The euphoria attached to Samadhi is beautiful. It is many times addicting too. The student knows his limitations so he could easily get out. Once or twice in this lifetime is enough. To chase it could lead to a painful downfall. He needs to come back so he could share this wondrous spiritual journey.
Meditation is an advanced and delicate practice. When the mental fluctuations cease abruptly, the subconscious could emerge. The sudden shift could result in the withdrawal the physical energy. This shall trigger the nervous system to increase heat, causing high electrical loads in the nerves and skin. The heart and the lungs could stop due to this. The effects on consciousness can be detrimental if one is not careful.
Hovering above the pelvic floor in the hips is a soft (cloud-like) element encased in a white pouch. It is the Kanda nadi. Kanda means ‘root’. The three fundamental nadis; Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are attached and spring from. From the kanda nadi, they branch out and will intersect again at the eyebrow centre in the middle brain. From experience, aside from khechari mudra, the kandasana can powerfully activate the ajna chakra.
Due to the rhythmical change in the intracranial pressure, the brain gets a stimulating massage during bhastrika pranayama. The cerebrospinal fluid is magnetised, allowing the nerve impulses to travel faster up through the central nervous system.
The bhastrika pranayama directly affects the nervous and circulatory systems. The intracranial pressure abruptly increases through each inhalation which, in turn, magnetises the cerebrospinal fluid.
The subtle body is inherently closed for a significant reason. Once it is made open, the subconscious awakens which in turn emerges our karmas. Hatha Yoga is the most powerful in awakening the kundalini. It is also the most dangerous.
Once the nada is heard, slowly pierce through it until a softer sound appears. Focus on this new sound. Then go past the new sound and another one shall emerge. The nada is inside the mind only and the sound is to be heard in the mind only. We cannot create these sounds, they are already there. We have to attune our minds for the nada to manifest.
Finally, we must learn how to breathe through the Union of the Soma and Kundalini. There are actually two places where we could do this practice. One is inside the heart and the other one occurs through the third eye. Feel the inspiring of the breath open the space of the heart and allow it to melt and relax through each exhalation. When we breathe through the heart, the mind and breath are calm and balanced.
The mind emerges the energy of the soul. This spiritual force is the most healing, for ourselves and others.
In a functional perspective, the goal of pranayama is to refine and make the natural breath healthier, balanced and more efficient. Pranayama purifies the Nadis so that the prana (life force) can freely flow through them, nourishing and recharging our vital organs. Further still, deep and meditative pranayama stills and calms the mind in preparation for the state of Samyama (concentration, meditation and absorption).
The one who’s mastered the flow of the breath conquers death. He dies consciously, in the wakeful state, comes back and goes through it over again. Our breath is a sacred gift which connects us to the realm beyond which is eternal.