Practising Breathing Awareness To Inculcate Mindfulness

Just like breath sustains life of the body, Prana sustains Chitta-Vritti.

- Dilip Tralshawala

We hold our breath during any act of concentration in our daily life, for e.g

• maintaining balance, while walking on a narrow path

• climbing a tree etc., against gravity

• when we recollect a past event

• when we listen with attention

How this simple observation can be interpreted to develop a technique of practising ‘Breath Awareness to Inculcate Mindfulness’ is beautifully explained by Shri Yogendraji in his book, “Guide to Yoga Meditation” in Chapter 5 - Prana and Mind - “He who has controlled his respiratory system has controlled the activities of the mind.”

There are however two main causes for the activties of Chitta -

1. Vasana or desire or Klishta Vritti arising out of Avidya (Yoga Sutra II/4)

2. Prana or the persistency of energy expressed mostly through the breathing mechanics.

Thus breathing is lessened when the mind becomes absorbed.

Just like breath sustains life of the body, Prana sustains Chitta-Vritti. Thus Chitta begins its activities where there is Prana and Prana begins it activities where there is mind. When they are both present, the senses remain engaged in their normal functions leading to persistent fructification of Vasana.