The Pancha Maha Bhutas: Air Element

Today we will continue our exploration and discussion on the subject of the pancha maha bhutas , and in specific we will cover the Air Element. Previous essays have been contemplations on Earth, Water, and Fire -- please click the correspondingly linked element to be re-directed -- and in this essay the focus is on the fourth element of Air.

Said to exist at the level of the heart chakra, known as anahata, the Air element or Wind (vayu in Sanskrit), refers to matter that is existing in its gaseous state. Earth element is matter in its solid state; Water = matter in its liquid state; and Fire = the catalyst causing the transition between states. We are speaking generally. The reminder here is that we are talking about universal elemental forces or principles and not merely "elements" we've learned about in chemistry class. These elements are more akin to "laws" of nature, in that everything in the manifest world occurs at one or more of these states.

(This may be review for some, if you've read the earlier material): As we've discussed, our bodies are made up of various combinations of the elements. Yes, our bodies are a very unique chemical mixture of base elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and minerals like gold, iron, sodium, etc. AND from a metaphysical and esoteric perspective, the optimal composition of our elemental structure results in an optimization in consciousness. This is not so simple as getting a hair-mineral analysis test and supplementing the correct vitamins. Moreso, optimizing our elemental balance is a process of tuning into the electromagnetic properties of each of the maha bhutas, the Great Elements, as related to their principle form. The yogis believed that this was accomplished via a process known as bhuta shuddhi, a technique discussed & revered throughout Tantric literature. In bhuta shuddhi, a yogi begins to become aware of the elemental forces at the core of their being and, internalizing one's awareness, withdraws their attention away from the manifest world and places their focus instead on the subtle energetic centers running along the central channel of the subtle body. Each of these subtle energetic centers, or chakras, is related to a corresponding element, along with a particular organ of perception. Muladhara at the tailbone/ coccyx is Earth, and is related to the sense of smell. Svadisthana at the sacrum is Water, the sense of taste. Manipura at the solar plexus is Fire, the sense of sight. Anahata at the heart is Air, the sense of touch. We've covered this much in our essays thus far, and to finish the chain: Vishuddha at the throat is Space and is related to the sense of hearing/ sound. Ajna at the 3rd eye is mind/consciousness (beyond the 5 elements) and is related to the sense of light/consciousness. Sahashrara at the crown is the doorway to pure consciousness and is related to the re-absorption of the individual soul (jivatman) into the Universal Soul (paramatman).

The processes of Yoga are alchemical processes driven by the re-integration and unification of any fragmented parts of our being and psyche. Tantra, as a methodology, is a spiritual science that deals with the ultimate expansion of the personality structure. Yoga is moreso describing what happens within the Tantric framework. The two are inseparable. We can see yoga as the result of the practice, and Tantra as the worldview, philosophy and methodology which supports the practice.

This is all review as a way to ensure we are on the same page before we go any further. I am speaking quite generally so hopefully it is helpful.

When one seeks to align themselves with higher principles, or so-called Natural Laws, what one is really doing is becoming aware of their place in the cosmos and attempting to come into alignment with the governing forces of reality. This is a humbling process, and it requires a certain release of the egoic identity that so convincingly has us believe that "I am the center of the Universe!". A technique like bhuta shuddhi will have us start to examine and look at the deeper structures that make up our lives, and in specific the energetic principles underlying the reality in which we move, and breathe, and do our human things. Tantric alchemy deals with the investigation, contemplation and experimentation upon the "spiritual substance(s)" that we are made of. The goal of this is a life where one experiences themselves as totally integrated within themselves and with their environment; ultimately, freedom.

However, the yogis knew that coming into this level of alignment wasn't just a one-step process. In their experimentation they concluded that there were steps to take which allowed one to absorb the energy that was usually emitted at a particular frequency and, in this process of absorption, could sublimate the energy upward to a higher vibration. This loosely describes what is happening with bhuta shuddhi, where we work on and deal with the energies at each of the levels of the subtle body. So, as an example, we begin with Earth and in the process of becoming thoroughly aware of this element and the place in the spine where it is most dominant (tailbone/coccyx), we gradually withdrawal our attention away from everything else until all that remains is the essence of the thing (Earth). When all that is left is the essence of the thing, we have sufficiently purified our attention, in that no other qualities or vrttis (fluctuating thought patterns) are present -- our focus is solely on the object of meditation (in this case, the "Earth Element")... If we are completely & totally aware of this elemental force in the body, then we are vibrating in unison with the universal force of this element which is everywhere in the cosmos. You might liken this process to something similar to "tuning" an instrument. If my string is out of tune, but I'm in a room full of tuned instruments, as I tune my string whilst plucking it, when it comes into tune or alignment, I can sense the other strings vibrating in resonance and responsiveness to my individual string. Same same with the elements and their corresponding chakras.

Remember that our chakras are like receivers or transmitters of energy. They exist along the central channel in the subtle body and are major plexuses of the criss-crossing energetic pathways in the body. What most people don't realize is that chakras can be more accurately understood as processes as opposed to places. They become apparent only when we turn our attention to the energy flowing through that area or region. We are dealing with the subtleties of consciousness as it descends from the unmanifest into the manifest. This is what is explained in Samkhya metaphysics, which is the underlying framework behind Tantra & Yoga. The question the yogis were asking (and were developing experiments to understand) is this: "how does light/ energy/ consciousness become form?" The step-by-step gradual descent of the Infinite Source into the world of appearance is what they studied, because in so doing, these studies helped them to understand the reversal of this energy back to its Source.

