Guest guest Posted June 26, 2009 Report Share Posted June 26, 2009 The Healing Power of Spiritual BreathingIn the beginning, we are told, "was the word," but behind the word isan even greater power: the breath. Have you noticed that words aresimply specific formations, shapes and movements of breath? In the enddays, it is said: all the secrets and mysteries will be revealed.Those end days must be approaching, because today, the breath itselfseems to be revealing those secrets to us. It seems that the secret oflife has been right under our nose all the time! But it should come asno surprise, since almost every spiritual teacher throughout time haspointed to the breath in some way, and every contemporary healer makesuse of the breath at some point. Almost all the ancient languages usethe same word for air, wind or breath, as they do for life, vitalenergy, or spirit; or the animating principle of life. This principle,this spirit of life, is called chi, ki, prana, or energy. The breathis often overlooked and underestimated in our search for the sourceand meaning of life, yet the author of Genesis tells us tells us that"God took the dust of the earth and formed the body or man, andbreathed into the nostrils of man the Breath of Life, and man became aliving soul." So, is it any wonder that today, we can find our wayback to God, we can meet the source of life by turning to thebreath--or more specifically--to what is referred to in the Book ofGenesis as neshemet ruach chayim: "the spirit of life within thebreath"? The author of Genesis understood something that the yogishave been teaching since early times: that there is a differencebetween the air we breathe and the life giving principle containedwithin it. This inner breath also called chi, ki., prana or energyruns through body, mind and soul. In German, the word Atman means bothsoul and breath. The movement of spirit in the body is reflected inthe movement of breath. As the Sufi Master Hazrat Inayat Kahn writes:"The healing power of Christ, the magnetism of Mohammed, themiraculous power of Moses, the charm of Krishna, and the inspirationof the Buddha-all these were attained by breath." The Course inMiracles teaches us that: "A universal theology is impossible, but auniversal experience is not only possible, it is necessary." I believethat this universal experience is the breath, is breathing! In the NeiChing: Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Chinese Medicine, we read:"In ancient times there were the so-called spiritual men; theymastered the universe, and controlled yin and yang. They breathed theessence of life, and were independent in preserving the spirit. Theirmuscles and flesh remained unchanged. In his "Book of Secrets"Rajneesh/Osho writes: ""If you can do something with breath, you willattain to the source of life. If you can do something with breath, youcan transcend time and space. If you can do something with the breath,you will be in the world and also beyond it." He said: "there arecertain points in the breathing which you have never observed, andthose points are the doors, the nearest doors to you, from where youcan enter into a different world, into a different being, a differentconsciousness..." I believe that Spiritual Breathing is topsychosomatic illness what penicillin was to infection. SpiritualBreathing is the quickest way to clear your head, settle your stomach,calm your nerves, and open your heart. It will uplift you, center youand ground you in your being. Spiritual Breathing opens your heart tolove, and fills your body with light and life. In the Songs of, we read "Breath restores me to my exact self." Maybe that'swhy one of the most powerful modern spiritual breathing methods iscalled "Rebirthing." It offers a spiritual technology of awakening andpurification. The breath it seems to me is the fire of the heart--theheart of love. The Quakers have a wonderful tradition. At their Sundayservice, people simply sit in silence and meditation, waiting, open toinspiration. And when it comes, when the spirit moves them, theyspeak. They say their piece (peace). They also held this great idea:"Now and then, you need to open all the doors and windows of yourheart and soul, and you need to let the spirit of God blow throughyou! Breathwork is a spiritual technology of awakening. When you workwith the breath, you automatically develop spiritual skills. On thephysical, material level we have solids, liquids, and gases. To playwith breath is to play with the subtlest form of matter. That's whypeople who have mastered spiritual breathing can accomplish so much onthe level of subtle energies. Spiritual Breathing makes it clear thatthe original creative life force energy that built our bodies in thewomb is still