Acharya Mahaprajna
The practice of breathing of vital energy is very important for human existence. Since health is closely related to the equilibrium of the vital energy it is important to maintain the vital energy in the proper state.
How does the vital energy get attracted? In which part of the body does the vital energy get accumulated? From where does the vital energy get distributed? From where are all the processes of the vital energy directed? It is necessary to have independent and detailed discussion about these problems.
As a matter of fact, the vital energy pervades the entire universe. The Jain philosophy has accepted eight varganas (grouping of physical particles). There are eight aggregates of pudgala that cover the entire cosmos. One of those varganas is called taijas vargana (Luminous vargana). We do not have to go anywhere outside. There is a circle of the vital energy all around us. The constituents of the vital energy are spread all over. If we know how to take them in the right manner, if we know how to accumulate the vital energy, then we can accumulate the vital energy in abundance and also put it to use. There are a large number of diseases resulting in the imbalance or obstruction of the vital energy. Paralysis is attributed to many causes, but its most important cause is that where the prana becomes less active, that particular part of the body would be inactive. The organ in which there is less transmission of the vital energy is bound to have an attack of paralysis. If the vital energy is transmitted properly no organ is likely to become inactive. We take in oxygen through the nerves or the blood. Blood takes oxygen to the energy cells of the body, due to which our elan vital functions properly and our health is maintained.
