Sutra 3.38

Translation Breathing is the beginning of the three steps.

Meaning In the stage of Anavopaya, the path of the individual soul, the seeker begins with the most tangible aspect of their existence: the breath. The term "tripada" refers to the three fundamental states of consciousness or the three steps of spiritual ascent often described as waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, or alternatively as the gross, subtle, and causal levels of reality. This sutra indicates that the gateway to traversing these dimensions and realizing the unity of Shiva is found right here, in the rhythmic pulsation of life force, or prana.

The breath is not merely a biological function but the visible manifestation of the divine vibration (spanda) that sustains the universe. By observing the breath, the practitioner anchors their awareness in the present moment, moving from the scattered mind of the limited self toward the unified field of consciousness. It serves as the foundational step because it bridges the voluntary and involuntary, the conscious and the unconscious, allowing the seeker to ride the current of life energy back to its source.

This teaching emphasizes that liberation does not require escaping the body or the physical world but rather diving deeply into the very mechanism that keeps us alive. When one watches the breath with steady attention, the separation between the observer and the observed begins to dissolve. The act of breathing becomes a sacred ritual where the individual realizes that the same energy filling the lungs is the same energy expanding the cosmos, initiating the ascent through the three steps toward non-dual awareness.

Contemplation Throughout your day, pause three times to feel the natural rhythm of your breath without trying to change it. As you inhale, silently recognize this as the universe entering you; as you exhale, recognize it as you merging back into the universe. Let this simple awareness be the first step that grounds you in the living presence of Shiva, using the breath as an anchor to return whenever the mind wanders into distraction or worry.