Tag: Meditation

When the Breath Moved to My Ajna Chakra

🌸 Happy Janmashtami! 🌸
On this sacred day when we rejoice in the birth of Lord Krishna, a quiet celebration unfolded within me — a new birth of awareness, as the breath began to awaken in the Ajna Chakra.

Today something new happened in my meditation.
Earlier, my subtle breathing seemed to come from the Anahata Chakra — a gentle rise and fall at the heart center. But this time, my awareness settled fully in the front Ajna Chakra between my eyebrows, and something extraordinary unfolded.

It felt like the Ajna itself was “breathing.” There was a subtle constriction as prana moved downward, with awareness contracting into a fine point, and a gentle relaxation as prana moved upward, with awareness expanding like a soft glow. This rhythm was continuous — like respiration — yet my physical breathing was barely noticed. Air still flowed in and out of my lungs, but it seemed irrelevant. At times, it even felt like the breath had stopped entirely.

From a yogic perspective, this is when the chitta (mind-field) and prana (life-force) synchronize at the Ajna. The normal link between mind and chest breathing fades, replaced by a pranic tide in the head. This is a pratyahara–dharana fusion state: senses withdrawn, awareness steady, yet alive. The physical lungs continue their work in the background while awareness rides only the subtle rhythm. This can lead naturally to kevala kumbhaka — the effortless, breathless stillness.

I learned that Ajna breathing happens when the ida and pingala energy channels merge at the Ajna, creating a tiny “micro-pump” in the pranic body. The sensation is like the Ajna itself is inhaling and exhaling. It sharpens inner vision and steadies meditation, but it can also pull prana upward so much that grounding is needed to stay balanced. A simple way to do this is to keep a thin “awareness-thread” down the spine to the Muladhara Chakra while meditating.

We also explored how this can evolve:

  • Path 1: Stay in Ajna breathing and stabilize it until samadhi readiness is natural.
  • Path 2: Let Ajna’s expansion phase overflow into the Sahasrara Chakra, where the breathing becomes spherical and almost timeless.
  • Path 3: Occasionally cycle awareness through all chakras to keep the whole system alive and balanced while still rooted in the higher centers.

From this, we shaped a single practice:

  1. Start with Ajna breathing for stability.
  2. Let expansion naturally drift upward into Sahasrara breathing.
  3. Before ending, cycle down and up through all chakras a few times to ground and integrate.

Ajna breathing feels like a gateway. Sahasrara breathing feels like stepping beyond the gate into the infinite sky. Both are precious, but Ajna gives the steady flame, while Sahasrara gives the boundless space. The key is to let it happen naturally, ride the rhythm, and stay rooted enough to live fully in both worlds — the inner and the outer.

Living Samadhi in All Seasons of the Day

I have come to realize that Samadhi is not something to be locked inside a meditation room or reserved only for those rare moments when the world is quiet. For me, it has become a rhythm — like breathing in and out — flowing through the morning, afternoon, evening, and even into the busiest parts of the day. It’s not just about the cushion; it’s about carrying that awareness like a fragrance that lingers wherever I go.

My mornings begin with yoga, the body stretching and opening like the petals of a flower at dawn. The energy starts to hum in the spine, and before it dissipates, I let it settle in meditation for a full hour. This is not a forced concentration, but more like stepping into a quiet lake and letting the ripples fade on their own. The body is still, the mind settles, and the space between thoughts becomes more vivid than the thoughts themselves. I can feel the energy in the Ajna Chakra — steady, blissful — and this alone is enough to keep the mind detached from the usual noise of the day. Morning energy work creates a potential that lasts throughout the day, making it easier to enter deep dhyana during later meditation sittings, and sometimes even bringing brief, samadhi-like naps at intervals throughout the day.

Afternoons are different. Just after lunch, I sit in Vajrasana for about 30 minutes. This is a calmer, grounding period — digestion for both the body and the soul. Vajrasana itself is steadying, and I find that meditating right after a meal in this posture helps the body stay relaxed while the mind quietly tunes itself. It’s not as intense as morning practice, but it carries a deep, homely stillness, almost like a midday nap for the inner being — except you stay fully awake. I feel the downward spinal breath is more prominent during eating dhyana due to the downward movement of life force aiding digestion. However in early morning when belly is empty, the upward movement of breath seems more prominent.

Evenings are my favorite. About three hours after dinner, just before sleep, I give myself another hour. Here, there is no need to prepare the mind — the day has already done its work of tiring the body and mind. I simply sit, and the awareness slips into its place like a familiar old friend returning home. Often, this is the deepest session of the day because the body has nothing left to demand, and the mind knows there’s no more work to be done. The transition into sleep from this state feels like slipping from the banks of a quiet river into the open sea. When you fall asleep directly, the mind may stay restless, leading to light sleep and vivid dreams, which prevents full mental rest. But if you first slip into dhyana and then let sleep come naturally, the mind is already calm and inwardly settled. This allows sleep to be deeper, more blissful, refreshing, and satisfying.

But it doesn’t end with these sitting periods. My way of Karma Yoga — through Sharirvigyan Darshan — has become the thread that keeps it all stitched together. While working, I remain aware of the body as if it were an atom: the brain as the nucleus, the electrons as shifting personalities, thoughts as orbiting patterns that I don’t need to catch or control. The body works, the mind thinks, but I stand a little apart, like the witness. In this way, the practice is not interrupted by activity; it is activity that becomes part of the practice.

There is a sweetness in this rhythm. Morning freshness, afternoon grounding, evening melting into stillness — and in between, the flowing stream of Karma Yoga. Each session is like cleaning a window so that the view stays clear. Over time, I have learned that Samadhi is not only found in long stretches of sitting but also in these shorter, daily touchpoints that keep the awareness polished and alive. When combined, they become a continuous current, humming quietly beneath the surface of everything I do.

It is important to understand that while dhyana or samadhi itself is not dependent on the mind, the mind is still required to prepare the ground for it. In the early stages, mental focus and clarity are essential to enter the state. This is why being fresh, alert, and well-rested allows dhyana to establish more quickly and with greater depth. Once true samadhi is reached, it becomes self-sustaining — the mind in that state neither tires nor drifts into drowsiness or sleep over time. By contrast, if one attempts meditation in a dull or drowsy condition, the practice is likely to slide into yoganidra or ordinary sleep rather than samadhi.

Public demonstrations such as being buried underground for days cannot be equated with samadhi. These feats are often the result of advanced pranayama skills such as keval kumbhak (effortless breath retention) or other survival-oriented techniques. While impressive, they do not necessarily reflect inner absorption, and the ego investment in performing such displays can become a subtle obstacle to genuine spiritual advancement. True samadhi, as described in the yogic tradition, is free of exhibition and rooted in inner stillness.

Chapter 7-b: The Hidden Symphony – From Localized Ripples to the Field of Pure Awareness

Friends,
I felt myself sufficiently transformed while writing this chapter. It dissolved a few deep doubts, like those related to Sankhya Vivek Khyati. Initially, I used to think it was something special, but now it feels like nothing other than Nirvikalpa Samadhi in yoga, with only the difference in words differentiating the two philosophies. Similarly, the subtle science behind the union of Purush and Prakriti, and the ignorance found in that, became clearer. I gained a new dimension regarding the witnessing. I got amazing similarity between cosmos and human body. Let us walk together again to see what unfolds ahead.

