Someone has very aptly said that life is very simple, but we make a success of complicating it. Man’s growing needs, greed, overpowering desire to control others, and possessing everything in sight lead him in only one direction  - a life full of complexities. More the desires, more the complications; more the complications, more the struggle. Is there a way out of life full of struggles then? Yes, there is!

As youngsters, we would cycle our way to school. Our town had a huge grains market, where farm tractors tugging trolleys full of grain was a common sight on the roads. Pedaling up to the rear of a trolley and holding onto a chain dangling at the rear end was a source of great thrill to us. It was our version of enjoying a free joy ride, as the tractor would pull us the rest of the way.

The Solution Unfolds
In this experience seems hidden a solution to one of life’s major problems. Re-enacting the whole experience, let us see how a very important aspect of life unfolds before our eyes. Holding onto the tractor-trolley frees a person from making an effort, as he cruises along gingerly. If a second cyclist holds on to the first cyclist, and a third to the second cyclist and so on, forming a chain of cyclists connected to the tractor-trolley, none of them would have to use extra energy to keep rolling on. The tractor acts as the primary source of energy. Now, if the first cyclist releases his hold, he would have to struggle to pull the chain of cyclists even a short distance, and the entire chain may come to a grinding halt.

Here is the key. Consider the first cyclist to be you, and the chain your family, friends, and associates. You are struggling in life because you are cut off from the primary source of energy. What and where is this source of energy? We are all connected to the source of Divine or Cosmic Energy through a thin cord called “antakharana” which enters our energy body through the sahasrara (crown) chakra. If we are connected to the source, then why are we struggling? The antakharana in most people is as thin as a strand of a spider’s web. To enhance the flow from a mere trickle to a gushing flow will require efforts to thicken the antakharana, which can be achieved through regular meditation. As the size of the antakharana grows, the energy flow improves and your struggles start to disappear.

Pranayama, in brief, is the science of breathing. Breath, that signatures the beginning of life, snuffs life as it leaves the body finally. In between, it is the breath that ensures continuity of life. Yet, we hardly get to acknowledge its presence and know very little about it.

Breath is life, whereas Chi or Prana is the life force. Breath is gross and the outer manifestation of Chi/Prana, which is subtle in nature. The process through which Prana is nurtured and strengthened by the regulation of breath is called Pranayama.

Normal breathing does not provide enough oxygen and prana for the organs to function at optimum levels. As a result, the functional capacity of the lungs and other organs starts dipping with time. Pranayama ensures that the organs receive their quota of prana, which keeps them healthy and allows them to function properly.

The process of Pranayama consists of three steps (i) Rechak (Exhalation) (ii) Purak (Inhalation) (iii) Kumbhak (Retention of breath).

Pranayama is not all about deep breathing. Deep breathing is a part of Pranayama. There are innumerable nadis in our energy body. Of these, three – Ida, Pingla and Sushmna nadis – are of great significance. The ida nadi flows through the left nostril, while the pingla nadi flows through the right one. When breath flows through the ida nadi, it has a cooling effect on the body, whereas, pingla nadi has a heating effect.

Sushmna nadi, which is the subtle counterpart of the spinal column holds a very important place in the Pranayama scheme of things. The latent force in all human beings, called the Kundalini, lies dormant at the base of the spine. Pranayama aims at systematically awakening the kundalini so that the hitherto dormant force gets activated and travels up through the sushmna nadi, piercing the charkas on its way up, to set up a divine meeting with the creator of the universe on the sahasrara chakra.

Etheric Massage deals with healing of stress related ailments. Unlike normal massages, it is carried out on the energy field/aura of the human body. Its most prominent feature is that no physical contact is established during the entire exercise. As such, it can be performed from any distance, where the physical presence of the patient and healer at the same place is not necessary.

Being drug-less and non-invasive in nature, it is devoid of any negative side effects. This unique massage has the potential of taking the recipient to the realms of relaxation within a short span of time.

The Benefits
The human body and the mind in a relaxed state give one clarity of thought. Decision-making becomes easier and finding solutions to problems is highly facilitated. Studies have shown that the mind in a de-stressed or relaxed state performs efficiently over long hours, resulting in increased productivity.

