kundalini
je sanskrit beseda v pomenu zvijajoc navzor, ali zvijajoc kot kaca.
Caduceus simbol zvijajoce kace je starodaven simbol Kundalini filozofije.
Kundalini koncept prihaja iz jogi filozofije stare indije in se navezuje na inteligenco, prebujenjem in duhovnim zorenjem.
Zahodnjasko razumevanje kundalinija je povezano z prakso izmisljenih in religioznih praks ki naj bi povzrocilo in vzgojilo stanje zavesti skozi spontanost ali pa skozi doloceno vrsto joge , skozi psihadelicne droge ali izkusnjo bliznje smrti.
Po jogi izrocilu je kundalini zavit navzgor v zadnjem delu koreninske cakre v treh in pol obratih okoli sacruma. Phenomenologija jogijev trdi da je prebujenje kundalinija povezano z prisotnostjo bioenergetskih fenomenov ki jih izkusimo skozi jogo.
Taksen pojav je navezan na prebujenje prastarega v nas. Prana se vmesa v vitalno moc nasega telesa. Prana je zivljenski princip, dih zivljenja. Ko se povzdigne ali poveca intenzivnost zivljenske energije imenujemo Pranotthana ki izvira in se pojavlja v obcutljivem centru bioenergije v zacetku hrbtenice. Ta energija je interpretirana kot fenomen vibracij, ki zacne obdobje ali proces vibracijskige duhovnega razvoja.
Izvor texta za kundalini koncept prihaja iz ˝hatha yoga pradipika˝ napisana od Swami Swatmarana nekje med dvanjstim in petnajstim stoletjem. Vsa raziskovanja tega poglavja morajo vsebovati Swamijeve tekste. Pradipika je ena kasnejsih razvojev v jogi svetih tekstih. Hatha joga je strogo usmerjena v izraz tehnik moci ki so primarni cilj prebujanja kundalinija.
Glavni poudarek je na zahtevni disciplini dihalnih tehnik namenjenih povecanju nabiranja ˝Prane ˝ v telesu. Dobro poznane fizicne drze so namenjene vzdrzevanju mocnega fizisa da lahko podpira pravo delo dihalnih vaj. Vse to navajajoc se na tradicijo, mora biti v sklopu podaljsane in neprekinjene meditacije (za to meditacijo imate spodaj text Yoga Suras of Patanjali). Tekst dodaja da so potebe po velikem in dobrem bogastvu druge zahteve, kot sreca, vse za proces do uspeha . Kakorkoli, te tehnike so vedno nevarne (nikoli brez nevarnosti).
Interpretacija Kundalinija
Na zahodu sta kundalini zgodaj zacela razlagati Leadbeater in Jung. Jungov seminar na temo kundalini je bil predstavljen v psiholoskem klubu v Zurichu leta 1932. Seminar je bil dobro sprejet in kot temeljni kamenv razumevanju vzhodne misli skozi in od simbolicnih transformacij notranjega miru.
Jung predstavi kundalini kot model za visjo zavest in interpretira njegove simbole in terme kot proces samovzdiga.
Nekaj zahodnih prevajalcev razlozi energetski fenomen kot formo psihe ali paranormalne energije, skozi vse zahodnjaske parapsiholoske vidike psihicne moci oz energije, jer oddvojena od njene kulturno hermenuticne matrice, in ni isto kot jogi razum. Jogi filozofija razume koncept kot dozorevajoco energijoki izraza posameznikova soteriologicna hrepenenja. Pogledano skozi mitoloski kontekst se verjame da je aspekt Shakti, bozanstvo in zakonec Shive.
Za kundalini z lahkoto recemo da je popularen koncept, odkar je visoko rangiran skozi razlicne jogi in new age discipline. Kakorkoli, danasnja popularizacija terma< tudi v novih religio movmentih zal ne prinasa nic k dozorevanju razumevanja koncepta. V naravi posvojencev zahodne misli moramo vedno upostevati razlicnosti in tezkoce, zmede povezane z nacinom kako ti koncepti so interpretirani.
Vse to je pripeljalo Kundalini koncept do razlicnih interpretacij, duhovno in kontemplativno povezanih z zahodom. Po eni strani dozivljamo New Age popularizacijo, na drugi pa je tradicionalna vzporednica kundalini joge, ki je razumljena in interpretirana iz svojega kulturnega ozadja.
Zarodji teh akademskih tradicij, je mozno dati razlicne interpretacije kundalini koncepta, kot je psiholoska interpretacija, fizioloska interpretacija, klinicna interpretacija, religiozna interpretacija, mitoloska interpretacija in duhovna interpretacija.
Kundalini Joga
Kundalini joga je meditativna disciplina oz. sistem meditativnih tehnik in premikov- po jogi tradiciji ta fokusira na psihofizicno rast in na telesonem potencijaluza dozoritev. Praksa Kundalini joge je sestavljena iz mnogih polozajev, ekspresivnih trenutkov in izrazov, dihilanih vzorcev in stopenj koncentracije.
trenutki in delo telesa se nebi smelivzeti kot zgolj raztegovalne vaje. Koncept zivljenske energije -pranotthana-je center v praksi in razumevanju kundalini joge. Ravno tako da poseben
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Kundalini is a Sanskrit word meaning either "coiled up" or "coiling like a snake." There are a number of other translations of the term usually emphasizing a more serpent nature to the word - e.g. 'serpent power'.
The caduceus symbol of coiling snakes is thought to be an ancient symbolic representation of Kundalini physiology.
The concept of Kundalini comes from yogic philosophy of ancient India and refers to the mothering intelligence behind yogic awakening and spiritual maturation. It might be regarded by yogis as a sort of deity, hence the occasional capitalization of the term.
