Prana, the Vital Power

In the scriptures of India, the Sanskrit term prana, often translated as “breath,” is considered the vital power of the Supreme Self that manifests everything in the universe and permeates all created things. This vital power is what gives rise to and sustains the incoming and outgoing rhythm of our physical breathing. The great sages of the Upanishads teach that by paying close attention to our breath, especially through a steady practice of meditation, we connect with prana. This vital power, in turn, leads our mind into the luminous space of the Self, which is the Heart and essence of our being.