H2 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



endurance under the privation of hunger and thirst. 



The exercise of the Held breath encourages in a 

 marked degree the flow of Prithivi, and it is 

 brought into great activity during Prdnaydma. 

 !This Tattva gives endurance to acts performed dur- 

 ing its flow, increases the power of attention, stimu- 

 lates memory, and strengthens the will-power. 

 The prevalence of Prithivi imparts a golden tinge 

 to the circle of light about our heads and to the 

 brilliant play of light-vibrations seen within. This 

 inner light sometimes glows as brilliantly as the 

 sunshine streaming through the purest atmosphere. 

 It is a startling proof of the reality of this inner 

 world, pulsing with golden glory, which we pene- 

 trate in concentration, when, after such experience, 

 one opens the eyes upon a grey and gloomy sky. 

 This has often happened to the writer, whose gaze, 

 from her study windows, sweeps over acres of 

 house-tops to a hill-bound horizon thirty miles dis- 

 tant. At such times, the external gloom seems 

 the unreality ! 



Prithivi is sweet smelling and sweet to the taste, 

 jjwhile Apas is astringent, salty, and is itself the 

 'taster; that is, it stimulates the sense of taste. 

 Apas is the predominant Tattva in saliva, which ac- 

 counts for the extraordinary solvent power of this 

 digestive fluid. It is gross injustice to the whole 

 digestive canal to hastily cram into it a load of half- 

 masticated food, thus depriving Apas of opportu- 



