ॐॐॐ
51st Sutra, Sādhanapāda, Patañjali Yoga Sūtra, is a further explanation, discussion on the prāṇāyāma practice. The sutra is
बा॒ह्या॒भ्यन्तरवि॒ष॒या॒क्षे॒पी चतुर्थः ॥ २.५१॥
Bāhyābhyantara viṣayākṣepī caturthaḥ.
So the earlier three types were told in the sutra, bāhya ābhyantara same word has been used there then deśa kāla, then dīrgha sūkṣma, so those dimensions were there. And here it is the bāhya abhyantara viṣayākṣepī it is. Bāhya is the outward, abhyantara is inward. Viṣaya is the subject, concerned subject. And ākṣepī is excluding, without. Caturthaḥ is the fourth one.
The fourth variety of prāṇāyāma is not concerned with external or internal. That is, the fourth type of prāṇāyāma excludes external and internal. That is the meaning. And we have already seen, bāhya and abhyantara, inhalation and exhalation. But the fact that bāhya abhyantara viṣayākṣepī, it is not concerned with bāhya and abhyantara. It means, it is not related to the process of inhalation or process of exhalation. And the modes, the method of inhalation and exhalation, it is not concerned with that. In fact, this is the speciality of this fourth one. So, bāhya ābhyantara viṣayākṣepī symbolizes, reiterates that there is no gati viccheda. And this gati viccheda is not by any modification , paridṛṣṭa is not there. And this gati viccheda, means this fourth gati viccheda is not concerned either with process of inhalation or process of exhalation. Then how it is different from the stambha vṛtti, this question generally comes to us. And the answer or the understanding should be that the stambha vṛtti is by dīrgha sūkṣma of the deśa kāla, then the stambha vṛtti. Here, those dimensions are not there. So, this difference lies in the spontaneity. That is, in the third one, third type of prāṇāyāma, that is the stambha vṛtti prāṇāyāma type, there is a willful suspension of breathing. And usually, preferably, either at the end of the regulated, controlled, slow, deep inhalation or a regulated, slow, deep, controlled exhalation.
But in the fourth one, by the word viṣayākṣepī. Viṣayākṣepī of bāhya, viṣayākṣepī of ābhyantara, both have been excluded. Then the only option of understanding is, it is spontaneous. It is spontaneous. So, this gati viccheda is a spontaneous process. And this spontaneity is not necessarily after bāhya, after abhyantara. It can be during bāhya, during ābhyantara, or maybe after bāhya, after ābhyantara. But it is spontaneous. There is no willful exercise of the required practice. Very, very important distinction between the third and the fourth. That is, the breathing may stop, stambha vṛtti, any time, at any level. Even after a partial inhalation, even maybe after a partial exhalation, during the process. This phenomena is very well recognized, even in the various Haṭha Yoga texts. And generally it is recognized, and some texts name it as the kevala kumbhaka. The completely uncontrolled and spontaneous suspension of the process of breathing, which is a natural, inevitable result of a very long, intensive practice.
That means, bāhya, abhyantara, viṣaya, ākṣepī, the caturtha stage, comes after a long practice, maybe years. Systematic, regular abhyāsa. Some of the texts, traditional texts say that, when the prāṇāyāma practice is done, or crosses beyond normal three stages, mṛdu madhya udāra, normal, intense and extreme intense practices, after crossing various stages, this bāhya ābhyantara viṣayākṣepī, the caturtha stage comes, or is experienced, or is reached, or it is established in that. So in this caturtha prāṇāyāma, being a suspension spontaneously, there is no controlled inhalations or controlled exhalations. In fact it is uncontrolled, spontaneous. But, because it is in a dīrgha sūkṣma manner, dīrgha kāla, a long practice is needed for this. Then only, that dīrgha sūkṣma level comes. So this kevala kumbhaka, which is the hint of this caturtha, kevala kumbhaka is very well recognized, especially in the most subtle, advanced sādhanas, in the Yoga Vāsiṣṭha, which is very well known as the Vāsiṣṭha school of prāṇāyāma. This kevala kumbhaka has been elaborately discussed. In some of the Haṭha Yoga text books also we find the word kevala kumbhaka. And this is an important dimension, where there is no forceful inhalation, no forceful exhalation, there is no effort, effortless, anāyāsataḥ, aprayatnataḥ, anāyāsa prāṇāyāma. And that is the caturthaḥ. It was not named, it is just defined as the fourth, and their importance of the particular sutra bāhyābhyantara viṣayākṣepī. The subject of inhalation and exhalation are given up, excluded, ākṣepī, and that is the kevala kumbhaka level.
And after these four types of prāṇāyāmas elaborated by Maharishi Patanjali in these sutras, next two sutras are the end results, the benefits of practice of prāṇāyāma. Let us see those beautiful sutras.
Om Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ Śāntiḥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः||
These are transcription of session delivered by Vice-President of Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Vivekananda Kendra, Sri M. Hanumantha Rao Ji.
Audio Link - https://youtu.be/3yrnwQuIr-w?si=hGaVt1ZCwQNJ6ARQ
Read n Get Articles, Magazines, Books @ http://prakashan.vivekanandakendra.org
मुक्तसंग्ङोऽनहंवादी धृत्युत्साहसमन्वित:।
सिद्धयसिद्धयोर्निर्विकार: कर्ता सात्त्विक उच्यते ॥१८.२६॥
Freed from attachment, non-egoistic, endowed with courage and enthusiasm and unperturbed by success or failure, the worker is known as a pure (Sattvika) one. Four outstanding and essential qualities of a worker. - Bhagwad Gita : XVIII-26
No comments:
Post a Comment