75 inches.
During sleep the respiration becomes 75 inches long. As sleep causes a
great waste of the body and invites disease, premature decay and death,
the Yogi tries to abstain from it. He lives upon the following
dietary:--rice, 6 ounces troy; milk, 12 ounces troy. He consumes daily:
carbon, 156.2 grains; nitrogen, 63.8 grains.
Under this diet he is ever watchful, and spends his time in the
contemplation of Om. From the small quantity of nitrogen contained in
his diet he is free from anger. The Yogi next subdues his carnal desire
or sexual appetite. He diminishes day by day his food until it reaches
the minimum quantity on which existence is maintained. He passes his
life in prayer and meditation. He seeks retirement. He lives in his
little cell; his couch is the skin of tiger or stag; he regards gold,
silver, and all precious stones as rubbish. He abstains from flesh,
fish, and wine. He never touches salt, and lives entirely on fruits and
roots. I saw a female mendicant who lived upon a seer of potatoes and a
small quantity of tamarind pulp daily.
Pages:
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744