Have you ever wondered whether the natural flow of your breath has a deeper connection with the way you approach your daily activities?
We breathe continuously throughout our lives, yet we rarely notice that the flow of air through our two nostrils is not always equal. At certain times, breathing feels easier through the right nostril, while at other times, the left nostril becomes more open. Sometimes, the airflow may feel relatively balanced through both nostrils. This natural phenomenon forms an important part of the traditional understanding of Sharayoga. According to the traditional teachings of Sharayoga, the changing flow of breath is understood through two important concepts: Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi. These concepts are associated with different types of activities and offer a distinctive perspective on how we approach our material, personal, and spiritual lives. But what if understanding the flow of breath could help us explore not only when to act, but also when to gather, preserve, and assimilate what we need?
Let's explore the significance of Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi in Sharayoga and their traditional applications in everyday life.
What Are Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi?
In Sharayoga, the flow of breath through the right and left nostrils is understood through the concepts of Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi. Surya Nadi, associated with the right nostril, is traditionally connected with activity, action, and the accomplishment of intended tasks. Chandra Nadi, associated with the left nostril, is traditionally connected with receiving, gathering, preserving, and assimilating.These two concepts represent different aspects of our activities and experiences. Sometimes, we need to act, implement a decision, or accomplish a particular objective. At other times, we need to acquire knowledge, gather resources, preserve what we have gained, or absorb new experiences. In the traditional framework of Sharayoga, understanding these distinctions forms part of learning how the natural flow of breath is applied to different activities in life.
The Natural Rhythm of the Breath
Have you noticed that one nostril often seems more open than the other, even when you are breathing normally?
This changing pattern is known as the nasal cycle. In many people, the relative airflow through the two nostrils changes over time, often over a period of a few hours. The duration varies from person to person and may be influenced by factors such as body position, physical activity, and the condition of the nasal passages. In the traditional understanding of Sharayoga, the changing flow of breath is observed in relation to Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi. The teachings also consider the relationship between the flow of breath, the time of day, and traditional understandings of lunar changes. The important distinction is that the natural nasal cycle is a physiological phenomenon, while the interpretation of its relationship with daily activities and lunar patterns belongs to the traditional Sharayoga framework. A fixed two-hour interval should not be assumed for everyone. Sharayoga teaches the observation and understanding of these patterns as part of a broader traditional system. Under the guidance of a qualified teacher, students learn how the flow of breath is interpreted and applied within this discipline. The purpose is not merely to observe which nostril is more open, but to understand the significance attributed to that flow within the traditional practice.
Surya Nadi: The Time for Action
Surya Nadi is traditionally associated with action, accomplishment, and activities directed towards achieving a desired outcome. Think about the things you want to accomplish in your life. You may have a responsibility to fulfil, a business decision to implement, a task to complete, or a personal goal that requires consistent effort. Having an intention is only the beginning. Turning that intention into action is another process. Within the traditional teachings of Sharayoga, Surya Nadi is associated with activities that involve taking action and bringing intended results into reality.
1. Accomplishing Intended Tasks
We often make plans but struggle to put them into action. Whether it involves completing an assignment, managing a project, or fulfilling an important responsibility, accomplishing a task requires attention, effort, and practical action. The traditional association of Surya Nadi with action provides a framework for understanding activities directed towards completion and achievement.
2. Financial and Business Activities
Our material lives involve many activities related to earning, conducting business, making transactions, and working towards financial goals. Within the traditional framework of Sharayoga, Surya Nadi is associated with certain activities directed towards accomplishment, including activities connected with material progress. These may include implementing a business plan, carrying out a planned transaction, or taking practical steps towards an intended objective. The broader idea is that material life involves taking action to achieve what we seek. Of course, financial decisions should always be guided by sound judgement, careful planning, and an understanding of the circumstances involved.
3. Putting Plans into Practice
Planning and execution are two different stages of any undertaking. We may spend time thinking about an idea, gathering information, and preparing a strategy. Eventually, however, we must take the necessary steps to put that plan into practice. The traditional association of Surya Nadi with action highlights this movement from intention towards implementation.
4. Fulfilling Responsibilities
Daily life presents us with responsibilities that require initiative and consistent effort. From professional commitments to household activities, many tasks demand that we move beyond thinking and begin doing. Understanding the distinction between intention and action helps us appreciate why execution is an essential part of accomplishing our goals.
Chandra Nadi: The Time for Gathering and Preservation
While Surya Nadi is traditionally associated with action, Chandra Nadi is associated with gathering, receiving, preserving, and assimilating. Life is not only about doing things and achieving immediate results. It is also about acquiring what we need, collecting knowledge, building resources, and retaining what is valuable. Before we can make effective use of many things, we must first gather them. Within the traditional framework of Sharayoga, Chandra Nadi is associated with this process of accumulation.