Within a western frame of understanding it is often associated with the practice of contemplative or religious practices that might induce an altered state of consciousness, either brought about spontaneously, through a type of yoga, through psychedelic drugs, or through a near-death experience.
According to the yogic tradition Kundalini is curled up in the back part of the root chakra in three and one-half turns around the sacrum. Yogic phenomenology states that kundalini awakening is associated with the appearance of bio-energetic phenomena that are said to be experienced somatically by the yogi.
This appearance is also referred to as "pranic awakening". Prana is interpreted as the vital, life-sustaining force in the body. Uplifted, or intensified life-energy is called pranotthana and is supposed to originate from an apparent reservoir of subtle bio-energy at the base of the spine. This energy is also interpreted as a vibrational phenomena that initiates a period, or a process of vibrational spiritual development.
The source text for the concept of kundalini is the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" written by Swami Svatmarama (English translation, 1992) somewhere between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. Any examination of the topic should include this work. The pradipika is one of the later developments in yoga sacred texts. Hatha Yoga is strictly speaking a forcing technique which has as its primary aim the forcing of the arising of kundalini.
The main emphasis is a difficult regime of breathing techniques meant to increase the store of "prana" in the body. The well known physical postures are only meant to be an aid to maintain peak physical fitness, so as to support the real work of the breathing practices. All of this has, according to tradition, to be accompanied by prolonged and unbroken meditation practise (for which the main text is the "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali"). The text adds that great good fortune is another requirement, i.e.luck, for the procedure to succeed. However, these techniques are not without dangers.
The Interpretation of Kundalini
Two early western interpretations of Kundalini were supplied by C.W. Leadbeater (1847-1934), of the Theosophical Society, and the analytical psychologist Carl Jung (18751961).
Jung's seminar on Kundalini yoga, presented to the Psychological Club in Zurich in 1932, has been widely regarded as a milestone in the psychological understanding of Eastern thought and of the symbolic transformations of inner peace.
Kundalini yoga presented Jung with a model for the developmental phases of higher consciousness, and he interpreted its symbols in terms of the process of individuation. (Princeton University Press Book description to C. G Jung - "The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga", 1999).
A few western translators interpret the energetic phenomena as a form of psychic or paranormal energy, although the western parapsychological understanding of psychic energy, separated from its cultural-hermeneutic matrix, is probably not the same as the yogic understanding. Yogic philosophy understands this concept as a maturing energy that expresses the individual's soteriological longings. Viewed in a mythological context it is sometimes believed to be an aspect of Shakti, the goddess and consort of Shiva.
Kundalini might be said to be a popular concept, since it is widely quoted among various disciplines of yoga and New Age beliefs. However, the recent popularization of the term within new religious movements has - according to some scholars of religion - not contributed to promote a mature understanding of the concept (Sovatsky, 1998). As with many eastern contemplative concepts there exist considerable difficulties, and possible semantic confusion, connected to the way these concepts are adapted to a western context.
This has led to somewhat different interpretations and applications of the concept of Kundalini within the spiritual and contemplative culture in the west. On the one hand there are the New Age popularizations, and on the other hand there is the traditional lineage of Kundalini Yoga understood from its cultural background and interpreted within the academic fields of Religious Studies, Pastoral Theology and Transpersonal/Humanistic psychology.
With the tools of these academic traditions it is possible to give different interpretations to the concept of Kundalini; such as physiological interpretations, psychological interpretations, clinical interpretations, religious interpretations, mythological interpretations and spiritual interpretations.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is a meditative discipline - or a system of meditative techniques and movements - within the yogic tradition that focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation. The practice of Kundalini Yoga consists of a number bodily postures, expressive movements and utterances, characterological cultivations, breathing patterns, and degrees of concentration.
The movements and the body-work should not - according to some scholars of religion - be considered mere stretching exercises. The concept of life-energy - pranotthana - is central to the practice and understanding of Kundalini Yoga. It also gives special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening. Recently, there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation, and some of these studies have applied the discipline of Kundalini Yoga to their clinical settings.
Kundalini in the World's Religions
Kundalini is mainly associated with Hinduism. However, Kundalini as a spiritual experience is thought to have parallels in many of the mystical and gnostic traditions of the world's great religions.
Many factors point to the universality of the phenomenon. The early Christians might have referred to the concept as 'pneuma', and there are some recent parallels in contemporary Christian Charismatic 'Holy Ghost' phenomena. Religious studies also note parallels in Quakerism, Shakerism, Judaic Shuckling (torso-rocking prayer), the swaying zikr and whirling dervish of Islam, the quiverings of the Eastern Orthodox hesychast, the flowing movements of tai chi, the ecstatic shamanic dance, the ntum trance dance of the Bushman, Tibetan Buddhist tummo heat as practised by Milarepa, and the Indically-derived Andalusian flamenco (Sovatsky, 1998). Kundalini practice is centerfold in Japan's Aum Shinrikyo group and Kundalini-yoga is also one of the stages the practitioner is able to achieve.
Kundalini Rising
According to yogic terminology the force of Kundalini is supposed to be raised through meditative exercises and activated within the concept of a subtle body, a body of energy and finer substance. This process has been explained in detail by Motoyama (1981) and by Sharp (2005). Motoyama bases the bulk of the Kundalini raising practices listed in the book on the notable Swami Satyananda Saraswati, as well as on personal experience in helping people in various stages of Kundalini awakening. Sharp provides a kundalini meditation called The Great Invocation along with detailed guidance on controlling and managing the energy flow and subsequent manifestation.
Kundalini-experiences are often understood in terms of the Hindu chakra system, the understanding of psycho-spiritual energy centers along the spine (Scotton, 1996). According to Hindu tradition the Kundalini raises from the root-chakra up through the spinal channel, called sushumna, and it is believed to activate each chakra it goes through.
