Let's Talk About Death and Destiny

I wrote this in 2012 when working as a guard, one thing about that job is it gives you a lot of time to think.

First of all let's get it out of the way, EVERYBODY'S going to die, no choice, no excuses accepted, we all start dying the day we're born. Most everybody is terrified of it, and have the hope they'll live forever by denying the truth, and "taking care of themselves," i.e. eating "right", following the advice of their doctor, going to the gym and working their bodies to a sweating frazzle, etc.  Most everybody freaks out when a friend or relative dies or is killed saying he/she went too young or had so much to live for or some other drivel. In movies, TV, and books as well as in the law and everyday life the biggest fear, the biggest terror, the biggest punishment is death. Remember we all start to die the moment we're born, but nobody dies before their  time.
The truth is  dying is like stepping through a door into another room, or changing stools at a bar, it's no different than that. Prior to birth we each determine with the help of others when and to whom we'll be born, the general path of our life, and when/how we'll die. Of course, we don't as a rule remember any of this, there are exceptions, a few remember previous lives, or pre-birth into this life. But most don't.
To those people or those of us who have acquired knowledge but without true experience, the fear of death itself is erased.  To us it seems amazing that the average person goes through life fearing the inevitable, to the point that the prospect drives some mad.
It's everyone's destiny, there is no escape. There is no such thing as going too young or before your time. Your life is pre-destined but there is a belief that we're give free will, which can shift the outcome of your life, or not. It's kind of like timeline theory, meaning what if the South had won the Civil War, or what if the Nazi's had won WW II, or what if you leave for work 10 minutes late, or what if anything you can think of. The timeline changes.
Let's say you're in an accident on your way to drop off your kid and go to work when you left late and the kid was killed. If you'd left on time 10 minutes earlier the car that hit you wouldn't have been there, and your time line wouldn't have changed and there'd have been no accident, your child would still be alive. But if the child's destiny was to die at that age and at that time and your destiny was to have an accident it's going to happen unless freewill intervenes again.
My family moved from a small town to a farm when I was a kid, I know that changed my life. At the time I believed it was my parent's decision. Now I know it was their destiny or mine, or simply a change to their timeline changed my destiny. Ultimately we moved to California changing their timeline again and either restoring or changing again my destiny.
Personally I look forward to death, I don't fear it. People say if you're really blessed you'll live a long life becoming elderly. I disagree, for most it entails living on a fixed income, illness of one kind or another, ever growing medical expenses, being taken care of if unable to take care of yourself. I sincerely hope my destiny is to die, like most of the men in my family, I've passed through the late sixties but still have hope for the early seventies, in my sleep or from a relatively painless illness. Failing that is another story.

Lee Murray

December 21, 2012 is 6 Months Away

Just a short reminder. What's it going to be?  Is it the end of the world, or just Y2K over again? I'll tell you plain, if I were God, looking at the sheer disaster that's humanity, it'd be the end of the world, no question at all. Time to raze the world, re-terraform it, and try again, building yet another version of man (and woman). Maybe next time it'll come up with a version that isn't intent on destroying itself, as we appear to be. Maybe next time there won't be the widespread murder, well, actually forget that, just take all of the ten commandments in any order and you'll see they're all broken on a micro-minute by micro-minute basis, by every person throughout history right up to ten minutes from now, and beyond into the unknown future.
Think about it, isn't it time to start over?

Lee Murray

Does What Go Around Come Around???

I've been thinking about my last couple posts and it brings to mind an idea. Probably not much of an idea, but since nobody knows the reality one theory or idea is as good as any other.  I'm actually talking about the post before the last, called Evolution Disproved....  Not the one about the giants, as that is something else entirely.  But anyway I was thinking, ordinary objects, nails, a vase, bodies like our own, other things have been found at depths, or inside rock that dates back to hundreds or millions of years ago. I wonder if it wasn't previous civilizations but instead was us. If we aren't, perhaps, souls doomed to constantly build the same civilization, live the same lives, bear the same children, spring from the same ancestors, build the same cities, and cultures, develop the same foods, and languages, and everything else, on and on. The purpose being that we evolve and eventually move from being tied to the physical to the spiritual and return to being what we really are, spirit.  But we are unable, or unwilling to leave the physical, so we just keep building the same lives over and over, with the destruction of us, and the world being the result every time, then the whole thing beginning again and once again we fail and are destroyed, over and over and over. So maybe those nails that are millions of years old are our nails, and in millions of years from now if we don't change someone will be mining, or digging a well or basement and find something that we have today. They'll think that superior men existed millions of years before, when it was really just themselves today. Make sense at all?

