Meditation Gems Namaskar Raising the Kundalini by Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya The science of kundalini is thousands of years old. It is an essential part of Tantra, the spiritual science which was systematized seven thousand years ago by Lord Sada'shiva. Tantra was never publicly revealed: only worthy disciples were taught it in direct transmission from their spiritual teachers, lest the powerful practices fall into the hands of immoral or power-seeking individuals. Thus for centuries this ancient science was passed only from the guru / teacher to disciple, and never written down. But gradually the calibre of masters degenerated and it became necessary to write the secrets down so they would not be completely lost. But when they were written, they were written in a "twilight language" that is, in allegory, symbolism, code, so they could not be misinterpreted and misused by unworthy seekers. For this reason, if we do not have a proper guide, the ancient texts may be confusing or even misleading to us today. What is Kundalini? The yogic philosophy is that Prakrti (the Operative Principle of the Supreme Consciousness) manifests Herself in and through the Cosmic order as Shiva'nii (first phase), Bhaeravii (second phase) and Bhava'nii (third phase), respectively. So, when Prakrti loses Her balance, different evolutionary changes begin in the Cosmic Consciousness. Prakrti and Her principles are given different names at different stages of evolutionary change in the flow of creation. Anandamurti explains the three phases as follows. 1. At the first stage, when there is no imbalance in the triangle of forces (sentient, mutative, static), Prakrti is called Shiva'nii Shakti (or Kaos'ikii Shakti). She is given this name because she is responsible for the creation of the kos'as [layers of mind]. In that supreme stage Kaos'ikii / Shiva'nii remains unmanifested, remains as the primordial cause of all subsequent manifestations. 2. The second stage of Prakrti occurs when the triangle of forces loses its equilibrium. This is the stage at which Prakrti is first expressed as a straight line emerging from one of the vertices of the unbalanced triangle. It is called the Bhaeravii or intermediate stage. At this stage of expression there is no wave, and hence creation remains beyond the scope of perception. It is only when na'da [flow without curvature] is converted into kala' [flow with curvature] that creation comes within the scope of perception. 3. When Bhaeravii Shakti attains the form of kala' (curvatures) She is called Bhava'nii Shakti, and thus begins Prakrti's third stage of expression. Bhava'nii Shakti is active in air, light, vital energy and numerous other entities, and is responsible for maintaining the coordinating link between the crude and the subtle. Her last expression, Bhava'nii, is static in nature. By her influence the Infinite Consciousness becomes crudified to the ultimate stage, the solid factor. So the frequencies in the creation have become denser. Everything manifest is vibrations including matter, which is the most compressed. What is this universe? Where there is predominance of Bhaeravii Shakti (initial loss of equilibrium) the universe is unmanifested - there is, in a sense, no vibration as the expression is like a straight line. The domination of Bhava'nii Shakti (static expression of energy) means the manifestation of the universe. The kun'dalinii is the expression of this Bhava'nii Shakti in the human form. According to Tantra, the human structure is a microcosm of the Macrocosmic Universe. The five cakras (chakras) or subtle-energy centers of the human body are the controlling points of the five fundamental factors (solid, liquid, luminous, aerial, ethereal) within the human form: mu'la'dha'ra cakra (1st psychic centre) - controls the solid factor; sva'dhis't'ha'na (2nd psychic centre) - controls the liquid factor; man'ipu'ra (3rd psychic centre) - controls the luminous factor; ana'hata (4th psychic centre) - controls the aerial factor; vishuddha (5th psychic centre) - controls the ethereal factor. The unit mind is the microcosmic replica of the Cosmic Mind and its controlling seat is ajina' cakra (6th psychic centre); and the seat of the Supreme Consciousness in the human body is the sahasra'ra cakra (7th psychic centre). Thus in the human form mu'la'dha'ra cakra (1st psychic centre) is the controlling center of the crudest factor, solid - the most static point of the body. This is the ultimate state of crude expression, the end-point of creation, so to speak. Here the momentum of Prakrti has come to an end: She is exhausted, in her most static state. It is here in the Mu la' dha' ra cakra that the Bhava'nii Shakti in the form of kund'alinii 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'd'alinii.' 