Choices as Breathing in Higher Realm

We meet someone with whom we have never previously interacted. Even if he hasn't spoken to us, something about him is revealed. Either we have let him in, or we have rejected him. There is a subtle effect that we may label as either hate or love—the beautiful or the disgusting. It's our second body that reacts to attraction or repulsiveness. And the process never ceases; it always continues. 

"Symphony" painted by Rudradev Sen

We constantly take in influences and then discard them. There will always be the other pole. We will eventually feel repelled if we have loved someone. 

If we have ever loved someone, we will feel repelled, and our breath will be expelled. Thus, there will always be a moment of revulsion after a moment of love. The life force is found in opposites. At no one pole does it exist. It's not possible! And we always try the unthinkable when we try to make it do so. It's impossible to love someone without at some point hating him. 

Because the vital force cannot exist at a single pole, there will always be hostility. Since it exists at opposing polarities, there will always be enemies among friends. This ingress and egress will continue until the seventh body. Without this process of entering in and going out, nobody could exist. It cannot exist without inhaling and exhaling, just as the physical body cannot survive without these processes.

"Five Elements" painted by Rudradev Sen

We never consider these two things to be opposites in terms of the physical body, thus we are not bothered by it. Life does not distinguish between the breath that enters and the breath that leaves. No moral distinction exists. Both are the same, thus there is nothing to choose. It's a natural phenomenon.

However, love must exist, and hatred must not exist in the second body. Then we have started making choices. We are starting to make choices, and that will cause problems. For this reason, the physical body often has more health than the second body, the etheric body. The etheric body is in constant struggle because it has been corrupted by moral decision-making. We feel well when we are around love; we feel sick when we are around hatred. 

"Vase" painted by Rudradev Sen

However, it is inevitable, so one who is aware of it and has grasped the polarities will not be let down when it does. Knowing the polarities puts one at rest and in balance. He doesn't try to love when he isn't loving or incite hatred since he knows it will eventually happen. 

Things come and go; he feels neither repelled by the departing nor drawn to the entering. He is merely an observer. He continues, "It is just like breath coming in and breath going out."

Thoughts: As a Process of Breathing

Prana is energy; it is the vital force that gives us life. In terms of the physical body, this life takes the form of the inhalation and exhalation of breath. These two concepts are diametrically opposed. We consider them to be one. The term "breathing" refers to the process of breathing, although there are two aspects to it: the inward and outward breath. All energies have polarities, existing in two opposing poles. It would not exist otherwise. Like magnetic poles, the opposing poles produce energy through their tension and harmony.
incoming breath is completely different from outgoing breath, and outgoing breath is completely different from entering breath.

The coming in is like birth, and the leaving out is like death, all at once. Both events occur simultaneously: we are born when we take a breath, and we die when we exhale. Both birth and death occur in the same instant. This polarity represents life energy rising and falling.

This is the tangible manifestation of life energy in the body. Life energy is created, and it expires after our lifetime is over. The incoming breath and the outgoing breath — the day and the night — are both more intense manifestations of the same event.
There will be equivalent entering and departing phenomena in each of the seven bodies: the physical, etheric, astral, mental, spiritual, cosmic, and nirvanic. Thought entering and exiting the mental body is analogous to the inhalation and exhalation of breath in terms of phenomena. Every instant, an idea enters our head and exits it. Thought is a form of energy only.

The energy appears as the coming and going of thought in the mental body and as breathing coming and going in the physical body. Because of this, breathing can alter the way we think. A correlation exists.

Stopping our breathing will also stop our thoughts from coming. In our physical body, stop breathing, and our thoughts will cease in our mental body. Our mental body will also grow restless as our physical body does. The body will yearn to breathe in, and the mind will take thoughts in.

Thought enters and exits. At any moment, your breath may become mine, and your thoughts could become mine. We are simultaneously hurling our thoughts out every time we exhale. Thought exists in the same way that air does; thought may be tainted in the same way that air can be, and thought can be impure in the same way that air can be.
Breath is not prana in itself. The term "prana" refers to the life force that takes on these inside and outward polarities. Prana is not the breath itself, but the energy that inhales the breath. Prana is that energy which affirms itself, that is, the energy which draws in breath and expels it.

Prana also refers to the energy that absorbs and expels thinking.