Lee Murray

Can We Die Too Soon???

I was having a very interesting conversation with a friend a couple of days ago stemming from a post on his blog about a racing accident in the Southern California desert. A truck rolled over killing several people.
His position, consistant with conventional belief, was simply that innocent people were taken from this world before their time. This stems, in most people,  mostly from fear of death, an emotional reaction, and the erroneous belief that death is THE end of life, I'm sure that their friends and relatives, most people,  also feel this way.  My position was that nobody leaves this world before their time, it's just not possible.
As to innocence, let's touch on that, they did go to the race, and get too close to the action.  Did the racer break the rules by accelerating at nearly full speed through a crowded area?  Yes he did. Did the promoter or organizer fail to provide protection or barriers for the spectators?   Yes, he or they did.  Did the promoter or organizer fail to provide enough security to make sure the crowd of spectators stayed the full 100 feet back, as they were told to? No he or they did not.  So who was at fault? Everybody was, the spectators were too close, the driver went too fast and the organizer or promoter failed to provide protection and/or to keep the crowd back far enough. Nobody was innocent.
But let's talk about the real issue, were these souls taken before their time?  I have always felt and now 99% believe that this is impossible.  As I told my friend, there have been several incidents in my life that could easily have resulted in my death, but every time I walked away. Not always without a scratch, but walked away. A couple times I walked away when someone else didn't. It was their time to go, not mine.  You could say the same thing about that accident, the driver could easily have been killed when the truck rolled, but he walked away and some spectators didn't. It was their time to go, but it wasn't his...yet. 
So, contrary to what most of us believe, I believe you can't die before your time. No matter how random, coincidental, accidental, or impossible it seems to be, if he or she died, it was their time to go. Also contrary to what most of us believe, I know, yes know, can't prove but know in my gut, that death is not the end, emptiness, nothing, being dropped in a hole and forgotten.  It's the end of this life for sure, but not the end of all life, I don't know to what, or to where, but we move on. There are lots of theories, Heaven, Hell, the Astral plane, reincarnation, etc.  We won't have the real answer until we move on.
Also contrary to what most of us believe, I know I'm not really Lee Murray, at least not permanently.  I'm really a soul who is experiencing being Lee Murray for a time, before moving on. As I've said before for us to believe that we are the body we're inhabiting, for me to believe I'm only Lee Murray, for my friend to believe he's only Bill, or any of you to believe you are only the person you've been since birth, is the same as climbing into your car and believing that you're only a Ford, Chevy, Jaguar or Rolls Royce. Whatever body you're in, it's just a vehicle, a Ford, Chevy, etc. only there to get you from entry to exit in this life, before moving on, to whatever or wherever comes next, and a new vehicle.
There is a belief that between lives or bodies, ie vehicles, the real you, the soul that comes and goes each time, rests and recharges, studies, visits friends, or just relaxes between forays into this world, or another. The place this happens is called the Astral plane, and is said to be similar to the physical world, but cleaner and on the higher levels more beautiful, more intellectual.
