I’m not sure i understand your question Dave…
From what I understand, under normal conditions the only time both nostrils naturally operate is at sunrise, noon, and sunset. Also very briefly when one nostril switches to the other naturally. Other time is when you have done alternate nostril breathing. By doing alternate nostril breathing what you are doing is forcing both nostrils to operate, to go through sushumna - in preparation for meditation. The reason why scriptures say that best time for meditation is at sunrise and sunset, is because these are times where naturally both nostrils operate, facilitating meditation.
Under normal circumstances, i don’t think both nostrils naturally operate at the same time for extended periods of time.
Hi,
According to my teachings opening of the sushumna is indicated by opening of both nostrils on a permanent basis. I will ask my guru for further info on this and send in a more detailed report.
L&L
Dave
‘the mind can see further than the eyes’
Yes, that’s what they say. Of course, I won’t know until I take the pebbles out…
Being an Indian Id like to comment on the question of Anthem on the difference between vedanta and Jnana. The difference has already been explained by Yogani, but Id like to give the literal meaning. Veda means the holy books of the Indian subcontinent mainly being Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva. Anta means the end so vedanta means the end of veda (or holy books). So vedanta starts where veda stops. So in a way vedanta means that which cannot be taught by scriptures. Jnana means knowledge and vigjana means wisdom. Atma jnana means self knowledge. Ad means (not) and dwaita means (two). Therefore advaita means (not two). These are the literal meanings as far as I know it. This branch of Yoga is based on the presumption that knowledge has the power to transform and hence theoretical knowledge will work out the practical aspects of enlightenment by itself. No comments on the efficacy.
mystiq
thanks for elaborating mystiq.
A
I’m not an Indian (is it relevant?), but I’ve studied Vedanta with one of the leading teachers, Swami Dayananda, and can state that Vedanta definitely does consider the scriptures quite closely. Though anyone studying any topic realizes that the wisdom to be gleaned must be found at a higher level than at the literal word.
“Not two” is another way of saying non-duality. We struggle - both in English and in Sanskrit - to explain the concept, always falling into the inherent trap that all language is dualistic. Vedanta (which most people equate with advaita - though there’s endless splintering) is the study of the Hindu scriptures with a mystical perspective. Its purpose - and the purpose of the scriptures themselves - is to bring you out of the delusion of separateness. Unity. Not two.
This is identical to the goal of yoga, but yoga is more practice oriented, less study oriented…as Yogani says above. I think Yogani is a little harsh, though, in saying the vedanta approach is just about talking and thinking about union than actually achieving it. But what he’s saying is certainly true of many adherents (on the other hand, it’s true of many yogis, too!).
There is an obvious pitfall in using the mind to transcend the mind, and that’s what both vedanta people and jnana yogi do. For this reason Zen Buddhists call this the single most egregious error a human being can make. Indeed, there are many many vedanta people and jnana yogis out there trapped in mazes of the mind, who believe they’re enlightened. But, again, there are many raja and hatha yogis who are similarly self-deluded.
It’s messy and difficult to talk about. My advice, fwiw, is as follows: do AYP religiously, like clockwork. And read some of the non-duality stuff IF it speaks to you (again, Sailor Bob’s the best guy for this culture at this time…Ramana Maharshi is an evergreen, but he can only be fit into any of these categories with a crowbar). That way you get the best of all worlds. If it doesn’t speak to you, relax. You can get there from “I Am” anyway!
Hi all,
My first post in the forum! I am happy 
I have recently started deep meditation but yesterday incorporated alternate nostril breathing for 10min before the meditation in the morning. I did this because I read about it and felt it would be good for me as I have some imbalance between left and right side. Not suprisingly I noticed that I usually have one nostril dominant (ie fully open) and another blocked (fully or partially). Still, when I did the alternate breathing, with ease and patience as not to force too much on the blocked side, nor let it flow too deep on the open side, it worked very well. Even if one nostril was more blocked I felt the calming and balancing effect of the practice and I believe I helped balance both a little.
Today I woke up with the other nostril blocked! It is fascinating this to me (I guess this is what Swara Yoga deals with). It was the same time I woke up both days (actually another effect I seem to be having off meditation: I wake up spontaneously very early, around 6am, and I feel fine; I’d say its the sun rise ). But today the blocked nostril was pretty blocked and I tried the alternate notril pranayama but it was unconfortable, the differences in currents between both notrils was too great.
My question is: is it worth trying doing the alternate nostril pranayama even in cases of big flow differences between the nostrils? I guess it takes a bit more patience but will this be beneficial or better not do it in this circumstances? I ask because I feel a bit sad not being able to do it because it had a very pleasant effect when I did it before. I even tried in the past inhaling eucapyptus vapours to clean up the sinuses to help with clearing!
Thank you and it’s great to be here! I love what Yogani did in AYP. Keep up the good work!
You can use a neti pot to help if it’s too much “snot” built up which is blocking the nostril. Or you can use a danda and place it under your armpit of the open nostril. Or you can lay on your open side. Also, putting your palm against your face on the open side helps.
In my experience swara yoga wasn’t effective and could be somewhat damaging, but it’s good to have both nostrils clear if you’re practicing alternate nostril pranayama. But in my opinion, a more effective thing would be to practice at the time of day when both of your nostrils are naturally open.
Thanks Scott, for your reply.
I have been trying jala neti (the sniffing salty water up my nostrils variety) and it seems to be working. I have usually very loaded sinuses so I will try this twice daily for some days to see the long term effects.
It is funny that in my country we have a similar thing: people use to say that if you go to the beach get some sea water in your hands and sniff it or inhale it a little. It is good for clearing your nose and sinus they say