There is this procedure in all seven bodies. I will limit my discussion to the physical and mental realms for now, as we are familiar with and can readily comprehend them. But the same thing is present at every level of our being. The etheric body, which is our second body, has its own inward and outward processes. We know only our physical body and its prana. Hence, we will experience this process in all seven bodies, but it will feel to us like the inhaling and exhaling of breath. Then we will consistently get things wrong.

Since this is all, we have ever known, we will initially interpret any sensation we have of another body or its prana as the inhalation and exhalation of breath. All that we have experienced is this particular form of prana, or life force. However, in the etheric layer, instead of breaths and thoughts there is influence—that is, influence comes into and goes out.

The Life Force-"Prana"

Prana is the vital force (not merely oxygen, nitrogen, and mixture of gases) within us, the energy that gives us life. This physical body experiences life through the inhaling and exhaling of breath. The key Sruti statement is, "He who knows Prana knows Vedas." The Vedanta Sutras state: "Breath is Brahman for the same reason." The totality of all manifested energy in the universe is known as prana. It is the culmination of all of nature's forces. It is the culmination of all the underlying forces and abilities that exist all around us and within men. 

Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism are some of Prana's manifestations. Our self, the centre or common source, is the source of all forces, powers, and prana. In this sense, the self is referred to as pure consciousness, which is not any material energy in scientific sense and all inclusive.  Prana describes all mental and physical powers together. It is force, from the highest to the lowest plane of existence. Everything that is alive, in motion, or has a working is simply a manifestation of Prana. Another form of Prana is Akasa, or Ether. The mind and will are connected to the Prana, and the individual being is connected to the one single existence (termed as “Supreme being”) through the will. 

You will know the key to mastering the small waves of Prana that flow through the mind and become the overall Prana. Because he has command over all forms of power in the cosmos, the individual (called Yogi in Indian tradition) who becomes an expert in knowing this secret will not be afraid of any power.

What is essentially referred to as a person's instinctive capacity to use their Prana is known as their power of personality. Some people have greater success, impact and passion in life than others. It is all because of this Prana's resilience. These individuals, naturally, subtly wield the same power that the Yogi employs on a conscious level through the exercise of will. Unbeknownst to them, there exist others who appropriate this Prana and use it for ill intentions, using fictitious names.  The heart's systolic and diastolic actions, which pump blood into arteries during inspiration and expiration during breathing, as well as food digestion, urine and faecal matter excretion, semen, chyle, chyme, gastric juice, bile, intestinal juice, saliva, eyelid closure and opening, walking, playing, running, talking, thinking, reasoning, feeling, and willing, are all examples of Prana's work. Connecting the physical body and the astral realm is known as prana.

As soon as the thin thread-link Prana is severed, the astral body and the physical body split apart. So called “Death” occurs. Withdrawn into the astral body is the Prana that was operating in the physical body. However, the event death is not a single time act rather it is a simultaneous procedure, we can discuss it in some future column.

During the cosmic destruction (Pralaya), this Prana stays in a subtle, unmoving, unmanifested, and undifferentiated state. Then Prana moves and acts upon Akasa, bringing forth the various forms, after the vibration is set up. The essential five elements theory in Indian creation system is actually transformation of one single existence through five different processes. There are no distinct five elements, viz, Byom or Akash (Ether), Marut or Vayu (Air), Teja or Agni (Fire), Apas or Neer (Water), Kshiti or Prithvi (Soil), rather one single breath of the one existence or consciousness transforms itself to these five stages to express itself. That expression is never ending and ever changing.

Prana is the force behind the action of the breath in the lungs, the life force behind the breath itself, the force behind the train and steamer engines, and the force behind airplane flight.  You may have started off with a very hazy understanding of the term "Prana," but I think you now have a thorough understanding of it. All the body's movements and the many nerve impulses that go through it can be effectively controlled by managing your breathing. Through breath control, or the control of Prana (popularly known as “Pranayama”), you can rapidly and effortlessly grow and control body, mind, and self. 

In terms of the physical body, this life takes the form of the inhalation and exhalation of breath. These two concepts are diametrically opposed. We consider them to be one. The term "breathing" refers to the process of breathing, although there are two aspects to it: the inward and outward breath. All energies have polarities, existing in two opposing poles. It would not exist otherwise. Like magnetic poles, the opposing poles produce energy through their tension and harmony. 