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 centers of all the na'd'iis, that is, the subtle-energy flows within the body. The kun'd'alinii is lying quiet in the mu'la'dha'ra cakra which blocks her free passage-way up the sus'umna (the sus'umna' canal is that which passes through the length of the spinal column and extends up to the crown of the head). 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'd'alinii 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 kundalinii, transmuting energy from lower centers to higher ones - the opening of the sus'umna canal and the progressive release and channeling of the powerful dormant energies in the human body. All spiritual practice, of whatever variety, consists of elevating the kun'd'alinii; and every genuine spiritual experience - the visitation of the Lord or angels, flashes of light hearing the subtle sounds of divine music, ecstasy, union with God, trance - is a manifestation of the ascent of this spiritual energy. Awakening The Kundalini: Mantra The liberation of the kun'd'alinii can be attained by a single stroke of a siddha mantra, a "proven" or effective mantra A mantra is a collection of sound waves which can produce a powerful resonance, or sympathetic vibration, in the mind. The ta'ntrik a scriptures say, "inconceivable is the power mantra". Mantra is, in fact, the very basis of the science of tantra; it means, "that which liberates the mind" from the bondages of Prakrti and returns it to the state of pure Consciousness ("man" = "mind"; "trae" - "to liberate"). A siddha mantra is one which has been invested with spiritual power by a true spiritual preceptor or guru who knows the science of meditation. In mysticism it is said that in the process of investing a mantra, the guru raises his own kund'alinii to the highest point, sahasra'ra cakra, and then repeats the mantra, giving it intense spiritual energy. Then he lowers his Kund'alinii again. When the mantra is given correctly in the process of initiation, spoken directly from teacher to disciple, the vibration of the phrase or word will actually "strike" the sleeping spiritual Source within the individual and awaken it. For this reason mantras learned from books or other sources (even the internet!) will not carry the force of a siddha mantra. The yogic spiritual literature says: "Only that mantra which is received through the Grace of the Guru can give all fulfillment." (Kularn'ava Tantra). From the time the mantra is given, the more frequently and intensely the spiritual aspirant repeats it, the more the kun'd'alinii rises under its vibrational impact. But when the repetition stops, it again returns to slumber. If the mental repetition of the siddha mantra continues all the time, day and night, the kun'd'alinii remains perpetually awakened. When the kund'alinii is sleeping, the individual remains in one of the three states: wakeful, dream or dreamless sleep. Only when the kun'd'alinii is awakened can the individual enter the fourth, turiiya, state, the state of non-duality. Initiation The Tantric scriptures say: "initiation is the first ladder to the terrace of liberation". Initiation is the learning of spiritual practices and in Tantra the initial learning of meditative spiritual practices. Initiation is that process by which the powerful siddha mantra is conferred upon the worthy aspirant by his or her guru, and the disciple's kun'dalinii is suddenly awakened from slumber by the 'hit' of the mantra (called mantra' gha't). We use the English word ‘initiation’ to convey the sense of attaining the initial lesson of spiritual practices associated with meditation (in Sanskrit it is called diiks'a'). The word ‘initiation’ though cannot represent the spirit of diiks'a'. The rudimental meaning of ‘initiation’ is ‘to resort to a new avenue of progress’. The word ‘tantra’ is derived from ‘tan’ which means ‘to expand’ and ‘tra’ which means ‘liberator’. So the science that frees the aspirant from the fetters of bondages by expansion - by expanding the mind, by expanding the existence - is Tantra. The first lesson of meditation gives the aspirant the route, the way or path. It shows the path of bliss. To show the path light is required; and that light is also supplied by this diiks'a'. There is much behind this process and science. As with all things to do with spiritual practice, its is 90% practical and so understood by doing and learning from a competent person. Even intellectually the approach is: "Guide my intellect unto the path of bliss, so that I may do something in this universe". In Tantra the system of learning meditation is highly scientific. It involves an awakening (some may call it a spiritual light) and attaining one's mantra to assist conceptual understanding of and psychic association with spiritual ideation. In the Tantras it is said that: "The process which produces the capacity to realise the inner import of mantra and which expedites the requital of one's potential reactions to past actions (the sam'ska'ras or reactive momenta) is called diiks'a' ". The Spiritual Preceptor The guru provides the parts of spiritual practice not shared