Acharya Mahaprajna
While thinking about the breath, we shall have to think about the nose too. The nose and the breathing are closely related. According to physiology, one part of the brain is related to the nose. It is concerned with the external knowledge. This part of the brain is not as well-developed in human beings as in the animals. It has some shortcomings. Nonetheless, the part of the brain related to the nose is very important. Fear, anger, aggressive tendencies all these are centred, it is called pudgalo round the nose. Understanding the nose means understanding the numerous mysteries of the body.
Bhagvan Mahavira used to concentrate on the tip of the nose. Concentration on the tip of the nose has a very profound meaning. It means that the person, who concentrates on the tip of the nose, controls his brain related to the nose and refines it. The person, who wishes to attain freedom from fear, wishes to bring down his anger, wishes to abandon his aggressive ways, wishes to control his lust, and must inevitably concentrate on the tip of his nose. Apparently, the nose does not seem to be directly of any use. But from the spiritual point of view, the nose and the part of the brain related to the nose are of great importance. The nose and breathing are related to each other. If the breath is regulated, the part of the brain related to the nose gets refined.
When the breathing becomes irregular, the portion of the brain related to the nose gets excited. We can directly experience this. The moment we are angry, the frequency of our breath increases. Similarly, our breathing becomes faster when we are overcome with pride or maya. With the harmony of the emotions, there is also the harmony of the breathing. If there is emotional excitement, there would be excitement in the breathing too. If one is emotionally calm, his breathing too would be regular. The emotions, breath and health seem to be clearly and deeply related to each other. The problem of health cannot he solved without studying these three factors simultaneously. When the atoms of pure emotions and pure breath are absorbed, they become the constituents of good health. When the atoms of impure emotions and impure breath are absorbed, signs of the diseases become manifest.
Acharya Malayagiri has clearly explained that whenever harmful pudgalas are absorbed, it leads to dreadful diseases like heart ailments and this has a harmful effect on the mind. Whenever good atoms are absorbed, there is increasing joy and improvement in health.
