Dharana 20 of 112 · verse 90

The Vowel Alone

Sound an open vowel with nothing closing it, and stay with the openness.

Guided practice

00:00Ready

8 minutes. Seated, eyes closed.

Intermediate8 min

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The practice

Sound a long open A — the vowel in "father" — and let it run out without any consonant, hum or closing of the mouth at the end. Nothing seals it. Let each one simply run out of breath and stop. Repeat slowly and attend to how the sound is never finished, only exhausted.

What it works on

An unclosed sound has no ending to grasp. The tradition treats the open vowel as the least obstructed sound the human body makes, and this dharana is about the quality of unobstructedness rather than the vowel itself.

Notes

  • Keep the jaw loose and the volume moderate. This is not a projection exercise.

Practise gently

Shoonyaka offers educational and contemplative material, not medical, psychological or religious authority. Nothing here diagnoses or treats any condition. Stop any practice that leaves you dizzy, frightened or unwell, and treat a strong reaction as a reason to rest rather than to push on.