Preksha Dhyana Perception of Breathing

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 23

2. Emotional impulses such as anger, fear
40-60
3. Sleep
25-30
4. Speech
20-25
5. Walking
18-20
15-17
6. Resting 7. Normal deep breathing 8. Deep breathing after some practice
8-10
4-6
9. After long and regular practice
1-3
Increase in the rate of breathing makes it shallow, spasmodic and some time gasping. It affects the vital energy adversely and ultimately has injurious effects on health. Many of the symptoms of poor health are caused by improper breathing and insufficient oxygenation of blood. Not only are the nerves, glands and vital organs inadequately nourished, but the excretory system also cannot function properly. Those who breathe badly have to struggle with problems in all directions : health, profession and emotional life. On the other hand, a sādhaka will first learn to bring the rate of breathing under voluntary control He will learn how to breathe properly, scientifically and completely. He will reduce the rate of breathing by making it slow, deep and rhythmic. Consequently, muscles and nerves relax, reducing the load on heart. Simultaneously, urges and impulses, emotions and passions are also subdued and modified. When the breath is shallow and its rate is high, primal drives and passions are aroused, strengthening the urges and emotions. Conversely, when all these are aroused, they quicken the rate of breathing, making it spasmodic and shallow. Quick breathing acts as a transport for all these distortions. One can easily subdue the passions by reducing the breath-rate. If one slows down the breath-rate and commences deep, rhythmic breathing, the emotional forces would at once be retarded. This is because they are deprived of the transport facilities without which they cannot make much headway. A