Management of Breath-ma
Management of Breath
Management of Breath is best explained by the distinction between western and eastern philosophy. Western philosophy says “I think therefore I am” thought is fore-most for them. Eastern system says I am therefore I think” I am in breath, unless I am – who is there to think – Ekoham. Breath is the manifestation of Brahman. Breath is the life force that is going on in us. Let us understand Breathing. It is the process of inhalation, retention and exhalation of air. Science tells us that man dies because he does not know how to breathe. Slower our breath longer our life. More rhythmic the breath more is there peace.
When I tell a lie you may not know I told a lie – but immediately my breath starts going haywire telling me – “my dear fellow you told a lie”. The conscience tells the brain. I am killing whom – not the other but myself. I am harming and killing. I have broken my continuous rhythm. Breath is a continuous process and what is continuous we like and enjoy fully – if it is rhythmic. When something is not a continuous rhythm, it is called cacophone, noise – not symphony – not music.
It is said that if music like this, is listened to for 24 hours, it can make a man mad and for more than 7 days can kill a person. The greatest punishment in Literean days was as to put a person in a room with loud music and drive him mad. Because the music had no Rhythm, it was cacophony.
Therefore type in order to be able to manage breath and have the peace, we need to be in Rhythm. Rhythm is the symbol of peace. Wherever there is peace there is Rhythm and wherever there is Rhythm there is peace. Therefore if we can get a technique to maintain this Rhythm of breath we will have peace.
Baba’s prescription for attaining this Rhythm is to do two basic things.
1. Namasmarana – (Singing the glory of God): When we sing what happens – we are sending out rhythmic sound vibrations and everytime we breathe in the same air which we have set into motion. Breathing in this Rhythmic air we have set in motion – creates a rebound impact – multiplying the impact. Thus we sit in charged environment. That is why Baba says that, after a Bhajan you should retain the poise, the calmness so that you can retain the rhythmic vibrations– which gives you peace. That is why Namasmarana is prescribed for everyone – an injection for every Sai devotee. When we speak to the lay audience we can prescribe rhythmic singing because some singing is better than no singing – even film music because of Rhythm.
2. Second technique is Music which is related to Namasmarana. It has been the experience of all crowded places, railway stations, bus stands that when you put music in public places there is less noise and when you withdraw music there is too – much noise; you can’t understand what’s happening because everyone is, talking. While there is music in the air and the environment, the mind has a lesser tendency to chatter because at once there is a system, it gets turned into rhythm, into the best. At least with the Balvikas Children this should become a routine. At least once a week sit-down with your family, your child, wife, husband and sing the glory of God. Enjoy the calmness, enjoy the Rhythm. Please notice what is happening. We are covering entirely the code of conduct Namasmarana – music the essence of Swami’s philosophy.
3. Third teaching is prayer – you must pray. What is the use of prayer? Prayer is a medium to say our inner most thoughts – gives expression to an inner most feeling, which we cannot bring out outside, we are afraid of ourselves, we are afraid of the environment – but the divine entity will hear all that we say. However, many of us often say that we forget to pray. Baba gives an example – Prayer is something like medicine. When you go to a doctor he prescribes a few tablets. He does not say have it at 3a.m, 9.a.m and 3p.m etc., He says after meals or at bedtime etc., in the hope that since these are daily routine will at least remember the medicine regularly. Prayer relates itself to these things that we do everyday. In Balvikas we teach children to pray daily. When you bathe pray – while the water is being poured from outside purifies my body. Chant the Gayatri and it will purify and cleanse the inner body. Before you eat thank God, for the meal. Prayer is not only gratitude but Baba says it purifies the food from which have accumulated so many things in the process of cooking in the container. This is prayer. It is a way of life. So prayer should be done – it must be done at least these times: at the time of cleansing, chanting Gayatri and at the time one sits to eat.
Once we do that our breath becomes more and more rhythmic, more peace dawns on us – thus giving us Shanthi and leading us from Shanthi to – Prashanthi.
That is the Beauty of Management of Breath.