available to us, to maintain and even rebuild the body.Yoga is the science of union (with God). And yoga holds as a centraltruth that Breath is the connection, the bridge, between mind andbody, between the visible and the invisible. Breath connects us toeach other, and it connects all of us to God, nature and existence.Every breath can be a prayer, an invitation, a demonstration of ourfaith, our trust. It can be an expression of forgiveness, gratitudeand surrender. Tremendous power is to be gained through combiningmediation and breathing. In the mid '70s, I was inspired by Alpert (Ram Dass). He taught us to practice a beautiful spiritualbreathing technique: On the inhale think "the power of God is withinme," and on the exhale think "the grace of God surrounds me." Each ofus must walk our own unique path. And that is the empowering aspect ofBreathwork: no one can do it for you! Yet, we are all breathing thesame breath. The breath that is in me now was in you before, will bein the bird flying overhead tomorrow, was in the dog walking down thestreet yesterday. It is not a just a philosophy. It is a fact inreality! The same atoms and molecules of air that same breath thatJesus breathed, Moses breathed, Buddha breathed, that same breath isflowing into you right now! If you really want to go into the deepestrealities of life, and to reach the highest states of consciousness,then you will have to awaken to the breath. It is the path, or atleast the doorway to your essence, your core, your soul, your heart ofhearts. Breath and breathing techniques are now being taught all overthe world. Breath awareness leads to healing of stress, emotionalproblems, substance abuse, to the healing of unconscious, blocks,fears, and anxieties. I believe that it is due to the Angel of Breathwho is at work on the planet. This Angel of Breath brings fire andlight to everyone on the spiritual path. Evolutionary contractions inthe form or natural disasters, social upheaval, wars and rumors ofwars, are doing the work of pushing spiritual seekers out of theircomfort zone and into the dynamic working zone of spiritual awakening,purification, and rebirth. It seems to me that everyone is born aspiritual master. But we forget, we loose touch with our essence, ourpurpose, our source. The sadness, anger, love of a child is total: itseems infinite. That is a reflection of the power and nature of theirspirit. As children, we are forced to choose between following outerauthority and listening to our inner divinity. You can begin toincorporate the life of spirit into your body and being. Simplybreathe in a conscious way. Practice breathing in a peaceful way, anaccepting way, a trusting way, loving way, a grateful way, a forgivingway, an inviting way, a surrendering way Incorporating theseattributes through spiritual breathing makes manifesting them inreality easy and effortless! More than knowing, believing or doing it,when you are breathing it, you are "living" it. You are "being" it.Opening and relaxing the breath is like opening the doors to yoursoul. Allow every fiber of your being to be bathed in this life thatflows from God. Spiritual breathing has been called a biologicalexperience of divine energy. It takes courage to live a unique life,inspired life. It requires that you turn to your own inner truth. Thatinner truth is reflected and expressed through every breath you take.Breathing is like a language: the language of the soul. SpiritualBreathing can take you to the eye of the storms in your life.Spiritual breathing can help you to balance yin and yang, peace andpower, rhythm and harmony. Learn from the breath itself. Follow yourown bliss! Start by watching your breath. Do what the Buddha did atthe moment of enlightenment: follow the breath as it comes and goes.Feel the sensations of breath, the movement of breath in you. Be awitness. Observe, notice, pay attention to what is happening inside ofyou in each moment. Add to that the willingness to let go, tosurrender. And then begin to conspire with the life that surrounds andpermeates everything in existence. Breathe consciously. Feel theexpansion and contraction of life! Celebrate the flow of life, andmarvel at the mysteries that life reveals to you through the breath.Seek out others who are committed to breath mastery. Share yourexperience. No one is free until we are all free. But if only one ofus gets free, everyone will be liberated! Breathe peace and love,freedom and safety, energy and aliveness, love and light. And watchthe world within you and around you change forever. living in the cosmic swirl,going round and round,singing my song,Dancing my dance...Stompingelk, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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