Namaskar Remember the spiritual urge is the most sublime and subtle. Biopsychology and Yoga Psychology deal with the nature of that urge and how it relates to the human mind and its psycho-physical / physico-psychic and psycho-spiritual structure, along with the relevant layers of the mind. Biopsychology has a lot to do with the psycho-physical and vice versa the physico-psychic. It also deals with the purely psychic, i.e. mental arena. Here psychic means all manner activities in the mental arena, be it creative, higher intellectual pursuits or other subtle activities in the mental sphere. Generally, Yoga Psychology deals with the subtle aspects of psycho-spiritual arena. Yoga means union. Union of unit mind with Cosmic. Hence it deals with the psycho-spiritual. This is further explained in the articles below. Dharma --- MANTRA & CHAKRAS - SOME POINTS TO NOTE An integral part of Tantra is the science of Kundalinii yoga. Kundalinii yoga is by no means unique to Tantra but by the same token, no other spiritual path has given it such a prominent position both in ideological expression and practical implementation. Despite all the esoteric hype about Kundalinii, it is merely a psycho-spiritual force, an ideational force, by which one feels a sense of closer and closer Cosmic sense of unity with the whole of the Cosmos or Cosmic Consciousness. Due to misunderstanding, Kundalinii yoga has been looked upon as a deeply mysterious phenomena. However, once properly approached, Kundalinii can be seen in its true perspective; as simply another aspect of human existence. Kundalinii is the expression of human spiritual potentiality within the psychic being of the individual. In the human being Kundalinii lies in a dormant state until the time of initiation. Kundalinii is not a physical force but a psychic force, or more correctly a psycho-spiritual force. But while it has no actual physical existence, it is true to say that in its sleeping or unmanifest state, it is located in a specific part of the physical body, namely at the base of the spine. But even then it is still only the psychic centre or plexus at the base of the spine that is relevant. This remains its home until it is awakened. The Kundalinii's psychic form, in its dormant state, is said to be like a coiled snake, thus the name kula-kundalinii (meaning "coiled serpentine force"). At initiation the Kundalinii is wakened by the spiritual power of one's personal mantra. This is because, as with all things in this universe, the mantra has a certain vibration that subtlely acts to awaken one's spiritual urge. This may produce effects such as feelings of extreme bliss. Or, alternatively, depending on unexpressed mental tendencies of the individual, called "samskaras" in Sanskrit, it may be a hard struggle due to overcoming negative tendencies. On the other hand the person may not notice anything unusual until much later, after longer periods of meditation. In any event, it is due to the awakening of the Kundalinii that initiation is said to be the spiritual birth of the truth seeker. Initiation involves the receiving of a particular sound vibration, known as a mantra, from a qualified teacher. The mental repetition of this sound further facilitates the spiritual expression of the Kundalinii, keeping it awake. If the mantra is not used properly then the Kundalinii will return to its dormant state. Each repetition of the mantra has the psychic effect of striking against the Kundalinii, and the ideation on the mantra's meaning assists in maintaining this aroused state. Once aroused the Kundalinii begins to open up the hidden corridors of the mind. It does this by moving up the psychic channels of the spine through the gateways in the psychic body; these gateways are known as 'chakras'. These chakras are situated at different points along the spine and are the controlling points of certain feelings, known in Sanskrit as vrttis or propensities. Whenever we are engaged in thought there is some particular vrtti or propensity that is active. These vrttis/propensities within us act as limitations on our thought process - we think or end up thinking along the lines that our feelings are directing us towards. There are basically 50 of these vrttis/propensities in each individual. Their controlling points being in the first six chakras. Through meditation we gain control over the chakras and thereby also gain control over the various vrttis or propensities, enabling us to free our minds from their influence. Another aspect of the vrttis is their relationship to sound. Each one has a particular sound attached to it, these sounds can be heard in an intuitive state during meditation. The yogis in the past developed the Sanskrit language from these very