Prana

Prana (Sanskrit, m., प्राण, prāṇa, breath of life, breath of life ) means in Hinduism life, life force or vital energy. Prana is similar to Qi in ancient China and ki in Japan and the Tibetan Lung.

Prana in Yoga and Hinduism

A particularly important role is played by the concept of prana in yoga, but it is already in the Brahmanas and the Upanishads mention. In the Brahmanas is undertaken in continuation to the Upanishads, the attempt to draw a distinction between the visible and invisible elements of man. In contrast to the five mortal ingredients - which are hair, skin, flesh, bones and marrow there - the five components of the invisible people as thinking ( manas ), speech, breath ( prana), seeing and hearing are often referred to as immortal and components referred to. In this presentation the breath is intended as a central life force, and therefore just these five elements of life are also known as prana in the Brahmanas. In Raja yoga breathing exercises ( pranayama) are the merging of body and mind through breathing. However, Prana is more than "just " breath or air. In yoga is working with breathing and air as access to Prana, ie of vital energy and its manifestation in the body understood. According to the ideas of Yoga Prana circulates in the body through a system of channels (Nadi ).

In the Upanishads, the respiratory doctrine is closely related to the notion of the Atman ( soul). Prana pervades all life, but is not the Atman or the individual self. In the Kaushitaki Upanishad it is said:

Prana as a meal replacement

Since the turn of the millennium, the prana teaching is reinforced used in esoteric circles. Prana is called the subtle " light food " that can replace solid food should. One of the most important representatives of the movement of the so-called Pranismus is the controversial Australian Ellen Greve, who calls herself Jasmuheen. The light fasting but some deaths are blamed by starvation.