Notebooks of Paul Brunton > Category 3: Relax and Retreat > Chapter 3: Relax Body, Breath, Mind

Relax Body, Breath, Mind

The true place of peace
1
he !ost i!portant propaganda "a!paign the #estern $orld needs is that $hi"h $ill
tea"h it the $onder and $orth of true relaxing%%its po$er as an e!otional detoxi"ant and
its benefi"en"e as a bodily healer&
'
#e keep oursel(es too o""upied and then $onder $hy our ner(es are taut, our !inds
$ithout ease, our nights $ithout sleep& he !an $ho kno$s the art of perfe"tly relaxing
his body, breath, and !ind has a better "han"e to find health, poise, and pea"e&
3
ension !ay be eased by the si!ple exer"ise of total relaxation& )t least t$i"e a day, the
student should stret"h out and lie perfe"tly still& *e !ust endea(our to "ons"iously relax
e(ery part of the body& Breathing should be slo$ed do$n and kept at an e(en pa"e, the
intake !at"hing the outflo$& he exer"ise need only take a fe$ !inutes%%or until all
signs of tension are gone&
+
he unrelaxed person has tight !us"les or taut ner(es& Mentally he is too self%"entered:
a fe$ si!ple exer"ises $ill relie(e his tensions& he body is to loosen its !us"les
$orking fro! the feet first and then by degrees to the head& he !ind is slo$ly and
repeatedly to !ake affir!ations of uni(ersal healing and restorati(e truths& he breath is
to lengthen and deepen itself for a fe$ !inutes $ith inhalation and exhalation follo$ing
a "ertain rhyth!& #ithin a fe$ !inutes the person $ill be"o!e refreshed and relaxed&
,
-f he "an take a fe$ !inutes of "on"entrated rest at odd ti!es, or e(en only one to three
!inutes at a ti!e $hen he "an get no !ore, he $ill benefit out of all proportion& he
ner(es $ill be soothed, the !ind relaxed fro! its "ares, the body%battery re"harged, and
the e!otions "al!ed&
.
oo !any !odern !en are expert in de"ei(ing the!sel(es $ith the /ustifying of their
li(es by sho$ing results, getting things done, or "at"hing up $ith $ork and studies&
hey do not kno$ ho$ to let go nor understand the need of relaxing 0uietly, so as to
hear the (oi"e of their deepest soul&
1
Sleep exercise: Roll your head around in a "ir"le until the ne"k !us"les are $ell relaxed
and the "hin easily tou"hes the "hest& Rest& Repeat the "y"le of exer"ise and rest a
nu!ber of ti!es& -ts effe"t is to in"rease the "apa"ity to fall asleep !ore 0ui"kly&
2
34et not the sun go do$n upon your $rath,3 is surely one of the "hoi"ely phrased,
i!!ensely pra"ti"al pie"es of bibli"al "ounsel& But perhaps it is not less "o!!endable
to take out and "hange the last $ord and !ake the senten"e read: 34et not the sun go
do$n upon your agitation&3 5or $hen the ner(ous toil and tur!oil of the day, $hether
"o!ing or begone, the fret and load of thoughts and e!otions, ha(e passed and settled
do$n, it be"o!es possible to sear"h $ithin for hidden pea"e& he !ore one relaxes, the
0ui"ker it is found&
6
The seated relaxation exercise: 7a8 9it upright on a "hair of "o!fortable height, $ith the
knees and legs together, if "o!fortable, or slightly apart if not& 4ean slightly for$ard,
keeping the spine straight, and allo$ the ar!s to hang do$n "o!pletely relaxed and full
length, like hea(y $eight&
7b8 4ift both hands (ery slo$ly at the elbo$s, al!ost to shoulder height taking "are not
to !o(e the shoulders& Next abruptly drop the!, pal!s upright, on the upper thighs&
:eep the feeling of li!pness and hea(iness in the ar!s, and the rest of the body utterly
relaxed&
7"8 Pi"ture an ethereal aura of pure, $hite, ele"trifying 4ight all around you& hen,
i!agine this !agnifi"ent 4ight is a"tually pulling you upright by the top of your head&
-ts "o!pelling for"e should, as a result, auto!ati"ally straighten the spine, and the ba"k
of your trunk, ne"k, and head for! a perfe"tly ere"t line& 5inally, i!agine the 4ight is
per(ading inside the $hole of your body&
his exer"ise should gi(e a feeling of physi"al refresh!ent and "o!plete physi"al