Each chakra is said to contain special characteristics (Scotton, 1996). In raising Kundalini, spiritual powers (siddhis) are also believed to arise, but many spiritual traditions see these phenomena as obstacles on the path, and encourages their students not to get hung up with them (Kason, 2000). Although the opening of higher chakras are believed to mark advanced spiritual unfoldment, it is important not to measure spiritual growth solely by the opening of higher potentials. According to this view chakras might be under- or overdeveloped, and lower chakras are thought to be just as important as higher.
Spiritual literature also describes instances where Kundalini is said to be initiated. Initiation of kundalini activity is usually considered to take place by a practice called shaktipat. This is a form of 'laying on of hands' where physical contact to the body or the forehead of the subject by the guru, or initiator, is supposed to cause an experience of Kundalini that later may persist or grow with continuing practice, or fade away if practice is stopped. Scotton (1996) mentions that kundalini-symptomatology is associated with such practices as shaktipat. He also gives a case-example of such a practice from an American meditation retreat.
According to much contemporary spiritual literature, and the field of Transpersonal Psychology, it is not considered wise to engage in any of these practices without the guidance of a credible teacher or without thorough psychological preparation and education in yoga. Any form of intense contemplative or spiritual practice without the support of a cultural context, or without the support of thorough psychological preparation, is usually considered to be unfortunate, and in some cases even dangerous. Traditional teachers of kundalini meditation also warn neophytes of the potential dangers of experimenting with kundalini Yoga techniques. These warnings should not be underestimated. A growing body of clinical and psychological literature notes the growing occurrence of meditation-related problems in Western contemplative life. Among these we find the Kundalini Syndrome (which is presented more closely later in this article) and different forms of "wind illness" described in the Tibetan tradition.
Kundalini Syndrome
Theorists within the schools of Humanistic psychology, Transpersonal psychology and Near-Death Studies describe a complex pattern of motor functions, sensory, affective and cognitive-hermeneutic symptoms called the Kundalini Syndrome. This psychosomatic arousal and excitation is believed to occur in connection with prolonged and intensive spiritual or contemplative practice (such as meditation or yoga) or as a result of intense life experience or a near encounter with death (such as a near-death experience).
According to these fields of study the Kundalini syndrome is of a different nature than a single Kundalini episode, such as a Kundalini arousal. The Kundalini syndrome is a process that might unfold over several months, or even years. If the accompanying symptoms unfold in an intense manner - that de-stabilizes the person - the process is usually interpreted as what Stanislav Grof has termed "spiritual emergency"
Interdisciplinary dialogues within the mentioned schools of psychology (see references below) have now established some common criteria in order to describe this condition, of which the most prominent feature is a feeling of energy travelling along the spine, or progressing upwards in the body. Motor symptoms are said to include tremors, other spontaneous or involuntary body movements and changes in respiratory function.
Sensory symptoms are said to include subjective changes in body temperature - feelings of heat or cold - a feeling of electricity in the body, persistent sexual arousal syndrome, headache and pressure inside of the head, tingling, vibrations and gastro-intestinal problems. Cognitive and affective symptoms are said to include psychological upheaval, stress, depression, depersonalization or derealization, intense mood-swings, but also moments of bliss, deep peace and other altered states of consciousness. Within the mentioned academic traditions this symptomatology is often referred to as the Physio-Kundalini syndrome or Kundalini-experience Awakening.
Transpersonal literature emphasizes that this list of symptoms is not meant to be used as a tool for self-diagnosis. Any unusual or marked physical or mental symptom needs to be investigated by a qualified medical doctor.
Kundalini and Physiology
Contemporary spiritual literature often notes that the chakras, as described in the esoteric kundalini documents, bear a strong similarity in location and number to the major endocrine glands, as well as nerve bundles called ganglions.
One speculation is that the traditional practices have formalized a method for stimulating the endocrine glands to work in a different mode which has a more direct effect on consciousness, perhaps ultimately by stimulating the release of DMT by the pineal gland, which may be analogous to the 'pineal chakra'.
The late Itzhak Bentov studied Kundalini from an engineering perspective. According to Bentov (1990), the 7.5 Hz oscillation of the heart muscle rhythm induces mechanical Hz frequencies in the brain, that in turn create a stimulus equivalent of a current loop. The nerve endings in that loop correspond to the route through which the Kundalini "rises".
This current polarizes the brain part through which it flows in a homogenous way, effectively releasing tremendous amounts of stress from the body. The body then becomes an effective antenna for the 7.5 Hz frequency, which is one of the resonant frequencies of the ionosphere. In layman's terms, you then pick up information from the air.
This might account for repeated descriptions of heightened senses as a result of rising Kundalini, e.g. as described by Yogananda: "The whole vicinity lay bare before me. My ordinary frontal vision was now changed to a vast spherical sight, simultaneously all-perceptive."
Pathological Kundalini
When practiced in a religious context, Kundalini is mostly beneficial and benevolent. However, examples exist of historical figures suffering from kundalini symptoms, such as zen master Hakuin, Saint Theresa, and Nietzsche. The physiological precursors of kundalini also have the potential to diverge into some peculiar types of pathology, as when induced via violence and outside a religious context, where it may be part of a post-traumatic response. Post-traumatic stress disorder researcher Dr. Jonathan Shay (1994) describes several cases with kundalini-like symptoms in his book Achilles in Vietnam.
According to transpersonal theorists the phenomenon of kundalini is not necessarily pathological in itself, but it might produce serious physiological and psychodynamic symptoms if it is activated outside a proper socio-cultural context, or if it conflicts with already existing and underlying psychopathology or issues connected to overall human development.
