Sat Nam Oh Say, What is Truth?

Sat Nam- Its a greeting and parting phrase you will hear me use a lot, but what does it mean really?
Sat Nam is commonly translated as Truth is my Identity, Or truth is my name. Sat Nam is used in many meditations and in Kundalini Yoga as  part of the breath or  Pranayam.
I love this because it reminds me  that we are commanded to search after truth. That we need to actively search out light and truth in order to progress and develop our TRUE self -our true self being like God our Father.
 Check this scripture out  found in D&C 93: 23,24,26-28. 
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
 24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
 26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
 27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
 28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

There are many Truths out there.  That is one great thing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ is  if  you find a truth from some place  else it is supported by the Gospel. When Science discovers a new truth it supports the  Church of Jesus Christ  of Latter-Day Saints by confirming spiritual truths scientifically.  Truth is not only found in the Gospel. There are Truths in Nature, Science, literature, other religions also have truth (though they lack key principles and ordinances of salvation). By their fruits ye shall know them 3 Nephi 14 :20. So look for the fruit  if it is good- does good- supports and is in line with the  teachings of Jesus Christ than it is truth and should be sought after.

We seek for truth wherever we may find it. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “Mormonism is truth. … The first and fundamental principle of our holy religion is, that we believe that we

have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth, without limitation or … being … prohibited by the creeds or superstitious notions of men.” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 264.Yes, we do have the fulness of the everlasting gospel, but that does not mean that we know everything. In fact, one principle of the restored gospel is our belief that God “will yet reveal many great and important things.”

So  as we greet and part from each other,  breath in and out and think the words, and meditate with this wonderful phrase we are reminding our selves that:  Truth is everywhere, Truth is in us, Truth is divine, We must Seek after Truth.

Other fun reading on Truth

•  Pres  Uchtorf gave a great talk  "What is Truth?" Check it out
• The Teachings of Brigham Young Manual  Chapter 2 Section 2 The Gospel  of Jesus Christ Embraces ALL Truth   
• Truth The Guide to the Scriptures Truth also refers to light and revelation from heaven. 
• John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 
• Listen to Oh Say, What is Truth?

Lyrics To Oh Say, What is Truth?

1. Oh say, what is truth? 'Tis the fairest gem
That the riches of worlds can produce,
And priceless the value of truth will be when
The proud monarch's costliest diadem
Is counted but dross and refuse.
2. Yes, say, what is truth? 'Tis the brightest prize
To which mortals or Gods can aspire.
Go search in the depths where it glittering lies,
Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies:
'Tis an aim for the noblest desire.
3. The sceptre may fall from the despot's grasp
When with winds of stern justice he copes.
But the pillar of truth will endure to the last,
And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast
And the wreck of the fell tyrant's hopes.
4. Then say, what is truth? 'Tis the last and the first,
For the limits of time it steps o'er.
Tho the heavens depart and the earth's fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore.
Text: John Jaques, 1827-1900
Music: Ellen Knowles Melling, 1820-1905

Breathe the Breath of Life

So you have been breathing for many years now. How often do you stop to notice the breath inside you? If you are like  most you dont  notice your breath  unless there is something wrong with it.  You notice when your breath is bad, when your nose is blocked and you cant breathe, when there is something in your wind pipe.  Do you know why? Because the air is infused with prana. Well what is Prana? Prana is a word driving from the Sancrit term meaning "Absolute Energy." This energy or "Prana" is the universal principle of energy, or the principle of energy exhibited in all living things. Living things have prana.  Lets read  D&C 88:13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.  So with out prana we die. End of story.  We gain most of  our Prana from the air and we breath it in and it circulates in the body. We can learn to  channel, use it, store it, and use it to heal ourselves and others.

I found this bit of info interesting. One year my parents took me and my siblings to  Hawaii. I LOVE that  island. I learned there that Hawaiians have/ had a practice of greeting  one another called  hongi  or Ha.

