukshma and that is the mind which is called as manas which is characterized by several functions like collecting information, analysing and memorising and recollecting. These are given the names as manas buddhi etc.

We experience stressful when the smooth harmony between these faculties is disturbed and we find one is not cooperating with the others requirements. Like for a student in exam hall he wants to recollect some thing, which is there in his memory but it does not cooperate and he ends up with stress and frustration.   In such a situation, if we observe within we can notice every faculty is with tremendous speed. All that we require is to slow down the inner speed. Be an observer then we are not identified with the situation and it is easy to slow down and calm. In that calm state, our discerning ability will come back! Hook the mind on to deep breathing by observing the breath for four or five respirations and with that the mind slows and you develop inner awareness.

Question: a thought experiment – to trap consciousness.

Answer: As I know, consciousness is the freedom which means it does not have any bondage By giving up this freedom only consciousness becomes matter which is always available for us to trap. Therefore, I do not quite follow the question called to trap consciousness. This is like saying a very bright darkness. Darkness means there is no light and no brightness.

Question: can pranayama open up the love within oneself. From where does love come?

Answer:  Pranayama will help to open up the love within by two processes.

Pranayama is a practice for slowing inner activity. When, we slow the breath with pranayama practices, all inner activities slow. Inner emotions like love compassion etc are slow emotions and anger hatred etc are violent emotions. Therefore, like the way when the rains come soaking the ground with water, the seeds hidden for days and months under the ground unnoticed will sprout filling the land with life in the same way once the inner life force prana slows the hidden natural life called love springs up!

The second aspect is an indirect connection. Whenever we are away from love in the form of hatred or complaint etc, we have lost our awareness and when we regain our awareness then the anger hatred frustration etc drop or dissolve. Pranayama techniques are done with awareness and they tend to build awareness!  This awareness opens up deep hidden love to the surface. Another added benefit is that when we are able to slowdown the prana activity within it also adds to the feeling of wellness and satisfaction. The sings of frustration, irritation and anger are the products of dissatisfaction. This way, also love unfolds itself with the practice of pranayama.

Question: Through the ways of correcting prana, can the ego of a person be tamed or removed? Can we change evil tendencies through pranic correction? If so, what is the source of all human tendencies?

Answer:  The answer for this question is also similar in its understanding as given for the earlier question. In addition it s said that love is the greatest alchemy to dissolve our ego. When we are in love, we do not care to protect our ego and it spontaneously dissolves. All our acts of evil are speed in nature that is why it is said when you want to do some thing bad postpone it and slow it for some time later then you may not do the evil at all. Slowness removes the evil tendencies. Especially the slowness brought about in prana is some thing, which will bring slowness in every cell in the body. Therefore, the practice of pranayama not only brings about the improvement of an individual but it also brings about greater harmony and social morality.

Question:  yoga – to come out of all habits like liquor, smoking etc?

Answer:  according to the yoga psychology the habit s like smoking drinking etc do not start as problems but they start initially as supports for the other underlying problems and these things would have given as props to escape from those problems. However, when one is habituated to these things then they appear as problems.

Problems keep coming and going to every one. That is life. Some times, he feels strong enough to face the problems but some times the problems baffle him and he feels weak. It is in such weak moments one falls pray to various habits. Feeling weak is the result of lack of inner awareness and frustration. Feeling weak is also the result of not accepting the reality. Yoga makes to come in touch with one self and core of one self, which in turn helps one not to resort to the external support. It also strengthens one to come out of external support for his problems.  But it requires an expert guidance so that he a proper environment is created and proper sequence of practices is designed so that he can come out of his problems with the help of the practice of yoga.  Some times, there are other stricter methods to come out of addictions and a person can take to come to our centre to over come or handle the withdrawal symptoms, which in some cases is necessary!

Question: I have read/ heard yogis can bring down breath to 1 breath per minute, but if the breath goes still longer could you please explain what would happen to yogis’ consciousness/ energy/ outlook to life/ will he be in Samadhi always. It is interesting to know please guide.

Answer:  consciousness is the one, which becomes prana, which is also known as life force. This life force is responsible for all activities in our body and one of its functions is respiration. This respiration activity is semi voluntary that means that it will adjust itself according to our requirement. When we are climbing up the hill we need more oxygen and then the rate and depth of respiration automatically adjusts and we breathe deep. The same thing when we relax we do not need so much oxygen and for that reason automatically our respiratory rate will come down. When we say yogis reduce their respiratory rate they calm their inner activity or in other words they relax so much that they are doing very less activity within and in turn they require less amount of oxygen. Therefore, their respiratory rate has come down and together their requirement of oxygen comes down. Therefore, when their breath rate comes down due to meditation etc practices, their consciousness or life energy or prana is more conserved and their outlook of life will be one of pleasantness filled with positive feeling. They are in a very relaxed state which ordinary person can call as very near to Samadhi state!

Question: what are mind and intellect?

Answer:  According to Indian wisdom, we have inner faculties where we handle several functions. All these functions such as memory intention will to do or analysis etc all these functions id known by one single word called ‘manas or antahkaran or inner instruments’. Out of this Indian philosophy gave different names for different functional aspects. We can understand this with the help of a crude example. What coordinated all the sense inputs is called as manas. Like we see hear a sound and immediately we turn our head to see in that direction. What is in us, which said that sound is coming from this direction and we need to look in that direction? This aspect is called as manas. Intellect is the faculty, which analyses the input into us through what we see etc with the help of input from our memory and what is our desire etc.  This is much more subtle function compared to the functioning of mind.

Question: is there a difference between pranayama done in a sylvan atmosphere   and that done in a highly polluted city granting the room is very clean? If yes does it mean that most public cannot reap full benefit.

Answer:  Certainly, the quality of air that we breathe is important for our health point of view. Same rule applies in practicing of pranayama also. The practice of pranayama is supposed to help us to reduce the expenditure of prana in our activities, which will be there wherever you practice pranayama. If one can help to find clean atmosphere go for it but if it is not possible then that much bad effect will be there and benefits of pranayama is reduced.