Breath-Infusion Limitation

Srila Yogeshwarananda at his astral school during the morning of April 1, 2016, began to explain that pranayama breath infusion practice, even when done proficiently has limitations in what it can do for the sadhaka (student of yoga). He said this:

Pranayama breath infusion does wonders for the subtle body. Undoubted it is a permanent part of the ashtanga yoga process which was described by Patanjali but with this one must also study one’s psychology and tackled its faults and misconceptions head-on. Otherwise one will remain as an asura which means that one will be badly motivated and not even know it. There are some students who advocate themselves as being yogis or as being loyal to yoga, and yet when we examine their behavior we find that they are against the real aims of yoga. They continue to act and think in a hostile way, being barbaric and using yoga as a prop for their misdemeanor in thinking and feeling and in acting.

We can say that nearly every person who comes to learn yoga comes for the wrong reason and is motivated to acquire some power. The only way to figure out what drives you is to sort your psychology. This is done in mediation by segregating the various energies to get to the bottom of a particular character trait which one realizes is counterproductive.

The student must search for faults in his or her nature, get a method to reform the habits which supports those faults, and then make take that last stand to eliminate the energy in the psyche from which the fault originates. Bad habits, stubborn traits, misconceptions, addictions, inordinate attachments must all be confronted head on in the psyche and dealt with decisively there.

God will not do this. The yoga-guru will not do this. The student must himself or herself do this using the advice given by seniors.

Pranayama breath infusion will not do that but it may help the person to gain insight so that he or she can perceive subtle covert behaviors which keep that person as a criminal yogi. Even though yoga is not harmed by these criminal students, we have a duty to explain that pseudo yogis are not on the path because their primitive habits make it impossible for them to firmly advance.

Brutal self-honesty is required. A self-critical approach is an absolute must. The desire to repent unto the self, to go into the self and direct it to reform is necessary.