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The Yogi Science Of Breath - Atkinson

CHAPTER 5. The Nervous System


CHAPTER 1. Salaam    CHAPTER 2. Breath Is Life   CHAPTER 3. The Exoteric Theory of Breath   CHAPTER 4. The Esoteric Theory of Breath   CHAPTER 5. The Nervous System   CHAPTER 6. Nostril Breathing vs. Mouth Breathing   CHAPTER 7. The Four Methods of Respiration   CHAPTER 8. How to Acquire the Yogi Complete Breath   CHAPTER 9. Physiological Effect of the Complete Breath   CHAPTER 10. A Few Bits of Yogi Lore   CHAPTER 11. The Seven Yogi Developing Exercises   CHAPTER 12. Seven Minor Yogi Exercises   CHAPTER 13. Vibration and Yogi Rhythmic Breathing   CHAPTER 14. Phenomena of Yogi Psychic Breathing   CHAPTER 15. More Phenomena of Yogi Psychic Breathing   CHAPTER 16. Yogi Spiritual Breathing  

   
       
       
       
       
CHAPTER 5. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

It will be noticed that the Western scientific theories regarding the breath confine themselves to the effects of the absorption of oxygen, and its use through the circulatory system, while the Yogi theory also takes into consideration the absorption of Prana, and its manifestation through the channels of the Nervous System. Before proceeding further, it may be as well to take a hasty glance at the Nervous System.
The Nervous System of man is divided into two great systems, viz., the Cerebro-Spinal System and the Sympathetic System. The Cerebro-Spinal System consists of all that part of the Nervous System contained within the cranial cavity and the spinal canal, viz., the brain and the spinal cord, together with the nerves which branch off from the same. This system presides over the functions of animal life known as volition, sensation, etc. The Sympathetic System includes all that part of the Nervous System located principally in the thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities, and which is distributed to the internal organs. It has control over the involuntary processes, such as growth, nutrition, etc.
The Cerebro-Spinal System attends to all the seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling, etc. It sets things in motion; it is used by the Ego to think — to manifest consciousness. It is the instrument with which the Ego communicates with the outside world. This system may be likened to a telephone system, with the brain as the central office, and the spinal column and nerves as cable and wires respectively.
The brain is a great mass of nerve tissue, and consists of three parts, viz., the Cerebrum or brain proper, which occupies the upper, front, middle and back portion ot the skull; the Cerebellum, or "little brain," which fills lower and back portion of the skull; and the Medulla Oblongata, which Is the broadened commencement of the spinal cord, lying before and in front of the Cerebellum.
The Cerebrum la the organ of that part of the mind which manifests Itself In Intellectual action. The Cerebellum regulates the movements of the voluntary muscles. The Medulla Oblongata Is the upper enlarged end of the spinal cord, and from It and the Cerebrum branch forth the Cranial Nerves which reach to various parts of the head, to the organs of special sense, and to Borne of the thoracic and abdominal organs, and to the organs of respiration.
The Spinal Cord, or spinal marrow, fills the spinal canal In the vertebral column, or "backbone." It Is a long mass of serve tissue, branching off at the several vertebrae to nerves communicating with all parts of the body. The Spinal Cord Is like a large telephone cable, and the emerging nerves are like tbe private wires connecting therewith.
The Sympathetic Nervous System consists of a double chain of Ganglia on the side of the Spinal column, and scattered ganglia in the head, neck, chest and abdomen. (A ganglion is a mass of nervous matter including nerve cells.) These ganglia are connected with each other by filaments, and are also connected with the Cerebro Spinal System motor and sensory nerves. From these ganglia numerous fibers branch out to the organs of the body, blood vessels, etc. At various pointB, the nerves meet together ami form what are known hb plexuses. The Sympathetic System practically controls the involuntary processes, such as circulation, respiration and digestion.
The power or force transmitted from the brain to all parts of the body by means of the nerves, Is known to Western science as "nerve force," although the Yogi knows It to be a manifestation of Prana. In character and rapidity It resembles the electric current It will be seen that without this "nerve force" the heart caunot beat; tbe blood cannot circulate; the lungs cannot breathe; the various organs cannot function; In fact the machinery of tbe body .comes to a stop without It. Nay more, even the brain cannot think without Prana be present. When these facts are considered, the importance of the absorption ot Prana must be evident to all, and the Science of Breath assumes an importance even greater than that accorded it by Western science. The Yogi teachings go further than does Western science, in one important feature of the Nervous System. We allude to what Western science terms the "Solar Plexus' and which it considers as merely one of a series of certain matted nets of sympathetic nerves with their ganglia found in various parts of the body. Yogi science teaches that this Solar Plexus is really a most important part of the Nervous System, and that it is a form of brain, playing one of the principal parts in the human economy. Western science seems to be moving gradually towards a recognition of this fact which has been known to the Yogis of the East for centuries, and some recent Western writers have termed the Solar Plexus the "Abdominal Brain." The Solar Plexus is situated in the Epigastric region, just back of the "pit of the stomach" on either side of the spinal column. It is composed of white and gray brain matter, similar to that composing the other brains of man. It has control of the main internal organs of man, and plays a much more important part than is generally recognized. We will not go into the Yogi theory regarding the Solar Plexus, further than to say that they know it as the great central store-house of Prana. Men have been known to be instantly killed by a severe blow over the Solar Plexus, and prize fighters recognize its vulnerability and frequently temporarily paralyze their opponents by a blow over this region.
The name "Solar" is well bestowed on this "brain" as it radiates strength and energy to all parts of the body, even the upper brains depending largely upon it as a storehouse of Prana. Sooner or later Western science will fully recognize the real function of the Solar Plexus, and will accord to it a far more important place then it now occupies in their text-books and teachings. Chapter 6