Energy of Thought
By Krishna Madappa

"Day and night we approach Thee, with reverential homage through sublime thoughts and noble deeds."
Rig Veda 1.1.7 

A noble sage (wise one) expressed these words while giving a discourse on " Training the Mind for Wisdom" relating to the propelling force of thought.......Very few understand the power of thought, for if one goes into a cave, shuts himself in and thinks one really great thought and dies, that thought will penetrate the walls of that cave, vibrate through space and at last permeate the whole human race. Such is the power of thought; so be in no hurry to give your thoughts to others. First have something to give, for teaching is not talking, teaching is not imparting doctrines, it is communicating. The essence of spirituality can be communicated just as really as I give you a flower and this is true in the most literal sense. 

Exactly a year ago in the Nov. 99 issue of Spirit Seeker we had shared the simple truths in the article Meditation and Purification, which is Faith - Thought - Word - Action - Life - Effort - Remembering - Prayer. Most of us realize the potential energy that resides within this fabric of life and the capacity for refinement that can ensue when we process from the gross to the subtle. We, as a human race are at this collective juncture of connecting to the time honored disciplines of practice, which would enable the essence of our Divine substance to glow, unhindered. 

In this universe where nothing is lost, where we live in the midst of death in life, every thought that is thought, in public or in private, in crowded thoroughfares or in the deep recesses of primeval forests, lives. They are continuously trying to become self-embodied and until they have embodied themselves they will struggle for expression and any amount of repression cannot subdue them. Nothing can be destroyed - those thoughts that caused disharmony in the past are also seeking embodiment, to be filtered through repeated expression, and at last transformed into perfect good. So, needless to say, the quality of content in our thoughts can effect our cumulative well being and of those around us.

Let us look into a simple metaphor of our lives. Human life is like a wonderfully turbulent stream, strewn with rocks and pebbles; the brave step into it, for by sitting on the shore and enumerating about the hurdles we will never get across. So, leave behind the burden of your fears, guilt, weaknesses and the cumbersome attachments, thus freed from all disturbing energies smoothly cross over the stream. This may seem very casual, however for the disciplined mind this is no effort, for pure intellect is aglow by the active participation in Divine duties which unfolds hidden truths behind all superficial values. 

This simply outlined process is constantly being refined by the energy of breath (Prâna). Prâna is the sum total of the energy that is in the universe. It's the great expansion and contraction as we see in the Mandelbroth set and as the high and low tides of the ocean. This gross universe of ours which we see, feel, touch, smell and taste has it's cause and explanation behind in the thought. Let's observe this via our human body. Our external movements of hands, legs etc. are activated by fine nerves etc. which we cannot trace with our senses, yet we know they are the cause of the grosser movement. These nerve movements in turn are the resultant action of thought and that is caused by something still finer, which we call the Atman(self). So in order for us to understand ourselves we need to probe deeper and deeper into our own nature. Prânayama enables this process of refinement to be vital within us. Our powers of concentration - meditation will be very alert and thereby infusing us with vital energy. 

This simple Prânayama (breathing) exercise when conducted with due diligence will enable the refinement of thought, thereby increasing vital energy and hence providing us with the thought of great healing. We shall envelop the Prânayama into three parts.
1. Breathing in, which in Sanskrit we call Puraka (filling)
2. Kumbhaka (retaining), filling the lungs and holding the air from coming out.
3. Rechaka (breathing out). These three sequences constitute one Prânayama. The breathing cycle is 4 seconds inhale, 8 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhale. Instead of counting silently we have been taught to recite the syllable "OM" which is the mantra of purification and connecting to the Divine. Two very important notes are to stay upright and to think of the body as sound and perfect, healthy and strong. Then envelop your field with a current of Love and think of the universe as radiating vital energy, pray and then begin. Always pay attention to the volume of air intake and outflow from each nostril. We have been accustomed to plant infusions during all practices as they open the bronchial channels and increase the oxygen flow into our system. Some of these plant infusions comprise of leaves, seeds, flowers, gums and woods of particular botanical species like Tulasi, Cardamom, Jasmine families, Orange blossom, Frankincense, Sandalwood etc., to name a few. 

As the discipline of one's practice continues, certain physical/emotional transformations will begin to occur, like twitchings all over the body, emotions like crying etc. Observe these patterns because in essence one's system is being reformatted. New channels for thought will be awakened and a rebirthing process has begun. Remember patience!!!!! 

Om Shanti----Om Shanti----Om Shanti.