Prana
“As the nadis become filled with prana, the body becomes rejuvenated from
within. It becomes strong and firm, with all the suppleness of a child.” P.28, Swami
Muktananda, Kundalini, The Secret of Life.
Prana is a Sanskrit word literally meaning ‘life force’ the invisible bio-energy or
vital energy that keeps the body alive and maintains a state of good health. Prana
is similar if not identical to Wilhelm Reich’s orgone energy, which he believed to
be in constant motion, nonentropic and responsible for the creation of matter, and
serves as a medium for electromagnetic and gravitational phenomena. There are
many terms for subtle energy, including Od, orgone, scalar waves and tachyon and
etheric energy. In various places around the world the life force has been called:
Japan—Ki, China—Qi or Chi, Greece—Pneuma, Polynesian—Mana, Hebrew—
Ruah, Egypt—Ka, Hindus—Prana, Druids—Nwyvre, North African—Baraka,
Pueblo Indians—Po-wa-ha, Iroquois—Orenda, and to the Sioux—Waken or
Wakonda.
In Hinduism, Prana is the infinite energy of which matter is born. Also
interpreted as the vital, life-sustaining force of both the individual body and the
universe. The word first arose in the Upanishads, where it is part of the worldly,
physical realm, sustaining the body and is the mother of thought and thus also of the
mind. Prana, as the fuel for all energy and motion, is said to be what distinguishes
a living body from a dead one. In the Yogic tradition a period of increased Prana
is known as Pranotthana, this refers to a kundalini awakening.
Prana suffuses all living form but is not itself the Atma or individual soul.
According to the Eastern worldview prana is understood to flow through a network
of channels or meridians, called nadis. The three main channels are: the ida, the
pingala, and the sushumna. The ida and pingala channels are said to correlate with
left and right uni-nostril breathing. The control of Prana is achieved (initially)
from the control of one’s breathing (Pranayama). In yoga, pranayama techniques
are used to control the movement of these vital energies within the body, which is
said to lead to the increased vitality of the practitioner. Self or Atman is the eternal
center of consciousness, which was never born and never dies. It is the deepest
light shines through the koshas, and takes on their colorings. Prana constitutes
the second sheath (kosha). Kundalini is energy but it has an impact on and is
generated by (cause and effect of ) all the koshas:
- Annamaya Kosha – Physical (Gross Body)
- Pranamaya Kosha – Energy (Vital Air Sheath)
- Manomaya Kosha -Mind (Mental Sheath)
- Vigyanamaya Kosha - Wisdom (Intellectual Sheath)
- Anandmaya Kosha – Bliss (Causal Sheath)
In his book Yoga, Immortality and Freedom, Mircea Eliade said that in the
Shamanistic, Hindu and Buddhist traditions there is emphasis on generating the
“inner fire” by various means—“one of the most typical yogic-tantric techniques
consists of producing mystical inner heat.” One of the ways this is achieved is
through both breathing (pranayama) and the suspension of breath (kumbhaka).