A Yogi - Kriya Yoga

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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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