According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, any discussion of selfknowledge (jnana) in yogic circles other than those of the Advaita Vedantins is simply arrogant prattle if it is not accompanied with prana induction into the central nadi (sushumna).
- The mind, which is fueled by the two outside nadis, Ida and Pingala, is suspended by this nadi.
- When the mind is active, the prana is stored in these two solar and lunar nadis.
- The mind is suspended and prana is in sushumna when the yogi achieves the mystical condition.
- In his ]ogapradipyaka, Jayatarama states that the introduction of prana into sushumna is solely dependent on the practice of kumbhaka.
We must remember that, in contrast to Western civilization, which has spent two millennia primarily focused on technology and how to dominate the outside world, Indians have evolved into virtual astronauts of the inner world, the so called inner cosmos reflecting the outer.
- This meant that in India, someone who could genuinely reach mystical states was held in the same regard as, say, Columbus, Leibniz, Newton, or Einstein in the West.
- There were, however, many who were not genuine craftsmen of prana, but blowers of hot air who participated in the above-mentioned arrogant prattle, in between those true inner astronauts who were authentic yoga practitioners and experienced such experiences.
- The wheat was separated from the chaff using Jayatarama's criteria.
Only those who had mastered pranayama and therefore kumbhaka were allowed to speak about the upper limbs and their associated mystical experiences inside the yoga system.
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