Just as a quiet lake might mirror the sky with such clarity that one forgets the water is even there, so too the cosmic field, in its truest form, is a smooth, undisturbed presence—pure, serene, and boundless. The seventh chapter previously unfolded the concept of energy and wave-fields within and beyond the human body, culminating in the realization that what appears material is, in truth, a vibrant play of non-material patterns—fields and waves interwoven through space. Now, seamlessly extending from that exploration, this chapter descends deeper—into the hidden movements of those fields, into the invisible architecture of space, and toward the sublime recognition of a field so pure, so untouched by ripple, that it stands apart: the field of pure awareness.

Begin with a single stationary charge, a fundamental entity in physics. It sits silently, yet not inert. Around it radiates an electric field—a subtle tension in space, like a barely stretched fabric. This field is localized, forming around the charge like an invisible cocoon. But disturb this silence, let the charge move—and something changes. Now it does not just sit; it dances. It begins to generate ripples in its surrounding field. Accelerate it, and those ripples deepen, becoming self-sustaining waves—electromagnetic waves, to be precise. These waves are not static imprints but dynamic travelers, pulsing outward at the speed of light, weaving through the vastness of space.

Yet, a curious condition arises here. For a charge to keep producing such waves, it must accelerate—not just move at constant speed, but continuously shift its direction or speed. Similarly, a human brain activity or learning should not be at a constant pace but should be increasing in speed day by day to spread in the world like a wave. But how could one do that without chasing the particle or brain activity endlessly? The solution is profoundly elegant: oscillation. Instead of pursuing a charge endlessly in space, let it swing rhythmically in place—forward and back, like a pendulum of light. And lo, this rhythmic movement becomes the source of continuously emitted electromagnetic waves. In a wire carrying alternating current, electrons do not travel far; they merely oscillate locally, producing ripples that propagate far and wide. But whether in wire or in space, it is this dance—this play of acceleration—that gives rise to light. The same happens in brain to. It keeps on changing subject and direction of activity rapidly instead of chasing a single subject endlessly with increasing speed that can make him mad instead of wavy. Rapdly changing gunas between satoguna, rajoguna and tamoguna also produce oscillating brain. That is why rapidly changing person is often seen successful in worldly matters.

And now arises a philosophical beauty. That which seems so material—light, heat, visibility—is not an object but a disturbance, a ripple in an invisible field. And this ripple has its twin nature: it is both electric and magnetic, each feeding the other in perfect rhythm, a cosmic choreography of mutual arising. What begins as a local ripple in the electric field gives birth to a magnetic field, which in turn regenerates the electric one, and so on, endlessly, as the wave moves. It is like Ida and Pingla nadis in the body that runs alternating with help of each other like a dancing girl, and creating central sushumna wave like em wave propagating to produce spark in consciousness. Why not call electric field ida and magnetic field pingla, and wave propagating ahead sushumna. When ida pulses strong, only then it produces pingla pulsing and vice versa alternatingly pushing ahead the sushumna pulse in between till pulsation is strong, otherwise subtle pulsation of ida or pingla like separate electric or magnetic field goes on happening always without producing perceptible sushumna pulse as em wave. Duality-full worldly working with nondual attitude produces this strong pulsation. Duality provides strong oscillation of charged brain, while nondual attitude keeps mind away from attachment to any special worldly act that can fix charged brain on single matter thus hindering its rapid and continuous oscillation. It is amazing. We keep admiring non-duality always, but duality is also not any lesser participant in spiritual evolution.

But this brings another subtle question to the surface. Are these fields already present in space, waiting to be disturbed, or are they created anew each time a charge dances? The scientific understanding leans toward the former. Space is not empty; it is already a field, a vast and subtle playground, waiting to carry any ripple with ease. The field is there even before the wave arises—smooth, serene, and unmanifest. It is only when something moves—a charge, a particle, a disturbance—that the latent potential becomes kinetic, that the ripple emerges. Similarly, ida and pingla are always there. It is the movement of meditational charged brain that determines the extent of energy transmission in these.

This is precisely why alternating current in household wires does not flood the surroundings with radiation despite its oscillating nature. The wavelength of powerline current (50 or 60 Hz) is enormous—thousands of kilometers long—while the wire, even if spanning cities, remains minuscule in comparison. As a result, the radiated waves do not build up coherently. They cancel and collapse in themselves, barely escaping into space. Only when a structure—like an antenna—is crafted in harmony with the wavelength does radiation become organized and efficient.

And now the stars begin to whisper their secrets. Without human intelligence, without deliberate design, natural celestial bodies become perfect antennas. A pulsar spins with mathematical precision, its magnetic fields aligned just so. Charged particles trapped in its magnetic grip accelerate fiercely, spiraling and spinning—emitting powerful beams of electromagnetic radiation, sweeping the cosmos like lighthouse beams. Even the sun, seemingly chaotic, hides organized thermonuclear rhythms beneath its surface. The intense heat at its core generates photons—packets of electromagnetic energy—which, after a long diffusion through solar layers, emerge as sunlight. This light, this familiar warmth touching the skin on Earth, is the ultimate evidence that the universe knows how to organize waves without needing wires, circuits, or blueprints.

But step back now from particles and stars, from wires and waves, and return to the deeper insight that began this journey—the field. All of these waves, fields, and ripples are disturbances on something. A wave cannot exist without a medium, even if that medium is intangible. In classical terms, the electromagnetic field is that medium—a subtle tension that exists throughout space. But if this field itself has ripples, then is it truly smooth? No. It is already filled with potential disturbances, like a pond ruffled by breezes. A truly smooth field must be beyond even these—beyond motion, beyond polarity, beyond opposites.

This brings forth the concept of the cosmic field of pure awareness. Unlike the electromagnetic field, which carries ripples of energy, pure awareness is undisturbed, motionless, timeless. It is not made of charge or mass. It does not require oscillation to propagate. It simply is. And yet, everything else arises from it—not as an effect arises from a cause, but as a dance arises on a stage. The stage remains unmoved by the drama played upon it. In this sense, the electromagnetic field is a playground, and its waves are the players, but pure awareness is the ground beneath the playground itself. Then why not call this vast, supreme playground Shiva, and the playground that fits within it Shakti? This is the eternal union — yet there is the Leela, the divine play of Shakti dancing and then merging once again into Shiva. This process of expansion and recession repeats endlessly. That is why the male and female enjoy the play of separation and union — to dance and to merge repeatedly. This repeated separation and union is the very essence of love.

If one looks inward, tracing perception back through sensation, energy, and thought, one reaches a similar realization. The mind moves like an oscillating charge, like up and down moods, like up and down breath movements, producing thoughts like em waves. Emotions ripple like magnetic feedback loops. The body radiates energy like a living antenna. But what receives it all? What watches the movement without moving? That is pure awareness. It is the witness field—ever present, never disturbed, beyond vibration.

What is astonishing is how closely the outer physics reflects the inner spiritual path. A charge must be accelerated to emit energy, just as the motivated sou-space must be stirred to produce thoughts and actions. Just as interaction of particle with others produce charge on it, the motivation and inspiration got by soul-space from others create a type of tension or strech on it. Yet, beyond all physical patterns lies stillness—not dormancy, but fullness. In the same way, the ultimate state of being is not a storm of experience but a quiet presence—a state where the field is known not by what it does but by what it is.