Like the Physical, the Astral is made up of seven levels, lower and higher, and everything including us is vibration also lower to higher. In this world rocks for instance live, but at a much lower vibration, and people are at a higher, but possibly not the highest vibratory rate. On the subject of people look at those you know, there are those who are clearly on the low end of the vibratory scale, emotional, drugs, drink, pussy or prick, are all that they care about, they'd kill without a care, or you may know someone on the higher end who is saintly, almost non-human, to whom stepping on an ant is anthema. Most of us though are somewhere in the middle, neither saint nor sinner, at the same time a little of both. Many souls are living in the Astral, much as we are living here, working and raising their vibratory level, preparing to move on to the next level, and the next, others are like all of us, are visiting there while still living in this world, or have left this world and while intending or required to return here for another life or lives, are there between lives.  The Astral is like this world in many ways say those that have visited there and apparently time is used there in much the same way as in this world.
It's also taught that in preparation, we plan. We determine what is needed, what result is wanted, what is our goal. How are we going to achieve that?  We work with others, both already living and like ourselves waiting to be born.  It's said that many of us stay together life after life, cliques if you will. The description acting troup has been used, and it's apt in the sense that we fill many roles, in this life I'm a brother, in the next I'm a friend, then a parent, or grandparent. A soul can be male or female, depending on the role in a particular life, the role to be played. So who was your grandfather in one life may act as your wife, or brother, or best friend, or whatever in another.  There are many aspects I haven't touched upon.
Why those souls who left the world as a group in the accident mentioned above chose to do it that way, I don't know. But everything I've suspected from a young age, everything I've learned, tells me it was neither coincidence or accident, except in appearance. It may have been part of the drivers destiny, or their own, but it was planned, long before birth, and they've known each other through many lives, although the accident may have been their only contact in this life, or not, that I don't know.  One thing you can count on is that in most if not all cases, they'll be back.
I wouldn't expect anyone operating on emotions to accept this, what is after all a somewhat radical position, requiring thinking outside the box, to some degree. Most of us in fact are unable to look beyond the norm. Generally believing that they have no control, that accidental death is possible, and more often than not that there is nothing after death, as they believe, more often than not, there is nothing before birth. They are taught this in one way or another every day of their life.  Nothing, you're born, you die, Nothing...  To me it makes no sense, but to most it's the only sensible way of looking at it.
One question that I've had for a long time, and never really gotten a good answer to is this: If everybody incarnates for a purpose, and others are involved in achieving that purpose... Well let's say that I am here for a specific purpose to learn or accomplish something. Others act as parents, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, lovers, casual aquaintences, etc.  Do all of these others also have purposes or goals in their lives or are they here simply as supporting cast to me?  Looking at the accident, obviously there was a purpose or it wouldn't have been destined to happen, but was it so that the driver would learn or accomplish something, or was it  so that one or all of the crowd did? It concievably could even have had no purpose, like war or disease, simply providing a means of leaving, with no lesson.  I know that seems hard  and cold, but the fact is few if any of us get out alive, to paraphrase the title of Jim Morrison's biography, and while I'm sure we'd all like to go in our sleep after a long, productive life, relatively few of us do. 
I think I'm getting over my head and will stop now...

