Query: Shavasana pose Yoga... In shavasana pose, can we lie with our hands facing down, with hands/legs together instead of spreading apart. At night, due to tireness and comfort of the environment(air con/soft bed), I often fall asleep after few cycle of concentrating on my breathing. Before I tuned to my breathing rhythmically and focus my mind on my Self (doing enquiry), I already fallen asleep. Am I doing it correctly? And if I'm still conscious and able to proceed with my enquiry, I find my breathing couldn't be done rhythmically.

What is the difference with sleeping in shavasana pose and any other posture we used to sleep? Living as a householder, how is it possible to achieve moderation in food, sleep, speech and dispassion? Is renouncing those mentally suffice? Pranayama Breathing. What is the difference with having a retention between inhale and exhale. It is recommended to do it in the portion 1:4:2 (inhale,retention,exhale). And gradually increasing the proportion. Is the recommendation you mention to me earlier in the portion 3:5, 5:8 only for beginners?

Kaivalya Jnani:
In the Shavasana pose, I always found lying with hands facing down was more comfortable. The Shavasana pose means the death pose... whatever is most convenient must be followed as nothing can be more convenient than death... the death pose! If any pose gives us discomfort... it simply cannot be the death pose... the Shavasana pose of yoga!

In the last reaches of Shavasana pose, I found that my legs always remained together instead of spreading apart. This helps one in placing our posture firmly... all the while concentrating on God Almighty. With legs remaining together... the tips of the toes must form sort of a triangle... meaning one side of the triangle being our head... the other toes... connected with God Almighty and forming a triangle high above (an imaginary triangle).

Falling asleep in the initial stages of Shavasana pose of yoga is normal. Even when in subconscious state... we must try practicing the Neti process (not this, not this)... the path as practiced and advocated by Maharishi Ramana. We must never perform yoga literally... we must not be aware of what we are doing... we must simply concentrate on our goal of life.... not the path! The Shavasana pose of yoga is the path for practicing Neti.

Pranayama... the breathing technique is the path for reaching God Almighty... the minuscule form of which resides in our heart as our soul atman. If we fall sleep concentrating on the enquiry (and not the breathing process)... it is normal! We must always remain aware that our breathing pattern is okay... nothing more than that... rest of the time we must engage in self enquiry!

If you are not able to breathe rhythmically... then you are under stress because of day-to-day affairs of life! First you need to settle down... calm your mind (yourself)... think seriously of the cause that is affecting you for not being able to perform the enquiry. Slowly you would realize what went wrong... correct that first before proceeding on the enquiry.

No form of yoga meditation can be performed under stress or duress. One needs to be at peace with the self. This is very very important! Furthermore lying in the Shavasana pose of yoga... our body gets absolutely relaxed. No other form of sleep can be more relaxing. You may try different modes for yourself... finally you will settle down with the Shavasana pose of yoga... it is natural!

The spiritual path is not the least attached to living life as a householder! We simply cannot take excuses on the spiritual path. Moderation in food, sleep, speech and dispassion can always be practiced. This is all about taking control of senses one by one. If we put a full stop to our taste bud... moderation in food is always possible.

I know... for I have already traveled the path! No number of goading ever dissuaded me from the path of moderation in everything. I never left things to chance. We need to control anger... moderation in speech would follow by itself. By remaining calm even in most difficult circumstances... one can maintain internal peace in life. One slowly moderates sleeping patterns suitable to the path of enquiry undertaken by us.

During the most intense phases of spirituality, I always slept for longer periods of time. I distinctly remember even in my subconscious state... I continued my enquiry... my search for God! Indulgence in sexuality is never a bar on sleeping patterns of life. Anything between eight to 10 hours of sleep every day is normal.

At times it so happened... I lay on my bed for the full day. In the eyes of others, I was sleeping but I was not! I was so much entrenched with performing the enquiry within... I simply lost count of time. Day in and out... I was busy doing Neti... the self enquiry! Even during sleep... in my subconscious state the enquiry continued. When I got up in the morning... I could realize the whole night I was simply busy in the enquiry. This pattern of life gave me inner happiness.

