Namaskar We now look at the kun'dalinii, what it is and how it is aroused. The introductory articles below, set the scene and give an initial introduction. Regards Dharma --- Cakras and Kundalinii Within our hearts lies a desire for unity - unity between outer and inner, between self and universe, or self and Divine. In the process of spiritual development 3 things are required: 1) A clear goal 2) Awakening our latent spiritual force 3) The ability to deal with obstacles which occur at different stages. These three requirements have psycho-physical counterparts within the human structure and understanding them will help us achieve our goal of unity more effectively. 1) The Sahasrara Cakra - Seat of Absolute Consciousness: Our Goal According to Yoga various levels of consciousness exist beginning with sensory awareness and culminating in Absolute Consciousness. When the mind operates at the level of sensory awareness its spiritual potential lies dormant at the base of the spine known as the Muladhara Cakra (Earth Plexus). When aroused this spiritual energy rises up the spine until it reaches the crown of the head known as the Sahasrara Cakra or Transcendental Plexus. The two points are connected by a channel known as the “Susumna”. When the mind is focused on the spiritual goal (Absolute Consciousness) or on the physical location of the Sahasrara Cakra, or the two in combination, this creates a vacuum in the Susumna Channel which encourages the latent spiritual force to rise. If the latent spiritual force is ignited without a proper goal to give it direction, results can be harmful (as in the case of drug use). Thus, the spiritual goal and knowledge about its corresponding position in the body is very important for spiritual success. 2) Awakening the Kundalinii - our Latent Spiritual Force According to Yoga all living beings come from Absolute Consciousness and seek to return to that state. The seed of that potentiality lies dormant in the base of the spine. This potential consciousness is called the Kula Kundalinii or “Coiled Serpentine Force”. In order to attain the absolute state of consciousness this dormant Kundalinii energy must be aroused and begin its journey up the Susumna Channel towards the Sahasrara Cakra. Yogic Mantras are especially designed to awaken the Kundalinii but in order to be effective they must be “activated”. Traditionally this job of “activation” is performed by the realised Guru who imparts spiritual force to the Mantra during the process of initiation. After initiation, constant practice of the Mantra creates a continual sparking force which activates the Kundalinii. Without the awakened Kundalinii spiritual realisation is impossible. Thus it is important for a spiritual aspirant to understand the technique of awakening Kundalinii. 3) The Cakras - Transition Stages on the Spiritual Journey As the Kundalinii rises our consciousness passes through different levels, ever more expanded and unified. These levels are controlled by psychic centres known as Cakras (Plexii) located along the Spinal Column. The Cakras grip the Susumna Channel and will not allow the Kundalinii to rise unless they are stabilised, purified and brought under control. By knowing the location of these Cakras and the sounds, shapes and colours which are their keys the Yogi can use various meditation techniques to bring them under his or her control (The first of these techniques is being able to live according to ethical principles). Once purified and under control the Cakras release their grip on the Susumna and allow the Kundalinii to pass. Thus knowledge of the Cakras and the techniques for controlling them is an essential element of spiritual progress. --- What is Kun'dalinii ? The five cakras or subtle-energy centres of the human body are the controlling points of the five fundamental factors within the human form. These are: 1. mu'la'dha'ra cakra - controls the solid factor; 2. sva'dhis't'ha'na cakra - controls the liquid factor; 3. man'ipu'ra cakra - controls the luminous factor; 4. ana'hata cakra - controls the aerial factor; 5. vishuddha cakra - controls the ethereal factor. 6. The unit mind is the microcosmic replica of the Cosmic Mind and its controlling seat is a'jina' cakra. 7. The seat of the Supreme Consciousness in the human body is the sahasra'ra cakra. Thus in the human form, mu'la'dha'ra cakra is the controlling centre of the crudest factor, solid - the most static point of the body. It is in the Mu la' dha' ra cakra that the kun'dalinii is asleep. Asleep -- but not dead: here all the infinite potential energy of the Universe, the powerful force that has created this vast world of infinite variety, is lying, waiting to return to its state of union with the Supreme Consciousness again. She is waiting to be awakened from Her slumber, to ascend to the seat of pure Consciousness, the Sahasra'ra cakra. The kula is the last point of the spinal cord. ‘Ku’ means ‘physical structure’ and ‘la’ means ‘container’ So ‘kula’ means ‘the container of the physical structure’. Since the Bhava'nii Shakti is lying; in potential form in the kula, in