repose& -t is also useful $hen ha(ing to sit "ontinuously and listen to lengthy le"tures or
$hen relu"tantly trying to pra"tise !editation after a fatiguing day&
1;
Supine relaxation exercise: he ob/e"t of this exer"ise is to learn ho$ to relax the
physi"al body $ith "o!plete thoroughness, for e(en $hen !ost people think that they
ha(e relaxed the!sel(es, they un"ons"iously still keep so!e of their !us"les taut&
4ie do$n flat on the ba"k on a "ou"h, the ar!s parallel to the trunk, pal!s upright& his
supine position is !ore effe"ti(e for !ost persons, espe"ially the !iddle%aged, than the
sitting one for relaxation purposes, be"ause it redu"es the heart<s $ork in pu!ping
blood, and this i!poses less strain upon it& -n the sitting or e(en s0uatting yogi position,
the heart is for"ed to raise the blood up to a le(el higher than itself, $hereas this is not
re0uired $hen the body is lying flat on the ba"k&
his exer"ise is di(ided into fi(e se0uen"es to tense and relax ea"h different body%part
by turns&
7a8 Begin $ith the feet and t$ist the! fro! right to left, then ba"k to right, a fe$ ti!es&
9top abruptly after ea"h "o!plete t$ist and relax as !u"h as possible&
7b8 urn the legs and hips as far as you "an to the right and left a fe$ ti!es, stop
suddenly and relax the !us"les affe"ted "o!pletely&
7"8 $ist the head and ne"k a fe$ ti!es: first ba"k$ards, then to the right, then for$ard
and lastly to the left& -!!ediately after the last turn let the head fall li!ply for$ards as
if it $ere $eighted&
7d8 =(ery part of the body has been progressi(ely and perfe"tly relaxed in turn& No$ the
$hole body should be left in this li!p posture for t$o to fi(e !inutes&
7e8 >ouble up the fists loosely and pla"e the! on the upper "hest& ake a deep breath,
slowly and easily& )s you breathe in, gradually tense e(ery part of the body, fro! head
to feet, tightening up as !u"h as possible $ithout strain& *old this for as long as is
easily possible& hen gradually and slo$ly untense $hile expelling the breath& #hen
nor!al "ondition of the body is attained "ontinue to loosen up further free of all
tensions& Repeat three or four ti!es&
11
-n this exer"ise pay attention to the state of the knee !us"les& -f they are not relaxed,
then usually the entire length of the legs is not relaxed&
1'
he easily ex"itable person $ill benefit by the in%and%out breath%$at"hing exer"ise& his
is not only be"ause there is a dire"t "onne"tion bet$een breathing and "ons"iousness but
also be"ause the pra"ti"e "alls for patien"e and self%restraint&
13
Breathing exercise to remove fatigue: Repeat the 9upine Relaxation =xer"ise& hen
pra"tise deep breathing exer"ises for fi(e !inutes& Make the intake and the outflo$ of
the breath rhyth!i" and unlaboured& *old the thought that fresh energy is entering you
$ith ea"h inhalation&
1+
Breathing exercise to calm the mind: 7a8 Repeat 5atigue%Re!o(ing =xer"ise for t$o
!inutes&
7b8 Breathe in to the "ount of four se"onds? hold the breath for the "ount of t$o se"onds?
breathe out again to the "ount of four se"onds&
7"8 Con"entrate attention solely on the breathing pro"ess& -f this is done perfe"tly, all
other sub/e"ts $ill be kept out and the array of thoughts, $hi"h ordinarily run helter%
skelter through the !ind, $ill (anish& 4ater, $hen this exer"ise be"o!es effortless
through "onstant pra"ti"e, and there is less diffi"ulty in pre(enting the inter(ention of
outside thoughts, "on"entration on the breath%"ount !ay be dropped&
7d8 -!agine a li(ing aura of pure, $hite 4ight to be pouring into and through the body&
hink of -t as the blissful essen"e of Pea"e&
1,
Addenda: Con"ei(e this light as the healing po$er in physi"al Nature but as originating
in spiritual being& -t is pri!arily a spiritual for"e& -f and $hen it "o!es, and the
in(o"ation is su""essful, the signs $hereby $e !ay dete"t this in"lude a feeling of $ell%
being, a lifting of the $hole nature to$ard a !ore /oyful and less depressed !ood, and a
sense of in"reasing (itality&
1.
