What is Vasi yoga?

Vasi yoga is the knack of breathing that allows one to simply transcend mind and
in the process burn karma and vasanas (tendencies). Once karma and vasanas are
burnt the soul is not different from the eternal truth, Brahmam.

Question: Are Vasi yoga and Siddha yoga one and the same?

Answer: Siddha yoga, Gathagatham, Kriya yoga are some of the other names given
to Vasi yogam by different teachers. By whatever name it is known, the system is
one and the same with some frills here and there at times. The method and practice
is the same ultimately. It is about the secret of inner breath.

Question: Who found this system first and taught this?

Answer: It is said, LORD KRISHNA taught VASI YOGA. All Siddhas follow this
system only.

Question: Is it ‘pranayama’?

Answer: No! It is not the regular pranayama. In Hatayoga , Pranayama is

associated with external breathing and methods of controlling it. Vasi is the ‘inner
breath’ DISTINCT from the normal inhalation and exhalation of air through the
nostrils. The knowledge and control of the inner breath is vasi yoga.

Question: Can you explain how I should begin practicing it?

Answer: No! It cannot be imparted online nor can it be learnt by reading a book.
The aspirant should learn it in the physical presence of the teacher.

Question: Can you please explain a little more about beginning the process?

Answer: The ‘Gathi’ or the inner breath which is in a dormant state in all
unenlightened human beings will be activated by the Sathguru through the teacher.
The disciple is made aware of the inner breath and its path. There begins the
journey of the disciple towards God. The Master will be with the aspirant until
he/she reaches his/her final goal.
The Yogic Method of the Siddhas
The essential approach of Siddhas was to get as directly as possible to the root
cause of life and it’s forces. They understood that the goal of spiritual perfection
involved a sound body and clear mind and went about creating the conditions for
it. Siddhas believed that maximizing the life span of the body was an obviously
efficient way to complete one’s desires in a single journey as opposed to returning
numerous times in various bodies to fulfill a few remaining desires. Hence a
healthful life was the very first element that was emphasized. Siddhas are famous
for being the original medicine men who studied herbs and natural cures to manage
health and metabolism through diet, breathing and posture. Bogar, the siddha, is
believed to have invented acupuncture and carried it across to China. There are
numerous lesser known Siddhas who are responsible for the everyday benefits we
get from various important life giving discoveries.

The essence of Vasi yoga is that the central nervous system is run by fine currents
that are governed by the movement of the subtle breath. The voluntary nervous
system gets rested during sleep while the involuntary nervous system keeps
working around the clock with no rest, as it runs the various organs of the body
even when we sleep. The erosion of the involuntary nervous system eventually
leads to the demise of the body. Extending the life of the involuntary nervous
system is accomplished by the energy infusion in the subtle breathing method of
Vasi yoga. ( refer Sri Yukteswar’s treatise called ‘Holy Science’). This subtle
breathing also opens up dormant endocrine glands in the brain that provide critical
natural hormones and secretions to help us live in greater health and fuller
awareness of reality, perceptions and details. Modern medicine is still exploring
the mysteries of memory, sleep and consciousness that the Siddhas penetrated
centuries ago. An example is the finding a few years ago that a hormone called
Melatonin secreted from the tiny Pineal gland situated between the two
hemispheres of the brain, regulates sleep and body rhythms.

The Experience of Siddhas

Yogic practice - combined with a simple life, an uncluttered mind with few desires,
high ideals and associating with those of refined interests and devotional pursuits -
brings about the transformation of everyday affairs into personal joy and
meaningful collective development. Siddhas were not religious in the traditional
sense as they embraced paths and masters across religions. Their emphasis was on
a direct experience of the divine and love of the divine mother whose
manifestations we are. As the Dalai lama said, by using common sense, common
experience and scientific study we can go much further in bringing a higher
awareness than by organized religious activity.

In my experience, on this path as a disciple of a great master, the essential

experience of life is one of joy, wonder and affinity for reality. If we give up our
conditioning and expectations and keep our awareness open and receptive we find
that life is working itself out in a majestic and oftentimes beautiful way. It may not
fit our own design, preconceived notions or any particular logic but the acceptance
of life as it is, is the first step to being in harmony. Life is essentially happening as
a fresh new event each moment filled with possibility if we are open to the ever
pristine reality in the now, without shutting it off with echoes of previous
experience and recycled thoughts and ideas. Thus a clear mind means exactly what
it says - to be clear of any thoughts unless you are required to reflect for a focused
reason - and to be ready to absorb what is happening around us fully and
attentively. This open attentive state of affinity may also be called love.