Incoming breath is completely different from outgoing breath, and outgoing breath is completely different from incoming one. The coming in is like birth, and the leaving out is like death, all at once. Both events occur simultaneously: we are born when we take a breath and die when we exhale. Both birth and death occur in the same instant. This polarity represents life energy rising and falling.

Luminous Memory of Water

The main reason for the unique importance of water is that water has a ‘shining memory’. It is now scientifically proven that water remembers everything. Any event that encounters water causes a structural change in the structure of molecular level and this change turns the water into a living 'information bubble'. 

According to Professor Montagnier (who was awarded with the Nobel Prize in 2008), the 'DNA' of any substance emits a kind of light electromagnetic wave that can radically change the molecular structure of water, and this change can last for days or for even centuries. 

In 2009, Montagnier published two contentious individual research papers, one titled "Aqueous Nanostructures Derived from Bacterial DNA Sequences Produce Electromagnetic Signals". According to Jeff Reimers from the University of Sydney, "these would be the most significant experiments performed in the past 90 years, demanding re-evaluation of the whole conceptual framework of modern chemistry" if Montagnier’s conclusions hold true. 

Documentary Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8VyUsVOic0

Water Molecule shape on expression

Therefore, all the prayers addressed to water are remembered and water can make the necessary adjustments or transformations to its qualities accordingly. Moreover, water also remembers subtle bad attitudes shown towards it. Nevertheless, water is so malleable that it can change itself again at our immediate caress through the same molecular rearrangement process without changing the chemical composition of it and looks remain unchanged from outside.

According to modern scientists, the pumping system that brings water to our multistorey buildings is tantamount to drinking poison if taken straight from the tap. Because the very method by which water is supplied from tap to tap through multiple turns of flow pipes with high levels of pressure does not leave a sweet impression to the memory of water – water remembers this torture and abuse.

According to ancient Indian custom, it is better to drink water with cheerful mind applying both hands after keeping the water for a sufficiently long time in a copper, bronze or earthen vessel. A humble behavior to water helps in molecular restructuring inclusive of its surroundings and consequently that improves the taste and functionality of water to us. So if life, called water, can be treated well, at least seventy two percent of our inner structure can be beautiful and well organized – let water bless us with that. 

“ॐ शम्  नो देवीविशिताय आपोभवन्तु पिताये | संग्योर्विस्रवन्तु न:” (May the sacred divinity hoped for, O water, be present to you always when we drink. May this holiness flow into us)- let this be our attitude to water.

Documentary Link: If You Drink Water You Should Watch This! Amazing Secret of Water - Influenced With Sounds & Intent!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTIDNa2WVkA

Water as a Social and Religious Tradition

Water has been given a high place in the socio-religious and cultural heritage of this country - a unique place. This special place is observed in the observance of various religious and cultural practices and the manner of organizing festivals. Water is such an essential liquid that has been used in various rituals and social practices since time immemorial. The tradition of imagining a metal or clay pitcher as a river and putting water in it is still prominent today. Water and fire are regarded as the 'divine witnesses' of all human activities. Because it is believed that water will remember all these things and will help in the realization of intentions. 

Various types of festivals and events centered around water have been in vogue in this country for ages. 'Punyasnan' (holy bath) is nothing new with millions flocking to the great rivers of India. Apart from the special areas, lately the miniature versions of these programs have reached the small towns and villages.

On these occasions, respect and thanks are offered to Lord Shiva, various prayers and rituals (pujas) are performed in the water of the river for the wish of green Earth. The 'Pushkaram' festival is celebrated at a particular time of the year based on sign of Jupiter (Rashi Brihaspati), centered on any of the twelve major rivers of India (Ganga, Narmada, Saraswati, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Bhima, Brahmaputra, Tungabhadra, Indas and Pranahita). Many of us know the story of Adipushkaram and Anthyapushkaram even the story of Shaktiman Pushkar associated with it. Let's have a look at some of the festivals celebrated around water in different states of Bharatvarsha (India).

Maha Kumbha Mela

The first name that comes to mind is 'Kumbhamela'. This is a fair of largest gathering of water symbolism. Religious people from different parts of the world gather at this fair. 'Ardhakumbha', 'Purnakumbha' and 'Mahakumbha' are held in every half of twelve years, twelve years, and square of twelve years, respectively. In certain places of Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh, "Kumbha" (An Aquarius in which all the energies of creation are kept) is established. Also, the 'Maghamela' can be called the annual version of the Kumbhamela. 'Ganga Dasara Sagar' is another grand event associated with the story of the floating of the bones of King Sagar's sixty thousand children. This fair and event mainly organized keeping the river Ganga as a focal point.