When greeting another person, one would come face-to-face and offer an expression of “ha,” expelling their breath for the other to feel. The literal translation of ha is “the breath of life.” It was a way to give of oneself and show another a deep sense of brotherly love and caring. When foreigners first came to Hawaii, they did not exhibit this same respect for others. They were called haole, (ha-ole), meaning “without ha.” 1
Cool Huh?!
Prana surrounds us, some things have high prana and somethings have low prana.  All though it is part of all living things it is concentrated in the air.  And that is where breathing becomes important.
Most of us dont breathe as deeply as our bodies and brains would like us too.  Breath = Prana, Prana = Life Force. We can have air in our body but not be alive.  The Dr can pump  O2 in our body but if there is no Breath of Life we are not alive.  Take a look at these scriptures and think about the life force in the air or the prana as you do.

• breathed into his nostrils the breath of life: Gen. 2:7 . ( Moses 3:4–7, 19 ; Abr. 5:7 . )
• in whose nostrils was the breath of life: Gen. 7:22 .
• In whose hand is … the breath of all mankind: Job 12:10 .
• the breath of the Almighty hath given me life: Job 33:4 .
• thou takest away their breath, they die: Ps. 104:29 .
• His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth: Ps. 146:4 .
• he that giveth breath unto the people: Isa. 42:5 .
• I will cause breath to enter into you: Ezek. 37:5 .
• breath came into them, and they lived: Ezek. 37:10 .
• formeth the spirit of man within him: Zech. 12:1 .

• giveth to all life, and breath: Acts 17:25 .
• Spirit of life from God entered into them: Rev. 11:11 .

Breathing is the greatest pleasure in life. ~Giovanni Papini

• So all that is lovely information Jen but what do you want me to do with it?
• Well let me tell you.  I want you to breathe.... go on....breathe in--- nice--- and--- slow. Fill your body up with prana infused air.  Breathe air into your toes and fill your whole body.  Notice how alive you feel after a  few deep breaths.  Are you tingly any where?  That is good  its energy.  You know that  your  respiratory system is the only system that can be controlled both by the conscious mind and the  unconscious mind?  That is why breathing it is such a great tool to  train the mind.  I want to teach you  a few "breath exercises" yogis call that pranayam.   Yogis use breath as they meditate and do  yoga to move the  prana through out the body. 

• Pranayam is the use of breathing techniques to control the movement of prana. Kundalini Yoga includes a wide range of pranayam techniques to manage and affect different energy states of emotion, consciousness, and health.[7] Even a slight change in this pran, or “seed energy,” can change your entire world. Mastering the breath is therefore fundamental to mastering life.- Progressive Prophetess Link

• Lets start with Long Deep Breathing:

 Long Deep Breathing uses the full capacity of the lungs, by utilizing the three chambers of the lungs: 

Abdominal, or lower 

 Chest or middle  

Clavicular or upper

 Long Deep Breathing starts by filling the abdomen, then expanding the chest, and finally lifting the upper ribs and clavicle. The exhale is the reverse: first the upper deflates, then the middle, and finally the abdomen pulls in and up, as the navel point pulls back toward the spine. First, practice by separating the three parts of the breath. Sit straight on the floor, in a chair, or lie on the back. Initially have the left hand on the belly, right hand on the chest to feel the movement of the diaphragm.

Benefits of Long Deep Breathing

  Relaxes and calms, due to influence on parasympathetic nervous system. 

 Increases the flow of prana. 

 Reduces and prevents the build-up of toxins in the lungs by encouraging the clearing of the small air sacs (alveoli). 

 Stimulates the brain chemicals—endorphins—that help fight depression. 

 Brings the brain to a new level of alertness. 

 Pumps the spinal fluid to the brain, giving greater energy. 

 Breathing long and deep, plus concentration, stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete, enhancing the intuition.

  Filling the lungs to capacity revitalizes and re-adjusts the magnetic field.

  Cleanses the blood. 

 Regulates the body’s pH (acid-akaline balance), which affects the ability to handle stressful situations. 

 Energizes, and increases vitality. 

 Aids in releasing blockages in meridian energy flow.

  Activates and clears the nerve channels. 

 Aids in speeding up emotional and physical healing. 

 Aids in breaking subconscious habit patterns such as insecurities and fears. 

 Aids in fighting addictions. 

 Re-channels previous mental conditioning on pain so as to reduce or eliminate pain. 