Lee Murray

Do You Remember Your Dreams?

I do. Sometimes I write them down, sometimes I don't. But I usually remember them at least for an hour or so after waking. I dozed off earlier and actually had a hard time coming back. Is that what happens when you die in your sleep, you just can't get back?  I was getting out of a car and heard this loud noise, then I saw in the distance a large truck headed right for me, or it seemed to be anyway. I felt fear and panic, unable to move, then suddenly I jerked awake. I could still hear the noise in my mind.  I remembered the feeling of not being able to get away after I woke up. I was watching Return of the Jedi on tv when I had dozed off, and it was still on when I woke, and fairly loud. I don't know if the noise of the movie had anything to do with the dream, but there are no cars to get out of and no big trucks in the movie. I think that dreams can be a look into other lives, possibly in other dimensions, possibly in this one. Could I have been killed by a truck in another life? Something to think about, start writing your's down when you wake up, and see what you think.

Lee Murray 

Thinking About Destiny Again

Still thinking about the groundhog post the other day.
I'm constantly hearing and seeing in person, in the news, and in dramas the plantive cry that "he, she, it, went too soon." Of course our loved ones, friends and relatives would think it's too soon, no matter when we die.  Possibly the groundhog's friends and relatives are saying it went too soon, who knows?  But, it's a little shocking to see or hear "he or she went too soon," in the media, who, with few exceptions, never even heard of us, let alone met us.
What's the truth?  Is it even possible to die too soon?  I can understand that if a baby or young child dies, whatever the cause, the natural reaction is to blame ourselves, or somebody, there must be something wrong, their life had just begun after all, and they had years ahead, it's clearly too soon to lose them.  The truth is, and nobody, even me, wants to face it, that death could have happened to us at any time, from the moment of conception. Not birth, but conception is when the body is created and starts the trip to death. When the soul or spirit actually enters that body is another conversation, I think also at or soon after conception, but I could be wrong. I have heard of studies that proved children were capable of learning in the womb though.  Yes, I said children, speaking about the body growing in the womb, not fetus' or any of the other quasi-scientific names that make the murder committed by abortionists less abhorrent.
Anyway, to answer my question, I don't believe it's possible to die before your time. Your time to die may be after 100 years or 1 minute, but that's when you'll go, not one millionth of a second sooner.  Speaking from personal experience, so far, I've had several opportunities of being killed before my time, and have walked away without a scrape every time. I've said as long as I can remember that I'm not afraid of dying. It's still true, in theory.
I know we're all spirit, that goes without saying. I've said, also pretty much as long as I can remember, that for us to believe this body is who we are, ie for me to believe I'm Lee Murray and that's all, is about the same as you climbing into your car, and believing you're a Ford, or Chevy, etc.  These bodies of ours aren't real in any sense, other than that they're vehicles allowing us to exist in this level. Every level has a body, neccesary for survival in that plane, but they're all nothing more than just vehicles for the real you, the spirit. 
When I do die, I have a good idea of what happens, where I'll go, and that more than likely I'll be back, so it's not terrifying.  On the other hand, I learned recently when I had the stroke or whatever the hell it was that I'm in no rush to die. One thing that does scare me though is becoming crippled or blind. If it happens it's probably for a reason, pre-destined, and I'd deal with it, who knows I may even learn something, but avoiding that is one reason for seeing the Drs.
It's taught that each life we live is for a purpose, what it is few if any of us know, but we're always here to learn something, or to teach something. The first thought I had after saying that is, so serious, so what you're saying is we don't just come to hang out, kill some time? Sex, drugs, and Rock and Roll?  Or something similar... 
It sure seems like that's all some are here for. I suppose it's possible, maybe this world is like a time share for the astral, some of us come to serve, to fulfill a purpose, while others are on vacation, enjoying the flesh, experiencing the experience of living in this world. Anything's possible I guess, but it's not what I've been taught, and personally, while I've overall had a pretty good life, if I just came to hang out I'd like to kick the butt of the astral time share salesspirit that sold me on the idea.  It seems that lots of lives, lots of lives, are spent having and raising kids, that's it just raising kids, or so it seems. 

But the truth is, whether we spend our lives drunk, loaded, and banging anything with a heartbeat (or without), having and raising kids by the carload, working to the exclusion of anything else, winning the Pulitzer or Nobel prize, or whatever, the real reason we incarnated, the big picture, is a mystery to most, if not all, of us.
One premise that's taught is that prior to each life, we sit down with the others that are going to be with us during the life, to plan and discuss what's going to happen, birth to death. Nobody ever seems to know if it's a second by second pre-destination plan, or just a big picture with lots of room for free will type plan.  Then after death, arriving back in the astral, we sit down for a debriefing, or analysis of the life just finished. Again, nobody seems to know why.  Just to see if we passed?
Also another question, does each and every spirit, (parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, aquaintences, workmates, boyfriends, girlfriends, strangers you interact with, etc.), who's interacting with me in my life have their own plan? Are they all there just for me this time, and me for them next time? Instead are we all reincarnating together with a common goal or lesson to learn? How about the souls who're already here before our birth, older people grandfathers, grandmothers, parents?  If they're already here, living their lives, according to their destiny or plan, I can understand that my birth could be part of their plan, but when did they take part in my pre-birth meeting? It's taught that we leave our bodies and go to the astral, whenever we're unconcious or asleep, some can do it conciously. Perhaps that is when they did it?
Have you figured out yet that I'm as confused as anybody else about this?  I've studied and read about this for years and while it makes sense, at the same time it doesn't.
Another question I've brought up before, is why are our past lives in a linear time frame? At least so far as I know, they're starting in the past and moving closer to the present. If we are, in fact, spirits, coming here from a spirit plane, call it astral, or etheric, whatever, where time as we here know it doesn't exist, then why couldn't we incarnate in any time on this plane?  Time is after all a concept of this world, and probably a purely human concept at that. Cats, dogs, and cows may have a concept of time too, but I haven't asked any so I don't know.

That's enough for now I think...

Lee Murray

Whoops not the Astral plane...

Haunted or Imagination??

