n8 The Law of the Rhythmic Breath 



gant effort to change the natural order of this life- 

 function, but a scientific attempt to restore it. Nor 

 are they new inventions or devices originating in 

 the Occident. The knowledge of correct rhythmic 

 breathing and of the exercises in alternate breathing 

 which purify the nerves, restore the disturbed bal- 

 ance of the life-current, and preserve the harmony 

 necessary for health, is the common heritage of 

 the East Indian people. Down through the ages it 

 has come to them; and the practice of breathing 

 exercises precedes their daily devotions. 



The continued flowing of both positive and nega- 

 tive breath-currents simultaneously marks extreme 

 physical disturbance, a nullifying of life- force, and 

 the Tantrists believed it an indication of approach- 

 ing death, showing the breaking up of the physical 

 entity. 



An ocean of solar Prdna surrounds the great orb 

 of day, and it is the particular state of its Tattvic 

 matter which sustains and keeps in its orderly rhyth- 

 mic movements the whole solar system. As the 

 vibrations of the solar Prdna approach the earth 

 they are arrested by a broad band of Akdsha which 

 gives birth to the terrestrial Fdyu. This forms a 

 blue sphere about the earth limiting its movements. 

 No explanation for this is given, but following the 

 Tattvic law the natural inference is that the extent 

 of the earth atmosphere is limited by the conjunc- 

 tion of the solar and terrestrial currents, an dkasha 



