The Relationship Between Breath and Thought

The Relationship Between Breath and Thought

Controlled, calm, breathing leads to calm, collected thinking. Clear thinking results in objective perception that leads to proper action. Repeated appropriate actions create a positive habit. Habits provide the foundation of our character that is expressed in our behaviour. Appropriate be-havior leads to increased magnetism that attracts positive circumstances into our lives (Fig. 14). We are also able to take a positive approach to challenging situations in which we already find ourselves. When we study the lines and signs of the hand in hast jyotish, we are actually observing the breath—whether it is calm, rapid, deep, or shallow—and its effects on our thought patterns.

Each breath in the physical body provides us with the opportunity to choose how we think and behave. Many people who have had a near-death experience recall meeting with departed loved ones in the astral plane. It is here that the breath is thought of with reverence, and is referred to as the sacred breath. In the astral world, it seems perception is made easier without the distraction of the physical senses. However, putting these ideal perceptions, thoughts and resolutions into practice can only occur while we are in physical form which is sustained only through our breath. This is where our evolution takes place.

Eastern texts pay special attention to the significance of our last breath. Our ingrained attitudes, behaviour patterns, and thoughts as we die influence the astral schooling we will attract when we leave this body. It is true that there are deathbed revelations. However, our thinking at our last breath is usually determined by the manner of our thinking throughout our life. We tend to die in much the same manner as we have lived. For example, Loretta had been a tyrant all her life. On her deathbed, the attending doctors said that she was seeking closure. Loretta asked to see her old friend, Marion. When she awoke to find Marion at her bedside, Loretta scolded her for having broken her favorite teapot ten years earlier. Closing her eyes, she then passed away. With her last breath, she expressed the anger that had defined her life.

One way to monitor our thoughts is to analyze our dreams. In the East, sleep is thought of as a mini-death because our senses temporarily switch off while we sleep. We are then free to experience a different state of awareness. Dreams provide a barometer of the state of our thoughts during our waking hours. For example, we may have noticed a group of people laughing together. We could have a nightmare in which we see them indulging in malicious gossip about us. This dream reflects our insecurity. We could just as easily have a dream in which we are part of the group sharing in the laughter. This dream would reflect our sense of security. Our dreams will let us know whether the state of our thoughts is positive or negative.

An even better way to monitor our thoughts is to be aware of them throughout the day. In particular, we need to distinguish between objective discernment, and personalized and subjective thinking. Similarly, we need to monitor our breathing to ensure that it is calm and deep. In this way we can make appropriate choices in our thinking and behaviour. Morning and evening meditation is an excellent means of developing balanced breathing and objective perception.