In 1962 were living on a farm in Tyner, NY. The house burned down, leaving only a gaping hole where there was once a two story house. My father determined that he was a farmer, got another in South New Berlin, NY after a time of moving around living with various relatives. We moved there in June 1962. It was a big old farm house on the corner of Copes Corners Rd and Nelson Rd as I remember, near the gun club which bordered on our property.  I have no idea how old the house was or what had happened there. But my room, at the top of the stairs over the living room, had a large walkin closet. We lived there a bit over a year, and in all that time I was never able to make myself go into the closet at night, the closest I ever came was to lean in and grab. I have no idea why, I just had a creepy feeling. In the daytime no problem. Was it haunted or was it the imagination of a kid? I do know that according to real estate people I've spoken to the house was purchased by somebody that lived out of the area soon after we left moving to California in 1963 and was boarded up and hasn't been lived in since. It's still boarded up, I know because I always drive by when I'm in the area.
On the subject, are there ghosts? Yes, they're all around us. My father died in 1997, he'd had a colostemy and wore a bag, that smelled now and then, after his funeral my mother and sisters swore they smelled him here in the house. During the last few months when he was in the Vets Home down in Oxford, his fondest wish was to come home. I'm sure he made it and is waiting for my mother and perhaps the rest of us to join him.
There are now movies, tv shows and books dealing with the theory that after death many of us either don't realize or don't believe we're dead. I know, don't ask me how, that this is true. I've known my grandfather was watching out over me, my guardian angel so to speak, for as long as I can remember. He showed up once in a wegee board session, my first and last. A girlfriend, among other things, of many years who passed in 1998 after losing a 5 or 6 year fight with breast cancer is always here. It's not theory or guessing, I can feel her and hear her talking to me. Which I suppose isn't unusual between two people who saw each other or talked almost every day for twenty-five years or so. She once me told me that no matter how much I tried, even death wouldn't seperate us, I guess she was right...or is that my imagination?

Lee Murray

Hatha Yoga - Techniques That Have Been Alleged to Make You Healthier for Eons

Due to a question asked by a reader, as well as my recent health problems, I'm re-reading The Hatha Yoga Pradipike. Through my twenties the Hatha asanas were increasingly difficult, finally to the point of abandonment, I think at 62 with heart problems, the techniques are probably way too much for me, but they may help someone else. So here they are: Pranayama, and the six karmans that should precede for those in poor condition, like me.  I've always thought that assanas should be unnecessary to doing pranayama, but maybe not, it's never taught that way, that I was aware of anyway. Keep in mind that like any Yoga exercise, these seem simple enough and easy, but they can be dangerous, possibly fatal, and unless you're already experienced and have been trained by a qualified teacher, you should not move forward with these, or any other yoga exercises, until you find a qualified teacher. For what it's worth, I spent years in my late teens and twenties doing yoga, Raja and Hatha, but left it behind as life got more complicated, today even with that experience I wouldn't consider doing Pranyama, by myself.
This book, drawn on his own experience and older, now probably lost works, was written in the 1500's by an Indian Yogi named Svatmarama. This is an English translation from the Sanskrit by Brian Akers, and published by YogaVidya.com, at whose website you will find a downloadable PDF copy, of course it's not the whole book. You can also buy at book stores, (I think I bought mine at Barnes and Noble), or at Amazon.com. For it's size, it's not cheap at around 25. US, but for the knowlege alone it's worth many times that, if you use the techniques to regain, or improve your health, it's priceless.