Recuperative mediation: 7a8 9it in the position used in the 9eated Relaxation =xer"ise&
7b8 Pi"ture and feel the li(ing, $hite 4ight flo$ing, like the blood, all through your
body and into your fingertips& hink of -t as the (ital essen"e of blood and ner(e%"ell
alike& >istribute its energy to e(ery part of the body& Next gi(e ea"h indi(idual organ a
re/u(enating treat!ent by bathing it in the $hite 4ight? begin at the botto! of the trunk
$ith the lo$est organ and pro"eed up$ards to the head&
7"8 @isualiAe and experien"e the radian"e of this 4ight as en(eloping you and dra$ing
you into -t& Bffer yourself $illingly to -ts Perfe"tion and Prote"tion& 9in"e 4ight is the
"losest $e "an "o!e to a"tually seeing the )bsolute, think of -t, here, as the Bne -nfinite
4ife%Po$er&
11
Exercise: =(ery hour, on the hour, stop $hate(er you are doing and assu!e the Corpse
hathayoga posture, lying on a "ou"h or a rug, for one to four !inutes& his redu"es a
high blood pressure&
12
Harmony meditation:
7a8 Repeat 9upine Relaxation =xer"ise&
7b8 ry to feel that the aura of 4ight has an a"tual substan"e $hi"h be"o!es part of you&
hen i!agine that you are !elting into -t and be"o!ing one $ith -t& Next, think of it as
being the pure essen"e of 4o(e, $hose "entre is the region of the heart&
7"8 #hen this 4o(e has been experien"ed as a sensation of heart%!elting happiness, let
it then extend out$ards to e!bra"e all the $orld&
his exer"ise should lea(e you $ith a feeling of being in har!ony $ith Nature, $ith the
uni(erse, and $ith all li(ing beings&
16
Cust as far!ed earth needs periodi" fallo$ seasons if it is to gi(e forth its best life, so
does the hu!an entity need these o""asional periods of "essation of all a"ti(ity if it also
is to gi(e its best& his is done for physi"al result in sleep but for spiritual result in
!editation&
';
#hat do -saiah<s lines !ean, 3hey that $ait upon the 4ord shall rene$ their strength,3
unless they !ean this entering into the silent pause of !editationD
'1
he "ontinually out%turned attitude of hu!anity, operating !ostly through the body<s
senses, leads to off%balan"e fun"tioning& he need%%espe"ially i!portant for health,
ner(es, !ind, and heart%%is to turn this tension ba"k$ard in the opposite dire"tion and
let it dissol(e there&
''
9o !any unne"essary !otions of the trunk $aste !us"le and ner(e for"e? so !u"h
useless fidgeting of the hands, dru!!ing of the fingers, and shaking of the feet i!poses
extra strain& 9u"h "onstant tension of the $hole !an dissipates the !ind<s attention and
depletes the body<s energy&
'3
ension of so!e kind "annot be a(oided, for all a"ti(ity, physi"al or !ental, "alls it
forth& -t be"o!es har!ful $hen it is not rightly balan"ed by relaxation, $hen it alone
rules the !an&
'+
5e$ kno$ this $onderful pa"ifi"ation of the entire being%%body, !ind, and feelings%%for
though so "lose to e(eryone<s hand, it is, through la"k of aspiration and training, out of
rea"h&
',
-t !ay ask a little "ourage fro! hi! to tune his !o(e!ents and a"ti(ities to the !ore
leisurely and less hasty te!po indi"ated by the inner (oi"e& 9o!e risk of loss !ay see!
to be that $ay& he risk is an illusory one& Nothing that is really $orth$hile and really
!eant for hi! $ill be able to !iss hi!& he rest does not !atter& he higher for"es
$hi"h he is beginning to in(oke $ill attend to his true $elfare as he attends to the!&
'.