1. Learning and Acquiring Knowledge
Learning is more than simply reading a book or listening to someone speak. It involves receiving information, understanding new concepts, connecting ideas, and gradually incorporating what we learn into our knowledge. When studying a subject, for example, we collect information, make notes, understand concepts, and preserve important points for future reference. The traditional association of Chandra Nadi with gathering and assimilation offers a way to understand this process of acquiring and retaining knowledge.
2. Collecting and Preserving Information
Throughout our lives, we encounter information that may be useful now or in the future. We save documents, maintain records, collect references, organise notes, and preserve important information. These activities focus on gathering and retaining something valuable rather than immediately putting it into action. Within the traditional understanding of Sharayoga, this aspect of accumulation is associated with Chandra Nadi.
3. Accumulating Wealth and Resources
Building financial security involves not only earning money but also saving, preserving, and accumulating resources. Similarly, preparing for a future undertaking may require us to gather materials, acquire the necessary knowledge, and secure the resources we will eventually need. The distinction between action and accumulation offers a traditional perspective on these different aspects of material life.
4. Gathering Experience and Understanding
Not everything we accumulate can be measured in money or material possessions. We also gather experience, insights, relationships, and lessons from the situations we encounter. Every conversation, observation, and experience can contribute something to our understanding of life. The traditional association of Chandra Nadi with gathering and preservation provides a broader perspective on the importance of receiving and retaining what is valuable.
Understanding the Difference Between Action and Accumulation
Consider the example of learning a new subject.. First, you gather information, read the material, understand the concepts, and make notes. This represents the process of acquiring and preserving knowledge. Later, you use that knowledge to complete an assignment, solve a problem, or apply what you have learned in practice.
These are two different aspects of the same process.
Similarly, in financial life, earning and carrying out transactions differ from saving and accumulating resources. In professional life, gathering information differs from implementing a decision. In personal development, learning from experience differs from applying that experience to a particular situation. The traditional concepts of Chandra Nadi and Surya Nadi offer a way to understand this distinction between gathering what we need and taking action with what we have gathered.
Both aspects have their place in life.
One represents the traditional emphasis on action and accomplishment; the other represents the emphasis on gathering, receiving, and preservation. Understanding this distinction is one way to explore how the traditional teachings of Sharayoga relate to the activities of everyday life.
Beyond Material Life: The Spiritual Dimension
The traditional framework of Sharayoga extends beyond the activities of everyday material life. Human aspirations are not limited to acquiring possessions, earning money, or accomplishing professional goals. Many people also seek self-understanding, inner development, and spiritual growth. Within the Sharayoga tradition, the observation and understanding of Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi form part of a broader system of learning that addresses both material and spiritual aspects of life. The traditional teachings explore how the flow of breath is understood in relation to different activities and objectives. However, the deeper principles and applications of Sharayoga cannot be fully explained through a general article alone. They belong to a systematic learning process in which the student receives guidance from a qualified teacher. For those interested in understanding these teachings in greater depth, learning within the traditional Guru-Shishya framework provides the appropriate context.
How Does Sharayoga Approach the Flow of Breath?
The natural flow of breath changes throughout the day, but the traditional practice of Sharayoga involves more than simply noticing these changes. It teaches a systematic approach to understanding the flow of breath and its traditional significance. According to the teachings of Sharayoga, students learn how the flow through the right and left nostrils is interpreted and how this knowledge is applied to different aspects of life. The tradition also addresses the understanding and correction of the flow of breath under appropriate guidance. This is an important distinction: Sharayoga is not simply about observing the breath; it is a traditional discipline concerned with understanding and applying the principles associated with its flow. Its teachings encompass both material aspirations and spiritual pursuits. The specific methods and applications are best learned directly from a qualified teacher rather than through general instructions presented outside their traditional context.
Conclusion:
Life involves more than constant activity. Sometimes, we need to take action and accomplish what we have planned. At other times, we need to learn, gather information, preserve resources, and build the foundation for future progress. The traditional concepts of Surya Nadi and Chandra Nadi offer a distinctive perspective on these two aspects of life. Surya Nadi is associated with action and accomplishment, while Chandra Nadi is associated with gathering, receiving, and preservation. Within Sharayoga, these concepts form part of a broader traditional understanding of the changing flow of breath and its application to material and spiritual aspirations. The natural movement of breath offers an opportunity to explore a subject that has been studied within traditional yogic disciplines for generations. Yet the deeper understanding of Sharayoga comes through systematic learning, observation, and guidance from a qualified teacher. Ultimately, the traditional perspective invites us to look beyond the act of breathing itself and explore the relationship between breath, action, accumulation, and the different aspirations that shape human life.