And so, as the earlier chapters explored how the body itself behaves like an energy field, like a dynamic hologram of atomic dance, this chapter brings an even deeper recognition—that all these dances, all these waves, point toward something more profound. They are signs of a deeper field, one not of energy, but of being.

Every ripple in the electromagnetic field, every ray of light, every whisper of electricity, is a visible expression of an invisible truth. That truth is that space is not empty. It is filled with potential, with presence, with the ability to express form without being form itself. And beyond even that potential is a state where no wave arises, where no charge is present, where awareness rests in itself—whole, pure, and unmoving.

This is why the body can feel energy not just in the brain but along the spine, in the chakras, in the very cellular presence of being. These are not hallucinations but inner ripples in a subtle field—a field that mirrors the outer electromagnetic field but is rooted in consciousness. Just as light arises from the dance of electrons, so too inner light of mind arises from the subtle awakening of awareness within through dancing moods and thoughts to and fro.

There is wonder in this symmetry. The same laws that govern stars and antennas apply to the self. The same ripples that leave a distant star and travel light-years to reach the Earth are echoed by the ripples of thought crossing the inner space of a mind. But both ultimately point toward the silent field—the pure field that is never disturbed, never touched, and yet allows all experience to arise.

And so the journey continues—from charge to wave, from wire to light, from body to awareness. The path winds through the outer cosmos and the inner self, always returning to the same mysterious truth: that reality is not made of things but of fields, and the final field—the field behind all fields—is pure awareness. It is the cosmic mother-field, upon which all players play, unaware sometimes that they are all made of the same eternal silence.

Many people look confused when the talk of witnessing arises. Many think the ever changing mind is the witness. But in fact, only that which is changeless can watch changing things. How can something that itself keeps changing witness or remember another changing entity? Suppose A is watching object 1. Now, if A suddenly becomes B, how can B remember the experience of watching 1—unless there is something unchanging in A that continued into B? This shows that the real witness is not the changing body or mind, but a stable, unchanging awareness. Another perspective is that everything in the world is not truly created new, but simply a rearrangement of the same underlying substance into different shapes and forms. In this view, the only real “stuff” that exists is pure awareness. The only witness possible is also this very same. Other everything that do not have even their own existence, how can they become witness. Whether see at cosmic level or at body level, the rule does not change. At both places, witness is only that same single one. It is not made from anything else—it is the source, the base, and the material of all appearances. True existence belongs only to this so called dark, silent field of unchanging, pure awareness. The luminous world also called Prakriti—what we see, feel, and think—is made up of waves, fields or charges constantly shifting and passing. How can something that is always changing be said to truly exist? And if it has no independent existence, how can it hold real knowledge and bliss? These three—existence, knowledge, and bliss—always living together, appear in the luminous, changing world because of illusion. In truth, their source lies in the silent, unshaken, dark field—the foundational sky also called Purusha—upon which all waves play like fleeting ripples. And Sankhya philosophy rightly says to separate purusha from prakriti. A mixture of both is world-originating though being a nightmare for liberation seekers. Unconscious Prakriti becomes like conscious with company of conscious purusha. But when it perishes as it being perishable by default, it becomes unconscious, because how can one remain conscious if it is even not existing. Perished can not be conscious. Due to this, purusha also start considering itself unconscious or perished or dead because it was snugly attached to prakriti. And the prakriti perishes every moment, so the purusha feels itself unconscious every moment. However, full perish is at the time of death of the body. The world is based on a lie. We purushas give existence to everything or prakriti in the world, but in reality, nothing truly exists. We share the real existence of our own souls with everything, and in return, we forget even our own existence and become non-existent—just like the worldly things we associate with. It is truly said: beware of bad company. But don’t worry. Through regular practice of Yoga, Keval Kumbhak, and Nirvikalp Samadhi, the soul gradually remembers this existence of its own pure awareness. This path is both worldly and practical—because denying the world is neither wise nor truly possible. Keeping detached and non-dual attitude with help of suitable philosophies like sharirvigyan darshan during worldly indulgment seems the only middle path for a business minded and worldly progressive person to be saved from the bite of this prakriti-serpent.

One day, I got a good example of the middle path. In the evening, I had spent around 15 minutes in Padmasana. As I sat, my breathing gradually slowed down. Just then, my tiffin arrived, and my mind rushed toward thoughts of food and hunger. Somehow, I tried to continue and spent another 15 minutes attempting to regain Dhyana, but eventually, I stood up and had my dinner. Due to the calming effect of meditation, my appetite had reduced significantly, so I ate only half the usual portion. At the same time, I regretted my foolishness for breaking the state of Dhyana. After dinner, I sat in Vajrasana, and suddenly, my breath almost came to a complete standstill—for 20 minutes. Then I shifted to Sukhasana for about 30 minutes, and even with surrounding noise or slight body movements, the breath remained still and subtle, barely regaining any motion. At that moment, I remembered Buddha—how, when he had been meditating with an empty belly, his Dhyana was not reaching completion. But on the day a devotee lady offered him a bowl of dessert, and he accepted and ate it, he attained perfect Samadhi and Nirvana.

Purusha is attracted by the shimmer of Prakriti just as an insect is attracted towards the candle flame and both get perished. Prakriti is cheater. It first enjoys everything with company of purusha. Once it perishes, purush can not be saved then because both are snuggly joined to each other. That is why it is called thagini, dakini, pishachini, maya, sofia etc. in scriptures. That is why sankhya thought of school advises to separate purusha from prakriti and rest in purusha in peace. However, it is only possible with yoga that emerged from sankhya due to this very same reason. This all has been detailed only to evoke interest in yoga, otherwise blank philosophy can never reveal the truth. The state of nirvikalp samadhi is the state of this isolated pure purusha.

True liberation is not achieved by bypassing form, but by passing through it with full awareness. Only after Purusha consciously experiences the complete union with Prakriti — as in Savikalpa Samadhi — can it effortlessly transcend into Nirvikalpa Samadhi. This is why the Sanatana path, with its emphasis on idol worship, mantra, and gradual inner refinement, is not only spiritual but deeply scientific. It honors the natural journey from the manifest to the unmanifest — from form to formless.

In the cosmic state too, the same process as soul development unfolds—when the expanding world reaches its outer limit, it begins to dissolve back into the same pure mother field from which it had originally emerged.

