Reading Swami Budhananda's book I find several things that entice me to learn more. One of them has actually nothing to do with the book and comes from a reviewer at amazon who says that Buddhananda is a former physician and psychiatrist whom, tired of the shortcommings of western medicine, embarked on the yogic path. Granted there is no wiki page on this swami so I cannot corroborate that.
These are some of the things I liked about the book
1. - The interaction of the physical and the psychic part of the effects of Moola bandha:
"... It is not just the contractoin of the perineal body/cervix but also the "locking" contraction of the mooladhara chakra"Chakras are part of the "subtle" body, things that can only be seen with the "third eye".
"... It has a subtle yet powerful effect on the psychic body, acting as trigger for the awakening of mooladhara... on so doing... prepares one for spiritual awakening"2. - The list of physical benefits of practicing this, and other bandhas, among others:
- Harmonizes the endocrine system (responsible for the glands that regulate our system)
- lower respiration rate inducing calmness and relaxation
- Reduction in blood pressure
- slower heart rate
- Alpha brainwave production
- Toning of the digestive system
3. - The far reaching psychotherapeutic effects:
"... Moola Bandha is a mental purgative, releasing the subconscious and unconscious mind of suppressed anxieties and hidden mental blocks beyond the consciousness, yet causing difficulties in life"It seems then that moola bandha has a whole range of benefits beyond the promised land of inviting the kundalini energy to reach up and get us enlightened. Along the way, on the cleansing and purifying it helps to get us healthy and mentally clear.
I love this little book. It's so concise and well written. Speaks to yogic clarity of mind on the part of the writers! Or maybe I'm just flattering myslef that my yoga is improving my writing. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked it as well Liz, and yes, concise is the word
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