in books, but those revealed when the student is ready. These are secrets to success, being shared. One is not giving up ones own experience, but wisely benefiting from the experience of one who has succeeded in attaining or is one with the Supreme Consciousness. The true guru is the maha'kaola. According to Tantra, there are two categories of yogis, kaola and maha'kaola. A kaol a is a spiritual aspirant who has raised his or her kun'dalinii to the controlling point of the pineal gland, who has achieved the union between the fundamental negativity and the fundamental positivity , that is, between the starting point and the culminating point. ‘Kaola’: it comes from the adjective of ‘kula’ which is ‘kaola’. Each and every sa'dhaka can become a kaola by his/her sa'dhana' (meditative spiritual practices). Maha'kaolas are rare personalities. For a devotee (maha'kaola) is called 'Ta'raka Brahma' - the expression of Brahma (God) as the Liberator. The yogic philosophy says that Ta'raka Brahma takes shape to help people in their progress in Tantra or spiritual practices. Shiva was a maha'kaola. He came here about 7000 years ago. After him, about 3500 years ago, there came another maha'kaola: He was called Krsn'a. The difference between kaola and maha'kaola is that a kaola raises his or her kulakun'dalinii by sa'dhana' (spiritual practices) and establishes union with the fundamental negativity and the fundamental positivity. In the case of maha'kaola, here the guru has the power to raise the kulakun'dalinii of others also. Kaola cannot raise others' kulakun'dalinii, he or she can only raise his or her own. But a maha'kaola can, if so desiring, raise the kulakun'dalinii of others also. (from a discourse/darshan by Shrii Shrii Anandamurti in the Philippines). A Universal Science Many spiritual and religious traditions throughout the ages have known this science of the kun'd'alinii and its ascent: the Chinese alchemists and Taoists, and Hebrew mystics. Some believe that the "seven churches" and the "mystery of the seven stars" ref erred to by John in Revelation represent 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." Tantra has a broad metaphysical base which allows for ways of knowing, feeling and processing that go far beyond the limited rationality that informs the Western Enlightenment project. Priorities are different because "spiritual life controls all other arenas of human life" (Anandamurti). 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. This is an excerpt from The Spiritual Philosophy of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti: Commentary on Ananda Sutram by Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya. Avadhutika Ananda Mitra Acarya is a senior teacher of Ananda Marga meditation and the author of more than 15 books on yoga philosophy and practices. --- GROUP MEDITATION Every week, usually on Sunday evenings, Ananda Marga groups in different locations hold group meditation, called 'Dharma Cakra', the 'Circle of Dharma'. Group meditation is very important for maintaining inspiration for spiritual practices. It also creates deep unity among participants and raises the spiritual vibration. Dharma Chakra begins with some spiritual or devotional songs followed by kiirtan (spiritual chant and dance), then silent meditation. Before meditating the following mantra is repeated collectively: SAM'GACCHADVAM' SAM'VADADHVAM' SAM'VOMANAM' SI JANATAM DEVABHAGAM' YATHA' PURVE SAM'JANA'NA' UPA'SATE SAM'ANI VA' AKUTI SAMA'NA HRDAYANI VAH SAMA'NAMA'STU VOMANO YATHA VAH SUSAHA'SATI The meaning is: LET US MOVE TOGETHER LET US SING TOGETHER LET US COME TO KNOW OUR MINDS TOGETHER LET US SHARE, LIKE SAGES OF THE PAST THAT ALL PEOPLE TOGETHER MAY ENJOY THE UNIVERSE UNITE OUR INTENTIONS LET OUR HEARTS BE INSEPARABLE OUR MIND IS AS ONE MIND AS WE, TO TRULY KNOW ONE ANOTHER, BECOME ONE. This shloka (verse) is sung three times before beginning the actual meditation. It is from the Rk Veda, composed 15,000 years ago. At the end of meditation the following mantra is repeated: NITYAM' SHUDHAM' NIRABHASAM' NIRAKARAM' NIRANJANAM NITYABODHAM' CIDANANDAM' GURUR BRAHMA NAMAMYAHAM This means: ETERNAL, PURE, INDESCRIBABLE ENTITY FORMLESS, WITHOUT BLEMISH OMNISCIENT, BLISSFUL CONSCIOUSNESS TO GURU-BRAHMA, SUPREME CONSCIOUSNESS, I PAY MY SALUTATIONS. This can be followed by what is called Guru Puja, a process of mental surrender of the colours, or attachments, of the mind. A special mantra is repeated while each person offers mental "flowers" that symbolize their attachments, notionally laying them at the 'feet' of Cosmic Consciousness - the Supreme Entity. Their is also a Supreme Command, which reminds us of the importance of regular meditation as well as following a moral life and the importance of helping others on the spiritual path. Inspirational reading and/or a talk follows. Discussion and socialising then begins. For more information on group meditation contact your nearest Ananda Marga centre. ---