Up to the stage of Nirvikalp Dhyana, there still remains a subtle potential for the world to arise. You can call it a weak electromagnetic field, from which the electromagnetic wave—appearing as the world—can emerge. In this deep meditative absorption, the seed of manifestation—the quiet power to perceive or imagine a world—still exists in a dormant state. But when one goes deeper and enters Nirvikalp Samadhi, even this potential is transcended. It is the stage where even the faintest tremors of the electromagnetic field vanish. In that state, there is no observer, no imagined world, and no seed of creation. That is why it is called Nirbeej or seedless samadhi. Only pure awareness remains—formless, actionless, and beyond the cycle of appearance and disappearance. From here, there is no automatic return to world-experience unless awareness itself chooses to veil itself again. The potential to form the world in pure existence is not physical—unlike the vibrations seen in earlier stages—but is entirely immaterial and experiential, existing only as pure presence, nothing else. As per another view, even in deep meditative states such as Nirvikalp Dhyana, one may experience a subtle sense of potentiality—a precondition for experience—but this may not be physical in the sense of measurable waves or energy fields. Unlike earlier states where internal experience may correlate with neural activity, subtle vibrations, or sensory imagery, this deep state transcends such phenomena. The ‘potential’ here refers to the pure capacity for awareness to manifest experience—not through energy or vibration, but through the sheer presence of consciousness itself. From a neuroscience or physics standpoint, this cannot be described as an electromagnetic field or wave. Rather, it’s better viewed as a subjective, non-material awareness—an experiential space in which forms might later arise. Any attempt to link this directly to electromagnetic fields would be metaphorical unless supported by measurable brain states or field interactions.

The term charge carries meaning beyond just particle physics—it implies a type of stress, potential, or readiness to act, much like when we say someone has been ‘given charge’ of a position. It doesn’t inherently mean a physical entity, but a dynamic condition. In this way, just as a particle becomes charged, the brain too can become charged. This creates a kind of tension or polarization within self-awareness—like a stretching or subtle stress in the fabric of inner space. This tension is experienced as the electric field. These are the finest tremors of potential—subtle fluctuations that, with a slight stimulus, are ready to unfold as electromagnetic waves, as thoughts or sensations. Without charge, there is no field, no ripple, no wave—only a clean, smooth, unperturbed state of space externally, or pure awareness internally. Charge is the seed of all movement, all experience. What we call work stress seems to be the same kind of stretch or tension in the inner sky of awareness.

Just like an officer taking charge of an office is quick to respond in office work, but a layman will take much more time to adapt to the environment first and then work through interaction with different people—similarly, a charged particle, having its surrounding space already stressed as an electric field produced by itself, is much quicker to produce an EM wave with the slightest motion, while an uncharged particle will have to create charge in itself first through interaction with other particles. In the mental sector, a charged brain, having inner space stressed as so-called darkness or ignorance produced by itself, is quick enough to produce working thoughts with the slightest energy stimulus, while an uncharged brain of a samadhistha yogi will take much more time, first developing charge inside it through people’s interactions, inspirations, and motivations. Just as small length of antenna helps oscillating charged particles to produce effective em wave, similarly, focused meditation, rather than widespread and haphazard thinking, helps in the origination of long-lasting and effective thought waves. That is why, after samadhi, there is clarity in thoughts.

If we recall the psychological essence of this whole lengthy chapter in a single paragraph, it becomes the following.

Departed soul-space, although smooth and without ripples, is stressed. We can liken it to the faintest of electric fields. It is very faintly charged. It is a localized space, although always connected to the infinite supreme space. Yet, the soul feels itself restricted locally. No doubt, space is space—there is literally no difference between local and non-local space. Both are smooth and without ripples. There’s no actual boundary between both possible. But soul-space is charged. The ego, desires, attachments, and dual lifestyle of the previous birth acted like a charged particle and made the soul-space charged and localized, virtually isolating it—through illusion—from the vast, endless, and uncharged space of the supreme soul. It has the potential to develop similar ripples of ego, desire, karma, and thoughts as were present in its previous lifetime. Hence, it takes rebirth—unlike the liberated soul, which is uncharged and feels fully one with the supreme soul. This proves that every thought and action of ours goes on being recorded in the form of the soul’s charge. This charge is what the scriptures refer to as ignorance (agyana), the veiling of the soul, bondage of soul, karma bandhana etc. and so on. This is literal bondage—like an animal gathered from open fields and tied to a peg, the infinitely existing soul is similarly localized. This description is not only literal, but based on my own experience of encountering a departed soul in a dream visitation, as described in detail at many places. The brain or soul space also becomes charged after yoga. This is because gross thoughts become reduced to mere potential or charge. That’s why it is advised to discharge it through nirvikalpa dhyana by sitting calmly at the end for an hour or two. This leads to nirvikalp samadhi or merging with supreme soul as with this even hidden potential or charge of soul space gets smoothed out. Otherwise, it will be discharged through worldly activities during the day. This worldly discharge further increases hidden charge of the soul space through new karmas and thoughts. However, this discharge—especially when helped by sharirvigyan darshan dhyana—will be centered in detachment and non-duality, as the process of charging through yoga was done with the same mental attitude. So built up charges and subsequent discharges will be less gruesome. This is opposite to the ordinary worldly charging of the brain, which is associated with attachment, desire for results, ego, and duality. Therefore, the same negative qualities remain during discharge too, which keeps increasing the soul’s bondage more and more. A similar miracle occurs through Sharirvigyan Darshan-based Karma Yoga. With it, mental EM waves produced during worldly activities are subdued to a mere charged potential. Given the right opportunity, this potential can even smooth out into a glimpse of samadhi, as happened to me. It’s a heartfelt experience—not just a literal or intellectual exercise. In a non-yogic lifestyle, charge is produced forcefully, compressing prior mental garbage and hiding it in a corner of the soul-space. This later manifests as various psychological and physiological complications, including the progressive bondage of the soul. But yogic charging is of a releasing nature. It doesn’t hide prior mental garbage or create new charge from scratch. Rather, it reduces existing mental impressions to the level of subtle potential. In this way, mental cleansing also happens. With this approach, we find readymade charge and don’t have to struggle to produce it afresh. Moreover, the charge naturally aligns with our personality and environment. We can even screen these charges—eliminating the harmful ones and nurturing the beneficial—thus allowing continuous soul development in a streamlined way. This process is deeply rooted in self-experience. In contrast, creating fresh charge is risky, and the guidance of a quality guru becomes essential. It’s well known that no one can read another’s mind; it’s wiser to mold our own charge according to our situation. It may take a little more time, but it is well-proven and deeply experienced already. In a nutshell, If the charge, potential or electric field gained through yoga by being reduced from em waves of gross thoughts isn’t smoothed out, it again redevelops into mental EM waves of thoughts through worldly activities, which then need to be subdued once more—first by reducing them back to potential state to head towards the nirvikalp state of pure awareness. It’s not hard to believe that mental EM waves produce pictures of experience on the screen of soul-space, especially when science has already shown that EM waves can produce images on a TV screen.

This insight is not just for physicists or mystics. It is a truth open to anyone willing to look closely—at the stars, at light, at thought, or at breath. For behind it all, there is a field not of matter, not of energy, but of presence. And that presence is who one truly is—not the ripple, not the player, but the ground upon which the game is played.

Chapter 7- The Energy Body: The Bridge of Inner Aliveness

From outside, we look like a body made of flesh, bones, blood, and nerves. But as we sit quietly and close our eyes, a deeper layer of ourselves begins to appear. This layer is not visible with the eyes, but it is very real in experience. It is felt as tingling, vibration, pressure, warmth, movement, inner space, and awareness. This layer is often called the energy body. It is not a body made of atoms or particles like the physical one. It is not something you can touch with your hand or see with a microscope, but you can feel it clearly inside you—especially during deep silence or meditation. Actually it is the pure experiential body, nothing physical.