One definition of Yoga that I really love is: "yoga is the process of differentiating everything that is Soul versus everything that is NOT soul." -- Chandor Remete

We are dealing with processes of experimentation, observation, and practice which we might consider to be spiritual science. This what Tantra is all about: firstly, the View that the Universe is alive and intelligent and that we are a microcosm of the macrocosm; secondly, that we can perform specific activities to bring ourselves into alignment with the cosmos. The result? Expansion. Freedom. Joy beyond all reason.

Well, I've said a lot so far and I haven't even gotten specifically into the AIR element, yet! Let's segue.

The Air element, existing at the heart anahata chakra, corresponding the sense of touch, resonates with the bija mantra of YAM. We are dealing with the region of the chest, which includes of course the heart but also the lungs, where breath comes in and is distributed throughout the body via oxygen in the blood (pumped via the heart).

The quality of the AIR element is movement and spontaneity. Gaseous substances expand to take up the space and fill the container, wherever they are. The molecules are moving and bouncing between each other faster than when they are in the stasis of their solid form (as the Earth Element). This state of matter is more difficult to control for the fact that it is more subtle. However, some yogis believed that it is actually this element of Air that is the most directly influenceable via the breath, and therefore, theoretically, the easiest to balance in our system. Regulation of the breath, as we know, can influence every system of the body. An easy and steady respiration slows the heart rate, softens tension in the body, allows us to sink down and into ourselves, brings the parasympathetic nervous system online, relaxes the brain and mind, and enhances subconscious activities like digestion, metabolism, and immune function. Gaining control over the breath brings control over the mind. The yogis believed that prana is the underlying energetic component of the breath, and that by regulating one's breath one could regulate the flow of prana through their system. When the prana is regulated, there is an optimized circulation of life-force energy and all systems of the body are receiving light. When the prana is dis-regulated, chances are the breath and the mind are disturbed, and parts of the body remain in darkness, as the light is not circulating. Gaining control over the breath was seen as an essential part of the yogic path, as breath-control leads to balance and control over the autonomic systems of the body (the unconscious and subconscious parts of ourselves that happen on autopilot). Since we all contain animalistic tendencies, and many of these tendencies are driven by instinctual, primal energies existing very deep in our psyche, the responsibility may arise to develop control over and mastery over our compulsive, lower nature. As we work through the chakras (and elements), this is what we are attempting to do. When it comes to the level of the Heart, we have sublimated and transcended the desires of the lower mind, existent in the lower 3 chakras, and now we are entering into the territory of the so-called "higher mind" -- a place where the individualistic self is no longer the dominant force but where a sort of "we-centric" space opens up.

Here at the heart, the energy shifts from being focused solely on the experiences within the body to now being aware of the movement and flow around the body. Sense of touch deals with our interconnection and intimacy with the world around us. Even feeling the clothing touching one's skin or the air moving into the nostrils, we are becoming intimately connected to what is beyond our skin. Smell, taste and to a degree sight have much more to do with survival in terms of what these senses provide to us, organismically speaking, and now with touch we get into something more intimate. Can you feel what we are alluding to here?

Integration and balance of the air element results in balance of the mind. Air is connected to the vata dosha in Ayurveda, which is the governing principle in the body related to movement. Thoughts and mindstuff occur at this level, whereas before this level we are dealing mostly with raw sensation, feelings/ emotions, and raw energetics. Keep in mind that we have layers of perception such as sensing, feeling, thinking, intuiting. Each of these corresponds to a different frequency of light. In the same way, we have the organs of perception: smelling, tasting, seeing, touching, and hearing. Dealing with air at the level of the anahata chakra helps us deal with subtler realms of perception. Raw sensation is more dense, so to speak, than, say, the thoughts that might arise related to the sensation. What we want to do is learn how to bring all of these levels into alignment and balance with each other. Then, the energies flow in their optimum place.

Some might suggest that backward bending asanas, such as bow pose or cobra, help to enhance the flow of air in the body, and to an extent I would agree. This is because any form of spinal extension (where the spine opens up and away from the base) causes an opening in the thoracic cavity which results in an increase to the inhalation, allowing MORE air into the lungs. The exhalation is compressed and made more difficult in spinal extension. In the flip side, spinal flexion tends to lead to compression of the thoracic area and makes it more difficult to breathe deeply IN; however, the exhalation is easier. We'd like to pay attention to how these activities stimulate to the prana and how it is circulating. Spinal extension (i.e. back bending) opens the pathway UP for the prana to expand and the inhale to lengthen; spinal flexion (i.e. forward folding) opens the pathway DOWN for the prana to descend and the exhale to lengthen. Each of these activities and their corresponding affect has a particular result on the energetics of the body. We must observe this and practice this to understand what this might mean.

Beyond these simple examples, there is the regulation of the breathing overall that we must be attentive of. This is not so simple, in that we must first become aware of what is causing the disturbance in the first place . If, for example, we are having trouble taking a full inhalation, maybe back-bending could help. However it may be the case that backward bending exacerbates and already scattered Air Element and that what is really needed is a nice, long, smooth exhalation. This is why we work from the base up in our yogic sadhana -- we have to address all layers of the being, gradually, step-by-step, to reveal to ourselves where the energy is blocked and what to do about it. Eventually, the yogi does only what is needed to bring themselves into alignment -- not more, not less. This is known as brahmacharya -- "the right use of energy".

All these layers and levels of Tantric alchemy are revealed on the job, in the spiritual laboratory. The theoretical instruction here can serve to inspire and bring attention where it is needed, but the will of the individual and one's curiosity are what brings results. After all, everything I share is my interpretation of the clues left by the masters and sages of these wisdom sciences. I can share what are my own conclusions, and how I might suggest to arrange the "experiment", but direct experience is the ultimate teacher.

I hope you are enjoying these essays and I look forward to diving into the Space Element next....

-GI