 Gives capacity to manage negativity and emotions, supporting clarity, cool headedness, and patience. 2

Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Sodhan) 

This simple, yet most powerful technique, is a pranayam that is easy to do, yet can take you through all the stages of your yoga practice.

 How to do Alternate Nostril Breathing: 

 In this pranayam, the breath is always relaxed, deep and full.

 Have the left hand in Gyan Mudra. So your thumb touches your  pointer finger with the remaing fingers extended. 

 Close the right nostril by pressing it closed with the thumb of the right hand, and gently and fully inhale through the left nostril.

 Then close the left nostril  by pressing it closed with your pointer finger or  ring finger and exhale through the right nostril.

Then inhale through the right nostril. Close the right nostril and exhale through the left nostril.  Continue repeating, alternating nostrils after each inhalation.

 Benefits of Alternate Nostril Breathing:

 Creates whole brain functioning by balancing the right and left hemispheres.

  Is both integrating and grounding.

  Purifies the ida and pingala nadis, gently. 

 Creates a deep sense of well-being and harmony on the physical, mental, and emotional levels. 

 Can help with headaches, migraines, and other stress-related symptoms. 

 Inhale left, exhale right: Helps to make you calm and integrates unwanted negative emotions and stress. Excellent by itself before bed. 

 Inhale right, exhale left: Gives clarity, and positive mood. Helps us to focus on what is important.  Left Right Nostril Breathing Through the simple mechanism of closing or opening one of the nostrils, the yogi has a wide array of techniques to control his moods and energies. The quality of Prana processed through the two nostrils differs correspondingly with the qualities associated with the two sides of the brain. The nerves going out from the two brain hemispheres cross at the level of the eyebrows. The left hemisphere is connected to the right side of the body and right nostril, and the right hemisphere to the left side of the body and left nostril. We breathe predominantly through one nostril or the other at any given time. The dominant nostril alternates rhythmically every 90 to 150 minutes. The length of the cycle reflects universal rhythms, individual temperament, and the personal state of mental and physical balance. The rhythm itself is mediated mainly through structures in the hypothalamus and pituitary, though other areas in the brain are also involved. You may use the technique of inhaling and exhaling exclusively through either the left or right nostril in order to benefit from the quality associated with that nostril. For instance, breathe exclusively through the left nostril to deal with compulsive eating habits. 

Breathing through the left nostril is associated with:.

 Ida, the nadi which ends at the left nostril 

 Apana, the cleansing energy 

 The Moon energy—cooling, receptive 

 Calmness 

 Empathy

 Sensitivity 

 Synthesis 

Breathing through the right nostril is associated with: 

 Pingala, the nadi ending at the right nostril 

 Prana, the nurturing energy 

 The Sun energy—warming, projective 

 Vigor 

 Concentration 

 Alertness 

 Readiness-for-action 

 Will power . 3

In conclusion. Prana  brings life, healing, and energy into the body. It is in our  food, water, all living things around us, and it is in the air.  The more prana we have the more life force we have.  As we breathe deeply we can help our bodies heal and function on a higher level.  Breath can change our bodies, our minds, and our moods.  If you need  to change your mood change your breath its that simple. 

This is not my favorite demonstration of  this pranayam but it is only 4 minuets so take a look if you need  a visual. 

Challenge 

Breathe consciously for 11 minutes every day. It doesn't have to be all at once - though it can be  if  that is what works best for you.  Breathe consciously a few minutes here and there  through out the day and see what a difference it makes in your health and attitude. 

Check out these other helpful pranayam

Breath of Fire

Strengthen the nervous system; purify the bloodstream; energize, stimulate, wake up, and increase vitality.

Suspending the Breath

Recondition the nervous system; integration of the body systems; experience deep stillness, shuniya

Segmented Breath

Sitali Breath

Cannon Breath

Whistle breath

Lion Breath

Sitkari Breath

Vatskar Breath

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haole

2. http://www.3ho.org/files/pdfs/long-deep-breathing.pdf

http://www.3ho.org/kundalini-yoga/pranayam/pranayam-techniques

3. © 2003 The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan, KRI International Teacher Training Manual Level I, p.96