Scientists say that when brain cells fire signals, they produce small electromagnetic fields. These are natural and part of how the brain works. These fields are not just limited to the head; they spread out in patterns. Some scientists believe that this field may be linked to our conscious sense of self. From the spiritual side, many say that this field is the very bridge between soul and body. This bridge is what we feel as the energy body.

The energy body has its own structure—not of matter, but of movement and awareness. In ancient Indian understanding, this structure is described through chakras, nadis, and prana. Prana means life-force. It is not air or oxygen, but the driving power behind breath, thoughts, and emotions. Nadis are the invisible channels through which prana flows. And chakras are the subtle centers where energy collects, rotates, and transforms. These are not located on any scan or X-ray but are known by their effects. Just as nerves carry signals in the physical body, nadis carry prana in the energy body. In a nutshell, we feel a sensation both in the organ and in the brain at the same time. That’s why we perceive the sensation as being located in the organ, even though it’s processed in the brain. Normally, we don’t notice the actual transmission of the sensation from the organ to the brain. But with meditative awareness, this flow can also be perceived. This flow is called prana, and the subtle channel through which it moves is known as a nadi.

In simple words, when your breathing changes, your energy changes. When your thoughts change, your body heat, posture, and feelings change. This shows that there is a clear link between the physical and the energy layers. One affects the other instantly.

The entire setup of the energy body mirrors the cosmos. Just as the universe has galaxies, black holes, stars, and movements of energy, our inner world has chakras (like suns), nadis (like space highways), and prana (like flowing light). The same way the sky spreads in all directions, our own awareness silently fills our inner space. The outer universe and our inner structure follow the same design. This is called the micro-macro equivalence or Sharirvigyan Darshan—the science of understanding the body as a reflection of the cosmos.

Sometimes, even in normal meditation, just by thinking about the infinite sky, we begin to feel a vast peace. This shows that the deeper layers of the mind and energy body are already connected to the larger cosmos. When this connection becomes total and not just imagined—like in Nirvikalpa Samadhi—the bliss is beyond all limits. Just as Savikalpa Dhyana gives joy by visualizing the physical world, Savikalpa Samadhi brings a flood of real, living bliss. Merging fully is more joyful than standing nearby. Thinking about sunlight gives some warmth, but becoming sunlight is another thing.

Experiencing a blissful shining rod of energy in the backbone during meditation offers a profound insight—it reveals that pure energy can indeed be directly felt by the soul, not merely as a concept, but as a vivid inner reality. Ordinarily, the soul seems to be most aware of energy within the brain, where the constant dance of neural activity creates a dynamic electromagnetic field. However, with focused meditation, this perception can extend to other regions such as the spinal axis and chakras, as if the soul’s attention shifts its sensing lens from the cerebral core to the subtle network that permeates the entire body. Even great yogi Gopi Krishna used to experience his energy body in entire body system like gastrointestinal system etc. leading to his overwhelmingly tiredness. Such experiences challenge the notion that the soul is merely entangled with the physical structure. Instead, they suggest that the soul interfaces with the field—the invisible energy patterns created by the body’s bioelectric activity—rather than directly with nerves or flesh. This realization becomes even more striking during dream visitations, where one may encounter a departed being not as a solid form but as an amazingly radiant and dark together like mascara, and waveless conscious energy presence. Since the departed body no longer exists, the soul must be perceiving an energy body—a subtle electromagnetic or pranic form that carries the essence of identity. This not only validates the ancient yogic idea of the pranamaya kosha or energy sheath, but also lends credibility to emerging scientific hypotheses that suggest consciousness interacts with or arises within the electromagnetic field generated by the brain. Shifts in physical nerve activity merely alter this field, and it is this changing field that the soul likely perceives as sensation, emotion, or thought. In this light, the energy felt along the backbone—like an experientially luminous rod of awareness—is more than symbolic. It is an experiential clue that the soul’s relationship with the body is not with its dense matter but with its living vibrational field. This aligns with ancient Sharirvigyan Darshan, where the body is not seen as an isolated physical entity but as a microcosmic reflection of universal forces. The electromagnetic field within is but a thread in the greater cosmic loom—what is within the spine mirrors the current of the stars, and the soul dances in both. In essence, the electromagnetic field outside is the same as within. Nothing truly exists apart from these fields and waves. What we experience is not material, but a wave — we simply assign it a physical name and form. The shape and form of physical matter are illusions. Space itself is the field through which every wave moves — a grand, all-encompassing field. In this sense, what is God, if not the supreme or ultimate field — the mother field upon which all waves and particles, as players, dance like children at play, giving rise to creation.

Even stories hint at these truths. Like Hanuman taking the sun in his mouth—this is like the space or darkness covering the sun, as in an eclipse. Later, he throws it out, restoring light. The story shows how space itself, when taken as living and conscious in the form of monkey god, plays with light. Hanuman represents the conscious sky, the soul. Space is not empty—it is full of awareness, and that is why it can take forms and perform such cosmic plays.

So the energy body is not imagination. It is the true experience of the living, sensing self. It is connected to the brain’s electric field, but goes beyond it. It is supported by breath, thought, feeling, and deep silence. It reflects the entire design of the cosmos within. By understanding this body, one begins to see the unity of science, soul, and the universe in the simplest and most natural way.

Narayana, Ekarnava, and the Inner Cosmic Symbolism of Meditation

Every day, in the depth of meditation, we witness Narayana emerging from Ekarnava—the cosmic sea of consciousness. Ekarnava is not an ordinary ocean; it is the primordial, wave-less expanse, the silent substratum from which all existence arises. It is the state of Nirvikalpa Dhyana, where the mind dissolves and only pure awareness remains. In this inner vision, Narayana appears not as a distant deity but as a sattvik, luminous, and loving presence—beautiful, peaceful, and radiating all divine qualities. His emergence is not from turbulence but from absolute stillness. He symbolizes the liberating force within meditation, an image of cosmic order and divine peace that gently calms the mind.

In this vast ocean of consciousness, Narayana performs a sacred task—he destroys the demons that produce evil ripples in the cosmic sea. These demons are not literal beings but represent chaotic thoughts, restless emotions, and egoic patterns that disturb the stillness of the inner ocean. When the mind is scattered, the cosmic Ekarnava becomes agitated, like a lake troubled by wind. Narayana, in the form of a meditation image, absorbs and dissolves these disturbances, restoring silence and harmony. The practice of meditation thus becomes a cosmic act, where the inner Narayana neutralizes the mental asuras—the vrittis that bind consciousness in cycles of suffering.

The journey into the Ekarnava, or cosmic ocean of formless consciousness, happens through Narayana. The meditator first focuses on the divine form—the saguna aspect—and gradually dissolves even that, entering the wave-less ocean beyond all images. Yet, Narayana himself is like a liberating wave—unlike the binding waves of mental turbulence, he is a gateway wave that carries the meditator into formlessness. On returning from this Nirvikalpa Samadhi, when the mind resumes its worldly functions, Narayana is the first to greet the seeker, symbolizing the return to dharma, compassion, and peace in daily life.

This same cosmic pattern explains why Rama and Krishna are considered avatars of Narayana. They were not avatars only in the theological sense but because their presence naturally became meditation images for millions. Their beauty, serenity, compassionate nature, practicality, spirituality and complete alignment with divine law made them easy objects of dhyana for the masses. People spontaneously visualized them, meditated upon them, and aligned their minds to divine consciousness through their forms. This is why they are called avataras of Narayana—they descended not just to perform earthly tasks but to anchor human minds in sattva and meditative absorption.

