The Hindu-Yogi Science of BreathTheosophy / New ThoughtMystical / EsotericEnglishShareThe Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 5Project Gutenberg #13402 - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableProject Gutenberg #13402LanguageEnglishEspañol‹The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 3The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 5The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 7The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 9The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 11The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 12The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 6The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 15The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 16The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 17The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 18The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 19The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 21The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 23The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 24The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 26The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 27The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 28The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 29The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 31The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 32The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 33The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 34The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 35The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 36The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 37The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 38The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 40The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 41The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 42The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 43The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 44The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 45The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 46The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 47The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 49The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 50The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 52The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 53The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 54The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 55The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 56The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 57The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 58The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 59The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 62The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 63The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 64The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 65The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 66The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 67The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 68The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 69The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 70The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 71The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 72The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 74The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 75The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 76The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 77The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 78›"Breath Is Life."The Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 5ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1Life is absolutely dependent upon the act of breathing. "Breath is Life." 2Differ as they may upon details of theory and terminology, the Oriental and the Occidental agree upon these fundamental principles. 3To breathe is to live, and without breath there is no life. Not only are the higher animals dependent upon breath for life and health, but even the lower forms of animal life must breathe to live, and plant life is likewise dependent upon the air for continued existence. 4The infant draws in a long, deep breath, retains it for a moment to extract from it its life-giving properties, and then exhales it in a long wail, and lo! its life upon earth has begun. The old man gives a faint gasp, ceases to breathe, and life is over. From the first faint breath of the infant to the last gasp of the dying man, it is one long story of continued breathing. Life is but a series of breaths. 5Breathing may be considered the most important of all of the functions of the body, for, indeed, all the other functions depend upon it. Man may exist some time without eating; a shorter time without drinking; but without breathing his existence may be measured by a few minutes. 6And not only is Man dependent upon Breath for life, but he is largely dependent upon correct habits of breathing for continued vitality and freedom from disease. An intelligent control of our breathing power will lengthen our days upon earth by giving us increased vitality and powers of resistance, and, on the other hand, unintelligent and careless breathing will tend to shorten our days, by decreasing our vitality and laying us open to disease. 7Man in his normal state had no need of instruction in breathing. Like the lower animal and the child, he breathed naturally and properly, as nature intended him to do, but civilization has changed him in this and other respects. He has contracted improper methods and attitudes of walking, standing and sitting, which have robbed him of his birthright of natural and correct breathing. He has paid a high price for civilization. The savage, to-day, breathes naturally, unless he has been contaminated by the habits of civilized man. 8The percentage of civilized men who breathe correctly is quite small, and the result is shown in contracted chests and stooping shoulders, and the terrible increase in diseases of the respiratory organs, including that dread monster, Consumption, "the white scourge." Eminent authorities have stated that one generation of correct breathers would regenerate the race, and disease would be so rare as to be looked upon as a curiosity. Whether looked at from the standpoint of the Oriental or Occidental, the connection between correct breathing and health is readily seen and explained. 9The Occidental teachings show that the physical health depends very materially upon correct breathing. The Oriental teachers not only admit that their Occidental brothers are right, but say that in addition to the physical benefit derived from correct habits of breathing, Man's mental power, happiness, self-control, clear-sightedness, morals, and even his spiritual growth may be increased by an understanding of the "Science of Breath." Whole schools of Oriental Philosophy have been founded upon this science, and this knowledge when grasped by the Western races, and by them put to the practical use which is their strong point, will work wonders among them. The theory of the East, wedded to the practice of the West, will produce worthy offspring. 10This work will take up the Yogi "Science of Breath," which includes not only all that is known to the Western physiologist and hygienist, but the occult side of the subject as well. It not only points out the way to physical health along the lines of what Western scientists have termed "deep breathing," etc., but also goes into the less known phases of the subject, and shows how the Hindu Yogi controls his body, increasing his mental capacity, and develops the spiritual side of his nature by the "Science of Breath." 11The Yogi practices exercises by which he attains control of his body, and is enabled to send to any organ or part an increased flow of vital force or "prana," thereby strengthening and invigorating the part or organ. He knows all that his Western scientific brother knows about the physiological effect of correct breathing, but he also knows that the air contains more than oxygen and hydrogen and nitrogen, and that something more is accomplished than the mere oxygenating of the blood. He knows something about "prana," of which his Western brother is ignorant, and he is fully aware of the nature and manner of handling that great principle of energy, and is fully informed as to its effect upon the human body and mind. He knows that by rhythmical breathing one may bring himself into harmonious vibration with nature, and aid in the unfoldment of his latent powers. He knows that by controlled breathing he may not only cure disease in himself and others, but also practically do away with fear and worry and the baser emotions. 12To teach these things is the object of this work. We will give in a few chapters concise explanations and instructions, which might be extended into volumes. We hope to awaken the minds of the Western world to the value of the Yogi "Science of Breath." ‹Previous chapterThe Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 3Next chapterThe Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath 7›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public domain in the USA