Technique 44 of 112 — The Upward Surge Of Breath

This dharana uses the movement of the breath (Prana) and the metaphor of a flickering flame to illustrate the process of transcending 'vikalpas' (conceptual thoughts). In Kashmir Shaivism, thoughts are seen as fluctuations in the field of consciousness, much like a flame flickering in the wind. The practice involves visualizing the life-force moving upward like a steady flame or a column of air. The 'upward surge' refers to 'Udana Prana', the energy that leads to higher states of consciousness. The metaphysics here implies that when the 'wind' of restless thinking is stilled, or when the attention is so focused on the 'flame' of the breath that the 'wind' can no longer disturb it, the practitioner enters the state of Bhairava—pure, unconditioned awareness. The destruction of vikalpas is not a violent act but a natural consequence of one-pointedness (Ekagrata). As the practitioner focuses on the upward movement, the horizontal movements of the mind (past and future thoughts) naturally cease, leading to a vertical ascent into the present moment of pure being.