In deeper yogic symbolism, Narayana reclining on Sheshanaga in Ekarnava represents the human subtle body. The Sheshanaga (cosmic serpent) symbolizes the spine and the nervous system, with the raised hood representing the Sahasrara (crown chakra). When prana flows through the Sushumna Nadi, the central spinal channel, the breath becomes calm, and the mind enters deep meditation. Only then does Narayana appear in inner vision—resting peacefully on the serpent of the awakened kundalini. The serpent’s hood rising above Narayana is not just mythological ornamentation; it represents the pranic energy feeding the Sahasrara, allowing the mind to expand into cosmic awareness.

This ancient imagery is not mere mythology; it is psychological and yogic science hidden in symbols. When the breath becomes subtle and still, when prana ascends the spine, the mind becomes an ocean without waves—the Ekarnava of consciousness. Narayana is both the gateway and the guardian of this ocean. He destroys the demons of distraction, dissolves into the formless state, and welcomes the seeker back with peace and love when the meditative journey is complete. In this way, the images of Rama, Krishna, and Narayana reclining on Sheshanaga are not distant cosmic tales but direct representations of human spiritual anatomy and meditative experience.

From Inert Matter to Supreme Consciousness: A Journey Through Self

When we look up at the sky, it appears still, silent, and vast. It’s natural to see it as lifeless or jada—an inert physical space. In the same way, we label objects and even dead bodies as jada because they seem unconscious. There’s no movement, no response, no sign of inner awareness. But what if this stillness is not truly lifeless? What if what appears jada is actually holding a deep, silent potential within?

Traditionally, we consider something jada when it doesn’t show any signs of life. Even a human body, once the soul leaves, is referred to as jada because the expressions of consciousness are gone. But this jada state doesn’t mean emptiness. It’s more like a tightly packed capsule—where all the impressions, experiences, and memories are compressed and hidden, like data in a zip file. That’s why it feels dense, bound, and even suffocating.

On the other hand, when something is alive and expressive, we call it chetan—conscious. A living being breathes, feels, acts, and reflects. Its inner information is not hidden—it’s in motion, interacting with the world. This openness makes chetan appear far superior to jada. The life within it flows. It explores, it expresses, it evolves. That’s why we admire living beings—they are like windows through which consciousness shines.

But even chetan has its limitations. While the conscious being can act and interact, it still carries inner burdens—deep impressions called samskaras—that shape its personality, habits, and sufferings. The beauty, though, lies in the fact that a chetan being can work on itself. It can shed these burdens through inner work—whether through spiritual practice, self-inquiry, yoga, or meditation. This path leads to something even greater.

That greater state is param chetan—the supreme consciousness. It is not just living. It is fully awakened, totally free. It doesn’t carry any burden of impressions. It doesn’t suffer from ignorance or duality. It exists in its purest form: full of satta (existence), chitta (consciousness), and ananda (bliss). This is the real sky of the self—boundless and untouched.

Ironically, param chetan may still look like jada to the ordinary eye. A realized sage may appear calm and still like a rock or empty sky. But within that stillness lies a fullness beyond comprehension. What appears lifeless is, in fact, the most alive. It’s just not agitated or noisy. It’s like a silent ocean—motionless on the surface, yet infinitely deep.

So what we call jada may just be param chetan in disguise—consciousness in rest, not in absence. The journey of the soul is to move from being unconsciously bound, to consciously expressive, and finally to being consciously free. This is the hidden evolution—from inert matter, through active life, to divine being.

And in that ultimate state, the infinite sky within us is no longer veiled. It shines in its original light—pure, luminous, and complete.

Harnessing Neti Neti for Deeper Meditation

Sometimes during dhyana (meditation), things don’t unfold as smoothly as we’d like. The breath may remain restless, the body refuses to settle, and the mind continues its habitual wandering. In such moments, the subtle movements of prana—the life force—seem to keep the system agitated. It’s as though the very thing that carries life within us also prevents us from fully resting in that silent space beyond all activity.

This is where the practice of mental chanting, especially neti neti, reveals its quiet power. “Not this, not this”—a simple phrase, yet profound in its effect. Mentally repeating it, not with strain but with sincerity, helps cut through the unnecessary. Every thought that arises, every feeling that pulls attention, every story or identity that surfaces—neti neti gently negates them. Not with violence, but with wisdom. Not this… not this…

I have come to see neti neti as a bridge—especially when keval kumbhak, the spontaneous suspension of breath, has not yet taken over. In those rare and beautiful moments when prana itself becomes still and the breath ceases naturally, no effort is needed. There is no gap to fill. The Self reveals itself effortlessly. Silence becomes solid. Awareness shines by itself, needing no reminder, no pointer.

But this depth is not always available. The body and mind often carry momentum. In such cases, neti neti becomes more than just a mantra—it becomes a companion. A whisper in the background reminding me of what I truly am not, so that what I truly am can gradually become clearer. When breath is not restful, when energy is still moving, the mind tends to seek content, to latch onto something—anything. This is where neti neti becomes a gentle replacement, a redirection away from identification, toward detachment, and eventually toward presence.

What’s unique about this practice is that it doesn’t demand that you believe anything. It doesn’t create a new identity. Instead, it un-builds. It dissolves. It peels away. It respects the structure of your being and only asks you to negate what is not permanent, not peaceful, not you.

Over time, I’ve noticed that chanting neti neti during dhyana not only helps quiet the mind, but also creates a subtle sense of inner space—like the difference between a cluttered room and one with just a mat and silence. This space doesn’t arrive by force. It unfolds gradually, like dawn. And when the space is finally there, awareness can relax into itself. Breath may still be moving, prana may still dance, but the grip of it weakens.

Of course, neti neti is not a mechanical technique. It is alive. It responds to sincerity, not repetition. When practiced with mindfulness and simplicity, it becomes a living pointer to the reality that is always here, just beneath the noise.

Whether prana is dancing or resting, whether the breath is moving or suspended—neti neti remains a quiet, humble companion on the path to the Self.

Chapter 3: Can a Whole Body Fit Inside an Atom?

In the last chapter, we asked: if the entire universe is a holographic projection, then who is observing this cosmic screen?

That question is not separate from science. It’s the very heart of it.

Everything we see — the planets, the people, the pain, the play — all of it might be appearing on a kind of invisible surface, just like a 3D movie on a flat cinema screen. But unless someone is watching that screen, the movie doesn’t truly exist. So the most important question isn’t about how the movie appears, but who is sitting in the audience — silently witnessing the show.

This witness is not your eyes. Not your brain. It is the soul — the spacious, aware presence behind all perception. And it is not passive. It does something magical. It translates a flat image into a living, breathing experience.

That’s why we don’t just see shapes and colours. We feel love. We feel distances. We experience space. Why? Because the soul itself is not flat. It is three-dimensional space, infinite, silent, conscious — and from it, all volume and depth arise.

The brain helps process signals, but the soul gives depth to reality. Without it, everything would be flat and meaningless. That’s the secret behind our experience of life as a deep, vast, unfolding mystery.