References and Links
The coiled and dormant 'feminine' energy, refers to the vast potential of psychic energy contained within us all. It is normally symbolized as a serpent coiled into three and a half circles, with its tail in its mouth, and spiraling around the central axis (sacrum or sacred bone) at the base of the spine. The awakening of this serpent and the manifestation of its powers is a primary aim of the practice of Kundalini Yoga. The image of coiling, like a spring, conveys the sense of untapped potential energy that will spring into action soon. For now we remember in small doses.
Kundalini can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy at the base of the spine. It's not useful to sit with our consciousness fixed in our head and think of kundalini as a foreign force running up and down our spine. The concept of kundalini can also be examined from a strictly psychological perspective. From this perspective kundalini can be thought of as a rich source of psychic or libidinous energy in our unconscious.
Tapping into Kundalini Energy
- Activating Your DNA
- Opening your Clairvoyant and Clairaudient abilities.
- Feeling connected to the oneness of the universe
- Your mind feels expanded in its quest for higher awareness and knowledge
- Allowing your ego to step aside and connecting with higher frequency of thought and consciousness
- Feeling unconditional love, peace, and connection with spirit
Kundalini Meditation
Kundalini is most often awaken through Yoga meditation - which include Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kriya Yoga. I have prepared a meditation to help you on your path should Yoga not be available to you.
To prepare for this meditation - you might want to tape record the words on this page to listen to as your move through the meditation. Please speak slowly and softly.
Allow lots of time for the meditation - as you will need to relax when you are finished.
You may want to listen to music or be in a quiet place - or be in nature.
Find a quiet place ... free of distractions.
Adjust the lighting and room temperature.
Adjust clothing . . . footwear . . . eyeglasses.
Sit down or lie down
Find a position that is comfortable for you.
Quiet your mind . . . Still your thoughts.
Relax your body
Your face . . . your jaw . . . relaxing
Your shoulders . . . your neck . . . relaxed
Your arms . . . your hands . . . feel at peace.
Your torso . . . your hips . . . letting go
Your legs . . . your feet . . . totally relaxed
Focus on your breathing.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
Retain the breath as long as is comfortable.
Exhale through the mouth slowly and completely.
Repeat for two more breaths . . . or as is comfortable.
Now focus your attention on your chakras.
Starting from the top of your head visualize your crown chakra opening.
Watch as pure white light enters your crown chakra
and slowly spirals down through your spine.
The white light opens your third eye chakra.
You may experiences vibrant colors especially in blue, and violet . . .
The white light moves down to your throat chakra releasing your blockages.
You may feel like chanting or singing.
Allow the tones to resonant from your throat.
Do this as long as is comfortable . . .
The white light now enters your heart chakra.
You experience a feeling of unconditional love and compassion.
The white light enters your solar plexus.
Gently your fears - anger - tensions are released.
See the white light enter your spleen chakra
releasing pain and guilt linked to that chakra.
The white light now enters your Root Chakra the seat of your kundalini energy.
As it does, it begins to activate the energy of the base (root) chakra.
Feel the energy suddenly emerge from your Root Chakra,
Spiraling up through the base of your spine as if it were a coiled snake.
The coiled snake represents the spiraling DNA -
opening, activating, bringing you to higher levels of consciousness.
Allow the energy to flow through your chakras.
See the energy wheels rotating.
The caduceus symbol of coiling snakes is thought to be an ancient symbolic representation of Kundalini physiology.
The concept of Kundalini comes from yogic philosophy of ancient India and refers to the mothering intelligence behind yogic awakening and spiritual maturation. It might be regarded by yogis as a sort of deity, hence the occasional capitalization of the term.
Within a western frame of understanding it is often associated with the practice of contemplative or religious practices that might induce an altered state of consciousness, either brought about spontaneously, through a type of yoga, through psychedelic drugs, or through a near-death experience.
According to the yogic tradition Kundalini is curled up in the back part of the root chakra in three and one-half turns around the sacrum. Yogic phenomenology states that kundalini awakening is associated with the appearance of bio-energetic phenomena that are said to be experienced somatically by the yogi.
This appearance is also referred to as "pranic awakening". Prana is interpreted as the vital, life-sustaining force in the body. Uplifted, or intensified life-energy is called pranotthana and is supposed to originate from an apparent reservoir of subtle bio-energy at the base of the spine. This energy is also interpreted as a vibrational phenomena that initiates a period, or a process of vibrational spiritual development.
The source text for the concept of kundalini is the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" written by Swami Svatmarama (English translation, 1992) somewhere between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries. Any examination of the topic should include this work. The pradipika is one of the later developments in yoga sacred texts. Hatha Yoga is strictly speaking a forcing technique which has as its primary aim the forcing of the arising of kundalini.
The main emphasis is a difficult regime of breathing techniques meant to increase the store of "prana" in the body. The well known physical postures are only meant to be an aid to maintain peak physical fitness, so as to support the real work of the breathing practices. All of this has, according to tradition, to be accompanied by prolonged and unbroken meditation practise (for which the main text is the "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali"). The text adds that great good fortune is another requirement, i.e.luck, for the procedure to succeed. However, these techniques are not without dangers.
The Interpretation of Kundalini
Two early western interpretations of Kundalini were supplied by C.W. Leadbeater (1847-1934), of the Theosophical Society, and the analytical psychologist Carl Jung (18751961).
Jung's seminar on Kundalini yoga, presented to the Psychological Club in Zurich in 1932, has been widely regarded as a milestone in the psychological understanding of Eastern thought and of the symbolic transformations of inner peace.
Kundalini yoga presented Jung with a model for the developmental phases of higher consciousness, and he interpreted its symbols in terms of the process of individuation. (Princeton University Press Book description to C. G Jung - "The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga", 1999).
A few western translators interpret the energetic phenomena as a form of psychic or paranormal energy, although the western parapsychological understanding of psychic energy, separated from its cultural-hermeneutic matrix, is probably not the same as the yogic understanding. Yogic philosophy understands this concept as a maturing energy that expresses the individual's soteriological longings. Viewed in a mythological context it is sometimes believed to be an aspect of Shakti, the goddess and consort of Shiva.
