What is the interrelation between regulation of thought and regulation of breath?

Devotee:  What is the interrelation between regulation of thought and regulation of breath?


Ramana Maharishi:  Thought (intellectual) and respiration, circulation, etc. (vegetative) activities are both different aspects of the same - the individual life.  Both depend upon (or metaphorically ‘reside’ or ‘inhere’ in) life. Personality and other ideas spring from it like the vital activity. If respiration or other vital activity is forcibly repressed, thought  also is repressed. If thought is forcibly slowed down and pinned to a point, the vital activity of respiration is slowed down, made even and confined to the lowest level compatible with life. In both cases the distracting variety of thought is temporarily at an end.  The interaction is noticeable in other ways also. Take the will to live. That is thought-power. That sustains and keeps up life when other vitality is almost exhausted and delays death. In the absence of such will-power death is accelerated. So thought is said to carry life with it in the flesh and from one fleshy body to another.