Esoteric Body And Pranayama

Question 1

The 3 main nadis

Answer 1

1. Ida Nadi
2. Pingala Nadi
3. Sushumna Nadi

Question 2

The 5 Koshas

Answer 2

1. Annamaya Kosha
2. Pranamaya Kosha
3. Manamaya Kosha
4. Vijnamaya Kosha
5. Anandamaya Kosha

Question 3

3 Dimensions of the Esoteric Body

Answer 3

1. Physical Dimension
2. Subtle Dimension
3. Causal Dimension

Question 4

The 5 Vayus (flow of prana)

Answer 4

1. Prana Vayu
2. Apana Vayu
3. Samana Vayu
4. Udana Vayu
5. Vyana Vayu

Question 5

The 7 Main Chakras (spinning energy centres)

Answer 5

1. Muladhara (Root Chakra)
2. Swadishtana (Sacral Chakra)
3. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra)
4. Anahata (Heart Chakra)
5. Vishuddhi (Throat Chakra)
6. Anja (3rd Eye Chakra)
7. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)

Question 6

Annamaya Kosha - English Translation

Answer 6

Sheath consisting of Food

Question 7

Pranamaya Kosha - English Translation

Answer 7

Sheath consisting of prana (vital/life force energy)

Question 8

Vijnanamaya Kosha - English Translation

Answer 8

Wisdom Sheath

Question 9

Anandamaya Kosha - English Translation

Answer 9

Bliss Body

*no direct translation of Ananda

Question 10

What are the Koshas?

Answer 10

~5 Sheaths that veil the light of our True Self
~ Series of energetic sheaths that encase the physical form and regulate the health, consciousness and awareness
~ Barrier from realising our true nature, preventing us from merging with Purusha

*the goal is not to get rid of the Koshas but to ALIGN them in order to gain oneness

Question 11

The 3 smaller Koshas within Annamaya Kosha

Answer 11

1. Sthula (Physical) - where one realises the taste and importance of food
2. Sukshma (Subtle) - where the effect of food is felt
3. Karana (Causal) - where the samskaras of food are preserved

Question 12

How do you access the Pranamaya Kosha?

Answer 12

1. Pranayama
2. Nourishment (food, proper sunlight, proper air, clean water, energetic healing modalities like Reiki)
3. Spiritual practices

*We radiate whatever state we have in our energetic sheath as it is our attitude that largely affects this kosha

Question 13

Why is it important to refine our Pranamaya Kosha?

Answer 13

• At this level consciousness mixes with ego
• When pranamaya kosha is spoilt, we can become terribly egotistical
• If balanced it supports self-realisation

Question 14

Manomaya Kosha - English Translation

Answer 14

The Mind Sheath

Question 15

In which kosha do the nadis and chakras reside?

Answer 15

Pranamaya Kosha - Energy Sheath

Question 16

In which kosha is the yogic concept of personality and ego?

Answer 16

Manomaya Kosha - Mind Sheath

Question 17

In which kosha is the duality between “I” and “you”?

Answer 17

Manomaya Kosha - Mind Sheath

Question 18

How does one gain mastery of Manomaya Kosha?

Answer 18

Let go of thought patterns that no longer serve us

Question 19

How do you nourish Manomaya Kosha?

Answer 19

1. Sensory Impressions
2. Sleep (able to organise the overload of sensory impressions received that day)
3. Partaking in activities that energise, stimulate and nurture you

Question 20

How do you refine Manomaya Kosha?

Answer 20

Mantras, chanting and meditation

*yoga nidra to transcend first two sheaths - allows the programming of the mind to be penetrated and mental patterns and impressions to be worked upon and (one day) released

Question 21

What occurs in the Manomaya Kosha?

Answer 21

• Processing of thoughts, emotions, instinctual consciousness and perception
• Thoughts and actions happen automatically (no conscious control)
• Mind creates constant judgements and assumptions based on our past impressions
• “Constant commentary” (causes suffering when we get caught up in it)

Question 22

Which three koshas form part of the subtle body?

Answer 22

2. Pranamaya Kosha
3. Manomaya Kosha
4. Vijnamaya Kosha

Question 23

True or False: Vijnamaya Kosha forms part of the subtle body?

Answer 23

TRUE

Question 24

What is the Vijnamaya Kosha composed of?

Answer 24

• The Intellect

- The 5 Sensory Organs

Question 25

Which Kosha can be simply put as "awareness"?

Answer 25

Vijnamaya Kosha

Question 26

What does the Vijnamaya Kosha encompass?

Answer 26

1. Intuition 2. Intellect 3. Will 4. Discernment 5. Determination

Question 27

What does the Vijnamaya Kosha allow us to do?

Answer 27

1. Observe and be witness of our own lives 2. Forgive, love, choose, learn, and evolve 3. Take full ownership of our lives instead of simply responding to stimuli 4. Allows us to take the bird's eye view, zoom out and develop insight into the eventualities of our choices in order to direct and align with a path that corresponds to our inner values

Question 28

What is the Vijnamaya Kosha responsible for?

Answer 28

All inner growth and personal development

Question 29

What three minds are linked in the Vijnamaya Kosha?

Answer 29

1. Conscious Mind 2. Individual Mind 3. Universal Mind

Question 30

Through which kosha does Universal Knowledge come to the conscious mind?

