Question: Is pranayama necessary?

Sri Chinmoy: Some teachers say that before entering into the practice of meditation one must go through asanas and then through pranayama, but I say that this is not necessary. It is through aspiration, through invoking the presence of God inside our heart, that we can reach and unveil our divinity.

From:Sri Chinmoy,Problems! Problems! Are they really problems? part 1, Agni Press, 1974
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/pat_1