Kundalini

[Guest guest]

I read with interest the response to my short (or long ?) attempt to

describe the risks involved in dealing with Kundalini, the Serpent

Power.

 

I had given two instances where positive harm had visited the

overenthusiastic but unwary practitioners of the Kundalini yoga.

Such instances abound but these are not publicised as there is a

feeling among the other aspirants that such 'negative' reporting

might sully the age-long reputation the system has been enjoying.

 

Our friend dismisses the rising of the Kundalini as a natural

phenomenon. Apparently, he is amply backed by a stray remark of the

Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi (Whose ardent devotee I too am). It is a

peculiarity of Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi that they very

often contradict themselves while giving advice to the devotees and

aspirants. These contradictions, however, must be understood in

perspective. The advices are given to individual seekers and Sri

Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi take into consideration various

factors like the level of evolution of the questioner, his mental

make-up, his mood, his ability to apprehend the truth, etc. However,

our friend has missed one vital link. It is that the Raja Yoga

techniques, mainly concerned with the Kundalini, are part of the

vaster and much more elabotrate science of Tantra.

 

Tantra is a very simple Sanskrit term meaning 'trick'. All the

practices of the Tantra system are a combination of three

components,viz. Mantra, Yantra and Tantra - Incantations or

recitations of sacred and secret syllables, Worship of the Divine in

various aspects represented by geometric designs with esoteric

significance, and suiting to them particular Rituals and peculiar

Physical Movements coupled with Praanaayaama techniques (breath

control). These are performed primarily to obtain results which are

otherwise impossible of achievement. All along the course of

history, there have been very few instances of success in these

ventures into the uncharted waters of the Ocean of the Tantras.

However, there have been some earnest souls scattered here and there

in the course of time who have aimed at the highest of spiritual

achievements and have succeeded in their attempts despite

great,subtle odds as obtain in the Taantric system. Pursuit of the

system is verily like walking on the razor's edge and it is a million

times more dangerous than dealing with RDX.

 

It is said that when Sri Aadi Sankara Bhagavatpaada came as a

spiritual colossus on the spiritual scene in India, there were 72

schools of such practices. Most of them were blissfully unaware of

the original significance of the rituals, incantations, meditations

and other components of the system. Two main streams of Tantric

practice prevailed, viz. Vaamaachaara and Samayaachaara or

Dakshinaachaara. Vaama means left and Dakshina means right.

 

The Dakshina maarga was of a decent and socially acceptable type. It

prescribed worship of various deities of the Hindu pantheon according

to the Tantric prescriptions. Vaamaachaara, however, mainly consisted

of what is known as the Pancha Makaara Pooja or worship with five

components whose names started with 'ma'. These were Matsya (eating

fish), Madya (drinking wine/intoxicating drink), Maamsa (eating

meat), Makara (eating the crab) and Maithuna (Sexual Intercourse).

 

At the time of the advent of Sri Aadi Sankara, the whole system had

deteriorated into licentious and wicked living, all in the name of

Tantra. What was originally a powerful system of spiritual

achievement had fallen on evil days and into wicked hands. It was

very difficult to restore the system to its original glory and

pristine purity. It required the spiritual power and the penetrating

vision of Sri Sankara to establish the ancient and time-tested

Advaita Vedaanta on a firm and practicable footing on the basis of

the Prasthaanatraya, viz. the Upanishads, the Brahma Sootras of

Bhagavan Veda Vyaasa and the Bhagavadgeetaa, the Song Celestial.

 

In due time, Raja Yoga techniques developed wherein the psychosomatic

potential of the Tantric system were explored and established by very

many seers and serious practitioners. Patanjali gave the inimitable

and unparallelled treatise, the 'Yoga Ssootras' which has remained

the one incontrovertible and unquestionable authority on yoga since.

The treatment of the subject of Kundalini was another development of

great significance.

 

Kundalini is an imaginary serpent coiled up into three and a half

turns, lying asleep at the bottom of the trunk of the human body

between the organs of generation and of excavation. With the

practice of spiritual exercises it awakens, rises up into what is

called the Sushumna Naadi supposed to run along the spinal column.

As it rises, it has to pass the six solar plexuses called chakras in

Sanskrit. These are: Moolaadhaara, Swaadhishthaana, Manipooraka,

Anaahata, Visuddhi and Aaagnyaa. The ultimate desatination is past

these chakras, on the pate or the hypothalamus. It is called the

Sahasraara or Sahasradala Kamala, the Thousand-petalled lotus. Lord

Shiva is supposed to be in eternal dalliance with His divine consort,

Paarvati, gently swaying on a swing. On His head is the crescent moon

of the third digit. The moon is supposed to be the repository of

amrtaa, the elixir of eternal life. The Kundalini serpent, in its

ascent, reaches the final destination of the saharaara. There it

stings the moon and punctures it. Immediately, amrtaa starts oozing

from the moon and drenches the practitioner through and through

rendering him immortal in the process.