Answer 30

Vijnamaya Kosha ("psychic mind")

Question 31

In which Kosha do we begin to understand that separation and ego are illusions? (A deeper sense of oneness starts to arise)

Answer 31

Vijnamaya Kosha ("psychic mind")

Question 32

What happens when the Vijnamaya Kosha is neglected (when connection is lost)?

Answer 32

- We are left living a life of reactions - Run around on autopilot - We only see a small slice of a much larger truth

Question 33

How do we obtain Vijnamaya?

Answer 33

1. Asana 2. Pranayama 3. Meditation 4. NB: Yamas and Niyamas (practe self-study and contemplate spiritual truths)

Question 34

Which kosha is the subtlest of all bodies/sheaths?

Answer 34

Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body)

Question 35

In which body do you find the Anandamaya Kosha?

Answer 35

The causal body

Question 36

In which kosha do we experience oneness with all beings?

Answer 36

Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss Body)

Question 37

In which kosha is there perfect harmony between physical reality and spiritual bliss?

Answer 37

Anadamaya Kosha

Question 38

Which kosha/sheath is considered to be the truest divine self or the inner light?

Answer 38

Anadamaya Kosha

Question 39

How would one describe Bliss (as in Anandamaya Kosha)?

Answer 39

Steady state of being, no matter the circumstance

Question 40

What is the Anandamaya Kosha responsible for?

Answer 40

- Unconditional Love - Peace - Joy - Oneness - Complete Unity

Question 41

How do we connect with the Anandamaya Kosha?

Answer 41

We need to peel away the other sheaths: deep states of meditation and Dhyana

Question 42

Is Anandamaya Kosha the furthest we can go?

Answer 42

No - it is still a sheath. We need to peel it away to reach Atma (pure consciousness)

Question 43

What are the nadis?

Answer 43

Energy channels which carry prana

Question 44

How many nadis are there?

Answer 44

72 000 *These spring from the 3 primary nadis

Question 45

In terms of the nadis, what is the role of yoga?

Answer 45

1. Open and unblock the nadis | 2. Direct prana to Sushumna Nadi, enabling the Kundalini to rise, bringing about Moksha

Question 46

In the esoteric body, what could be described as "our energetic irrigation system"?

Answer 46

The Nadis *our job to flush these out

Question 47

What happens when the nadi system is blocked?

Answer 47

Our physical, emotional and mental health is affected

Question 48

Which two nadis are always fighting for dominance?

Answer 48

Ida and Pingala Nadis

Question 49

Which nadis does alternate nostril breathing stimulate?

Answer 49

Ida and Pingala Nadis

Question 50

What does "Ida" mean? (as in ida nadi)

Answer 50

Comfort

Question 51

What type of energy is Ida Nadi associated with?

Answer 51

Lunar energy

Question 52

Which nadi has feminine energy associated with a cooling effect?

Answer 52

Ida Nadi

Question 53

What are the 3 Qualities of Ida Nadi?

Answer 53

1. Realm of Sleep 2. Realm of Dreaming 3. Unseen aspects of the mind

Question 54

Which nadi is associated with yin?

Answer 54

Ida Nadi

Question 55

What is the pathway of the Ida Nadi?

Answer 55

- Left Testicle to - Left Nostril to - Third Eye (at pituitary gland)

Question 56

Which hemisphere of the brain does the Ida Nadi corresspond to?

Answer 56

Right Hemisphere

Question 57

What does the Ida Nadi control?

Answer 57

- All mental processes with its changeable feelings | - Parasympathetic Nervous System

Question 58

Which nadi controls the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 58

Ida Nadi

Question 59

Which nadi controls all mental processes (with its changeable feelings)?

Answer 59

Ida Nadi

Question 60

What 4 things happen when Ida Nadi becomes too strong or dominant?

Answer 60

1. Tiredness 2. Depression 3. Introversion 5. An inability to see things with a clear perspective

Question 61

What does "pingala" mean? (as in pingala nadi)

Answer 61

Tawny

Question 62

Which nadi is associated with solar energy?

Answer 62

Pingala Nadi

Question 63

Which nadi has masculine, heating energy?

Answer 63

Pingala Nadi

Question 64

What is the pathway of the Pingala Nadi?

Answer 64

- Right Testicle to - Right Nostril to - Third Eye

Question 65

Which nadi is associated with the left hemisphere of the brain?

Answer 65

Pingala Nadi

Question 66

What does the Pingala Nadi control?

Answer 66

- All vital processes | - Intellect

Question 67

2 Qualities of Pingala Nadi

Answer 67

1. Realm of growth | 2. Outwardly directed activity

Question 68

What 5 things happen when Pingala Nadi is overused?

Answer 68

1. Difficulty sleeping 2. Difficulty concentrating 3. Anxiety 4. Irritability 5. Impulsivity

Question 69

Which Nadi is Sattva?

Answer 69

Sushmna Nadi

Question 70

Which nadi is the path to enlightenment?

Answer 70

Sushumna Nadi

Question 71

What is the path of the Sushumna Nadi?

Answer 71

From the base chakra to the crown chakra

Question 72

What forms does the Sushumna Nadi encompass?

Answer 72

- Moon - Sun - Fire - Water *Although it itself is formless