Release fro! tension is the beginning of release fro! ego& o relax body, feeling, and
!ind is to prepare the $ay for su"h a desirable "onsu!!ation& he "urrent propaganda
and edu"ation of people in relaxation !ethods is to be $el"o!ed for this reason alone,
0uite apart fro! the reasons usually gi(en beyond $hi"h the propagandist<s (ision does
not usually extend& But to re!o(e tension is only a first step, not a final one&
'1
here is no doubt that the !an $ho has "o!pletely !astered relaxation "an let it pass
into !editation !ore easily and 0ui"kly than the !an $ho has not&
'2
he relaxation is not to be inert and languid but alert and ali(e&
'6
) $arning: >o not pra"tise relaxation or e(en !editation to the point of passing into a
tran"e state&
3;
=(en !etals like steel are found in the laboratory tests to suffer fro! fatigue $hen o(er%
used& *o$ !u"h !ore !ust the deli"ate ele!ents "o!posing the hu!an body suffer
fro! itD -f !etals need the rhyth! of rest, ho$ !u"h !ore do $eD he li(ing tissue of
the flesh sho$s its $onderful balan"e in the un"ons"ious a"tion of both diaphrag! and
heart !us"les, $here e(ery !o(e!ent is "ounterbalan"ed by a rest& -f Nature assigns
su"h an indispensable pla"e to the prin"iple of balan"e in the hu!an body, it is perfe"tly
logi"al to belie(e that she assigns it in the hu!an !ind too&
31
his kind of relaxation is not to be "onfused $ith !ere fla""idity or !ental stagnation&
-t is "reati(e and "ontributory to$ards his per!anent benefit&
3'
*o$ often ha(e business!en, $ho ha(e dri(en the!sel(es relentlessly, ensla(ed
the!sel(es to their $ork, been dri(en in turn to a bed of si"knessE -f they "ould read the
lesson, they $ould learn to relax and thus to balan"e their day !ore $isely& heir illness
is often, not less but !ore, an inner one& #ithout !ental therapy and spiritual "hange,
they $ould only be te!porarily relie(ed, not per!anently "ured&
33
9o!ething inside keeps hi! fro! being "aught and s$ept along by the $orld<s hasty
$ays, as he $as for!erly s$ept along& his "ontrolling brake substitutes, instead, a
regular deliberate slo$ness& =(en if e(ery task or affair or $alk no$ takes longer, as it
does, he kno$s that this leisurely rhyth! is ordained for hi!, and that in the end
nothing $orth$hile $ill be lost by being obedient to it&
3+
*e refuses to be for"ed by his "onte!poraries into their fe(erish a"ti(ity but insists on
retaining the dignity of an unharried pa"e& he body !ay be fugiti(e but his o$n
existen"e is eternal%%$hether (ie$ed as e!erging in other appearan"es on earth or as
pure ti!eless spirit&
3,
#hen the great liberation fro! his ego is attained, his entire physi"al organis! $ill
refle"t the experien"e& )ll its !us"ular tautness $ill (anish? hands, shoulders, ne"k,
fa"ial expression, and legs $ill relax spontaneously of their o$n a""ord as his !ind
relaxes& *e $ill be transfor!ed&
3.