sounds. Each of the 50 characters in the Sanskrit alphabet is a phonetic expression of one of the vrttis, thus the language itself gives expression to a range of particular feelings. The mantra used in meditation is made up of these sounds so that it has the required vibrational effect on the meditator. There is a predominant chakra in each person, chosen on the basis of certain vibrations within them - the mantra is chosen similarly for that person. The lower three chakras are never given for the purpose of meditation as they are controlled by the static and mutative forces, and undesirable effects may result if the mind is fixed on these points. As one goes deeper in meditation, the mental force becomes stronger due to the control of the chakras and vrttis/propensities. This control helps to create a kind of vacuum which draws the Kundalinii upward, bringing us to a pure spiritual experience known as Samadhi, a type of spiritual ecstasy. It can be said that the relationship between the chakras and the glands is similar to the relationship between the mind and the brain, the first having a psycho-spiritual function and the second a more physical purpose. This mind to gland/chakra relationship is the concern of "biopsychology", a new science developed by P.R.Sarkar. --- An indepth article which touches on Biopsychology is: Emerging Paradigms in Mind-Body Medicine. By: Shang, Charles. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, Feb 2001, Vol. 7 Issue 1, p83, 9p. --- SPIRIT IS ONE In Yoga, the sense of self is called the atman (pronounced aht-mahn) and consciousness is called purusa (pu-roo-shah) while the Infinite Consciousness is known as Parama Purusa. According to yogic and tantric philosophy, the spirit or soul is one and the same for everyone. It is beyond relativity, formless, superconscious, and blissful. It is one and the same in all beings and things. It is transcendental because it exists beyond the limited body and mind. You discover the spirit or self/Self or soul/Soul in the moment of your absolute spiritual awareness or enlightenment. You yearn to realise it in the moments of your spiritual or intuitional practices (eg meditation). This is what all approaches to Yoga have in common. Without bringing this spiritual awareness to Yoga, the yoga exercises would be merely exercises - not yogic spiritual practices. Yoga as fitness training is popular in the West. However, this is only a revision of traditional hatha yoga (yoga postures or asanas). Practitioners of yoga as a sport master hundreds of difficult yoga postures to perfection and demonstrate their skills and beautiful physiques. But they do so without taking into account the effect of postures on hormonal secretions, glands and organs of the body and their link to the mind, so the essence of use of hatha yoga for spiritual awareness is lacking. Yoga as fitness training is concerned primarily with the physical body - its flexibility, resilience, and strength. This is how many newcomers to yoga encounter their first experience of something like Yoga. Fitness training is certainly useful and essential. But without the spiritual outlook it is not Yoga in the wholistic sense. People as spiritualists also seek to discover moral principles and spiritual or intuitional practices that are designed to lead to enlightenment. Yoga consists in reigning in your attention so that this spiritual awareness becomes predominant in daily life. Else, the mind is turned towards relative perceptions and experiences. These will always be there, but are not permanent, but can also be seen as a reflection of the Cosmic Expression. Is this relaxation and is relaxation all there is to meditation? The answer is no. Relaxation is only the conscious or unconscious release of unnecessary and therefore unwholesome tension in the body or mind. Spiritual awareness is more than this. The type of 'relaxation' sought is to channel the mind towards higher thought and awareness so that the Supreme Stillness is awakened, not through sleep or dulling of awareness but through active fulfilment and self-awareness. Beyond the relativities of perception of mind. Conscious breathing is often added to awareness and relaxation. Normally, breathing happens automatically. In Yoga, rhythm is brought to this act or is given particular emphasis, which then makes it into a powerful tool for training the body and the mind. But concentration on breathing is not the goal or objective - it is only an aid - as the rhythm of breathing is still only a relative motion and so focusing the mind on that alone will not place it in or move it towards the sense of Supreme Awareness. From the earliest times, spiritual preceptors and aspirants have emphasised the need for a