Kundalini might be said to be a popular concept, since it is widely quoted among various disciplines of yoga and New Age beliefs. However, the recent popularization of the term within new religious movements has - according to some scholars of religion - not contributed to promote a mature understanding of the concept (Sovatsky, 1998). As with many eastern contemplative concepts there exist considerable difficulties, and possible semantic confusion, connected to the way these concepts are adapted to a western context.
This has led to somewhat different interpretations and applications of the concept of Kundalini within the spiritual and contemplative culture in the west. On the one hand there are the New Age popularizations, and on the other hand there is the traditional lineage of Kundalini Yoga understood from its cultural background and interpreted within the academic fields of Religious Studies, Pastoral Theology and Transpersonal/Humanistic psychology.
With the tools of these academic traditions it is possible to give different interpretations to the concept of Kundalini; such as physiological interpretations, psychological interpretations, clinical interpretations, religious interpretations, mythological interpretations and spiritual interpretations.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is a meditative discipline - or a system of meditative techniques and movements - within the yogic tradition that focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation. The practice of Kundalini Yoga consists of a number bodily postures, expressive movements and utterances, characterological cultivations, breathing patterns, and degrees of concentration.
The movements and the body-work should not - according to some scholars of religion - be considered mere stretching exercises. The concept of life-energy - pranotthana - is central to the practice and understanding of Kundalini Yoga. It also gives special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening. Recently, there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation, and some of these studies have applied the discipline of Kundalini Yoga to their clinical settings.
Kundalini in the World's Religions
Kundalini is mainly associated with Hinduism. However, Kundalini as a spiritual experience is thought to have parallels in many of the mystical and gnostic traditions of the world's great religions.
Many factors point to the universality of the phenomenon. The early Christians might have referred to the concept as 'pneuma', and there are some recent parallels in contemporary Christian Charismatic 'Holy Ghost' phenomena. Religious studies also note parallels in Quakerism, Shakerism, Judaic Shuckling (torso-rocking prayer), the swaying zikr and whirling dervish of Islam, the quiverings of the Eastern Orthodox hesychast, the flowing movements of tai chi, the ecstatic shamanic dance, the ntum trance dance of the Bushman, Tibetan Buddhist tummo heat as practised by Milarepa, and the Indically-derived Andalusian flamenco (Sovatsky, 1998). Kundalini practice is centerfold in Japan's Aum Shinrikyo group and Kundalini-yoga is also one of the stages the practitioner is able to achieve.
Kundalini Rising
According to yogic terminology the force of Kundalini is supposed to be raised through meditative exercises and activated within the concept of a subtle body, a body of energy and finer substance. This process has been explained in detail by Motoyama (1981) and by Sharp (2005). Motoyama bases the bulk of the Kundalini raising practices listed in the book on the notable Swami Satyananda Saraswati, as well as on personal experience in helping people in various stages of Kundalini awakening. Sharp provides a kundalini meditation called The Great Invocation along with detailed guidance on controlling and managing the energy flow and subsequent manifestation.
Kundalini-experiences are often understood in terms of the Hindu chakra system, the understanding of psycho-spiritual energy centers along the spine (Scotton, 1996). According to Hindu tradition the Kundalini raises from the root-chakra up through the spinal channel, called sushumna, and it is believed to activate each chakra it goes through.
Each chakra is said to contain special characteristics (Scotton, 1996). In raising Kundalini, spiritual powers (siddhis) are also believed to arise, but many spiritual traditions see these phenomena as obstacles on the path, and encourages their students not to get hung up with them (Kason, 2000). Although the opening of higher chakras are believed to mark advanced spiritual unfoldment, it is important not to measure spiritual growth solely by the opening of higher potentials. According to this view chakras might be under- or overdeveloped, and lower chakras are thought to be just as important as higher.
Spiritual literature also describes instances where Kundalini is said to be initiated. Initiation of kundalini activity is usually considered to take place by a practice called shaktipat. This is a form of 'laying on of hands' where physical contact to the body or the forehead of the subject by the guru, or initiator, is supposed to cause an experience of Kundalini that later may persist or grow with continuing practice, or fade away if practice is stopped. Scotton (1996) mentions that kundalini-symptomatology is associated with such practices as shaktipat. He also gives a case-example of such a practice from an American meditation retreat.
According to much contemporary spiritual literature, and the field of Transpersonal Psychology, it is not considered wise to engage in any of these practices without the guidance of a credible teacher or without thorough psychological preparation and education in yoga. Any form of intense contemplative or spiritual practice without the support of a cultural context, or without the support of thorough psychological preparation, is usually considered to be unfortunate, and in some cases even dangerous. Traditional teachers of kundalini meditation also warn neophytes of the potential dangers of experimenting with kundalini Yoga techniques. These warnings should not be underestimated. A growing body of clinical and psychological literature notes the growing occurrence of meditation-related problems in Western contemplative life. Among these we find the Kundalini Syndrome (which is presented more closely later in this article) and different forms of "wind illness" described in the Tibetan tradition.
Kundalini Syndrome
Theorists within the schools of Humanistic psychology, Transpersonal psychology and Near-Death Studies describe a complex pattern of motor functions, sensory, affective and cognitive-hermeneutic symptoms called the Kundalini Syndrome. This psychosomatic arousal and excitation is believed to occur in connection with prolonged and intensive spiritual or contemplative practice (such as meditation or yoga) or as a result of intense life experience or a near encounter with death (such as a near-death experience).