Ganga Sagar Mela

The fair of 'Makara Sankranti' which is celebrated in present day West Bengal at the place where the river Ganga meets the Bay of Bengal. When the Sun transits from Sagittarius to Capricorn, many people take a dip in the Ganga estuary and take a 'Holy Bath'.  Maharishi Kapil's ashram is a special pilgrimage site associated with it.  

Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali

Thus, Kerala's ‘Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali’, Tamil Nadu's 'Aadi Perukku', Karnataka's 'Tulaskramana', Himachal's 'Minjar', Odisha's ‘Karthik Poornima Mela', Madhya Pradesh's 'Gangadashmi', Haryana's 'Teej Utsav' and ‘Chaitra Chaudas Mela' are some worth mentioning festivals connected to water. 

Chhath Puja

Bihar's 'Chhath' or ‘Surya Puja’ is a popular event associated with water. Besides, 'Yaosang' of Manipur, 'Ganga Mohotsav' of Uttar Pradesh and 'Rishi Panchami' of Gujarat have unique precedents.

Water Purification Practices in Ancient India

Different texts of Vedas and Ayurveda mention various methods for maintaining the quality of water. Some ancient and effective methods can be understood in brief.

‘Brihat Samhita’ written and compiled by Varahamihir mentions various methods of purifying water from polluted sources using plants, metals and temperature monitoring. Treatment of ground water is also mentioned there separately.

Anjan (Hardwickia)

Powders of 'Anjan'(Hardwickia), 'Bhadramushta' (Tiger nut), 'Vetiver grass', 'Amla' (India gooseberry) and 'Bhooi Amla' (Phyllanthus niruri) can be used to purify well water. Shushruta, the famous physician of ancient India, explained the natural method of water purification in detail. 

Purification is said to be done by using various plants and natural substances in muddy water – the combined use of 'Bhooi Amla' seeds, Lotus seeds, Algae rhizomes and three types of gems, 'Zircon', 'Pearl', and 'Quartz'.

According to Shushruta

Bhooi Amla (Phyllanthus niruri)

, polluted water is purified by exposing it to sunlight or touching it with a hot iron rod or hot sand. Apart from these, some ancient methods are still in use today, for example, use of Alum is effective in removing turbidity and unwanted color of water, only Tulsi (Holi Basil) leaves are also largely beneficial. Keeping turtles in wells or reservoirs will purify the water because turtles eat many microscopic organisms that are harmful to humans. 

Sea Turtle

Powder of Moringa seed has many other benefits for the body and can be used to purify polluted water. Also, Moringa seed powder, coarse sand, charcoal and gravels are used that destroy the 'aerobic mesophilic bacteria' (E-coli, coliform, pseudomonas, yeast, etc.) in the polluted water – thus purifying the water to acceptable standards of the ‘World Health Organization’. 

Moringa

Storing water in brass containers is hygienic and scientifically tested. According to microbiologists, keeping water in plastic rather than brass (an alloy of copper and zinc) containers protects against many waterborne diseases. Eating food in brass and bronze utensils is an ancient practice of India which is very scientific and simple process to maintain hygiene. 

Bell metal utensils

Bell metal (an alloy made of copper and tin) is such a magical metal that can destroy bacteria harmful to the human body through the transmission of microscopic particles in water.

Water as Source of Motivation and Joy

Water is the source of joy and energy which has a kind of light (Atharva Veda Samhita iii-13-14). Water is compassionate like a mother who loves her children. “Since water is the source of joy, let us enjoy its abundance” (Rigveda, 10.9.1). Water is as if the very epitome of prosperity. Water paves the way to reach God, water itself is the divine existence that flows unceasingly like life (Prana). 

"The water evaporates in the light of the Sun, Indra opens the gates of his riches and nourishes us with blessings" (Rigveda, 7.47.3-4).

'This earth on which the seas, rivers and various bodies of water flow - which prepares food - on which all living beings breathe, may this earth be our betrothed to all these' (Atharvaveda-Bhumisukta). In all this rain plays a pivotal role and is so pronounced that without it the infinite richness of the sea is diminished. That is how water is synonymous with life.

