$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 184

CONDUCT
C09 - Jain Yoga
In the fourth stage, a person should regularly practice the control of vital energy through certain breathing techniques. Rhythmic breathing helps concentration of the mind.
Sitting still (step 3) and rhythmic breathing (step 4) makes the mind fit for looking inward.
Pranayama makes the body fit for concentration and mediation.
'Pränäyama' is a compound term: "Präna" and "Yama" mean the maintenance of Präna (life force) in a healthy way throughout one's life. It is more than just a breathing exercise. Ancient yogis, who understood the essence of Präna, studied it and devised methods and practices to master it. These practices are better known as Pränäyama. Since breath or Präna is basic to life, the practice of Pränäyama helps in harnessing the Präna in and around us, and by deepening and extending it, Pränäyama leads to a state of inner peace.
Various techniques of Pränäyama give agility, strength, and flexibility to the body enabling the meditator to control his or her physical needs. It purges the body of all its impurities. They also quiet the mind and the sensory organs, thereby increasing powers of concentration.
Various Stages of Pränäyama
Inhalation techniques are about regular and controlled inhalation. The techniques involve regulating the entire breathing process and reducing the number of inhalations per minute. Exhalation exercises involve slow and ordered breathing in addition to reducing the number of inhalations and exhalations per minute. The third stage consists of retaining the breath after stopping natural inhalation and exhalation. The last stage of Pränäyama is about converting both exhalation and inhalation into storing the retained breath in various internal organs for various lengths of time. From a spiritual point of view, exhalation is getting rid of superficialities, inhalation is looking inwards, and retention of breath is staying in equanimity.
Benefits of Pränäyama
The practices of Pränäyama, the correct breathing technique, help us manipulate our energies. Most of us breathe incorrectly, using only half of our lung capacity. Pränäyama reinstates our breathing process, helps us release tension, and develops a relaxed state of mind. It also balances our nervous system and encourages creative thinking. In addition, by increasing the amount of oxygen supplied to our brain, it improves mental clarity, alertness, and physical wellbeing.
When practiced along with Yogäsanas, the benefits of Pränäyama are more pronounced. According to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, Pränäyama enables the mind to acquire the capacity to concentrate on any given object. The manuscript also states that scientific breathing helps unveil true knowledge from the darkness of ignorance. However, it is advised to be aware of all the do's and don'ts of Pränäyama before practicing them.
5. Pratyähara (Detachment of Mind):
In the fifth stage, a person should practice detachment of the mind from the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound, which provide pleasant or unpleasant feelings. This mental exercise gradually slows the rush of thoughts from within to the surface of the mind. Now the mind has become ready for concentration on one object or on one idea.
Pratyähara involves appropriately managing the senses, rather than simply suppressing them. It involves cultivating the senses for increased attention rather than distraction. Pratyähara may be practiced with mantra meditation and visualization techniques.
Benefits of Pratyähara
It is essential to practice Pratyähara to achieve the last three essential meditative stages of Dhäranä, Dhyäna, and Samädhi. Perfecting this technique of yoga is also essential in freeing yourself from the eternal cycle of rebirths.
6. Dhäranä (Complete Absorption of the Mind on a Single Task):
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015