The yukti or practice verses begin with a gorgeous breath awareness practice that we will explore in two different ways in the next two classes. This week the text points us to the two poles between which the breath moves - hrt (the deep or spiritual heart centre), and dvadashanta (in this context, the distance of 12 finger widths into the space in front of the nose). As we attend to the movement of breath between these two points - if we are paying deep attention - we might notice the tiniest pause at each end of the breath, and in that pause, be able to actually sense the creative energy of life itself (shakti or spanda).
From Lorin Roche:
The One Who Is Intimate to All Beings replies [in response to questions about the nature of Reality],
Beloved, your questions require the answers that come through direct living experience.
The way of experience begins with a breath, such as the breath you are breathing now.
Awakening into luminous reality may dawn in the momentary throb between any two breaths.
Exhaling, breath is released and flows out. There is a pulse as it turns to flow in
In that turn, you are empty. Enter that emptiness as the source of all life.
Inhaling, breath flows in, filling, nourishing. Just as it turns to flow out,
there is a flash of pure joy - Life is renewed