Bhaerawa Breathing
For those beginning the spiritual path, one of the simplest and most effective methods is breath-counting. In this practice, the breath is trained by using one’s own age as the measure of counting. For example, if we are fifty years old, we breathe out while silently counting “one,” breathe in and count “two,” and continue until we reach fifty. When the number is complete, we return again to one. In this way, the rhythm of our breath becomes intimately linked with the rhythm of our life. This is far easier than attempting to count endlessly to a hundred or more, which often leads to confusion or distraction.
Yet, counting alone is not enough. What truly gives power to this practice is the union of breath and light. We are asked to visualize the living radiance of the universe before us. If our devotion is directed toward Shiva, we may imagine Him standing in front of us, exhaling pure white light that we draw into ourselves with each inhalation. Then, as we exhale, we release black smoke—the impurities, fears, and darkness within us—toward Shiva. He breathes it in, untouched and untainted, for He is the eternal luminous force of the cosmos. In His heart, the smoke of our darkness is transmuted into light.
Through steady practice, this cycle of light and smoke transforms us. With each breath, we are purified, slowly becoming radiant beings ourselves. This process is called “Returning to the Source of Light.” As Shiva’s brilliance fills us, and our impurities are absorbed and dissolved in Him, we draw closer to unity with the Divine.
For the beginner, this exercise of counting breath while visualizing light is the foundation. Within this lineage, there are further practices, such as the Nine Steps of Breathing, which deepen the connection between number, breath, and light.
The path of spiritual cultivation is like a great school. One begins in the simplest lessons and advances step by step—through outer practices (bahir sadhana), inner practices (antar sadhana), secret practices (rahasya sadhana), and at last, the most hidden and sacred levels.
The purpose of all methods is the same: to transform the awareness of an ordinary person into the awareness of a radiant, holy being. This requires diligence and sincerity. A student cannot awaken merely by speaking of awareness—awakening comes only through meditation, breath training, visualization, and discipline. By living the practice, the seeker’s awareness expands, until what was once human becomes luminous.
This is the path from darkness to light.
This is how one becomes enlightened.
Ong Bhaerawa ya Namah
