BREATHING, HEALTH AND COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS
Teruhiko Kuroda
PSYCHOLOGIA 1990 DOI: 10.2117/psysoc.1990.139 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that abdominal breathing, especially with prolonged expiration and slow, deep breathing, aids psychosomatic adjustment and health, and that breathing methods pressing strongly on the lower abdomen during expiration may help cure disease. Contends that breath suspension is closely related to the development of "cosmic consciousness" in Yoga, Sendo, and Zen, and that breathing draws in a universal vital force (prana or ch'i). |
Abstract
Abdominal rather than chest breathing is the preferred breathing technique for psychosomatic adjustment and development of cosmic consciousness.One of the features of abdominal breathing in the East is that the length of expiration is longer than that of inspiration.Another feature of abdominal breathing is that breathing is slow and deep.As breathing skill and meditation abilities increase, breathing becomes fainter and is gradually suspended.Abdominal breathing aids psychosomatic adjustment and increases mental and physical health.In particular, breathing methods exerting strong pressure on the lower abdomen in expiration can help in the cure of diseases and improvement of health.The essence of breathing is thought of as taking into one's body not just air but the vital force of the universe; prana in Yoga or ch'i in Sendo.There is a close relationship between breath suspension and the development of cosmic consciousness in Yoga, Sendo and Zen.