Chapter Two
Pranayama


After mastering asanas the yogi possessing self control and eating a suitable moderate diet should practice pranayama as taught by his Guru.
When the breath is unsteady, the mind is unsteady. When the breath is steady, and the yogi becomes steady. Therefore one should restrain the breath.
As long as there is breath in the body, there is life. Death is the departure of breath. Therefore one should restrain the breath.
When the nadis are dirupted by impurities, the breath doesn't enter the middle (the Sushumna). How can umani exist? How can the goal be attained?
The yogi is fit to control the prana only when all the nadis disrupted by impurities become pure.
Therefore always do pranayama with a sattvik mind so that impurities in the Sushumna nadi attain purity.
The yogi having assumed Padmasana should inhale prana with the moon (the left nostril or Ida), After holding as long as possible, he should exhale with the sun, (the right nostril or Pingala).
He should fill the interior slowly by inhaling prana with the sun. After holding in the prescribed manner, he should exhale with the moon.
He should inhale through the one with which he exhaled, hold with effort, then exhale slowly and without force through the other.
If prana is inhaled through the Ida and retained, it should be exhaled through the other.  If the breath is inhaled through the Pingala and retained, it should be exhaled through the left. The nadis of yogi's who regularly practice in this manner of sun and moon become pure after three months.
Gradually increase the kumbhakas to eighty four times a day - morning, midday, evening, and midnight.
In the beginning there will be sweat, in the middle there will be trembling. In the end one obtains the goal. Therefore one should restrain the breath.
Rub the body with water born of fatigue to make it firm and light.
Food containing milk and ghee is recommended for the initial phase of practice.  The adoption of such a rule is unnecessary after one's practice is established.
Just as the lion, elephant, or tiger is tamed step by step, so the breath is controlled. Otherwise it kills the practitioner.
Correct pranayama will weaken all diseases. Improper practice of Yoga will strengthen all diseases.
Irritation of the breath causes hiccups, asthma, coughing, headaches, earaches, pain in the eyes, and various diseases.
Exhale the breath very properly. Inhale it very properly. Retain it very properly. Thus one obtains success.
External signs appear when the nadis are pure. The body will definitely be lean and bright.
Retention of the breath as desired, stimulationof the digestion, manifestation of the nada, and good health come from purifying the nadis.
One having too much fat and phlegm should first do the six karmans. But one who doesn't need, not do them since his humors are equable.
These are the six karmans: Dhauti, Vasti, Neti, Trataka, Nauli, and Kapalabhati.
These six karmans - purifying the body, producing remarkable qualities - are to be given only to the worthy. They are honored by the best yogi's
Slowly swallow a wet cloth which is four fingers wide and fifteen hands long in the manner instructed by one's Guru. Draw it out again. This is called Dhautikarman.
Coughing, asthma, enlargement of the spleen, leprosy, and twenty other phlegm diseases vanish because of the power of Dhautikarman. In this there is no doubt.
Assume Utkatasana in water as deep as the navel. Insert a tube into the anus. Contract the anus. This cleansing is Vastikarman.
Enlargements of the glands, spleen, and abdomen - and all diseases arising from wind, bile, and phlegm - perish due to the power of Vastikarman.
Vastikarman in the water, when regularly practiced gives clarity to the body constituents, the senses, and the mind. It gives luster to the body, stimulates the gastric fire, and eliminates all defects.
Insert a very smooth thread nine inches long into a nasal passage and withdraw it from the mouth. This is called Neti by the masters.
Purifier of the skull and giver of divine sight, Neti quickly destroys the flood of diseases originating above the collarbone.
Gaze with motionless eyes and concentration at a minute point until tears flow. This is called Trataka by gurus.
Trataka removes eye diseases. It is a closed door to lethargy and so on. Strive to keep it secret  - as if it were a gold box.
Lower the shoulders. Revolve the stomach left and right with the speed of a strong whirlpool. This is called Nauli by the masters.
This Nauli is the crown of Hatha practices. It kindles a weak gastric fire, restores the digestion, etc., always brings happiness, and dries up all defects and diseases.
With fat, phlegm, diseases, impurities, etc., removed by the six karmans, one should do pranayama. One will succeed without strain.
"All impurities dry up by pranayama alone."  Speaking thusly the other karmans are not approved of by some teachers.
Those who have the nadis under control from gradual practice raise the apana wind in the esophogus and vomit the stomach's contents. This is called Gajakarani by knowers of Hatha.
Even Brama and other gods engaged in pranayama because they feared death.  Therefore one should practice pranayama.
As long as the breath is retained in the body, as long as the mind is calm, and as long as the sight is in the middle of the brows, where is the fear of death?
The breath splits open the mouth of the Sushumna and enters easily once all the nadis are purified by restraining prana correctly.
Steadiness of mind is born when the breath moves in the middle. This state of mental steadiness is manonmani.
Those knowing the procedures do various kumbhakas to achieve it. From the practice of various kumbhakas, one obtains various powers.
