Basic Magick Concepts.

I agree pain is not needed. But it can be benifical. In Wu Shu we use methods to prepare our body and mind for pain during combat. But these are not done to extremes and under careful supervision. Again they are for concentration and focus not for pleasure.

In karate we do a similar thing, where we condition our body to be able to take the punishment of physical combat. But that is more of a physiological conditioning. It toughens the skin, get's the nerves use to that kind of abuse, and helps you to learn to keep going even if it hurts. But I think that is different from pain in magic. With magic you don't want to get use to the pain. You would want to experience it so that it is producing a different state than normal.

I practice Yoga as well as tantric magic and can say that both for me are extremely useful in keeping my chakras in line as well as having a balance diet. I believe only 7 of the eight are nessacary. I too agree that breath control is apart of meditation.