Shaktipat

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

 

I was reading recently some of Swami Muktananda's books on Siddha Yoga and

saw that a great importance is placed on receiving Shaktipat from the Guru.

This seems to be a critical condition for the attainment of

God-consciousness. Since Siddha Yoga talks a lot about Kundalini, I was

wondering on the relationship it has with Kundalini Yoga. Is Shaktipat ever

practiced in KY? I remember Yogi Bhajan said that he is not initiating

anybody, but encourages people to initiate themselves. Siddha Yoga considers

Shaktipat as also being the initiation received from within, from the "inner

Guru", but seems to consider it essential that one receives it from an

"outer Guru" as well. I would appreciate any insights into this.

 

Blessings,

 

Alina

[Guest guest]

hi folks....

 

i have been quiet for awhile... but the question on Shaktipat interested me

since i have a friend who practices Siddha Yoga... although i have not tried

it myself.

so i thought i would forward Alina's question to him

 

he has been studying meditation and yoga for 30 years and in particular,

Siddha Yoga for 21 years....

 

long responce so be prepared.... =)

Love and Light

Akire

*****************************

 

Shaktipat diksha (initiation by descent of grace) has been a form of

initiation used throughout India since time immemorial--perhaps back to the

pre-Vedic culture which flourished in India between 3000 and 2000 BCE,

perhaps earlier. However, traditionally it has been practiced between master

and disciple on a private scale, or at most with a few initiates at a time,

and only after years of faithful service. Swami Muktananda, however, was

charged by his guru, Bhagawan Nityananda, to spread shaktipat diksha far and

wide, including to the West, as freely as possible. Muktananda then passed

this charge on to his successor, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda. Hence, it is far

more public than ever before.

 

In essence, shaktpat diksha is the "descent" of shakti (grace, spiritual

power) from master to disciple; the most common analogy is using one candle

to ignite another. This typically occurs through one of four means: touch,

speech, look, or will. Touch is the most direct: the master places his/her

hand on the disciple's body and transfers shakti to the disciple. But the

spoken word or a deliberate glance from the master can have the same effect,

and even the master's will (sankalpa) can have the same effect--even from

around the world.

 

As to the importance of the physical guru: yes, this is emphasized in Siddha

Yoga. After all, what more efficacious means can there be, than to be

initiated directly by a living master, one whose consciousness is fully

immersed in transcendental awareness? But the inner guru can also prompt

initiation without a physical guru being present. The guru is essential;

neither initiation nor moksha (enlightenment) can occur without the guru. But

the guru is not (merely) a body or a person; the guru is one of the five

principles of the Absolute (God, Brahman, Shiva), which are creation,

sustenance, destruction, concealment, and revelation. Although Brahman is

said to be nirguna (without attributes), yet only Brahman (the Absolute

Whatever) is capable of these five actions. According to Kashmir Shavism,

Shiva (Brahman) creates the world, sustains the world, eventually destroys

the world, conceals himself in his creation, and reveals himself within his

creation. (Moses was witness to God's revelation at the burning bush,

Muhammed in receiving the Koran, etc.)

 

Hence, it is the guru principle (guru tattva) which reveals, initiates, and

ultimately enlightens, whatever form that process takes. Not all systems of

yoga engage in shaktipat diksha, however--in fact, it's very rare. Most yogas

(and, as far as I know, Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan) focus

instead on preparing the sadhaka (seeker) for initiation/liberation by

purifying the body and mind through various approaches and stages of

practice, including hatha yoga asanas, pranayama, and dhyana (meditation),

all of which help prepare the individual for samadhi, or transcendent

consciousness. None of these practices in and of themselves bring about

liberation; they are only means of purifying the bodymind complex to properly

receive liberation. Moksha or liberation occurs by grace. (Christianity, at

its roots in Jesus' life and teaching, was all about liberation through

grace: he said it is not by works, but by grace alone that men will enter his

father's kingdom.)

