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108
PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS
to be "external.” If the breath is checked after an in this is an internal" stoppage. By "place" is meant cular part of the body at which the breath is checkedinhalation or exhalation need not necessarily be to again, the breath may be held for a period of time.
These are highly technical matters, which have litt this commentary, since we are chiefly concerned with spiritual and philosophical teaching. What must be en is this: no one should practise the advanced exe pranayama without the constant supervision of an ex teacher. And no one should practise them under an stances unless he is leading an absolutely chaste life entirely to the search for God. Otherwise they may e to mental disturbances of the most dangerous kin who encourage others to adopt such practices out of or vanity can only be described as criminals. The tre power of the kundalini is not something to be light with and abused.
There is, however, a harmless breathing exercise v be used to calm the mind and prepare it for conce Close the right nostril with the thumb of the right breathe in deeply through the left nostril. Feel, as y that you are inhaling the pure and sacred prana ir breath and sending a current down the ida nerve to the situated within its basic triangular lotus at the botto spine. Hold the breath for a moment, repeating t syllable OM. Then, as you release the right nostril, left nostril, with the forefinger. Exhale through nostril, feeling, as you do so, that you are exp impurities from the body. Then, still keeping the l closed, inhale through the right nostril, sending th down the pingala nerve, and repeating the process in
