THE HINDU-YOGI Science _of_ Breath
A Complete Manual of THE ORIENTAL BREATHING PHILOSOPHY of Physical,
Mental, Psychic and Spiritual Development.
By YOGI RAMACHARAKA
INDEX.
CHAPTER Page
I. Salaam 1
II. "Breath Is Life" 3
III. The Exoteric Theory of Breath 11
IV. The Esoteric Theory of Breath 16
V. The Nervous System 20
VI. Nostril Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing 23
VII. The Four Methods of Respiration 27
VIII. How to Acquire the Yogi Complete Breath 33
IX. Physiological Effect of the Complete Breath 36
X. A Few Bits of Yogi Lore 40
XI. The Seven Yogi Developing Exercises 43
XII. Seven Minor Yogi Exercises 48
XIII. Vibration and Yogi Rhythmic Breathing 51
XIV. Phenomena of Yogi Psychic Breathing 55
XV. More Phenomena of Yogi Psychic Breathing 61
XVI. Yogi Spiritual Breathing 69
CHAPTER I.
SALAAM.
The Western student is apt to be somewhat confused in his ideas
regarding the Yogis and their philosophy and practice. Travelers to
India have written great tales about the hordes of fakirs, mendicants
and mountebanks who infest the great roads of India and the streets of
its cities, and who impudently claim the title "Yogi." The Western
student is scarcely to be blamed for thinking of the typical Yogi as
an emaciated, fanatical, dirty, ignorant Hindu, who either sits in a
fixed posture until his body becomes ossified, or else holds his arm
up in the air until it becomes stiff and withered and forever after
remains in that position, or perhaps clenches his fist and holds it
tight until his fingernails grow through the palms of his hands. That
these people exist is true, but their claim to the title "Yogi" seems
as absurd to the true Yogi as does the claim to the title "Doctor" on
the part of the man who pares one's corns seem to the eminent surgeon,
or as does the title of "Professor," as assumed by the street corner
vendor of worm medicine, seem to the President of Harvard or Yale.
There have been for ages past in India and other Oriental countries
men who devoted their time and attention to the development of Man,
physically, mentally and spiritually. The experience of generations of
earnest seekers has been handed down for centuries from teacher to
pupil, and gradually a definite Yogi science was built up. To these
investigations and teachings was finally applied the term "Yogi," from
the Sanscrit word "Yug," meaning "to join." From the same source comes
the English word "yoke," with a similar meaning. Its use in connection
with these teachings is difficult to trace, different authorities
giving different explanations, but probably the most ingenious is that
which holds that it is intended as the Hindu equivalent for the idea
conveyed by the English phrase, "getting into harness," or "yoking
up," as the Yogi undoubtedly "gets into harness" in his work of
controlling the body and mind by the Will.
Yoga is divided into several branches, ranging from that which teaches
the control of the body, to that which teaches the attainment of the
highest spiritual development. In the work we will not go into the
higher phases of the subject, except when the "Science of Breath"
touches upon the same. The "Science of Breath" touches Yoga at many
points, and although chiefly concerned with the development and
control of the physical, has also its psychic side, and even enters
the field of spiritual development.
In India there are great schools of Yoga, comprising thousands of the
leading minds of that great country. The Yoga philosophy is the rule
of life for many people. The pure Yogi teachings, however, are given
only to the few, the masses being satisfied with the crumbs which fall
from the tables of the educated classes, the Oriental custom in this
respect being opposed to that of the Western world. But Western ideas
are beginning to have their effect even in the Orient, and teachings
which were once given only to the few are now freely offered to any
who are ready to receive them. The East and the West are growing
closer together, and both are profiting by the close contact, each
influencing the other.
The Hindu Yogis have always paid great attention to the Science of
Breath, for reasons which will be apparent to the student who reads
this book. Many Western writers have touched upon this phase of the
Yogi teachings, but we believe that it has been reserved for the
writer of this work to give to the Western student, in concise form
and simple language, the underlying principles of the Yogi Science of
Breath, together with many of the favorite Yogi breathing exercises
and methods. We have given the Western idea as well as the Oriental,
showing how one dovetails into the other. We have used the ordinary
English terms, almost entirely, avoiding the Sanscrit terms, so
confusing to the average Western reader.
The first part of the book is devoted to the physical phase of the
Science of Breath; then the psychic and mental sides are considered,
and finally the spiritual side is touched upon.
We may be pardoned if we express ourselves as pleased with our success
in condensing so much Yogi lore into so few pages, and by the use of
words and terms which may be understood by anyone. Our only fear is
that its very simplicity may cause some to pass it by as unworthy of
attention, while they pass on their way searching for something
"deep," mysterious and non-understandable. However, the Western mind
is eminently practical, and we know that it is only a question of a
short time before it will recognize the practicability of this work.
We greet our students, with our most profound salaam, and bid them be
seated for their first lessons in the Yogi Science of Breath.