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Breath: The Bridge of Life

Swami Rama

January 26, 2017

Swami Rama explains the fascinating intricacies of breath in this series from the classic Path of Fire & Light lectures (1986). Breath is the conduit of the more subtle life force (prana). Learn how actively changing the flow of breath can balance your nervous system and emotions. As Swami Rama demonstrates, the ancient yogis came up with a specific set of breathing and mental practices designed to lead you to sushumna—a state of equilibrium that induces meditation, a joyful mind, and (ultimately) samadhi.

Fresh from the Himalayan Institute archives, this digitally remastered Wisdom Classic is exclusively available here in the Wisdom Library.

Format: Multiple videos with audio download
Length: 25 mins

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By paying attention to our breath using the principles and practices of yoga science, we can begin to realize the truth that we all share one breath and one source. Then we can know who we are and what God is.

Format: Video with audio download
Length: 3 mins

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How we breathe affects our thoughts, feelings, and behavior, which in turn affects everyone and everything around us. The breath is a bridge between the conscious part of our life and the unconscious part, between the present moment and the past. Yoga science teaches us how to be here now by paying attention to posture, breath, and meditation.

Format: Video with audio download
Length: 4 mins

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Well-balanced breathing leads to well-balanced living. The electric current of our right nostril is positive and warming; the current of the left nostril is negative and cooling. As Swami Rama explains, by paying attention to our breath two or three times a day, we can learn to balance our nervous system.

Format: Video with audio download
Length: 7 mins

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Swami Rama leads us through an exercise in breath awareness focusing on the flow of the breath through our nostrils. By training ourselves to control this flow we can maintain greater equilibrium as we go through the day; we will experience fewer and milder negative states, and enjoy life more.

Format: Video with audio download
Length: 6 mins

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How can we control and limit our negative emotions? By training ourselves to control the flow of our breath through mental effort. With practice, yogis can learn to establish sushumna—equilibrium of the breath, which leads to a peaceful and joyful mind.

Format: Video with audio download
Length: 5 mins

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Practice Resources

Path of Fire and Light: Advanced Practices of Yoga

Swami Rama

Essential reading for all serious hatha yoga students. Swami Rama provides an in-depth study of swarodaya, the science of breath, with step-by-step instruction on advanced pranayama exercises. In Path of Fire and Light, Swami Rama shares with Western students, for the first time, remarkable and practical information on the systematic techniques of an ancient and profound tradition of spiritual growth.

Source: Path of Fire and Light lectures (Honesdale, 1986)

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About the Teacher

Swami Rama

Swami Rama

One of the greatest adepts, teachers, writers, and humanitarians of the 20th century, Swami Rama (1925–1996) is the founder of the Himalayan Institute. Born in northern India, he was raised from early childhood by the Himalayan sage, Bengali Baba. Under the guidance of his master, he traveled from monastery to monastery and studied with a variety of Himalayan saints and sages, including his grandmaster, who was living in a remote region of Tibet. In addition to this intense spiritual training, Swami Rama received higher education in both India and Europe. From 1949 to 1952, he held the prestigious position of Shankaracharya of Karvirpitham in South India. Thereafter, he returned to his master to receive further training at his cave monastery, and finally, in 1969, came to the United States, where he founded the Himalayan Institute. His best-known work, Living with the Himalayan Masters, reveals the many facets of this singular adept and demonstrates his embodiment of the living tradition of the East.

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