-f used in "on/un"tion $ith the exer"ises e!bodied in philosophi" te"hni0ues, su"h rests
ha(e a "onstru"ti(e effe"t on the !oral nature and e(en a "urati(e one on the physi"al
body&
31
)ll of hi! has to relax%%ner(e and breath, li!b and !ind&
32
he period set aside for the purpose of sleeping at night or relaxing by day $ill best
a"hie(e this purpose if the body is stret"hed out so "o!pletely, so loosely, and so free
fro! !us"ular "ontra"tions that e(ery part of its ba"k, like a "at<s, tou"hes the bed<s
surfa"e&
36
-t is needful to bring oneself to abstain fro! all a"tions for a short ti!e daily, and to let
thinking and feeling slip little by little into "o!plete repose& )s the !o(e!ents of the
body are suspended and the $orkings of the !ind are redu"ed, the rest afforded both of
the! opens a $ay for the presen"e of intuition to be dete"ted, re"ogniAed, and
"onne"ted $ith& he ego begins to get out of the $ay, gi(ing $hat is behind it a "han"e
to re(eal itself and be heard&
+;
he first step is to se"ure enough !ental and e!otional rest ea"h day to gi(e the
intuition a "han"e to be felt and re"ogniAed& his is done by relaxing !entally and
re!aining ina"ti(e physi"ally for $hate(er period of ti!e the aspirant "an both !ake
a(ailable and endure& *e has really nothing to do ex"ept refrain fro! all those a"ti(ities
$hi"h keep his ego asserti(e& *e has only to get himself out of the way. his pra"ti"e
$ill not only restore depleted ner(e energies but also bring poise into the !ind&
+1
o let the $orld and its burdens go for at least half an hour e(ery day, $hilst relaxing
the !ind and body in the repose of !editation or in the aspiration of prayer, is
absolutely ne"essary to hi!& *e ought to realiAe this, for the benefit $ill be out of all
proportion to the ti!e spent&
+'
Relaxation exercise: -f he "hooses to sit in a "hair his feet should not be pressed hea(ily
on the floor but allo$ed to rest lightly& he pal!s of his hands should not suspend fro!
the ar!s but should be supported by his lap, $here they !ay rest on one another& *is
eyes should not be tightly "losed, but slo$ly and gently the lids "an be allo$ed to droop
until they shut&
+3
9tart relaxing the body fro! the top of the head, then nape of ne"k, then shoulders&
++
Relaxing exer"ises $hi"h in"lude lying flat on the ba"k should ha(e ar!s spread out
and head thro$n ba"k&
+,
he relaxed business!an lo"ks his proble!s a$ay $hen he lo"ks his desk e(ery
e(ening&
+.
hat is not true repose $here the !ind is rushing fro! thought to thought, e(en though
the body relaxes or sleeps&
+1
o relax is to free oneself fro! undesirable bodily attitudes and to drop undesirable
e!otional ones&
+2
-f the exer"ises gi(en in The Wisdom of the verself are too ad(an"ed for hi!, it is not
i!portant that he should do the!& -t $ill be enough to relax !entally and e!otionally
for a fe$ !inutes e(ery day, to go into the silen"e, to "ease fro! stri(ing and to pray
silently to his higher self for its gra"e&
+6
-n !ost people their thoughts are nor!ally "ir"ling around their personal affairs
in"luding their spiritual ones& o get a$ay fro! the! is one purpose of !editation&
,;
-n these groping efforts to find the 9tillness $ithin, he expresses a (ery !odern need%%
release fro! tension, freedo! fro! distra"tion, the need of letting go& )nd $hat is this
but a "onte!porary (ersion of the !ysti"<s aspiration to be"o!e absorbed in $hat the
pious "all FodD
,1
) useful exer"ise to indu"e relaxation in tense ner(ous persons is to "on"entrate on the
beating of the heart& -t is used as a !editation $hile sitting do$n or lying do$n&
,'
>uring this period he should try to separate hi!self !entally fro! his personal interests
and a"ti(ities&
,3
-n Capan, !o"so !eans the art of !editation, in the sense of resting the body and
e!ptying the !ind after, and in the !idst of, their persistent a"ti(ity& his !ay be
pra"tised for only fi(e !inutes before lun"h, as $ith the "hildren and adoles"ents of
so!e s"hools, or for long periods as $ith !onks&
,+
Many "o!plain that they feel too tired after a day<s $ork to sit do$n for the pra"ti"e&
But if they $ould only lie do$n, utterly flat on the ba"k, going li!p all o(er the body,
they !ight find that this exhaustion $ould a"tually help the e!ptying of their !ind,
"o!ing as a $el"o!e relief& )nd is not this result half the $ork in !editationD
,,
hat silen"e "an be instru"ti(e, that $e "an learn lofty truths $ithout a single phrase
being sounded out, is beyond ordinary "o!prehension%%"ertainly beyond the
"o!prehension of those $ho gabble together by the hour&
,.
