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Brahma, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

11/8/2015

"Ralph Waldo Emerson ca1857". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Brahma

If the red slayer think he slays,
Or if the slain think he is slain,
They know not well the subtle ways
I keep, and pass, and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near,
Shadow and sunlight are the same,
The vanished gods to me appear,
And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;
When me they fly, I am the wings;
I am the doubter and the doubt,
And I the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,
And pine in vain the sacred Seven;
But thou, meek lover of the good!
Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.

(1856 [1857])

How to Practice Yoga, according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika

11/2/2015

Folio from 1600s

From the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, as translated by Pancham Sinh, in chapter three. Further translations in brackets added by me.

I am going to describe the procedure of the practice of Yoga, in order that Yogis may succeed. A wise man should leave his bed in the Usâ Kâla (i.e., at the peep of dawn or 4 o’clock) in the morning.

Remembering his guru over his head, and his desired deity in his heart, after answering the calls of nature, and cleaning his mouth, he should apply Bhasma (ashes).

In a clean spot, clean room and charming ground, he should spread a soft âsana (cloth for sitting on). Having seated on it and remembering, in his mind his guru and his God.

Having extolled the place and the time and taking up the vow thus: ‘To day [sic] by the grace of God, I will perform Prânâyâmas with âsanas for gaining samâdhi (trance) and its fruits.’ He should salute the infinite Deva, Lord of the Nâgas [Śiva], to ensure success in the âsanas (postures).

Salutations to the Lord of the Nâgas, who is adorned with thousands of heads, set with brilliant jewels (Manis), and who has sustained the whole universe, nourishes it, and is infinite. After this he should begin his exercise of âsana and when fatigued, he should practise Śava âsana. Should there be no fatigue, he should not practise it.

Before Kumbhaka [breath retention], he should perform Viparîta Karnî mudra [reverse pose/modified shoulder stand], in order that he may be able to perform Jâlandhar bandha [chin/throat lock] comfortably.

Sipping a little water, he should begin the exercise of Prânâyâma, after saluting Yogindras [Gods of Yoga], as described in the Karma Parana [Kūrma Purana], in the words of Śiva.
Such as “Saluting Yogindras and their disciples and gurû Vinâyaka [Ganesha], the Yogî should unite with me with composed mind.”

While practising, he should sit with Siddhâsana, and having performed bandha and Kumbhaka, should begin with 10 Prânâyâmas the first day, and go on increasing 5 daily.
With composed mind 80 Kumbhaka should be performed at a time; beginning first with the Chandra (the left nostril) and then sûrya (the right nostril).

This has been spoken of by wise men as Anuloma and Viloma. Having practised Sûrya Bhedan [single nostril breathing beginning on the right], with bandhas (the wise rust [sic]) should practise Ujjâyî and then Sîtkârî Śîtalî, and Bhastrikâ, he may practice others or not.

He should practise mudras properly, as instructed by his guru. Then sitting with Padmâsana, he should hear anâhata nâda [unmade sound] attentively.

He should resign the fruits of all his practice reverently to God, and, on rising on the completion of the practice, a warm bath should be taken.

The bath should bring all the daily duties briefly to an end.

At noon also a little rest should be taken at the end of the exercise, and then food should be taken.

Yogîs should always take wholesome food and never anything unwholesome. After dinner he should eat Ilâchî [cardamom] or lavanga [cloves].

Some like camphor, and betel leaf. To the Yogîs, practising Prânâyâma, betel leaf without powders, i.e., lime, nuts and kâtha, is beneficial.

After taking food he should read books treating of salvation, or hear Purânas and repeat the name of God.

In the evening the exercise should be begun after finishing sandyhâ [a Vedic religious ritual], as before, beginning the practice ghatikâ or one hour before the sun sets.

Evening sandhyâ should always be performed after practice, and Hatha Yoga should be practised at midnight. Viparîta karni is to be practised in the evening and at midnight, and not just after eating, as it does no good at this time.

Brahma, by Ralph Waldo Emerson

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How to Practice Yoga, according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika

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