According to these fields of study the Kundalini syndrome is of a different nature than a single Kundalini episode, such as a Kundalini arousal. The Kundalini syndrome is a process that might unfold over several months, or even years. If the accompanying symptoms unfold in an intense manner - that de-stabilizes the person - the process is usually interpreted as what Stanislav Grof has termed "spiritual emergency"
Interdisciplinary dialogues within the mentioned schools of psychology (see references below) have now established some common criteria in order to describe this condition, of which the most prominent feature is a feeling of energy travelling along the spine, or progressing upwards in the body. Motor symptoms are said to include tremors, other spontaneous or involuntary body movements and changes in respiratory function.
Sensory symptoms are said to include subjective changes in body temperature - feelings of heat or cold - a feeling of electricity in the body, persistent sexual arousal syndrome, headache and pressure inside of the head, tingling, vibrations and gastro-intestinal problems. Cognitive and affective symptoms are said to include psychological upheaval, stress, depression, depersonalization or derealization, intense mood-swings, but also moments of bliss, deep peace and other altered states of consciousness. Within the mentioned academic traditions this symptomatology is often referred to as the Physio-Kundalini syndrome or Kundalini-experience Awakening.
Transpersonal literature emphasizes that this list of symptoms is not meant to be used as a tool for self-diagnosis. Any unusual or marked physical or mental symptom needs to be investigated by a qualified medical doctor.
Kundalini and Physiology
Contemporary spiritual literature often notes that the chakras, as described in the esoteric kundalini documents, bear a strong similarity in location and number to the major endocrine glands, as well as nerve bundles called ganglions.
One speculation is that the traditional practices have formalized a method for stimulating the endocrine glands to work in a different mode which has a more direct effect on consciousness, perhaps ultimately by stimulating the release of DMT by the pineal gland, which may be analogous to the 'pineal chakra'.
The late Itzhak Bentov studied Kundalini from an engineering perspective. According to Bentov (1990), the 7.5 Hz oscillation of the heart muscle rhythm induces mechanical Hz frequencies in the brain, that in turn create a stimulus equivalent of a current loop. The nerve endings in that loop correspond to the route through which the Kundalini "rises".
This current polarizes the brain part through which it flows in a homogenous way, effectively releasing tremendous amounts of stress from the body. The body then becomes an effective antenna for the 7.5 Hz frequency, which is one of the resonant frequencies of the ionosphere. In layman's terms, you then pick up information from the air.
This might account for repeated descriptions of heightened senses as a result of rising Kundalini, e.g. as described by Yogananda: "The whole vicinity lay bare before me. My ordinary frontal vision was now changed to a vast spherical sight, simultaneously all-perceptive."
Pathological Kundalini
When practiced in a religious context, Kundalini is mostly beneficial and benevolent. However, examples exist of historical figures suffering from kundalini symptoms, such as zen master Hakuin, Saint Theresa, and Nietzsche. The physiological precursors of kundalini also have the potential to diverge into some peculiar types of pathology, as when induced via violence and outside a religious context, where it may be part of a post-traumatic response. Post-traumatic stress disorder researcher Dr. Jonathan Shay (1994) describes several cases with kundalini-like symptoms in his book Achilles in Vietnam.
According to transpersonal theorists the phenomenon of kundalini is not necessarily pathological in itself, but it might produce serious physiological and psychodynamic symptoms if it is activated outside a proper socio-cultural context, or if it conflicts with already existing and underlying psychopathology or issues connected to overall human development.
References and Links
The coiled and dormant 'feminine' energy, refers to the vast potential of psychic energy contained within us all. It is normally symbolized as a serpent coiled into three and a half circles, with its tail in its mouth, and spiraling around the central axis (sacrum or sacred bone) at the base of the spine. The awakening of this serpent and the manifestation of its powers is a primary aim of the practice of Kundalini Yoga. The image of coiling, like a spring, conveys the sense of untapped potential energy that will spring into action soon. For now we remember in small doses.
Kundalini can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy at the base of the spine. It's not useful to sit with our consciousness fixed in our head and think of kundalini as a foreign force running up and down our spine. The concept of kundalini can also be examined from a strictly psychological perspective. From this perspective kundalini can be thought of as a rich source of psychic or libidinous energy in our unconscious.
Tapping into Kundalini Energy
- Activating Your DNA
- Opening your Clairvoyant and Clairaudient abilities.
- Feeling connected to the oneness of the universe
- Your mind feels expanded in its quest for higher awareness and knowledge
- Allowing your ego to step aside and connecting with higher frequency of thought and consciousness
- Feeling unconditional love, peace, and connection with spirit
Kundalini Meditation
Kundalini is most often awaken through Yoga meditation - which include Mantra Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kriya Yoga. I have prepared a meditation to help you on your path should Yoga not be available to you.
To prepare for this meditation - you might want to tape record the words on this page to listen to as your move through the meditation. Please speak slowly and softly.
Allow lots of time for the meditation - as you will need to relax when you are finished.
You may want to listen to music or be in a quiet place - or be in nature.
Find a quiet place ... free of distractions.
Adjust the lighting and room temperature.
Adjust clothing . . . footwear . . . eyeglasses.
Sit down or lie down
Find a position that is comfortable for you.
Quiet your mind . . . Still your thoughts.
Relax your body
Your face . . . your jaw . . . relaxing
Your shoulders . . . your neck . . . relaxed
Your arms . . . your hands . . . feel at peace.
Your torso . . . your hips . . . letting go
Your legs . . . your feet . . . totally relaxed
Focus on your breathing.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose.
Retain the breath as long as is comfortable.
Exhale through the mouth slowly and completely.
Repeat for two more breaths . . . or as is comfortable.
Now focus your attention on your chakras.
Starting from the top of your head visualize your crown chakra opening.
Watch as pure white light enters your crown chakra
and slowly spirals down through your spine.
The white light opens your third eye chakra.
You may experiences vibrant colors especially in blue, and violet . . .
The white light moves down to your throat chakra releasing your blockages.