It is an excellent supportive tool for businessmen, company executives, bureaucrats and persons in important positions, for whom constant freedom from stress-energy clutter is of paramount importance. It is just as beneficial for Doctors, Counselors, Astrologers and their kind, who constantly absorb much negative energies from their patients/clients during interaction.

How It Works
Etheric Massage is performed by the healer, while the recipient sits or lies down in a relaxed manner. As mentioned, there is no physical contact between the two. Etheric Massage:

i)   helps remove from the energy field/aura stress and other negative energies accumulated for years in the energy channels, clogging them and depriving the physical body of the much needed vital energies;

ii)   gently massages the energy body and makes it readily receptive to energy, thus, facilitating and ensuring its natural flow within the physical body;

iii)   strengthens and revitalizes the energy body so that the mind and the physical body have constant access to the vital energies.

These spiritual gems were sent to me over a period of time from May 1, 1998 to Nov 12, 1998 by Mr. D.S.Uppal. Then suddenly after a long break, I received his last letter containing a few more of these gems, which he penned down on Dec 27, 1999. Thereafter, we lost contact. I had never met him in person, but we would talk over the phone on rare occasions. Fortunately, I carefully filed them to regularly draw inspiration when required.

I would like to share with you all these thought provoking sayings by some of the enlightened minds of our times and the times gone by. Vivekachoodamani was written by Adi Shankracharya, one of the greatest saints India has produced.

“The spirit of revolt against one’s self-shaking weaknesses is the spirit absolutely necessary in order to set forth in seeking new powers and gaining new strength”.

- Vivekachoodamani – 7-18

“The peaceful state of the mind, when it rests constantly upon the contemplation of the Goal after having again and again detached itself from the chaos of the sense objects through a process of continuous observation of their defects, is called Sama”.

- Vivekachoodamani – 7-22

“In Bhakti (devotion), the devotee employs his mind constantly in the meditation of his beloved Lord, and therefore, the mind is automatically drawn away from its pursuits of sense objects”.

- Vivekachoodamani – 7-22

“Calmness and other practices have their meaning and they bear fruit indeed, only in him, who has an intense spirit of renunciation and yearning for liberation”.

- Vivekachoodamani – 7-29

Man is an emotional being. Emotions, both positive and negative, tend to have a very quick impact on the state of an individual’s mind. A negative thought, one moment, can push him to emotional depths; and a positive thought, the very next moment, can give him an emotional high. Thus, the mind is a highly volatile play field where emotions play a constant game of highs and lows. This makes the mind a very powerful tool capable of acting in both constructive and destructive manner. The choice, to use the mind in whichever way we want, is ours. And, this choice has to be a conscious one.

The Energy Aspect of Emotions   Every thought that we think comes into existence as a thought entity. This thought entity has a certain degree of intellect and exists in the form of energy. Since the thought entity is made up of energy, it naturally merges with the human energy body (aura). Our emotions are a product of the thought process. Emotional trauma/experiences register themselves in the sub-conscious mind. The latter is subtle in nature and exists in the state of energy.  Certain very strong emotional experiences leave a very deep impression on the sub-conscious mind. Such strong negative emotional experiences tend to cause a lot of harm emotionally and psychically, later on. Every time an individual thinks about these experiences he generates negative energies, and as such, further builds-up and fortifies these experiences by providing more negative energies to them. In simpler terms he builds upon and strengthens these experiences by thinking about them. Thus, it is very important to subject the individual to suitable therapy at the initial stages of a traumatic experience.

As mentioned above, these emotional entities are intelligent and feed on negative energies. As they grow stronger they begin to control the individual’s thought process and start instigating the individual to think negatively until the mind acquires a predominantly negative outlook. The individual is caught in a vicious circle and finds himself helpless and clueless in finding a way out of the smart energy-trap laid by the well-entrenched negative energies.

