Karm, action is not something external alone. It also involves consistently working on the inner self. The most important aspect of internal karm is to synchronize breathing with awareness. Awareness of every aspect of life, what is happening around us and in the world. Only then both the planes — worldly and spiritual — can be balanced.

Right breathing technique involves aligning the breath with constant sumiran, remembrance, and through it, connecting with the Supreme energy that is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient.

The cyclical waves of inhaling and exhaling are the medium to transmit thoughts into the Universe. It is common knowledge that when a truthful sankalp resolve, is sent forth, the whole universe conspires to fulfil it. If we are not aware of our thoughts, we often transmit things that are according to mind’s tuning, which is a product of our environment and thinking patterns. We must be aware of our capacities and our special purpose on Earth. Knowing our thoughts, resolves, what is happening around and within, knowledge one is gaining from media, books, events, people and situations – is awareness. The next step is to synchronize your determination, idea or vision with the rhythm of breathing. Chanting silently along with the breath, any small mantra helps to remember and connect to the supreme energies. Pray for the divine form and divine attributes to descend within the being. Realizing this mechanism of creating a link with Universal Energies is what breathing with awareness means.

Usually while we breathe, our mind runs helter-skelter, thinking of something else. To align with the breath and to bring in the awareness of our true aspirations, practice is needed. Even our outer acts should be coordinated, for example, while cooking the thought must be that the food being cooked is made well and provides nourishment to those who eat it. Similarly, while painting the aspiration should be that viewers feel the bhav, with which it is created. This is regulating breath with awareness and living in the moment. But usually both processes are not in sync. We just go on breathing mechanically and think of something else while performing outward acts. This causes imbalance that creates chaos, confusion and duality within our being.

The purpose of the breath is to energize and refresh. When we are not aware the mind runs amok, it is not in sync with the breath thus it depletes energy. We rarely combine it with enhancing and progressive thoughts. Usually, we indulge in depressing, negative musings, or in criticizing and analyzing others. The great Indian saint, Kabir, says, ‘In every breath, O Supreme, may I never forget thy name.’ This reflects bhakti, reverence for the highest entity, Supreme, above us all. A person on the path of gyan knowledge or karm action, must be clear about his thoughts and resolves. Only then will there be a constant consistent connection with the Supreme that empowers to fulfil our resolves. This is what it means to conjoin awareness with the breath.

When awareness sprouts within and we set it aside or start analyzing it, then mind chatter infiltrates and the inner-self gets embroiled in the vicious circle of our thinking patterns.

Connecting awareness to the breath means to get empowered for our sankalps resolves, along with getting insights to perform associated actions efficiently. Right energy, messages and directives do not descend if we do not regulate our vision, mission and aspirations with the breath. This is also known as internal karm yog.

There was a time in life when my being was facing a lot of problems. At that time awareness dawned that these have come to teach something, to improve my being, so I should not indulge in any blame game. Connecting this awareness with the breath, I prayed, ‘O Supreme, guide me how to come out of these problems. Bestow upon me shakti power and gyan wisdom, to go through this turmoil with ease peace and grace.’ Then guidance started pouring in.

While doing worldly tasks do not hold, increase or decrease the pace of the breath that is happening naturally and effortlessly. Our inner gyan knowledge and jagriti good thoughts and awareness should relate to the breath to get enough strength to move ahead, towards growth and transformation in life. Breath should not be just for throwing out air and carbon dioxide into the Universe. We must expel undesirable thoughts along with our breath to empty our subconscious and to get filled with new light.

Breathing with awareness enables us to listen to the Supreme Consciousness and act accordingly. This enhances inner capacities to grow along with the natural process of reformation and evolution. This wonderful act of conscious breathing does miracles to our physical, mental emotional and spiritual wellness; it provides us with true insights to do right things at the right time.

Breathing does not require any calculation or force. It is a natural process, an involuntary system. One has to ride this natural flow for carving a magnificent pattern and path to get connected to all universal energies, to justify this human existence. Breath is the only mechanism that can connect us with the whole creation, whole and complete poorn, to experience the bliss of Oneness.

Be aware of the truth that the breath is called Pran Vayu – The Universal Life Force – by Vedic seer scientists. Humans have yet to explore its full potential to be part of the perfect rhythm and harmony of the cosmic design.

We have been bestowed with the most precious thing, the breath — to get connected to the Supreme Entity Mahati Tattve — that runs the whole show.

Pranam