Sohum Practice

Technique:
SOHUM is practiced in three main stages for the beginner, intermediate and the advanced student

1. Imagine the sound of “So” coming into the body with the inhalation from 36 fingers* distance from the tip of the nose. “So” enters by the tip of the nose and moves with the breath to the fontanel, the Sahasrar, medulla oblongata and down the sushumnato the root of the navel. At that point “So” converts into “Hum”. Then exhale imagining the sound of “Hum” going up the same path (From navel to tip of the nose is also 36 fingers distance). The breath may come and go without holding, but if you wish you may hold it. In the beginning you must use your imagination to hear the sound of the breath as “So” and “Hum”, but after some time you will actually hear it.

2. Here the breath is observed moving in a slightly different manner. With the inhalation the breath moves with “So” from the Sahasrar to the base of the spine, the Muladhar chakra. And with exhalation the breath moves with “Hum” from the Muladhar to the Sahasrar. With the inhalation comes white light. With the exhalation comes red light.
   
   During this more subtle practice one watches the movement of the breath in the sushumna, and catches either glimpses or stable appearances of the chakras – their colors and/or movements of energy. “So” brings the power of the soul and “Hum” goes up burning all negativities. “So” moves with prana and “Hum” moves with apana. Both merge into one another during their continuing cycle.
3. This is a very subtle practice using inner breathing, kevali pranayam, where the gross breath stops. The breath is held without effort and without breathing in or out. Enter the sushumna by “So” at the Sahasrar and go to the Muladhar chakra. Focus will remain during deep meditation on the chakra. “So” is stationed at the Sahasrar, “Hum” is stationed at the Hara. As the subtle breath moves “So” goes down as it expands from its station and merges into “Hum” at the Hara. “Hum” expands upwards from its station to the Sahasrar. This subtle inner breath or current of life force is moving and sustaining the body, but the focus is still on the chakra. Fifteen (15) days should be spent on each chakra starting at the base and then moving systematically upward to each chakra, for 2 to 3 hours per day.
   
   Ultimately the kundalini is awakened and this great current goes to the Sahasrar, and the Turiya State is reached. In this state the intellect, mental function, ego and senses are not working. This is the transcendental state.