Raja-Yoga

YOGA APHORISMS. 133
Prdna. The sum-total of the energy displayed in the
universe is called Prdna. This Prdna, before a cycle
begins, remains in an almost motionless state, and
when the cycle begins this Prdna begins to manifest
itself. It is this Prdna that is manifested as motion,
as the nervous motion in human beings or animals,
and the same Prdna is
manifesting as thought, and so
on. The whole universe is a combination of Prdna and
Akdsa\ so is the human body. Out of Akdfa you get
the different materials that you feel, and see, and out of
Prdna all the various forces. Now this throwing out
and restraining the Prdna is what is called Prdndydma.
Patanjali, the father of the Yoga Philosophy, does not
give very many particular directions about Prdndydma,
but later on other Yogis found out various things about
this Prdndydma, and made of it a great science. With
Pantanjali it is one of the many ways, but he does not
lay much stress on He it. means that you simply
throw the air out, and drawn it in, and hold it for
some time, that is and all, by that, the mind will be
come a little calmer. But, later on, you will find that
out of this is evolved a particular science called Prdnd
ydma. We will hear a little of what these later Yogis
have to say. Some of this I have told you before, but
a little repetition will serve to fix it in your minds.
First, you must remember that this Prdna is not
the breath. But that which causes the motion of the
breath, that which is the vitality of the breath is
the Prdna. Again, the word Prdna is used of all the
senses ; they are all called Prdnas, the mind is called