You’ve probably come across the word “Prana” before, in the context of yoga or alternative medicine. It’s a Sanskrit term meaning “life energy.” Prā means forth, while an means to breathe, or live, so in English, it can be translated to mean “the breath of life.”

According to ancient Indian literature, there is only one source of Life – single Consciousness. Prana is the energy of the One, from which life begins. Therefore Prana is being used to address the life-energy in every being. There are numerous references to Prana in the esoteric writings, where it is referred to as the totality of life in all of creation and creatures.

Prana can be understood as the life energy which gives life to the body and keeps it healthy and alive. The equivalent of Prana in the Hebrew language is ruah, referring to the “breath of life” which was breathed into the nostrils of Adam in the beginning of Creation. The same concept is found in Persian philosophy wherein God breathed into the nostrils of Man the Breath of Life.

Prana has numerous references and synonyms in different cultures. In Chinese tradition, Prana is called “chi,” while in Japanese it is known as “ki.” In Greek Prana is equivalent to “Pneuma” and in Polynesian it is “manna.” All of these refer to the same concept.

According to certain authors, it can be best described as “Vitality,”, which is the integrating energy that co-ordinates the physical molecules, cells, etc and holds them together as a definite organism. (Powell, 1882, p. 10)

Master Choa Kok Sui, the founder of Pranic Healing said, “Prana is that life energy which nourishes the whole body so that it could, together with its different organs, function properly and normally. Without energy the body would die.”

Effectively, Prana is the life energy which holds the body and its various components of the Energy Body together. Without the Energy Body powered by Prana, there would be no physical body as an integrated entity; only a collection of cells independent from one another.

Numerous studies have been made to detect, see and measure this life energy with the aid of scientific apparatus and instruments. However, seeing Prana with the naked eyes is possible through certain simple practices.

There are basically three major sources of Prana: the Sun, the Air and the Ground.

Sun Prana, as the name suggests, originates from the Sun and is absorbed by the body by exposure to sunlight. While not being exposed to Sun Prana leads to numerous deficiencies and weaknesses, overexposure can also cause damage, in some cases leading to skin cancer.

Air Prana, as the name suggests, is pervasive in the air and is absorbed by the energy centers or chakras of the energy body such as the Spleen chakra. The Ground Prana from Earth is unconsciously and automatically absorbed by the soles of the feet. Therefore walking barefoot on natural soil increases the amount of Ground Prana absorbed by the body and promotes good health.

There are also many other secondary sources of Prana like water, robust trees, and fresh food. Fresh food contains more prana than processed or stale food.

While the physical body automatically absorbs Prana, one can train themselves to consciously draw in Prana from the Air, Ground or Sun to increase the life energy in the body. Moderation is important. Just as too little Prana will lead to exhaustion, depletion and ultimately death, too much Prana will create congestion. This mainly happens if too much energy combines with diseased or dirty energy.

Prana can be transferred from one person to another person in what is commonly understood as the act of healing. Just as light can cause chemical reactions, which is the basis of photography, Prana increases the chemical reactions of the body. This manifests as healing and the practical application of this principle is one of the core concepts in the modality of Pranic Healing.

 

References

  • Master Choa Kok Sui (2009). The Chakras and Their Functions. Institute for Inner Studies Publishing Foundation.
  • Max Muller, F. (2004). The Upanishads Part 1: Sacred Books Of The East Part One. Kessinger Publishing.
  • Max Muller, F. (1962). The Upanishads, Part 2. Courier Dover Publications.
  • Powell, A. E. (1882). The Etheric Body.
  • Master Choa Kok Sui (2006). Miracles Through Pranic Healing: Practical Manual on Energy Healing. Philippines: Institute for Inner Studies Publishing Foundation.
  • Witz, K. G. (1998). The Supreme Wisdom of the Upaniṣads: an Introduction. Motilal Banarsidass Publication.