You may feel like chanting or singing.
Allow the tones to resonant from your throat.
Do this as long as is comfortable . . .
The white light now enters your heart chakra.
You experience a feeling of unconditional love and compassion.
The white light enters your solar plexus.
Gently your fears - anger - tensions are released.
See the white light enter your spleen chakra
releasing pain and guilt linked to that chakra.
The white light now enters your Root Chakra the seat of your kundalini energy.
As it does, it begins to activate the energy of the base (root) chakra.
Feel the energy suddenly emerge from your Root Chakra,
Spiraling up through the base of your spine as if it were a coiled snake.
The coiled snake represents the spiraling DNA -
opening, activating, bringing you to higher levels of consciousness.
Allow the energy to flow through your chakras.
See the energy wheels rotating.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Art Plus Science Equals Magic
Creating Energy Objects & Symbols That Change The Fabric Of Reality
Silvia Hartmann explains, "The trouble with environmental energy healing is that you can't see it. As you can't see it, you can forget about it or think it isn't even there. I love the way these large, colourful energy channelling devices say, Look! Here I am! I am energy and I am absolutely REAL!"
Behind the material facade of everything, there lie the realms upon realms of "invisible existence" or to use a shorthand term, "the energy of a thing".
Invisible Causes For Physical Effects
The energy of a thing and no matter how simple it may be is made up of many different frequencies, many different planes. For example, a simple wooden chair would have original energetic frequencies of the wood it was made from, which remembers in its very structure where the tree grew, what the summers and winters were like all through its long journey from a small seed to a full grown tree.
Moreover, the chair also retains what happened to the wood after the tree was felled, the wood processed. The lacquers used, the workmen who handled it all changed its energetic structure just as much as they changed a log to a rough cut plank, to a filed and sanded shape, and to the final painted, coated object.
Each chair is entirely unique, has its entirely unique energetic properties and this is so for every object we can see, feel, touch, trade and have in the Hard, which is a better term than "reality" for reality of course consists of far more than just "the hard".
A great many problems which individuals face today, and groups collectively, and societies beyond this right out to all of humanity is the central lack of understanding of the basic principles of energy - those cause-and-effect absolutely real occurrences that are not seen.
One of these mostly unknown and untreated occurrences and realities is the fact that as each chair has a unique and absolute frequency of energies, so do all environments, all things and all people; and not everything can be used for everyone.
People can suffer from energy allergies, from energetic forms of malnutrition (even though they take vitamin supplements in the Hard!), from energetic poisoning because they are forced to live in environments which are not beneficial or matching to their own personal resonance bandwidths, and all they know of it is that they feel unhappy and out of sorts, yet there seems to "visible" or "hard" reason for this.
Silvia Hartmann, PhD has been campaigning for a greater awareness of the absolutely real and very powerful influences of energetic occurrences to be taken more seriously ever since she discovered in 1993, during a study on high end behavioural disorders in dogs, that these were directly related to and caused by the "invisible energies" traded and exchanged in mammals.
She says, "It was just like Sherlock Holmes said - when you have excluded everything possible, then the impossible must be the answer. I had been working for years with nutrition, and behavioural modifications, with upbringing and genetics and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason. Until I finally postulated a Factor X to make the equations work. And this Factor X, which really does explain exactly how and why social mammals become structurally autistic, display rage syndrome or extreme health and mental problems, such as self mutilation and spontaneous onsets of cancers, turned out to be invisible in nature, but totally real nonetheless - energy exchanges were at work."
For the next 17 years, Dr Hartmann began to study and research these "invisible effects" and draw up new theories as to how the universe actually really works.
As a side effect of these studies, she was able to create a great range of very practical and highly acclaimed breakthrough techniques for explaining and solving psychological puzzles in human thought and behaviour, including "The Harmony Programme" (1994), "Project Sanctuary" (1996), "Powerfields" (1999), "Guiding Stars" (2000) and finally the EmoTrance energy awareness applications (Oceans of Energy 2003, Living Energy 2004).
Love And Logic
Dr Hartmann says, "What surprised me most of all, time and time again, was that when you bring in the energy realms, things begin to work with such lightness and with ease, it is just extraordinary. And the important thing to understand is that what we are doing is NOT the usual move by which we separate out the energy work from the day-to-day living, but bring it back together, have it be present ALL and at the same time. That's when thing really begin to make some sense, and methods and techniques really start to work like the proverbial charm."
In this way, there is no difference between art and science - both are simply aspects of the same underlying true and composite reality which have become detached from one another, much in the same way as the secular and the sacred became detached when neither can work without the other or have any hope of making any kind of sense.
"I have been working with and studying especially human emotions for a very, very long time indeed. It is a huge, a really HUGE mistake to think that a fully functional human being can even successfully exist without emotions. What you get if you try is once again, a useless thing, devoid of practical performance, that can do nothing particularly well at all.
"Of course, that's exactly the same the other way around. If you make emotions into a god and turn your back on logic, you just might as well jump into a swamp and become a frog.
"The real truth is that the universe is incredibly logical. And it is full of powerful energies AS WELL - those powerful energies are what are causing the side effect of human emotions. You can't understand energy without the feedback device of emotion, and you can't do anything at all if you then don't examine all of this logically and USE IT to make our lives more interesting, learn more about the creative order and our place within that. Most of all, to re-claim our birthrights of intelligence AND emotions to become whole people to whom the world makes sense, where they feel at home - just as the creative which designed us intended in the first place."
Art Solutions
One of the major breakthroughs in 2004 revolved around the concept of "Art Solutions". Struck by the intensity of negativity coming from a reproduction print of Edvard Munch's "The Scream", Dr Hartmann set to work to try out the theories of energy-hard re-unification through the medium of visual art.
