A Yogi - Kriya Yoga

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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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