healthy body, mind and awakened consciousness or spirit. So they have also always pointed beyond the body and the mind to spiritual consciousness as the important aspect of being. So is therapy and Yoga a therapy? Does it have application to restore full physical and mental functioning? In recent years, some Western teachers have begun to use Yogic practices for therapeutic purposes. The idea behind yoga therapy is very old, its name is fairly new. Therapy is a professional discipline, calling for training and skill on the part of the therapist. Of course, a profound spiritual practice or intuitional practice such as meditation is therapeutic and in this sense the ultimate therapy is spiritual awareness and spiritual inclination. Psychological therapy is best left to those professionals, while techniques for spiritual awareness is the domain of the spiritual teacher. Both have their role to fulfil. Therapy may be able to help you find relief from certain ailments (physical and mental). The awakening of devotion and channelling of mind and self towards the Supreme within may be helped by such therapy, but that therapy alone being concerned with the relativities of body and mind cannot be a technique known as a spiritual practice which is concerned with attaining what is beyond the body and mind - and realising the spiritual. Yoga as a spiritual lifestyle, enters the proper domain of Yoga. Meditation twice a day for half an hour or so is enormously beneficial in this regard. So there is a Sanskrit sloka or verse which says: Na tasya ka'ryam' ka'ran'ainca vidyate Na tatsamashca' bhyadhikashca drshyate Para'sya shaktirvividhaeva shru'yate Sva'bha'bikii jinanabalakriya' ca That is: You can not point to gold, silver, iron, sand or stone and say 'this is the life of my life, as each is a mere quinquelemental object. Brahma (the Supreme Entity) is an unbroken flow of Consciousness. Is Brahma really devoid of external characteristics? Yes. There is nothing outside Brahma (Consciousness) and thus no way to discern Its characteristics from without. So is Brahma also devoid of internal characteristics? No. Where there is an expression of internal assimilation, Brahma certainly does possess characteristics. In the internal body of that Infinite Consciousness there is an incessant flow of thought which causes the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the entire universe. This Macrocosmic thought process originates and functions within the Cosmic Mind - Sagun'a Brahma or Attributional Brahma - and takes place due to the influence of the three binding forces or gun'as and as such possesses certain characteristics. Then another verse states: Yato va' ima'ni bhu'tani Ja'yante yena ja'ta'ni jiivanti Yatprayantyabhisam'vishanti Tadvijijina'sasva tadbrahma. That is: All the created beings emerge, are maintained and finally dissolve in the flow of Cosmic Ideation. So try to know that Supreme Entity, the veritable Brahma (Consciousness). In Tantra the same idea has been expressed: Yato vishvam' samudbhu'tam' yenaja'tainca tis't'hati Yasmin sarva'n'i liiyante jinayam' tadbrahmalaks'aen'aeh. The entity in whom the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe takes place is Brahma (the Absolute). It is this awareness that meditation brings and to which the spiritual aspirant aspires. --- OTHER BENEFITS OF MEDITATION § Mental Clarity § Mental Peace § Feeling of Bliss and Well-Being § Transcending Complexes § Self-Knowledge § Stronger Intuition § Vitality § Emotional Stability § Forgiveness § Transcending Petty Anxieties § Detachment § Emotional Stability § Ability to Remain Calm in the midst of Confusion § Sense of Meaning § Feeling of Progress § Lower Pulse Rate § Better Concentration § Improved Memory § Fearlessness § Positive Self-Image § Longevity § Cheerfulness and Positivity § Self-Control § Adaptability --- RECOMMENDED READING LIST OF NEW YOGIS Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramhansa Yogananda Cutting through Spiritual Materialism - Chogyam Trungpa Eye to Eye – Ken Wilbur God's Pauper - Nikos Kazanzakis Jonathan Livingstone Seagull - Richard Bach Journey of Awakening - Ram Das Milarepa: Tibet's Greatest Yogi - Gtsan-Smyon He-Ru-Ka, W. Y. Evans-Wentz, Zla-Ba-Bsam-'Grub, Donald S. Lopez Jr. No Boundary - Ken Wilbur Ramakrsna: Life of Ramakrsna – Christopher Isherwood Siddhartha - Herman Hesse The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint Exupéry The Way of the White Clouds - Lama Angarika Govinda Zen Mind, Beginners Mind - Shunryu Suzuki --- Web sites to check out: www.anandamarga.org – Ananda Marga www.amurt.net - Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team www.prout.org – Progressive Utilization Theory www.ru.org – Renaissance Universal