5eeling utterly relaxed is the first sign that he has slipped out, ho$e(er briefly, fro! the
ego<s tyranny&
,1
Relaxation exercise: 9tand ere"t& Pla"e $eight on right foot& hen, keeping left leg
straight, raise left foot in front as high as it $ill go, slo$ly& 4o$er foot slo$ly& Repeat
exer"ise for right foot& hen raise ea"h hand, des"ribing ar" in front of body, until hand
is stret"hed at ar!<s length o(er head, slo$ly, first $ith left hand then $ith right& his
exer"ise relie(es body tensions&
,2
he leisureliness of the !ysti" is a thing to en(y, and e(en i!itate& *e does not hurry
through the streets as though a de(il $ere pursuing hi!? he does not s$allo$ his tea at a
single gulp and then rush off to so!e appoint!ent? he does not pull out his $at"h $ith
ner(ous, restless hands e(ery half hour or so& 9u"h physi"al relaxation is itself an
approa"h to spiritual pea"e, that pea"e $hi"h our $orld has all but lost and is no$
desperately sear"hing for through $ays and !eans that $ill ne(er lead to it&
,6
By be"o!ing !indful of the rise and fall of breath, by transferring "ons"iousness to the
respiratory fun"tion alone, thought be"o!es unified, "on"entrated, rested in a natural
easy !anner&
.;
he breath should be brought in $ith !easured attention, slo$ spiritual aspiration as the
ba"kground, until a pleasant high%0uality "al! is felt&
.1
#e in the #est do not kno$ enough of the effe"ti(e po$ers, the pra"ti"al "ontributions,
and the psy"hologi"al fun"tions of tran0uillity& *en"e $e do not gi(e it a proper (alue,
and do not usually try to "ulti(ate it syste!ati"ally, as it is $ell $orth "ulti(ating&
.'
here is a "orresponden"e bet$een the state of the !ind and the speed of one<s $alk& )
slo$, !easured, deliberate !anner of breath and !o(e!ent, a""o!panied by attenti(e,
deta"hed obser(ation of the thoughts and the steps, is a useful exer"ise&
.3
>o not interrupt those $onderful !o!ents, $hen all is still, by des"ending to tri(ial
doings, or e(en ne"essary ones& 4et the! $ait, let brain and body rest, let the $orld go,
and gi(e this fra"tion of ti!e to the i!eless&
.+
#hen relaxation is fully felt, physi"ally, !entally, ner(ously, !us"ularly, and
e!otionally, then the ego is released and the pra"tiser is !o!entarily free& But this $ill
not happen if he is stubbornly negati(e, if there is no belief in the higher self and hen"e
no $ish to trans"end the lesser one& Fi(e the faith, surrender, and get the gra"e&
.,
-t is $orth$hile gi(ing all his attention to any feelings $hi"h he !ay !eet unexpe"tedly
$ithin hi!self and $hi"h sho$ an unusual relaxation, a release fro! tenseness, a
freedo! fro! "are& hey are to be "aught on the $ing, not allo$ed to es"ape and pass
a$ay& hey are to be nurtured, "herished, and de(eloped& hey !ay be silent (oi"es
fro! the higher self dra$ing his attention to its o$n existen"e&
..
4et go of the thoughts $hi"h !ake so !u"h tur!oil in the head, so !u"h stress in the
ner(es, and en/oy the "al! of Mental Guiet& his is !ore easily said than done& 9o bring
in help%%fro! the body, fro! profound sayings, fro! the exer"ises of both 4ong and
9hort Paths, and fro! the re!e!bran"e of Fod&
.1
#hat happens during these relaxed !oodsD he fo"us of the "ons"ious !ind is
$ithdra$n fro! the flesh and the (ital "entres, lea(ing the un"ons"ious !ind in sole
so(ereignty o(er the!& #hat results fro! thisD he destru"tion of the body<s tissue is
repaired, the fatigue of its ner(ous and !us"ular syste!s is re!o(ed& he fuller the
relaxation, and the soul a"ti(ity $ithin, the fuller the re"uperation&
.2
-t is dis!ally hard to a""ept the $isdo! of letting go, to learn the art of doing $ithout&
.6
he best and fullest $ay of relaxation is to subside $ith head, ne"k, and spine flat on
the floor& Put, if needed, a "lean "o(ering underneath, su"h as a rug or sheet&
1;
-n this total 9tillness a !an !ay "o!e to realiAe his best possibilities, e(en if only for a
fe$ !inutes&
11
he ti!e !ay "o!e $hen he $ill truly lo(e this pra"ti"e, deri(ing une0ualled
satisfa"tion and profound "onsolation fro! it&
1'
*e "o!es to the point $here he is unable to let a single day pass $ithout this rene$al of
his spiritual energies&
13
-f he suffers fro! that kind of ner(ousness $hi"h sho$s itself in fidgets, he ought to
begin by repressing the! and by de"laring $ar on the!&
1+
he high tension of li(ing tends to refle"t itself in the high blood pressure of the body&
#e should be $at"hful of oursel(es and heed the first $arning signals&
1,
o be poised and relaxed is not to be petrified: it is a"ti(ity in repose, ready for use
$hene(er ne"essary&
1.
