Theos-Talk Archives (November 2009 Message tt00109)

Dear friends

My views are:

Here is a little something to ponder when dealing with Qigong and Prana........


PRANA
"Prana is Brahman"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prana


THE UPANISHADS and PRANA
- "The Prana of Prana is Brahman" (Brihadâranyaka Upanishad, IV, 4, 18)
- "All these beings merge in Prana and from Prana they arise" (Chandogya Upanishad, I, 11, 5)

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Use of Prana or Anapana in Buddhism:
It is however known, that the Buddhist tradition in general has urged moderation in the area   of manipulation of the breath, (Anapana or use of Prana). It is said that Buddha taught about the breath in the Anapanasati Sutta. Here it was mentioned, that it aught not to be used in just any manner. - Major teacher in Buddhism (Asanga and Vasubandhu) considered it profound in leading to Vipassana. - The official Gelug teachings consider it a preparatory practise for settling the mind, and nothing more. In Kagyu traditions the mixing of mind and breath is of importance. And Nagarjuna taught about breathing at certain stages of development as being important as well. 

- In Buddhist meditation: The practise of an unregulated or rather natural breath is considered important, while observing the breath of compassion. -  And major Zen Buddhism branches has another and special focus quite related to certain of the Qiqong teachings on diaphragmatic breathings.

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Anapanasati
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anapana

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Katinka's theosophical Buddha website have this info from the Pali branch:
Mindfulness of Breathing
http://www.katinkahesselink.net/tibet/breathing-meditation.html


Now I am not claiming to be an expert, so maybe some of you have some additional info to add.- I prefer to seek a compassionate breath, which depends on the situtation. :-)

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IS THE PLANET BREATHING IN THE WIND?

Zen Koan
Two monks were arguing about the temple flag waving in the wind. One said, "The flag moves." The other said, "The wind moves." They argued back and forth but could not agree. Hui-neng, the sixth Patriarch, came walking silently near to the, greeted them with his hand and said: "Gentlemen! It is not the flag that moves. It is not the wind that moves. It is your mind that moves." The two monks was immediately transformed. 

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Now I know I am a bit political in the below - and - theosophical teachings clearly prefers no physical laws on paper. But bear with my views in the following, because no paper is involved here.

Confucius or Con-Fu-Tze (d. 551 bc.)
He said, "Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you" and requested people to keep in good harmony with each other and establish a community ruled by standard manners and behavior - and through the peoples natural morality - without using bribery or coercion. He said: "If the people be led by laws, and uniformity sought to be given them by punishments, they will try to avoid the punishment, but have no sense of shame. If they be led by virtue, and uniformity sought to be given them by the rules of propriety, they will have the sense of shame, and moreover will become good."



M. Sufilight



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