The Solution  It is imperative that the sub-conscious mind is cleared of such negative trash, as it draws upon the vital energies that are required for other important functions of the mind and body. The resultant lack of energy leaves the mind and body in a state of disarray. In emotional healing sessions the individual is very gently guided into a state of deep relaxation and led to the sub-conscious mind where he is gently made to release the firmly entrenched negative emotions. Clearing the sub-conscious mind of emotional clutter may take a few regular sessions, but it is effective.

The guru and his disciple were on a trip in search of knowledge. One hot afternoon they decided to rest under a huge tree. A small stream was flowing a little distance away. The teacher asked his disciple to fetch some water to drink. Off went the young man with a utensil in hand. “The water is clear and seems to be cool,” happily thought the disciple as he looked through to the bottom of the stream. He was about to fill water in the container, when an ox cart waded through the shallow part of the stream throwing up all the slush that was well settled between the little pebbles. In no time the water got muddy. A disappointed man, he walked back to his teacher.

After listening to the incident, the teacher asked his student to go again after some time when the slush settled down. The young disciple did as told. While he waited on the banks of the stream for the water to clear, another cart arrived and made its own contribution to the agitation. This appeared to be the order of the day. A defeated man, he walked back to his teacher.

A smiling guru welcomed his student. “Young man,” said the teacher, “Any lessons that you learnt today?” “Guruji,” replied the irritated student, “What could one learn from such a waste of a day? What could passing ox carts and muddy waters possibly teach anyone, except that they keep you thirsty?”

The guru, offering his disciple some water he had stored earlier, asked, “Can you not relate the agitated waters to the state of our minds?” and continued, “ The ox carts did to the water of the stream what our thoughts do to our minds.” “I am getting your point, Guruji,” said the pupil trying to understand the deeper implications. The guru continued, “Thoughts, like carts, tend to unsettle our minds. It is only in a thoughtless state that we can awaken our consciousness.”

I have met many people who do not want to meditate; yet they seek peace of mind. They just do not want to concentrate here or focus there. Their main point of contention is that they just do not have the powers of concentration. I simply ask them, if they lacked power of concentration, how come they still retained their jobs? How could they possibly work for so many hours at a stretch?

Forget Concentration!
People are surprised when I tell them that meditation needs NO concentration. When you try to concentrate, you force your mind to do something it does not want to do. In fact, you are creating more tension than giving a release! What happens when someone imposes his will on you? It creates tension, does it not? The same applies to the mind. So, how can you expect to find peace coercing your mind to focus or concentrate? Forget this concentration business!

Awareness is the Answer
The simplest form of meditation is being AWARE of what you are doing. Here is a simple technique for those who DO NOT want to meditate.

Sit in your chair – slouch by all means, if that is what you want to do. Gently close your eyes. Just be aware of your breath. You will notice how shallow it is. The shallower your breath, the more tense you become. You will have to get out of your slouched position somewhat. Now, notice the way you breathe. It will not be as shallow as it was before. If you sit with your spine erect, it will facilitate deeper breathing.

So, gently close your eyes again, breathe softly and deeply while being aware of your breath. Be aware of the beautiful deep rhythm your breath will settle down to. As your breath gets progressively slower and deeper, your consciousness may wander into another dimension of existence, where peace prevails. You may have been there for a second or a fraction thereof; but, when you come back, you will find yourself in an absolutely relaxed state.

I consider myself fortunate to be associated with one of the most fabulous yoga gurus of our times. I have had the opportunity of meeting various yoga exponents and masters, but the lady I am talking about will simply take your breath away. That, perhaps, is the reason why I do my Pranayama routine every time I have a session with her (to get my breath back, of course!).

Ashiya Sumiyoshi is an amazing yoga exponent. At the age of 76 years she is doing things a 25-year old cannot even dream of. Her understanding of yoga is impeccable and her performance astounding.

Ashiya is from the old school of yoga and learnt the intricacies of this art form from the country of its origin – India. She started learning yoga in the year 1967 under the tutelage of the then renowned Yoga Master, Swami Dhirendra Brahmachari at his Vishwa Yattan Ashram in New Delhi. Ashiya was among his foremost students, and later along with the Swami imparted yoga lessons to the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs.Indira Gandhi.