)ll tense "ontra"tions of the !us"les are unne"essary $hen he is sitting, resting, or
sleeping& -f sustained too long they !ay e(en be har!ful&
11
he pra"ti"e $ill benefit health, too, by in"reasing resistan"e and de"reasing
ner(ousness&
12
o "ast out tensions of body and !ind and keep relaxed is to keep free and open and
re"epti(e to the higher for"es%%and espe"ially to the intuiti(e ones&
16
o render the brain responsi(e to the spiritual for"es, a state of physi"al relaxation and
of !ental "al! !ust be indu"ed&
2;
3here is one for! of art $hi"h is superior to all other for!s%%the art of re!aining 0uiet
and silent& & & & )ll the arts ser(e a li!ited purpose and pro(ide only !o!entary /oy& But
the art of silen"e and the resultant pea"e ensure happiness& & & & hat all should
"ulti(ate&3Ht%%San"ara of #anchi, 16,2
21
Bn"e allured by the benefits of being free fro! tensions, so!e of the! $ill naturally
$ant to taste for the!sel(es the benefits of !ore ad(an"ed te"hni0ues, $hi"h lead to
truth&
2'
#hat a priAe to gain this tran0uillity of the !indE *o$ greatly one appre"iates its daily
presen"eE )ll e(ents pass and lea(e only !e!ories but this stays $ith !e, lo(ing and
blessing&
23
) sense of hu!our !ay help one $ho is on this 0uest& #hyD Be"ause it !ay relax hi!&
2+
-n that brief !o!ent of relaxed tension, he "o!es "loser to Fod&
2,
his "onstant $at"hing of the personal life and this un"easing aspiration to refor! it
"reate a tension that $ould be hard to bear if there $ere not Fra"e%gi(en brief releases
or !o!entary relaxations&
2.
-f so!e abstain fro! spee"h in order not to betray a se"ret, the !ysti" does so in order
to obtain a se"retE%%one $hi"h lies $ithin his o$n self&
21
=(ery sy!pto! of distress is a !essage to you, uttered in the body<s o$n language,
telling of a $rong you ha(e done or are doing& 4earn to interpret this language
a""urately and re!edy the $rong&
22
*o$ to relax is one depart!ent of bodily training, ho$ to energiAe is its opposite and
ne"essary "o!ple!ent&
26
=(en $here he is unable, like !ost persons, to relax the !ind freely, it is not so diffi"ult
to relax the !us"les of the body& he exer"ises are easy but !ust be pra"tised regularly&
6;
-t is a fa"t that o(era"ti(ity "reates tensions $hi"h "ontra"t (arious !us"les and that
ex"essi(e preo""upation "reates anxieties $hi"h ha(e the sa!e effe"t& his has be"o!e
so habitual $ith !ost !en and so un"ons"ious that they ha(e to be taught as little
"hildren ho$ to relax and the (alue of it&
61
-t is essential to lie as "o!pletely re"u!bent as possible& Make sure that the $hole of
the spine and not !erely a part of it tou"hes the floor, rug, or "ou"h "o(er&
6'
here is real te!porary relief fro! fears and phobias in a single relaxation treat!ent?
ho$ !u"h !ore if it is persistently gi(en e(ery dayD
63
*e rises fro! these sessions feeling in$ardly rene$ed and out$ardly rested&
6+
-f he $ere to !o(e his body leisurely, he $ould be able to !o(e his thoughts !ore
pea"efully&
The $ote%oo"s are "opyright I 162+%1626, he Paul Brunton Philosophi" 5oundation&