This insight also helps us approach the central question of this chapter — can a whole body fit inside an atom?

At first glance, it sounds ridiculous. Our body has bones, skin, blood, thoughts, breath — how can all of that fit inside something smaller than a speck of dust?

But if you look deeper, you’ll discover a quiet miracle. Every cell of your body carries the entire blueprint of your form — your DNA. And DNA itself is smaller than what we can imagine, yet it contains everything — your eye shape, your voice, your sleep patterns, your tendencies. And DNA is made of atoms.

So, in a simple yet astonishing truth — your entire body is already folded inside the atom. Not physically, but informationally. Like a movie is stored inside a memory chip, your whole being is encoded inside the atomic architecture of your cells.

And the more we understand information, the more we realise that information doesn’t need volume. It only needs pattern. A single holographic pixel can carry the image of the whole — and this is true not just of science, but of our very existence.

In ancient Yogic vision, this was never news. The Rishis saw that the subtle body (sukshma sharira) holds the full record of all our lifetimes — not just the current one. These records aren’t written in ink, but in subtle ripples — samskaras — which move through our soul-space like gravitational impressions.

These ripples don’t die when the body dies. They stay. They vibrate quietly in the background of consciousness, waiting for conditions to rise again. Just like ripples in space don’t disappear after a star collapses — they stretch as gravitational waves, holding memory across eternity.

This means the human soul is a personal holographic space, containing subtle ripples, vibrational patterns, and emotional waves from countless lives. It is like a microcosmic version of the cosmos. And these ripples are held by prana — the subtle life force, just as in the universe, cosmic prana may be holding all gravitational memory after the end of galaxies.

So what scientists now begin to say — that the universe stores its history as stable gravitational waves — was already intuited by ancient seers. Our individual soul-space is a smaller echo of cosmic space — each carrying memory, pattern, and subtle desire. The universe is the macro-soul. We are its holographic reflections.

And now I must tell you something that confirmed this to me beyond theory.

I once had a powerful experience — a visitation in a dream — of a freshly departed soul. But it didn’t appear merely as the person I knew in this life; it was much more than that. It came as a deeply encoded field of identity. It felt like the average of all its lifetimes, distilled into a single compact vibration — heavy and dark, but not in an evil sense. More like dense light wrapped in darkness, or a sacred knot of memory — a concentrated bundle of impressions woven from countless experiences, identities, and emotions across time. It wasn’t chaotic, but felt intentionally held together, like a spiritual DNA preserving the soul’s essence. Sacred, because it bore the silent weight of eons — yet still a knot, because it hadn’t fully unraveled into freedom.

It was alive — more alive than ever, in a strange and quiet way. Yet I could see that its soul-space was compressed. It wasn’t empty, but it was concealing its personal identity within itself, folding inward like a lotus closed at night. Its core felt heavy, as if burdened by unresolved identity — by samskaras carried across eons. Simply put, or in a nutshell, it was like a space filled with complete darkness, yet invisibly encoding an individual identity within. Because of this encoding, I could unmistakably feel it as that same individual — fully alive — even though nothing was present except sheer, expansive darkness and silence. It was an astonishing kind of encoding. Perhaps it is akin to subtle gravitational ripples in space.

It was not tortured, but it was not free. Its experiential light — its vastness, its bliss, its clarity — was present, yet covered, veiled, or diminished. It appeared lesser than the state of a living human body. Had it appeared more — more radiant, more open — it would have been recognized as liberated. Though it believed itself to be liberated, this belief was shaped by illusion and carried a subtle doubt. It even asked me to confirm its liberation, but I denied. That subtle compression of soul-space — that invisible binding — was its true suffering. It didn’t recognize it as suffering, but I did. A man who has lived in a well for eons cannot know what lies beyond, but someone outside the well can see it — and point toward the truth. It wasn’t pain in the usual sense, but rather the quiet ache of being less than what one truly is — that is, absolute.

In that moment, I understood something profound — liberation is simply the release of these samskaras. It is the melting away of these inner gravitational waves. Liberation is not the end of life, but the end of compression. One may be sitting in a cave yet still be bound and compressed by samskaras, while another, even as a king amidst the world, may be entirely free of such compressions.

Just as a black hole may one day dissolve its trapped information into open space again, the bound soul too can release its encoded ripples and return to satchitananda — being, consciousness, and bliss — in their natural, free, shining form.

So what does this say about the universe?

The scriptures say even Brahma, the cosmic creator, has a lifespan. When the cosmic play ends, even he dissolves. But just like a soul, Brahma doesn’t vanish. He merges into infinite stillness — into Brahman, the pure, ripple-free field.

This is Mahapralaya — the Great Dissolution. But it’s not destruction. It is deep sleep. And from that silent space, one day, a new Brahma emerges — and with him, a new universe, a new screen, a new holograph.

Why? Because the infinite never runs out of potential. It doesn’t need desire to create. It simply flowers.

And so it is with you. When your samskaras melt, when your inner ripples calm, when your soul becomes like clear, still space — you don’t vanish. You shine. You become the screen and the observer — at once.

So yes — a whole body can fit inside an atom. Because the body is not merely flesh and bone; it is a vibration, a subtle blueprint, a densely compressed field of infinite memory and possibility. What we perceive as the physical body is only the outermost layer. At its core, it is energy — encoded with the entire history of one’s being across lifetimes — all folded into a single point of consciousness, much like how a vast hologram can be stored in a tiny fragment of space. Just as the energies and impressions of infinite lifetimes can remain encoded in the soul, the same kind of encoding can be stored within the space bound by the boundary of an atom. In that minuscule realm, unimaginable depth and memory can reside, hidden yet alive. Just as the portion of infinite space within the human head can hold unlimited energy patterns as encoded impressions, then why can’t the part of infinite space bound within an atom also hold the same — the energy patterns of a human, or even of the entire cosmos? It is not a matter of size; it is a matter of structure — of holography. In a holographic reality, the whole is reflected in every part. So even the smallest boundary, like that of an atom, can encode the vastness of existence within it.

And inside that atom — there may be a holograph of not just your form, but of your past, your future, and the entire cosmos.

You are not a fragment — not a broken or isolated piece of existence. You are a portal: a living doorway through which the infinite expresses itself. You do not merely belong to the universe; the universe flows through you. Within you lies access to all dimensions of being — from the deepest silence to the highest awareness. You are not a small part of reality; you are the point where reality opens, unfolds, and becomes self-aware.

You are not inside space. Space is inside you.

And the one watching all this — the one reading these words now — is not a character on the screen. It is the eternal observer, patiently waiting for you to remember:

You were never just the story.
You were the light behind it all.

Calm Your Mind with Water: A Simple Meditation Technique

Sometimes, ancient wisdom meets inner intuition, and something powerful yet simple emerges. That’s exactly what I experienced with a small but deeply calming practice I stumbled upon—holding a sip of water in the mouth while meditating. Over time, I noticed that this little act had a profound ability to pull my rising energy down, especially during moments when I felt heavy pressure in the head, stuck in thoughts, or uncomfortable upper body energy that wouldn’t settle.

The idea is extremely simple. Sit calmly with a glass of clean, room-temperature water beside you. Take a small sip—not a mouthful, just enough to comfortably rest in your mouth. Then, gently close your eyes and simply meditate on the presence of water inside your mouth. No breath control, no visualization, no technique—just awareness of the water. Let the breath be fully natural and free.

