A Yogi - Kriya Yoga

Dr. Guenter Waldeck, M.D.
A Yogi
with Complete Control of Heart and Breath
When I heard that Dhirananda had achieved the state of consciousness in which there
is complete control over breath and heart function, my medical curiosity was awakened.
I asked him if I could conduct a medical examination and pose some questions
afterwards.
The use of many relaxation techniques has spread throughout Europe during the past
70 years. With their help, the practitioner can influence the autonomic nervous system.
But this does not result in a state of no breath and no pulse – as in the reports from
India – because the autonomic centres of the medulla oblongata are beyond our control.
In 1980, I encountered the Indian Yogi Dhirananda (see Literature 1) for the first time.
He teaches the original KRIYA YOGA in Europe. Kriya was already mentioned in the
Yoga Sutras of the Patanjali and the Bhagavata. In Sanskrit, Yoga means unity. Kri
means action and ya is what happens within us: feeling the unity with the soul in
everything we do.
The technique consists of simple body, breath and concentration exercises that are
limited to what is essential – mudras and meditation. It was passed on to Lahiri
Mohasoy as the essence of ancient forms of yoga in 1861 by the legendary Yoga
Master Babaji.
Monks have always and everywhere had enough time for religious practices, but not the
individual who is active in everyday life. Kriya Yoga has been created especially for that
type of person. Lahiri Mohasoy actually wanted to become a monk, but started a family
and lived a middle-class life at the request of his teacher. This proved that it is possible
to achieve a high level of spiritual development even without being a monk.
His most famous student was Sri Yukteswar (see Literature 2), who later prepared
Paramahansa Yogananda (see Literature 3) for disseminating the teachings of Kriya
Yoga in Europe and America.
As a student of Dhirananda, I had the opportunity to become acquainted with his loving
being and his balanced nature. I was drawn not only to his knowledge of the sacred
writings, but also to his advanced spiritual consciousness.
In January 1986, I heard that he had achieved that highest level of consciousness,
which is called Nirvikalpa-Samadhi in Yoga terminology. In this state, a Yogi has
complete control over breath and heart function. My medical curiosity was awakened
and I asked him if I could conduct a medical examination. “I generally do not like to
demonstrate it. It is a secret, it happens through the grace of God and no one should
abuse it,” was Dhirananda’s response.

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After the evening meditation, we went into a quiet room. I began to register his general
condition and the frequency of the breath and pulse. Dhirananda closed his eyes,
inhaled and exhaled two to three times and then – his pulse stopped completely, as did
his breath.
Cessation of breathing and the absence of circulatory function are signs of clinical
death. After 20 seconds, the lack of cerebral blood flow should have led to
unconsciousness. After four minutes, the lack of oxygen supply should have caused
irreversible brain damage as its result. As an emergency physician, I should now have
immediately begun with the resuscitation efforts. The respect for the state of Samadhi
and the lack of external signs of shock convinced me to refrain from this.
Three silent minutes. Then his heart and breath began to start again, very slowly at first
and then at a normal rate. I was amazed. There were no signs of strain on his face. He
was even refreshed and as happy as ever. He asked with a smile: “Are you satisfied?” I
responded: “Yes, but how is it possible?”
His pulse stopped completely, and so did his breath
The Interview
“It is not impossible,” is how Dhirananda started his explanation. “Think of a large
machine that functions through electricity. When the power is turned off, the entire
machine stops its motion. Once it is turned on again, it begins to work with powerful
movements and noise. All living beings are moved in the same way by the cosmic
electricity of prana. All types of physical movements and psychological mechanisms
function through prana, the power of the soul or God. When you have achieved
complete control through prana, you can also control each cell, as well as the nerves
and all of the voluntary and involuntary muscles of the body. You can let each part of
your body come to rest.
We receive a bit of rest during sleep, but not always. The body of the average person
suffers from great tension because of bad dreams. Every living being stores a
tremendous amount of prana that is collected through food, water, sunlight and air. We
need this energy for every physical and mental movement. Each person should
therefore make an effort to repair unnecessary weak spots through which prana can
escape. Examples of these are excessive talking, mental depression, anger, sensual
pleasures, etc.
Author: Is it possible to control our prana?
