Yoga Philosophy

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi, Bhagu F Karbhari
Publisher: Devchand Lalbhai Pustakoddhar Fund

Page 62

THE SCIENCE OF BREATHING.
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amount of oxygen. We now understand why physically this kind of breathing is important to the system. We have also to take into consideration the other side of the science, that is the spiritual science. There are other elements of air which are present in the atmosphere which give us more power and vitality and life-giving qualities. While oxygen may assist in purifying the blood there is another lifegiving power present in nature, and in order to utilize this power there are other rules which must be observed. The spiritual construction of the human body should be understood. We know that there are so many different ethers in the human body, and that when they are compounded together in the right proportion the human organism is in a perfect condition. All of these are present in some proportion at least, in every human body, and when there is any deficiency in any of these the equilibrium is destroyed, and must be restored by breathing in those ethers or by supplying them in some way. Therefore we have first to know what others predominate in us, and whether we are positive or negative, and we must know in what parts these ethers are predominant. They are all present in all parts of the body, but each has its spiritual locality. When we know the positive or negative condition of the body and the condition of these ethers, we can regulate the breathing in accordance with this knowledge. The condition, whether positive or negative, can be ascertained by the way in which the breath comes from the nostrils. If it comes