 

According to its practitioners, shaktipat diksha is the most direct possible

channel for liberation since the guru actually extends his/her spiritual

essence to the disciple. However, the disciple has the responsibility of

maintaining state, of nurturing that process (and here's where I've fallen so

many, many times .

 

The risks can be high: such initiation without the guidance of a living

master can be misunderstood by the individual, leading to all sorts of

problems, including in extremis proclaiming oneself to be a master, to the

more common experiences of being overwhelmed by psychic experiences one has

no context for and cannot understand. This is in part why Siddha Yoga

emphasizes the physical guru: he or she is able to guide and protect the

initiate.

 

Well, I could go on for hours, but hopefully this helps.

[Guest guest]

LadyOStars wrote:

 

>None of these practices in and of themselves bring about

>liberation; they are only means of purifying the bodymind complex to

properly

>receive liberation. Moksha or liberation occurs by grace.

 

Thank you Akire for the insights. I think all yogas agree that liberation

occurs by grace (does anybody have examples to the contrary?). Beyond all

the differences, they all point to the same goal. One explanation I guess is

that different paths are suitable to different people.

 

And, to answer my own question, Shaktipat is never given in KY, because "if

you cannot initiate yourself, you are not worth initiating", according to

Yogi Bhajan. So this is Do-It-Yourself yoga : )!

 

Sat Nam,

 

Alina

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

That is a very good question about Shakipat. And I appreciate the

responses.

 

I will comment on my experiences with Yogi Bhajan. First every teacher is

unique. Although I do see two general categories of interactions with

spiritual masters. The "Shakipat" teachers share with their students an

experience of Divine energy. It is often a moment of bliss, so that we can

experience what it is like to be free of fear and anger etc.

 

I don't know if there are others like Yogi Bhajan, but he certainly has a

different approach. My experience is that being in his presence is like

being on a hot plate. He uses his energy to burn away your karma so you

have a chance at initiating yourself. He is definitely working on you when

you are in his presence,whether you are talking to him or attending one of

his classes. If you have a personal conversation with him then he really

digs in.

 

This week I attended two of his classes in Los Angeles and had a personal

session with him. His technique is to make you talk and then he works on

you to clear problems before they arise.

 

I can give you one specific example. He told me he did not like me using my

nickname "Rattana". He emphasized that my name is Gururattan Kaur (he gave

me my name about 20 years ago) He said my name meant Emerald, the Jewel of

the Guru.

 

I do know that one's spiritual name is one's vibration. And to honor that

helps one experience one's true identity. And then of course there is the

question of ego and surrender. So I choose to surrender and use my given

spiritual name.

 

Yogi Bhajan said many things. One that I want to share is that it is

necessary first to serve and surrender before one can achieve mastery.

Mastery is afterall not an ego trip but a merging with the Divine.

Surrender, service and humility all help one to be ready and available for

Divine Grace when it comes your turn.

 

> I think all yogas agree that liberation

> occurs by grace (does anybody have examples to the contrary?).

 

No example to the contrary that I know of.

 

> And, to answer my own question, Shaktipat is never given in KY, because

"if

> you cannot initiate yourself, you are not worth initiating", according to

> Yogi Bhajan. So this is Do-It-Yourself yoga : )!

 

That's it in a nutshell. Get out your yoga manuals and get to work! :+)

And then be sure to relax and surrender to what IS afterwards.

 

Sat Nam,

 

Gururattan Kaur

[Guest guest]

SAT NAM!

 

I had mensioned something similiar to Babaloniafoto. It's the coiled snake

awakening and rising through the spin to the brain. It's a rush of energy

described as a brain orgasm. So yeah, I've heard about what you are saying.

 

Lots of love and blessings,

 

William

[Mary Daley]

please can you suggest any books that will help to initiate shaktipat as on reading the threads suggests that one cannot be initiated into it you have to do it your self please help