the mu'la'dha'ra cakra. She is called ‘kulakun'dalinii’. The cakras have been described as ‘nerve plexuses’ and seem to be related to the endocrine system, but they are far subtler than the physical glands or nerves. They are the controlling centres of all the na'd'iis, that is, the subtle-energy flows within the body. The kun'dalinii is lying quiet in the mu'la'dha'ra cakra which blocks her free passage-way up the sus'umna (the central channel through which the kun'dalinii passes when it is aroused by spiritual practices). The unit consciousness came from the Supreme Consciousness and has the potential to, merge again in that Source; what separates the two are the various bondages of mental propensities, represented in the human body by the cakras. As the kun'dalinii rises in the sus'umna and pierces the cakras one by one, the bondages break, and the unit again becomes the Supreme - jiiva (unit consciousness) becomes Shiva (Supreme Consciousness). Thus the spiritual journey is essentially the journey of the kun'dalinii, transmuting energy from lower centres to higher ones - the opening of the sus'umna canal and the progressive release and channelling of the powerful dormant energies in the human body. All spiritual practice, of whatever variety, consists of elevating the kun'dalinii; and every genuine spiritual experience - from the visitation of the Lord or angels, flashes of light hearing the subtle sounds of divine music, ecstasy, trance, to union with God - is a manifestation of the ascent of this spiritual energy. A Universal Science Many spiritual and religious traditions throughout the ages have known this science of the kun'dalinii and its ascent: for example, the Chinese alchemists and Taoists, and Hebrew mystics. Some believe that the ‘seven churches’ and the ‘mystery of the seven stars’ referred to by John in Revelation represents the seven cakras. A great medieval Christian mystic, Jacob Boehme, described his own experience: "For the Holy Ghost will not be held in the sinful flesh, but rises up like a lightning flash, as fire sparkles and flashes out of a stone when a man strikes it. The Holy Spirit rises up, in the seven unfolding fountain spirits, into the brain, like the dawning of the day, the morning redness ... though an angel from heaven should tell this to me, for all that I could not believe it. But the Sun itself arises in my Spirit, and therefore I am most sure of it." Enlightenment has been held to be the summum bonum of human existence for thousands of years ... if not more. When the ego and I-feeling dissolve, one's sense of identity remains intact in another different sense. Instead of identifying as the unit self, one now identifies as the Universal Self. According to Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: "Spiritual practice means practice for expansion, and this expansion is nothing but a liberation from the bondage of all sorts of staticity. A person, who, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, aspires for spiritual expansion or does something concrete, is a Tantric. Tantra in itself is neither a religion nor an ism. Tantra is the fundamental spiritual science." Yoga means unification, and it is unification of unit consciousness, unit spirit, unit cognitive principle, becoming one with the Supreme One, with Cosmic Consciousness, the Cognitive Faculty. Unification in yoga has to do with the mind elevating itself through the force of Cosmic ideation and this imbibes much more subtler experiences than that of the senses. As the kun'dalinii rises, mind becomes elevated because it moves towards higher consciousness where the 'I-feeling' is on the silver lining with true spiritual consciousness or soul. Then one is transcending the relative world and experiencing the Divine. Kun'dalinii is that spiritual force aroused through learning spiritually oriented meditative practices and it rises by force of ideation on what is the true spiritual self. Ultimately the unit mind immerses itself and identifies with the Universal Consciousness. This one experiences, step by step, by inner realisation through spiritual practices. --- What is Ananda Marga? Ananda Marga is a social and spiritual movement founded in 1955 by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti (P.R. Sarkar). The mission of Ananda Marga is to help individuals achieve self-realization and to build a social structure in which the physical, mental and spiritual needs of all people can be fulfilled. Ananda Marga contributes to the process of individual development by providing instruction in meditation and other yoga practices on a non-commercial basis. Ananda Marga works for the creation of a better society through social service programmes in the fields of education, disaster relief, rural development and health. --- Some websites www.amurt.net AMURT activities and updated news around the world. www.anandamarga.net Lots of online articles on all aspects of Ananda Marga spiritual practices and philosophy. The following articles (and more) can now be found at: www.proutjournal.org Toward a new economics and social ideal.