 

On the way upward, after every set of two charkas, the Kundalini has

to contend with what are called granthis. These are knots that

prevent its upward movement. After the first set of two chakras, viz.

Moolaadhaara and Swaadhishthaana, there is the Brahma Granthi, the

Knot of Brahma, the Creator. After the second set of two chakras,

viz. Manipooraka and Anaahata, there is the Vishnu Granthi, the Knot

of Vishnu, the Preserver. Finally, after the third set of two

chakras, viz. Visuddhi and Aaagnyaa, there is the Rudra Granthi, the

Knot of Rudra, the Dissolver. These Granthis have to be cut asunder

before further progress. It is here that the guidance, help and grace

of the Guru are of paramount importance. Even a small error in the

approach, either in the physical or in the psychological and

emotional content of the practice, is sure to land the practitioner

in an unmanageable crisis. This may result in paralysis, loss of

faculties, dysfunction of the brain, dementia and complications in

the discs in the spinal column causing excruciating pain and

irreversible immobility. These can be reversed only by a competent

adept in the Tantra.

 

On the other hand, an accurate and correct approach to the practice

can bring enormous psychical and spiritual gain. There is no

gainsaying the fact. However, considering the enormity of the risks

involved, one would be well advised to keep away from Tantras, and

turn to the Bhakti or Gnyaana maarga if the goal is ultimate

self-realisation.

It is for these reasons that great avataara purushas and the various

World Teachers have severely warned the seekers against seeking

thaumuturgical powers or siddhis using the Tantric system. Sri

Ramakrishna reports a vision he had in which the Divine Mother of the

Universe showed Him a prostitute passing stools. The Mother indicated

to him that the siddhis that so many longed for were comparable to

the stools. Bhagavaan Ramana also dissuades saadhakas, aspirants from

running after these things, which are after all transient.

[Guest guest]

Namaste,It is a pre occupation with energy and the body. All futile in

the end result. For it stops short of realisation. Read Ramana on this

as well. The activity is just forcing prana that's all, it is prana

cleansing the sheaths. If I had to take a long active time to clean

my dirty floor I wouldn't be boasting about it.K is everywhere and is

everything, it will rise imperceptibly in its own time.

..............Far too much rubbish is written on this

subject...............ONS...Tony.

One man's garbage is another man's treasure...

/join

"Love itself

is the actual form of God."Sri RamanaIn "Letters from Sri

Ramanasramam" by Suri Nagamma

[Guest guest]

, "Lady Joyce" <shaantih@c...>

wrote:

> Namaste,

>

> It is a pre occupation with energy and the body. All futile in the

> end result. For it stops short of realisation. Read Ramana on this

> as well. The activity is just forcing prana that's all, it is

prana

> cleansing the sheaths. If I had to take a long active time to

clean

> my dirty floor I wouldn't be boasting about it.

> K is everywhere and is everything, it will rise imperceptibly in

its

> own time. .............Far too much rubbish is written on this

> subject...............ONS...Tony.

>

>

> One man's garbage is another man's treasure...

>

Namaste J,

 

Kundalini is just the personal God and has to be risen above by

dropping the idea of being a person or 'I'.

It is no more special than worshipping an idol or Ishtadevata.

Ramana teaches us otherwise than these diversions.

However if it is Bhakti it can be usefel as a step to Jnana, or

Moksha.

 

However much misunderstanding and tantric rubbish is

written...ONS..Tony.

[Guest guest]

Dear one,

 

There are risks associated with simply living. No doubt, certain Shakti

practices done without care and guidance are potentially harmful.

 

Anything that is "forced" and goes against natural living can be troublesome.

 

Swami Sivananda suggested using common sense in all such matters.

 

All according to each one's destiny.

 

Love and blessings

 

> "MMNarayan" <mmnarayan49

> 2004/06/18 Fri PM 01:51:40 CDT

> "satsangh" <>

> Kundalini

>

> I read with interest the response to my short (or long ?) attempt to describe

the risks involved in dealing with Kundalini, the Serpent Power.

 

 

Love, serve, and be helpful but without getting disgusted, tired, pessimistic,

and exhausted