The role of water as a purifier has largely made it a life-giving and life-sustaining substance. According to the Yajurveda concept, the pollution of the entire earth is cleansed in the rainwater, for this very reason the ancient sages used to pray to water for purification. Atharvaveda is no exception to this. On the whole water is the father of creation (Rigveda, 6.50.1). The medicinal properties of water are also considerable. The Vedas mention the medicinal properties and nursing power of water. Vedic emphasis on naturopathy has been repeated in different verses. Water is said to be the reservoir of all healing propositions.

Oh water! What we drink energizes our body. O divine immortal water! You keep us pleasing by removing our ailments' (Rigveda, 63). Various hymns of the Atharvaveda have also invoked water to cure diseases.

• Now the problem is, are all these appeals and prayers to the water at all reasonable or is the fear and darkness of our minds we have shown the tendency to surrender to the unseen? 
• Does this kingship, throne and rule of water in the ancient texts of India really make water conscious and actuate once and for all?

Let us search for the ancient methods of purifying this water, which is the reservoir of creation, the source of joy, the motivator, and the great medicine and with that let us understand how many ceremonies and public gatherings have arisen in our various states around this divine liquid.

Water as Philosophical Part of Life

In the historical perspective the civilization and culture of the land of India emerges as an inseparable and harmonious existence with nature. Our ancient texts, better known as scriptures, reverently relate existence to both inanimate and animate nature. By relevance, both flora and fauna of nature are thought of as sustaining entities of a healthy ecosystem. The cultural heritage of this country has many proofs of conservation of water and forests. Ancient Indian scriptures often emphasize the harmony between human life and nature.

“Strengthen me! Let the whole creation regard me as a friend, I also regard the whole creation as a friend. Let us know each other with the eyes of friendship” (Yajurveda, 36.18). Ancient Indian literature emphasizes conscious understanding of nature and natural processes. Perhaps a very philosophical ideology whose correct understanding can be achieved through skills and efforts. Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, epics and scholarly writings like ‘Mayurachitraka', ‘Bhiratha Samhita' are sources of scientific and natural knowledge. Just as defective behavior makes mother earth and father atmosphere pugnacious and wicked; a responsible behavior not only makes notable progeny but also, we are never deprived of the full blessings of our parents – this was the ancient Indian idea. Each of the natural forces is associated with a deity worshiped for various reasons. Maybe these days most of them are just prejudices. But the underlying scientific reasons make these mythical characters alive suddenly. Indra and Varuna are such names associated with the element water. 

The Rigveda Suktas highlight water as the 'jewel of the earth' or say that the earth is 'blessed with an abundance of water'. The importance and quantity of water in the structure of the body, as in the outer world, has given water a unique place. About seventy-two percent of the human body is made up of water and three-quarters of the entire earth is water. That is why water is synonymous with life.

Water and hydrology figure prominently in the Vedas, Upanishads and other ancient literature. Water is the greatest and largest element in the theory of five-element configuration (Panchamahatattva). Water is worshiped in all four Vedas for its life-giving qualities. The Rigveda dedicates several verses in praise of water, ‘the embodiment of self-awareness’. It is refreshing to hear the ancient nicknames of water, such as 'Source of Life', 'Saver of the Earth', 'Environment preserver', 'Nectar', 'Honey', 'Prosperity', 'Purifier', 'Sin Destroyer', etc. Water is the first element in the Panchamahattva from which the evolution of the universe has evolved in stages. And so, water is only shelter and necessity of all living beings. 'Divya Jal' is a symbolic water which includes 'shitam' (cool to touch), 'shuchihi' (pure), 'shivam' (full of essential minerals and elements), 'istham' (clear) and 'vimalam lahu sadgunam' (acid- alkali balanced) - has these five characteristics. The fame of water as the divine drink of the king of gods, Indra, is also among the other gods (Rigveda, 7.47.1). 

According to the Taittiriya Upanishad, 'from the cosmic entity is the origin of space, from space to air, from air to fire, from fire to water, from water to earth, from earth to plants, from plants to food, from food to vigor, from vigor to man'. 'Earth from water' - this makes it clear that the primordial state of the universe originated from water.  In philosophical reasoning, water pervades everything and everything that pervades is water (Chandogya Upanishad, 7.10.1).