"I wondered," she said, "How many people who committed suicide had that print on their walls. I wondered how many would have been able to find a way out of their states of depression and hopelessness if there had been a different picture on the wall."
However, there is the question of rapport. It is well known that someone who is themselves very depressed will choose something like "The Scream" because this feels familiar, it matches their own states of energetic resonance, and in doing so, makes them feel less alone.
"You just can't go round depressed people's houses, take their "Screams" off the walls and put happy flying ducks there instead. They'll hate it and nothing good can come of it," says Dr Hartmann. "But the world of energy once more can give us a solution to the problem of rapport with extremely angry or miserable artists - namely that instead of remaining stuck in the place where you tell everyone how sad you are, you START THERE but then go on to provide a SOLUTION.
"The "Scream" paintings, and of course, scream-style music, drama, theater, sculptures and so on, are so beloved because they are true and they are authentic. They are a description of the artist's true emotions, or their energies if you will, and that makes them highly desirable to those who resonate at a similar level.
"Energy doesn't stay still, not like a hard chair does, or so it seems, and all that we need to do as artists to NOT leave such a legacy of pain and misery oozing from a million unhappy teenager's walls all around the World, is simply to take one further step, namely, to give the solution to the problem."
But how does that work in practice?
Ananga Sivyer, a composer and Ayurvedic Medicine researcher, explains.
"It really is astonishingly simple. Normally, one would have an inspiration or an idea, which is an energy rising that expresses itself in emotions, and of course, the stronger the energy, the more profound and attractive the emotions will be, and regardless of whether they are positive or negative emotions, at that.
"Before I was fortunate enough to be one of the first people to get to try Dr Hartmann's concept, I would then take that exact energy and make it into a composition. It is absolutely true that even thought they were very powerful and very artistic compositions, I was not happy to share these with a wider audience and in hindsight, I recognise that I must have known that these statements of pain in artistic form are not what I want to contribute.
"The way I do it now is to sit down and contemplate the problem, the sadness or the strongest emotion that seeks to be addressed. But then, I take the next step and HAVE MY MUSIC BECOME THE SOLUTION INSTEAD."
This profoundly useful movement, namely to start with the reality of the problem, the very real resonance of the emotional energies, and then to take THAT and present the SOLUTION instead, answers the problem of "rapport mismatch".
Someone who might have been drawn to the scream will still be able to absolutely recognise the starting point but instead of getting stuck there, will be drawn forward, and towards a solution.
A Soaring, Freeing Artistic Experience
Dr Hartmann says, "As a painter, I must admit that this has been the most freeing, soaring artistic experience of my life. To state the problem honestly and have my art become the solution is nothing less than wonderful. There is such an immediate sense of flow - of ideas, of excitement, of energy and inspiration, it is really incredible that this hasn't been done before.
"All the old injuries, all the old screams - they can get a chance at resolution and release. They don't have to be hidden away anymore but you can have them come forward and then resolve them. I'm very aware of my own energy shifts as I am working in this way with the paintings, the grids and the images and it is the most extraordinary and delightful healing I've ever felt. It is by me, through me and the results as well, the finished artwork, is so alive, it dances!"
Ananga Sivyer, who has just completed her first album of Sonic Solutions, entitled, "Here And Now", agrees.
"It was such a rush being able to go towards the solutions than endlessly having to restate the questions, endlessly re-experiencing the same old feelings. These compositions are amazing to myself. I've broken through all kinds of barriers, all kinds of boundaries in the production and creation of the "Here And Now" album - and this is only the beginning!"
What effects do the results of this art healing, the finished paintings by Dr Hartmann and the compositions by Ananga Sivyer have on those who see them, hear them and most importantly, feel them?
The first reaction is always one of surprise and intrigue. Questions are asked. The more energy conscious someone is, the more delighted they are by the levels and depths of these works of art, because form and function are aligned with intent, and with truth in every way.
These are not illusionary "happy" works of art. They are real and yet entirely inspiring, lifting without once denying the truth of their origins, namely what is really like for a human being to live here, how difficult that is when one feels disconnected from the Universe and those around us, and how one may turn it around and seek solutions.
Dr Hartmann says, "I think some people will find our solutions to be their solutions also. But that's not so important to me. I think for many more, many, many more our ATTEMPTS at finding the solutions are the inspiration.
"Yes, we get unhappy. Yes, we have very traumatic memories and things that we find so difficult, we too want to "scream" sometimes. And we admit that to ourselves, enter that in honesty and then seek the solution. I think that's the role model I'm happy to be as the artist, that's the effect I want to have and be remembered for.
"I have been thinking about this, how the Art Solutions are a complete merger of truth, hard reality, science, and art. And I really think that when you have managed to bring art and science back together, what you end up with is real magic."
References:
- The Harmony Programme, S Hartmann, 1994 DH Publications OOP
- Project Sanctuary, S Hartmann, 1996, 3rd Edition DragonRising Publishing UK
- Powerfields, S Hartmann, 1999, Paper, StarFields.
- Guiding Stars, S Hartmann, 2000, Paper, StarFields.
- Oceans Of Energy, S Hartmann, 2003, DragonRising Publishing UK
- Living Energy, S Hartmann, 2004, DragonRising Publishing UK
- Art & Science of Emotional Freedom, A. Sivyer, 2002, DragonRising Publishing UK
- Sonic Solutions Vol. 1 - Here & Now, A. Sivyer, 2004, Chyama Productions UK
magic board bazzar
some samples of magic boards already in action for peace in world, great love and other magic this planet needs.
magic board
magic board is a home protector. You have to put it on special place in yours home and think of yours needs through magic board. It is a sacred board an makes loving magic through universe.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
magic board
magic board so novi pripomocki za caranje,
magic board na sliki je najmocnejsi magic board. velikost 13x13 cena 500e, lahko ga kupite v bazzarju.
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