FAQ

General Questions

1) What is pranayama?

Pranayama means energy expansion or liberation, with the practical purpose being to control the nervous energy responsible for sensory input. It is a grab-bag term that includes methods of meditation, breath regulation, concentration, and inward gazing. As such, pranayama has a whole host of applications. Pranayama is the advanced technique of stilling the breath, stilling the heart, and withdrawing the mind from the senses.

2) Where did pranayama come from?

Pranayama has been rediscovered countless times and taught cross-culturally. The techniques of pranayama were known to many ancient civilizations. However, since only India has survived the passage of time, pranayama has been given an Indian bent as is referred to with a Sanskrit word.

3) How is pranayama different from other religions, techniques, philosophies, and mystical systems?

Pranayama is not different so much as it is the science behind the various techniques used by every mystical system of the world. The methods taught by various spiritual leaders are variations on the theme of pranayama. However, since many of today's religions formed during darker times, their techniques are not as sophisticated as formal pranayama.

Questions Concerning the Ordering Process

1) After I place my order, how soon will I receive my techniques?

The Pranayama Institute (TPI) will not send the ordered items to you. After an order is placed, an E-mail is automatically sent to the E-mail address entered in the order form. That E-mail describes the process by which students access the ordered items online. Links to your order are also available on the final page of the ordering process. Everything TPI offers is disseminated through the Internet. Nothing, except hard copy CD's and books like God Without Religion, is sent by mail or E-mail. It is the responsibility of the student to access his/er own techniques, lessons, and E-books.

2) I placed my order, but I did not receive an E-mail. What can I do?

If you placed an order but did not receive an E-mail detailing how to access your techniques, then chances are you typed in an incorrect E-mail address. Simply go back and place an order again. If you made a donation on your first order but do not wish to make a duplicate donation, simply place your order without entering making a donation.

3) Can TPI ever make an exception and send hard copies of their techniques by snail mail?

In order to keep costs low, TPI will not mail out orders. If we began to offer such a service, TPI would be forced to charge for the instructions given. Since doing so would be against our basic ideal, this service is not offered.

4) The Web Page for The Pranayama Institute says that its instructions are free, but when I try to place an order, I cannot move to the next phase of ordering without inputting a credit card. What am I doing wrong?

All of TPI's instructions are free. They are entirely without charge. You do not need to pay by paypal and you do not need to send us a check. You will not be billed. This policy is inviolable and is what separates TPI from most every other Yoga and Meditation organization in the world. If you are asked to pay, then it is because you chose to donate for a specific technique. Go back and choose $0 for your donation amount.

5) I would like to make a donation, but I do not want to donate the entire amount of my order. Is that possible?

If you would like to make a donation for $10, for example, you may either send us a check for $10 or pay that amount by paypal; otherwise paying nothing for the techniques, and making a separate $10 donation. Only hard items listed with prices require payment.

6) Will I ever be billed?

No. TPI does not bill anyone. You will not be billed, nor do you need to mail out any money. You may send a check or money order as a donation, but even then you are not required to send a check out for the amount of your order. Your check can be of any amount.

7) What is meant by "Suggested Donation?" How are the monetary values for these techniques determined?

The techniques that TPI offers are priceless in their benefits to one's expanding self-knowledge, meaning no value that realistically reflects on any goods, trade, currency, service, or exchange rate can be placed on them. That is why they are free. However, Sankara Saranam decided that even those who wish to make a donation should not be suggested to donate large sums of money. The donation values are therefore designed to be very low so that those who wish to support this work and make a donation will not feel strained in doing so. The adage "You get what you pay for" could not be farther from the truth if by payment money is meant, but you do get what you pay for in the time invested in practicing the methods. We'll ask you to pay for a hard copy of God Without Religion, and you are certainly free to donate to help us cover our costs or promote our work, but otherwise everything is free.

8) Is there a limit on how much I can order without making a donation?

No. Order as much as you like. Your limits are more likely determined by the amount of time you have in the day to practice what you order.

9) I do not wish to give personal information. Can I still order from TPI?

Technically, you can order anything so long as you give a verifiable E-mail address. However, it must be noted that TPI does not share its data base with anyone, nor will it ever. In fact, we rarely if ever use it ourselves. You might receive a Newsletter, which you can easily cancel your subscription to if you like. We rarely do fund-raising drives through E-mail, so an E-letter is the most you will ever see from giving your E-mail to us.

10) Is giving a donation simply a nice way of giving money or is there more to it?

We refer to giving money to TPI as donations because we are a 501(c)(3) public charity. This means that the money you give to us, assuming you are a resident of the USA, is tax deductible. Otherwise, for those who live abroad or for those who do not plan on using such a payment as a deduction at tax time, it is simply supporting the work of TPI through monetary means.