The Science of Breath ( Audio Book )

The Science of Breath – Yogi Ramacharaka / Chapter One

Yogi Ramacharaka

The Science of Breath

The Hindu Yogi Science of Breath
A Complete Manual of
The Oriental Breathing Philosophy of
Physical, Mental, Psychic and Spiritual Development
1903

• Chapter I… …………………………………………………… Salaam
• Chapter II……………………………………………… “Breath Is Life”
• Chapter III………………………… The Exoteric Theory of Breath
• Chapter IV……………………………The Esoteric Theory of Breath
• Chapter V……………………………………… The Nervous System
• Chapter VI……………… Nostril‑Breathing vs. Mouth‑Breathing
• Chapter VII.…………………… The Four Methods of Respiration.
• Chapter VIII.……… How to Acquire the Yogi Complete Breath.
• Chapter IX.… …… Physiological Effect of the Complete Breath.
• Chapter X.…………………………………… A Few Bits of Yogi Lore.
• Chapter XI.… …………… The Seven Yogi Developing Exercises.
• Chapter XII.… …………………………Seven Minor Yogi Exercises.
• Chapter XIII.……………Vibration and Yogi Rhythmic Breathing.
• Chapter XIV.………………Phenomena of Yogi Psychic Breathing.
• Chapter XV.………More Phenomena of Yogi Psychic Breathing.
• Chapter XVI.……………………………… Yogi Spiritual Breathing

Chapter I

Salaam

The Western student is apt to be somewhat confused
in his ideas regarding the Yogis and their philosophy
and practice. Travelers to India have written great tales
about the hordes of fakirs, mendicants and mountebanks who
infest the great roads of India and the streets of its cities, and
who impudently claim the title “Yogi.” The Western student
is scarcely to be blamed for thinking of the typical Yogi as an
emaciated, fanatical, dirty, ignorant Hindu, who either sits in a
fixed posture until his body becomes ossified, or else holds his
arm up in the air until it becomes stiff and withered and forever
after remains in that position, or perhaps clenches his fist and
holds it tight until his fingernails grow through the palms of
his hands. That these people exist is true, but their claim to the
title “Yogi” seems as absurd to the true Yogi as does the claim to
the title “Doctor” on the part of the man who pares one’s corns
seem to the eminent surgeon, or as does the title of “Professor,”
as assumed by the street corner vendor of worm medicine,
seem to the President of Harvard or Yale.

There have been for ages past in India and other Oriental
countries men who devoted their time and attention to the
development of Man, physically, mentally and spiritually. The
experience of generations of earnest seekers has been handed
down for centuries from teacher to pupil, and gradually a
definite Yogi science was built up. To these investigations and
teachings was finally applied the term “Yogi,” from the Sanscrit
word “Yug,” meaning “to join.” From the same source comes
the English word “yoke,” with a similar meaning. Its use in
connection with these teachings is difficult to trace, different
authorities giving different explanations, but probably the
most ingenious is that which holds that it is intended as the
Hindu equivalent for the idea conveyed by the English phrase,
“getting into harness,” or “yoking up,” as the Yogi undoubtedly
“gets into harness” in his work of controlling the body and mind
by the Will.

Yoga is divided into several branches, ranging from that
which teaches the control of the body, to that which teaches
the attainment of the highest spiritual development. In the
work we will not go into the higher phases of the subject,
except when the “Science of Breath” touches upon the same.
The “Science of Breath” touches Yoga at many points, and
although chiefly concerned with the development and control
of the physical, has also its psychic side, and even enters the
field of spiritual development.

In India there are great schools of Yoga, comprising thousands
of the leading minds of that great country. The Yoga philosophy
is the rule of life for many people. The pure Yogi teachings,
however, are given only to the few, the masses being satisfied
with the crumbs which fall from the tables of the educated
classes, the Oriental custom in this respect being opposed to
that of the Western world. But Western ideas are beginning to
have their effect even in the Orient, and teachings which were
once given only to the few are now freely offered to any who
are ready to receive them. The East and the West are growing
closer together, and both profiting by the close contact, each
influencing the other.

The Hindu Yogis have always paid great attention to the
Science of Breath, for reasons which will be apparent to the
student who reads this book. Many Western writers have
touched upon this phase of the Yogi teachings, but we believe
that it has been reserved for the writer of this work to give to
the Western student, in concise form and simple language, the
underlying principles of the Yogi Science of Breath, together
with many of the favorite Yogi breathing exercises and methods.
We have given the Western idea as well as the Oriental, showing
how one dovetails into the other. We have used the ordinary
English terms, almost entirely, avoiding the Sanscrit terms, so
confusing to the average Western reader

.
The first part of the book is devoted to the physical phase
of the Science of Breath; then the psychic and mental sides are
considered, and finally the spiritual side is touched upon.
We may be pardoned if we express ourselves as pleased with
our success in condensing so much Yogi lore into so few pages,
and by the use of words and terms which may be understood
by anyone. Our only fear is that its very simplicity may cause
some to pass it by as unworthy of attention, while they pass
on their way searching for something “deep,” mysterious and
non‑understandable. However, the Western mind is eminently
practical, and we know that it is only a question of a short time
before it will recognize the practicability of this work.
We greet our students, with our most profound salaam, and
bid them be seated for their first lesson in the Yogi Science of
Breath.