The Universality of the Science of Meditation and the Breathing Science
I find it very strange that people belonging to certain religions refuse to practise meditation and the science of breathing simply because it was discovered by mystics of another religion. I once gave a discourse on meditation and in that discourse I raised the topic of deep breathing. I explained the technique and we carried out a small experiment to show that people do not breathe equally through both nostrils. I then informed the gathering that mystics, that is, people who have attained a perfect meditative state, breathe equally through both nostrils and that the flow of air during their breathing is not obstructed as is the case for most people.
I gave a small demonstration to allow the audience to check the veracity of my statement. A man told me, "I breathe differently," and consequently refused to participate in the experiment. Later I was told that he behaved thus because he belonged to a specific religion. Very strange behaviour indeed!
Practising any method bequeathed by sages from a particular religion adds worth to that religion, but stupid and fanatical people cannot tolerate that. Their problem is not truth but identification and ego protection. And there are millions of such people in the world.
Breathing is universal. It concerns both human beings and animals, nay, even plants breathe! It is the same process in all. My own realisation is that the whole existence breathes. Whether you are Jew, Chinese, Muslim, Christian or Hindu, breathing affects your life in the same manner. When a Hindu is excited, his breath becomes chaotic in the same manner as a Muslim's breath would become chaotic if he becomes excited. The same reality applies to people of other communities and religions.
When the breath is expelled out forcefully, more toxins and carbon dioxide are thrown out. Our breathing pulse, heartbeat, thinking process and moods are closely linked. This applies not only to Hindu or Buddhist mystics because they discovered it, but to all human beings. Most human beings do not take full advantage of their breathing system as they take in very little oxygen and expel a very little carbon dioxide. It is a universal truth that by taking in more oxygen and releasing more carbon dioxide, one becomes more attentive, alert and lively. The level of concentration is higher, willpower increases and one becomes calmer. Also, one's eyes become shiny.
Man is more than 90% unconscious and when his unconsciousness reacts with the outer world, we get what is called human behaviour. We can all see what kind of human beings we are. If we are more alert and attentive, we can become more reasonable, have clearer perception and better mastery over our senses, thus over our actions. Experiments have shown that deep slow and rhythmic breathing can enhance creativity, inner silence, expand one's consciousness, reduce aggressive behaviour, thus violence, and make one virtuous. Today even science acknowledges the benefits of breathing methods and meditation on one's health. Why then this reluctance of people of some religions and communities to apply it?
We can change our mood simply by changing our breath, therefore we can have full mastery over our emotions, thoughts and actions. We can eliminate the amount of violence, stress, anxiety and depression by breathing in a certain manner and this reality applies to all human beings, not only to a particular community or religion.
One can experience a deep stillness of mind by equalising the incoming and outgoing breaths. This relaxes the brain and the whole body. Is there anything Hindu or Buddhist in that? Isn't it simply a reality? Are people so conditioned that they can't accept a universal truth? But then they do business and other social dealings with people of other religions, don't they? Of course, it is then a question of selfishness, obligation, interdependence and hypocrisy!
Meditation or the state of mental calmness and enhanced awareness has been proved to reduce blood pressure. By simply watching one's incoming and outgoing breaths intensely for some months, one attains inner calmness and goes deeper within to discover that the mind is beyond the brain and conceals many other truths. One can develop intuitive thinking and understand oneself and others better. Would you call this religion? Even if the answer is yes, isn't it universal? Could this concern only a few religions? Why don't people of other communities practise yoga, which is nothing but the first stage in a whole science that leads to cosmic consciousness?
The greatest secret of life is concealed in our breath and this applies to everyone, irrespective of beliefs and communities. The fact that an enlightened being is revealing these truths does not mean that other people cannot experience them. Our breath starts and ends at our navel centre. After each breath, there is a pause, which the yogis have called the space of truth. It is the meditative state and the most natural state of a human being. It is also a door to cosmic consciousness. Anyone who can patiently watch and wait for it can make the experience. Is there any religion or prophet who would disagree with the practices and realities I have mentioned?
We can eliminate the amount of violence, stress, anxiety and depression by breathing in a certain manner and this reality applies to all human beings, not only to a particular community or religion.