Ashiya Sumiyoshi is a widely traveled lady and finds diluting of the established yoga techniques, to feed the fad, a disturbing trend. According to her, Yoga, developed by the Master Yogis of yore, can only help mankind of its physical and mental maladies in its purest form. She cannot be wrong with a 39-year experience backup. Ashiya’s routines consist of what she terms “the most powerful stretch-yoga techniques”. You can see from her pictures how effortlessly elastic and flexible she is at an age where people barely manage their daily routines. And, she very humbly credits her state of the body and mind to the great science of her yoga. Greed, according to her, is the root cause of our maladies. The philosophy of yoga guides the practitioner away from greed and leads him to light that makes life a beautiful experience.

Ashiya has held many yoga workshops and programs worldwide during her visits to various countries. She has been, in her own little ways, instrumental in introducing yoga to the world during her younger days.  She dreams of a world free of health problems through Yoga. May her dreams and efforts help bring good health and inner harmony to all.

She still holds private classes in Hong Kong, where she is residing at present. Ashiya can be contacted at +852-98131806.
 

I have dealt with the energy body and the chakras in my earlier blog post titled “How Does the Energy Body Work?” (6th July 2006). Chakras are energy centers that whirl continuously and alternately in the clockwise and anti-clockwise directions. Their job is to absorb energies from the surroundings and expel the used up energies.

Yoga recognizes seven major chakras that control and supply energies to all the organs of the body. Each chakra is connected with a network of energy channels (nadis) that route the energies to the organs controlled by that particular chakra. According to ancient masters and yogis a disease first enters the energy body before manifesting in the physical body. Remember, they were great clairvoyants and could observe how disease entered into the physical body. Great healers that they were, the clairvoyant yogis and masters would remove the diseased energy from the energy body before it could manifest into the physical body. 

Certain energy healing systems, such as pranic healing, are very effective in keeping the chakras and energy body clean. It is so obvious that a clean energy body and chakras will ensure a constant supply of healthy energies to the physical body.

[Above: Ashiya Sumiyoshi - All grace and elegance]

Diseased energies create blockages in the energy channels, which reduces the flow of energy and in certain cases cuts off the flow completely. The related physical organ is thus deprived of energies and, resultantly, first it starts to mal function then falls sick.

Thus, it is important to keep the energy body healthy. Physical exercise is one effective way to keep the chakras activated. Activated chakras will absorb sufficient amount of energies and expel the used-up energies completely. If you do not keep your physical body active, your chakras are likely to remain in a de-activated state, which will result in insufficient quantities of energy absorbed, and incomplete expulsion of the used-up energy from the energy channels. The used-up energies keep piling up and create blockages in the channels resulting in weak and sick organs.

So, keep your energy body healthy by doing a lot of physical exercise and meditation.

In my previous blog - How Do the Physical Body and Energy Body Coordinate? – I had mentioned that energy is required to create cells in the body. Millions of cells die and about the same numbers are produced to replace them. The entire process requires a lot of energy.

I had also mentioned that new cells are produced to heal a cut and close the split skin. Let us assume that it takes 1000 units of energy (whatever that means!) to produce the amount of cells required to heal a cut. And, it takes three days for the new skin to emerge. Now theoretically, if we increase the energy input to 2000 units, the healing should take half the time i.e. a day and a half. The body works at its own pace and distributes energies for its day-to-day functioning. Say if a wound occurs on the skin, it has to divert additional energies to heal it, depriving some other area or areas of its regular dose of energy. I am assuming this scenario, in case the body has a fixed amount of energy available with it.

The fact is that the body constantly absorbs energies from the surroundings through the chakras. So, it is constantly absorbing energies from the surroundings and releasing used-up energy. What energy-healing systems do is enhance the levels of energy by providing more energy to the body. With more energy available to the body, certain organs that are deprived of energies start reviving because more energy is directed towards them.

The above process might appear simple, but there is more to it. However, my idea is to introduce you to a few thousand years old knowledge on how energies heal the physical body. More the energies, quicker the healing.