Dhirananda: The soul controls the prana. When we meditate seriously and on a regular
basis and feel the unity with the soul, then it gradually becomes possible to control the
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prana with the soul. The storage place of prana is the soul or God in every human
being. Every illness can be healed through prana when you know how to use it. Prana is
a force that permeates everything, through which it is easily possible to do distance
healing. When you know how to let the prana flow and transfer it to people who are sick,
all types of diseases – whether they have a physical or a mental basis – can be healed.
Many Yogis, many holy people and Jesus are examples that prove this truth.
Author: What are the obstacles that prevent the flow of pranic energy so that the
average person cannot use this energy?
Dhirananda: Impurity of the mental substance and a lack of meditation are the reasons.
Most healers misuse this energy by striving for ego satisfaction and material prosperity
in exchange for it. When this energy is used for egotistical reasons and in exchange for
personal interests, then the pranic flow will gradually cease.
Author: Please speak more about prana and its functions.
Dhirananda: Prana governs the three main cosmic forces, which are called gunas in
Sanskrit (see Literature 1). They connect all things like a chain, starting with the atom
and up to the stars and planets. They control the universe in this manner.
The three types of gunas are:
1. Sattva Guna is a self-revealing and conscious energy. Sattvas brings goodness,
happiness, peace, blessings, purity and knowledge.
2. Raja Guna attracts and repels energy, which produces activity, movement and
change. When Rajas is active, the result is passion, anger, selfishness, desires
and mental restlessness. The mental essence of Sattvas and the denseness of
Tamas (see 3) cannot accomplish anything without the energy of Rajas because
every movement comes from this dynamic force.
When the prana energy is used for selfish reasons and in exchange for personal
interests, the pranic flow will gradually cease
All forms of energy that come from Rajas are simultaneously constructive and
destructive, simultaneously physical and metaphysical. The tremendous energy
of Rajas is present even in the smallest parts of the atom.
3. Tama Guna is the static state, the material of matter. The mind cannot grasp
the truth and recognize the true nature of things when Tamas is active. This
creates ignorance, sleep, lethargy and laziness.
These three Gunas are inseparable and related to each other. One example: Tamas
brings obstacles in manifesting something. Through the power of Rajas, the obstacles
are overcome, and Sattvas gives meaning to its realisation. When the cosmic force of
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Rajas drives the darkness away from Tamas through its active energy, the light of
Sattvas appears. Development and regression depend on the presence or absence of
the three cosmic forces. All three contain these qualities: intelligence, energy and
dullness.
When Sattvas is the driving force for an entire lifetime, the next life will be a spiritual
one. People who have achieved this state in their lives are called Sattvic. When the
entire life is dominated by Rajas, the next will be a rational one. Someone in this state is
called Rajasic. If Tamas dominates a life, the next one will be influenced by ignorance
and animal characteristics. This person is called Tamasic. Those who develop Sattvic
qualities in their lifetime will ascend; those who cultivate the Rajasic will stay in the
middle; and when Tamasic dominates, this means a decline.
The three gunas form the nature of the body, the senses and the mind to reveal the
cosmic consciousness: Brahman or pure consciousness is beyond the gunas and rules
them. When a person controls the gunas and masters them by exercising control over
prana, he will realize that everything consists of pure consciousness and nothing else
exists. He is no longer bound to material desires or irritated by passion, anger,
ignorance, etc. Then he is both the observer and the observed in this state. He flows on
the eternal ocean of nectar. Then he is immortal and free of all bonds. Only then is he
called a Yogi.
Author: What function does breathing have in this process?
Dhirananda: The gunas, the breath, the body and the mind are closely connected with
each other. The human breath switches from one nostril to the other every 50 to 120
minutes. If this change does not take place within 120 minutes, you can be certain that
something is wrong in the body.
While the Pingala Nadi (“Sun Nerve”) is at work, the majority of the inhaled air flows
through the right opening of the nose. During this time, Raja Guna is predominant.
People then tend to be dynamic and seek physical and mental activity. When the Ida
Nadi (“Moon Nerve”) is active, the main portion of the inhaled air flows through the left
nostril. Then Tama Guna is at work and the static principle dominates. The human mind
is absorbed with sleep, lethargy, laziness and ignorance. When the breath switches
from the left to the right and from the right to the left nostril, then both nostrils are
equally open for an even stream of air for a certain amount of time. Sattva Guna is at
work now, and a balanced state dominates the mind. This time is especially suitable for
religious practices and meditation.
