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Hatha Yoga: The Yogi Philosophy of Physical Well-Being1884
development in physical exercise—Prana as well as heat from the rays of
the Sun—Prana as well as oxygen from the air he breathes—and so on. This
subject of Prana is interwoven with the entire Hatha Yoga Philosophy, and
must be seriously considered by its students. This being the case, we must
consider the question, “What is Prana?”
We have explained the nature and uses of Prana in our little book,
“Science of Breath,” and also in our “Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism,”
more generally known as “The Yogi Lessons” (1904). And we dislike to fill the
pages of this book with what may seem to be a repetition of that which has
appeared in our other books. But in this instance, and a few others, we must
reprint what we have already said, for many people who read this book may
not have seen our other publications, and to omit any mention of “Prana”
would be unfair. And, then, a work on Hatha Yoga without a description of
Prana would be absurd. We will not take up much space in our description
and will try to give only the gist of the subject.
Occultists in all ages and lands have always taught, usually secretly to a few
followers, that there was to be found in the air, in water, in the food, in the
sunlight, everywhere, a substance or principle from which an activity, energy,
power and vitality was derived. They differed in their term and names for
this force, as well as in the details of their theories, but the main principle is
to be found in all occult teachings and philosophies, and has for centuries
past been found among the teachings and practices of the Oriental Yogis.
We have preferred to designate this vital principle by the name by which it
is known among the Hindu teachers and students—gurus and chelas—and
have used for this purpose the Sanscrit word “Prana,” meaning “Absolute
Energy.”
Occult authorities teach that the principle which the Hindus term “Prana”
is the universal principle of energy or force, and that all energy or force is
derived from that principle, or, rather, is a particular form of manifestation
of that principle. These theories do not concern us in the consideration of
the subject matter of this work, and we will therefore confine ourselves to