Spirituality demands highest level of perfection. We need to control our emotions... rid self free of all biases... we need to remain just in all circumstances... come whatever may! Easily said... but very difficult to practice... but not impossible! By following the path of absolute truthfulness... letting the voice of our inner self... our soul atman within governing us all the time... we finally succeed in controlling our emotions in totality.

Renouncing things mentally... is it really possible! Every action has its seed in a thought that germinated within our brain... rather invoked by our brain! If we stop the flow of all thoughts... we immediately reach the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi... gain enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally salvation moksha immediately thereafter.

The flow of thoughts to our brain is continuous... nothing except us can stop the flow of myriads of thoughts that enter our brain knowingly or unknowingly. It is only by controlling the five senses... we establish absolute control over our mind. The moment this happens... one finally reaches the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

It simply cannot be that we renounce things mentally and still continue with the physical affairs of life. The physical activity is directly linked to the flow of thoughts. If the flow of thoughts stops... so does the related physical activity. To stop the physical activity in the first go... we need to stop the flow of unwanted thoughts entering our brain every second of life.

No germination of seed in the brain... no related physical activity would occur! Every spiritual sage or saint appears calm... why? It is for the simple reason that these persons have altogether stopped the growth of... the flow of uninterrupted thoughts to our brain! Taking control of the five senses is the only path of reaching the stage of Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

In pranayama breathing... we are not supposed to retain or stop in between! The process is simple... inhale and exhale! The inhaling must be for a shorter period of time... and the exhaling process should be slow... probably 3:5 or 5:8... As felt convenient! The proper timing can always be worked out... as no principle of life is standard for all.

Depending upon our bodily structure... our level of karma... different people may experience the same thing differently! The basic principle is... on the path of spirituality... everything must appear comfortable! The sweet small inner voice of our soul atman would always prompt from within whether we are right or wrong.

I again repeat... we must never forcibly stop our breath for even short periods of time! However... in the higher stages of yoga meditation... I many times tried to stop the inhale and exhaling process... it was just to measure my capacity to retain fresh air! That helped me swim underwater for longer periods of time.

Furthermore... what are we trying to achieve by the breathing process! The breathing process is the medium... the path! Our concentration all the time should be reaching the source... the residence of our soul atman within our heart! While practicing pranayama... Neti is best practiced... we need indulging in self enquiry all the time.

Do whatever feels convenient... the sweet small inner voice of our soul atman would always correct us towards the right path! I have practiced this all my life... I know by patiently practicing the process of enquiry... by exercising restraint on the five senses... one finally controls the mind power... the seat of all thoughts.

Every single thought that floats in the cosmic system... generates form mind plus or mind minus... the two reservoirs existing in the cosmic system! Those invoking positive thoughts are connected to mind plus and others bogged down with wanton desires... dive deep into the reservoir of mind minus.

Invoking positive or negative thoughts is the prerogative of every single individual human being. At any stage of time... one either invokes positive thoughts or negative thoughts! All is dependent upon our way of life... our inner controls of life... the path of spirituality we follow... practicing absolute truthfulness!

More Shavasana pose Yoga related links...

Creator of God - Names of God

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Essay by: Kaivalya Jnani... One who realized self in his life time!

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Full text of query: 1. In shavasana pose, can we lie with our hands facing down, with hands/legs together instead of spreading apart. At night, due to tireness and comfort of the environment(air con/soft bed), I often fall asleep after few cycle of concentrating on my breathing. Before I tuned to my breathing rhythmically and focus my mind on my Self(doing enquiry), I already fallen asleep. Am I doing it correctly? I always doubt myself. And if I'm still conscious and able to proceed with my enquiry, I find that my breathing couldn't be done rhythmically. What should I do?

2. What is the difference with sleeping in shavasana pose and any other posture we used to sleep?

3. Living as a householder, how is it possible to achieve moderation in food,sleep,speech and dispassion? Is renouncing those mentally suffice?

4. Pranayama Breathing. What is the difference with having a retention between inhale and exhale. It is recommended to do it in the portion 1:4:2 (inhale,retention,exhale). And gradually increasing the proportion. Is the recommendation which you mention to me earlier in the portion 3:5, 5:8 only for beginners?

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