These are the eight kumbhakas: Suryabhedana, Ujjayi, Sitkari, Shitali, Bhastrika, Bhramari, Murccha, and Plavini.
A bandha named Jalandhara is to be done at the end of inhalation. Uddiiyana is to be done at the end of kumbhaka and the beginning of exhalation.
The prana will enter the Brahma nadi when contraction of the throat, contraction beneath, and retraction in the middle are done.
Having raised the apana upwards, the yogi should guide the prana below the throat. Being liberated from old age, he will be a youth of sixteen.
Form an asana on a comforable seat. Slowly draw in outside air, through the right nadi.
Form the kumbhaka to the limit - from the hair to the toenails. Exhale the breath very slowly through the left nadi.
This most excellent Suryabhedana is to be done again and again. It cleanses the skull, destroys the wind diseases, and removes worm diseases.
Close the mouth. Slowly draw the breath through both nadis so it resonates from the throat to the heart. Form the kumbhaka as before. Exhale the prana through the Ida.
This kumbhaka called Ujjayi can be done walking or standing. It removes phlegm diseases in the throat, increases digestive power in the body, and destroys dropsy and diseases of the nadis and of all bodily constituents.
Inhale making the sound "seet" in the mouth, then exhale only through the nose. By engaging in this practice one becomes a second God of Love.
Respected by all yoginis, maker of creation and destruction, neither hunger nor thirst, nor sleep, nor even lethargy will appear.
The Sitkari will develop the body's vitality. The Lord of Yogis will be completely free of all disabilities on earth.
Draw in air with the tongue. Practice kumbhaka as before. Slowly exhale the air through the nostrils.
This kumbhaka named Shitali destroys enlargement of the glands or spleen, other diseases, fever, bile, hunger, thirst, and poisons.
Place both clean soles of the feet above the thighs. This is Padmasana, destroyer of all evils.
Form Pa\dmasana correctly, neck and belly aligned.  Close the mouth. Expel the prana through the nose so it resonates in the heart, throat, and up to the skull. Then quickly inhale air up to the lotus of the heart (the Anahata Chakra).
Exhale and inhale in the above manner again and again. Just as a blacksmith works the bellows with speed, move the breath in ones own body with the will.
When there is fatigue in the body, inhale though the sun and quickly fill the belly with air. Hold the nose firmly without the middle and indeex fingers. Do kumbhaka in the prescribed manner. Exhale through the Ida.
This removes diseases of the wind, bile, and phlegm. It increases the fire in the body and awakens the kundalini quickly. It purifies, gives pleasure, and is beneficial. It destroys the obstructions of phlegm, etc., that exist at the mouth of the Brahma nadi.
This kumbhaka called Bhastrika is to be done with great regularity. It splits the three strong knots that form in the body.
A quick and resonant inhalation sounding like a bee; a very slow exhalation sounding like a female bee. Thus a certain bliss and delight are born in the minds of good yogis from doing Bhramari.
At the end of inhalation, hold Jalandhara tightly and slowly exhale. This one named Murccha clears the mind and gives happiness.
Move a large amount of air inside, filling the belly. Float happily like a lotus leaf, even in bottomless water. This is Plavini.
Pranayama is said to be of three kinds: exhalation, inhalation, and kumbhaka. Kumbhaka is thought to be of two kinds - Sahita and Kevala. Until such time as Kevala is mastered, one should practice Sahita.
Abandon exhalation and inhalation. Hold the breath comfortably. This pranayama is the one called Kevalakumbhaka.
Nothing in the three worlds is hard to win by one who masters Kevalakumbhaka without exhalation, or inhalation.
One made powerful by Kevalakumbhaka, from holding the breath as desired, obtains even the state of Raja Yoga. In this there is no doubt.
Through kumbhaka the kundalini is awakened. Through awakening the kundalini, the Sushumna is unblocked - and success in Hatha is born.
Raja Yoga will not be complete without Hatha, nor Hatha without Raja Yoga. Therefore practice the pair to perfection.
Make the mind without objects at the end of the retention of the prana in kumbhaka. One should reach the state Raja Yoga by engaging in this practice.
These are indicators of success in Hatha: leanness of body, clearness of face, distinctness of nada, very clear eyes, health, victory over bindu, lighting of the digestive fire, and purity of the nadis.

Thus ends the Second Chapter of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....

Let me end by saying that while I considered myself unsuccessful in yoga, I did have when I quit, many of the indicators of health, I was thin, clear skin, bright eyes, healthy, the others I don't know. So I think it does work, even in my forties people guessed my age as in the twenties. I have from my mid fifties on started to show my true age and lose my health. As decribed in other posts I have recently been hit hard, just before my 62nd birthday, and according to the Dr. I was born with the small hole found in my heart, but never had a problem or even knew it was there until now. I never saw a Dr., except for removing tonsils, and TB xrays as a kid, then for broken ankles, and a hernia repair, since my teen years. I do attribute that to doing Yoga, (and meditation, which I never stopped), if I had kept it up, and been successful perhaps I could have been on the level described in this book, I know it does happen.  We've all heard the stories.
As I said earlier, get a teacher before you do this, if you don't have one....

Lee Murray