The activities are generally distributed as follows: Raja Guna during the day, Tama
Guna at night and Sattva Guna during sunrise and sunset. The latter is also the reason
why instructions are given in the scriptures to meditate in the morning and evening.
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Author: How can you determine whether the breath mainly flows through the right or
the left nostril?
Dhirananda: There is a very simple way to find this out. Pick up a mirror or stand in
front of a window pane and exhale deeply. You will see a larger and a smaller circle of
vapour form. This makes it possible to easily determine which nostril has more air
flowing out of it at the moment.
Author: Can I achieve this change in the breath through an external method?
Dhirananda: Yes, when the left nostril is partially closed and the breath mainly flows
through the right, then lay down on your right side and put a pillow under your ribs. After
inhaling and exhaling several times, you can observe that the left nostril is opening and
lets in the main portion of the air flow. The same method is also used for opening the
right nostril by lying on the left side.
The following rule is mentioned in Yoga literature: During and after a meal, attempt to
open the right nostril. This will improve your digestion. Before going to sleep, you should
try to have the left nostril open. This will guarantee good sleep.
Some illnesses - such as fever, colds, coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis,
headache, heart complaints, nervousness, depression, etc. - can be improved by
switching the breath. Special Pranayama exercises (breathing exercises) are also used
for this purpose.
Author: Why is it necessary to interrupt the breath and heart rate to achieve the
realisation of God?
Dhirananda: This is a good question. It is necessary to interrupt both of them. As long
as the breath is restless, so are the mind and the senses. It is not possible to realise
God or the all-encompassing consciousness with this restless mind. When the breath is
calm, the mind and the senses are also calm; if it comes to a standstill, the mind and
senses also come to a standstill. Here is an example of this: If the sun or moon are
reflected by a lively body of water, their reflection is diffuse and the actual form cannot
be clearly recognised. On the other hand, the reflection clearly shows the true image of
both heavenly bodies when a lake is calm.
This also applies to the mind. When there are waves of confusion and doubt in the lake
of the mind, when the storms of restlessness arise, the reflection of God or the soul
cannot be realised. But a clear reflection is created when the lake of the mind becomes
calm. A prana of immense peace that lives very close to the soul exists beyond the
restless prana. Once we learn to gradually retreat into this prana, we can perceive many
things. Many questions receive an answer, we intuitively understand what is happening
in the minds of other people and can gain control over our subconscious mind (author’s
note: The term “subconscious mind” in yogic philosophy corresponds approximately
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with the concept of Sigmund Freud’s “unconscious mind.”) Our subconscious mind can
become a faithful servant when we train it well. All of your questions, even about
previous incarnations, will be answered because they are stored in the subconscious
mind.
I think that most people have already had experiences with their own subconscious
mind. The following example happens quite often: Let us assume that you have a very
urgent appointment at 7 a.m. the next morning and there is no alarm clock. Before you
go to bed, concentrate very calmly on the Third Eye and ask your subconscious mind to
wake you up at 6 p.m. You will see that you are awakened between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m.
There are a great variety of ways in which the subconscious mind can be useful. It just
has to be trained well.
Author: My last question is how can we train and develop the subconscious mind?
Dhirananda: There are many methods, and I cannot list them all individually. You
should primarily attempt to reduce the worldly desires and detach the mind from the
worldly realm now and then. Practice Pranayama and meditate on a regular basis with
complete devotion. In the evening, before you go to bed, reflect on all of your thoughts
and actions during the past day. Try to remember everything. These methods will help
you develop your subconscious mind. Make progress in a patient way. You will be
successful at it.
Author: Dhirananda, I thank you very much for the opportunity to do the examination
and for the interview.
Literature:
1. Yogi Dhirananda: Yogamrita: Die Essenz des Yoga. (Yogamrita: The Essence of
Yoga) Kriya Verlag, CH-5408 Ennetbaden, 2. Auflage 2004.
2. Inanavatar Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri: The Holy Science.
Yogoda Satsanga, India. 1949.
3. Paramahansa Yogananda: Autobiography of a Yogi.
Self-Realization Fellowship. 1994.
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