One Term at a Time · 15
Prana
प्राण
Life force; vital energy.
It flows through the body, and the mind directs its flow.
Swamiji on Prana
Our summary of the lecture passage in the film below. These are our words, not Swamiji's.
Prana is life force, vital energy, and Swamiji places it among the layers of the personality, the coverings one over another. Just beyond the physical body lies the vital sheath, pranamaya kosha. Without that vital flow of energy the body would have no life. It is this vital aspect that creates hunger and thirst, and it is the vitality behind every sense pleasure. But the vital aspect is directed by the mind, which is a higher level than the vital sheath. When the mind is happy, vitality flows joyously. The moment the mind is in distress, vitality begins to be withdrawn, and the face shows it very quickly: sad thoughts are reflected there, something is withdrawn. Gladness and sadness on a face depend on that vitality, prana, and all of it follows the mind. This is how the mind manipulates the pranas, and he says it can be easily understood.
Mind is a higher level than your vital sheath.
See also: Pranayama, Pratyahara, Chitta, The Four Paths, Lesson 12: A Healthy Body: Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara
One Term at a Time
One Sanskrit term at a time: a short definition, then Swamiji using the word in a lecture.
Start at the beginning: Vāsanā
- 01Vāsanāthe trace a desire leaves behind
- 02Vairāgyathe loosening of a grip
- 03Satsaṅgathe company you keep
- 04Vivekatelling the real from what only looks real
- 05Brahmanthe one reality behind every object
- 06Māyāwhy the world seems so real
- 07Jnanathe wisdom that sees through it
- 08Sadhanathe practice that carries you there
- 09Vicharaasking who you really are
- 10Ragathe pull toward what pleases you
- 11Dveshathe push away from what displeases you
- 12Samskarathe impression each like and dislike leaves on the mind
- 13Karmaaction and the result produced by action
- 14Gunathe three fundamental modes or qualities of nature
- 15Pranalife force; vital energy
- 16Samadhideep absorption in truth
- 17Jivaindividual self
- 18Chittamental process
- 19Japarepetition of mantra
- 20Dhyanameditation
- 21Muktiliberation
- 22Dharanaconcentration
- 23Atmasoul
- 24Bhavanafeeling
- 25Jnanithe wise one
- 26Sthita-prajnaone established in wisdom
- 27Aham brahmasmiI am Brahman
- 28Pranayamabreathing exercises
- 29Bhaktidevotion
- 30Sattwaa harmonious, focused state
- 31Rajasa restless, distracted state
- 32Tamasinertia
- 33Shravanalistening
- 34Mananareflection
- 35NididhyasanaVedantic meditation
- 36Tapasausterity
- 37Pratyaharawithdrawal of the senses
- 38Swadhyayastudy of scriptures
- 39Ishvara Pranidhanasurrender to God
- 40Shauchapurity
- 41Santoshacontentment
- 42Ahimsanon-violence
- 43Satyatruthfulness
- 44Asteyanon-stealing
- 45Brahmacharyacelibacy
What is The Four Paths?
Swami Jyotirmayananda's teaching on the four paths of yoga, in his own words, one short lesson at a time.
What it does for you
Swamiji teaches that the personality has four sides: action, emotion, will and reason. Each path cultivates one of them, and the course covers all four, so none is left out.
- Karma Yogaaction
unfolds one’s hidden potentialities
- Bhakti Yogaemotion
cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality
- Raja Yogawill
allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind
- Jnana Yogareason
trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle
In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.
Swami Jyotirmayananda, The Four Paths, Lesson 3
It is free and comes by email: a lesson every other day, 19 core lessons on action, devotion, meditation and wisdom, then 10 lessons called Going Deeper.
Every lesson is Swamiji's own text, so you learn the four paths from him, not from a summary.
Swamiji teaches prana in Lesson 12 of The Four Paths.
Prefer to look first? Read Lesson 1 of The Four Paths.