Page:The International Journal of Psycho-Analysis II 1921 3-4.djvu/56

 I • 310 OWEN BERKELEY-HILL

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 * remaining unmoved like a post, direct the eyes to the spot in

? the middle of the brows. This is siddkasana. In all the eighty-

h four postures always practise the siddhasana, for it is that which

I purifies all the seventy-two thousand nadis. ' Again, ' Place the

p right foot in an inverted position under the right part of the

I. perinaeum and the left foot under the left part, and hold both the

i feet by both the hands.' Again, 'So long as the Nadis, the

I vehicles of prana, are obstructed by abnormal humours, there is

[• no possibility of the prana running in the middle course {sasumna)

I and of accomplishing the unmani-mudra. Hence pranayama should

t be pracdsed in the first instance for the clearance of these humours.

The pranayama for this purpose is as follows. Having assumed

[ the padmasana posture, the yogin should inhale at the left nostril

[ and, having retained the breath for the time he easily can, should let it

I • off at the opposite nostril; and repeat the same process beginning

with the nostril where he exhales ... As helps to pranayama, and

F even as independent practices leading to several important results

' and even to samadhi, there are certain physico-mental postures

which are called mudras. They are ten in number ... of these I

shall describe three. Uddiyana consists in drawing in the navel

and the parts above and below it. Mulabandha consists in drawing

in the parts of the anus, and in mentally exerting as if to draw

the apana upwards towards the navel.'

The following are a few extracts from an English translation of the 'Yoga-Sutra' written by one Patanjali about the second

century, B.C., with notes by the translator:

XL. From purity arises disgust for one's own body and non- intercourse with others.

Note. The purity here referred to is physical or external; mental or internal purity will be dealt with in the following aphorism. One who has understood purity naturally looks with disgust upon his physical body which is full of impurities, and he feels no strong desire to associate with others,

XLI. Moreover, there arise clear passivity, pleasantness of mind, fixity of attention, subjugation of the senses, and fitness for com- munion with soul.

Note. The results here enumerated are the consequences of mental purity.

XLIX. This being accomplished, pranayama follows, the cut- ting off of the course of the inspiration and expiration of the breath.