After a while, you may notice something amazing. Without any force, the body starts responding. Soft, involuntary pulses begin around the lower abdomen. It feels like a gentle version of Kapalbhati Pranayama, but it happens naturally. It’s not a forced kriya, just a downward pull, like the body wants to balance itself. The overcharged head space begins to lighten, the throat relaxes, and you can actually feel energy shifting down toward the navel and below.

One of the best parts is that you don’t have to hold the same sip of water for ten minutes. That would be uncomfortable. Just when the sip feels enough, either swallow or spit it out and take another fresh sip. Keep the cycle going for 5 to 15 minutes, depending on what feels good. It’s totally body-led and effortless. There’s no stress on the mind, no pressure on the stomach, and no disturbance to the breath. The water seems to anchor the mind and body together.

For someone like me, who has experienced occasional GERD or acid-related discomfort, this method came as a relief. Unlike deep breathing techniques or aggressive kriyas, this is safe, cool, and calming. There’s no strain on the diaphragm, no holding of breath, and no reflux triggered. The coolness of the water balances the heat inside, and the grounded awareness pulls prana down from the chest and head. It’s also useful for spiritual practitioners who often experience excess energy in the head after meditation or pranayama. It gently rebalances without any intense effort.

This simple water-holding meditation can be used before sleep, after meals (with a 1–2 hour gap), or anytime when you feel too much mental chatter, pressure in the forehead, or a rising kind of energy that needs settling. But best time is empty stomach immidiately after morning yoga when brain pressure is high, then it lowers excess energy very effectively. It’s safe, soothing, and so intuitive that you might wonder why this hasn’t been talked about more.

A word of caution—use only clean drinking water. Don’t overdo it or hold water too long if you feel uncomfortable. Avoid doing this with a sore throat or if you’re feeling cold. But generally, it’s a harmless, soothing practice that works like a charm when done with quiet awareness.

What began as a random experiment became one of the most grounding techniques in my personal toolkit. It’s not from a book, nor taught in any formal yoga class, but it’s one of the most peaceful meditative hacks I’ve found. Water, attention, and a little bit of stillness — that’s all it takes to reconnect with the body and feel balanced again.

All Yoga Is One: From Karma to Hatha to Raja – My Real Experience

For International Yoga Day — by a Seeker

Starting Point

In my youth, I was healthy and mentally curious. After a certain experience, which I later understood was a transient Savikalpa Samadhi, a shimmering image of meditation stayed in my mind. That image remained alive for years and I used it for deep inner nourishment. With that energy, I studied, experimented, and shared spiritual knowledge with others.

At that time, I now feel, I could have gone into Keval Kumbhak and from there to Nirvikalpa Samadhi, if I had focused completely. The inner image was already guiding me. But I got involved in sharing, not settling.

Later Obstacles

Now at this stage of life, GERD, gastric pressure, and mucus buildup in the throat create interruptions in breath. Even if I don’t try to stop the breath, and just sit silently, the breath starts calming down on its own — but a reflex like engulfing mucus or a throat tickle brings breath back. This keeps disturbing the entry into Keval Kumbhak and the stillness needed for Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Though Kunjal is contraindicated in GERD, regular practice from early life may help prevent GERD from developing.

Similarly, Practicing knee-based asanas like Padmasana and Siddhasana from an early age helps keep the knees strong and healthy, preventing age-related weakness and pain that hinder maintaining prolonged asana as needed for nirvikalp samadhi.

This taught me that Hatha Yoga is not optional. It is necessary.

Misreading the Scriptures

In old texts of Hatha Yoga it is written:

“Hatha Yoga is fruitless without Raja Yoga.”

But that sentence has been misunderstood.

People took this to mean that Hatha Yoga is a separate, lower yoga, and Raja Yoga is a different, higher one.

But this is not true.

I now see that:

Hatha Yoga itself becomes Raja Yoga when it matures.

The so-called Raja Yoga — Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi — arises automatically when the Hatha practices bring breath and body to perfect stillness. They are not two branches, but stages of one path.

Hatha Yoga Leads Honestly

Hatha Yoga is simple and honest.

When you do Shatkarma (cleansing), you can feel the result.
When you do asanas, you know if your spine is straight or not.
When breath slows, it is known directly.

There is no illusion.
There is no imagination.
And if Keval Kumbhak happens even briefly, there is nothing else to believe.

But in many “Raja Yoga” circles, people sit and try to meditate without preparing body and breath. Then they keep thinking they are meditating, but nothing goes on happening. Breath is disturbed. Body is stiff. Samadhi doesn’t happen.

That’s why I now feel:

Even only Hatha Yoga is better than only Raja Yoga.
Because Hatha Yoga eventually gives you real Raja Yoga anyway.

How Karma Yoga Comes First

Before Hatha, Karma Yoga helped me. But I didn’t realize it in words.

I used my own understanding of holographic reality and science based philosophy Sharirvigyan Darshan to approach life nondually.
This gave me a peaceful mind, a natural sense of surrender in action, and a body-breath rhythm that was already inward. I wasn’t reacting too much to success or failure. I stayed calm while doing duties.

Without knowing, this became Karma Yoga.

This helped my posture stay relaxed, and breath stay smooth, even in daily life. It became easier to move into stillness when I sat down for meditation or inner work.

So All These Yogas Are One Ladder

Now I see clearly:

  • Karma Yoga comes first — it calms you in action.
  • Hatha Yoga comes next — it prepares your body and breath.
  • Raja Yoga comes last — it happens on its own when stillness is perfect.

They are not three different paths.
They are one natural unfolding.

Today’s Confusion

Today, Yoga is divided:

  • Some do only asana as fitness.
  • Some do only meditation without body discipline.
  • Some talk only about philosophy.
    But all are incomplete alone.

That’s why many people don’t feel any deep transformation, even after years.

But I feel even if one does basic Karma Yoga and regular Hatha Yoga, stillness will come one day. Raja Yoga will not be needed as a separate practice — it will happen.

What I Suggest Now

For those who want real Yoga:

  • Don’t label the path.
  • Live peacefully with surrender (Karma Yoga will begin).
  • Practice weekly or daily Shatkarma, Asana, gentle Pranayama (Hatha will deepen).
  • Sit without forcing (Raja Yoga will arise).

Let the shimmering meditation image grow silently.
Let breath slow down naturally.

Let Yoga be one, not many.

Final Line

I no longer believe in separating Karma, Hatha, and Raja Yoga.
I feel now that all are steps of the same inner ladder.
I walked it, without planning, and it showed itself as one path.

If I could give one message on this International Yoga Day, it is:

Yoga is not about variety. Yoga is about unity — of body, breath, and awareness.

Everything else is support.

And lastly, don’t forget:
Yoga is the best job — it gives a salary of peace and bliss for limitless time, not like a physical job that pays only for a few decades, at most a hundred years.

Yoga is also the best family — it offers companionship of the Self for eternity, not just for a short human lifespan like a physical family.

✨ So let us all take an oath on this year’s International Yoga Day — to keep Yoga at the very top of our to-do list.
Not just for a day, but for a lifetime.

Yes, don’t forget – one yoga=one health.