In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores Prana, the subtle life force that supports all living beings and connects consciousness with the expression of life.
As far as I can tell, the fundamental difference between modern science and Indian science is that modern science generally understands the universe as beginning from a singularity, which then became matter and energy, with consciousness emerging later through some unknown process. Indian science, on the other hand, suggests that consciousness was primary, and that the event from which the universe emerged was a process in which consciousness gradually became more objectified and more dense, eventually expressing itself as forms such as matter.
During the evolution of the universe into manifested reality, the five great elements were created. One of these is the air element, and all five elements contain and express the original consciousness in different ways. The air element expresses that consciousness through what Sanskrit calls Prana. The Chinese call it Qi, the Japanese call it Ki, and other traditional cultures have had their own names for this principle of life.
Every traditional society that deeply observed nature recognized a force that drives life: the force that encourages beings to manifest, remain alive, grow, and reproduce. It is the same force that allows a single fertilized cell to develop into a complex living being composed of countless cells.
Prana is what we are surrounded by and what we are constantly receiving. We take it in through breathing, through food, and through our interaction with the world. We also project Prana outward through our attention and through the qualities we express. Prana is not oxygen, although people have sometimes tried to compare the two. It is something much subtler than the physical components of the universe, but it directs and supports the expression of life.
Every time we breathe, we take in Prana. Every time we eat, we take in Prana. Every time we direct the attention of our senses toward something, we send Prana in that direction because wherever attention goes, Prana goes.
In the modern world, our attention is constantly being captured by devices, news, entertainment, and countless other things competing for our awareness. Each time our attention is drawn outward, a portion of our Prana follows it. It is therefore not surprising that many people experience their Prana as scattered in many different directions.
This scattered movement is one reason Vata becomes aggravated. Although both Prana and Vata come from the air element, they are very different. Prana is focused, organized, and nourishing. It circulates properly, reaches deeply into the tissues, and supports a feeling of health, stability, and vitality. Vata, by contrast, moves irregularly and superficially. It lacks coherence and can leave the body feeling depleted, empty, and weakened.
It is especially important to cultivate and circulate Prana within the body because every cell depends upon it. This is true not only for human cells but also for the many organisms that make up our microbiome, which we are increasingly recognizing as important participants in our health and evolution.
Prana is the force that allows these beings to function. It is the consciousness that guides them and the vitality that allows them to perform their roles. Just as we look toward Supreme Reality for guidance, these smaller living beings depend upon Prana.
When we do not provide the proper conditions for Prana to circulate, these parts of ourselves cannot properly support us. We need our many individual cells and organisms to work together so that we can function as a healthy individual being.
Therefore, pay attention to your Prana. Cultivate it, circulate it, and give it the respect it deserves.