Two questions about KY

[Guest guest]

Sat nam!

 

I am new to Kundalini Yoga, having practiced hatha and

ashtanga as well as vipassana/zen meditation for a few

years. I am very drawn to KY as I wish to allow my

highest potential to spread the light of service to

all beings I encounter. I have a couple of intro

questions about my practice that I hoped some more

experienced KY people could answer.

 

First, I have a hard time chanting mantras. I

understand that the sounds of Sanskrit were chosen by

the yogis long ago to vibrate the body mind in certain

ways, and also that faith in the process is

prerequisite. I want to trust the mantras. However,

I don't speak Sanskrit; the words aren't meaningful to

me. If I am going to learn their translations, why

would I not simply chant the translation, or an

English mantra? Isn't my understanding/intention/will

the spark behind the words - wouldn't English mantras

work better for a native English speaker? Don't

English words have their own related frequencies, like

each flower has its own scent and not another? Why,

or why not?

 

Second, I want to practice Sat Kriya, but I have found

the instruction confusing. It seems as though there

should be a continual flow of Sat Nam, but when do I

inhale? Just after Nam? Should I inhale with the

locks at the navel and throat relaxed, or draw them

up? I have read that there is "no coordination of the

breath with the mantra," but I cannot imagine how I

would be doing two rhythmic things (chanting and

breathing) with no coordination between them. I would

appreciate any advice!

 

Thanks so much! Namaste to you all! Smile, it is all

so wonderful!

 

Be joy-full today!

Peat Burkindine

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Peat:

 

I'll start with the Sat Kriya. It is confusing with the different

description available. I asked that very question of Gurucharan Singh,

director of KRI (Kundalini Research Institute) last month. Here's his

answer: "Sat air out, air "sneaks"/YB in as Nam, ie smoothly without

interrupting rhythm, but amount is very small and continmous."

 

In other words: exhale "Sat" while bringing the navel point in toward the

spine (the navel point is 3 finger width below the navel). Inhale by

sneaking the air in as you say "Nam".

 

Your second question: What is hard about chanting for you? It seems that

you want to engage your mind by understanding. But chanting is about

bypassing the mind and going straight to your nervous system. One side

effect is that it aligns all the multitude of thoughts and desires with

the mantra so they stop asking for your attention. It quiets you down. You

are more focused. Does that make sense? So dive into the sound of it,

trust your flight supported by the mantra and see what happens!

 

Most mantras in kundalini yoga are in Punjabi, the Sikh language, not

Sanscrit. What is common to both languages is that the vibration of the

language speaks to your nervous system directly so it does not matter

whether you understand what you chant, as your nervous system integrates

through its vibration. The vibration is what makes chanting what it is and

is not singing. Some mantras are in English like "GOD AND ME, ME AND GOD

ARE ONE" What makes a mantra is that it has to have the right rhythm. Not

every sequence of words can be a mantra. A rhythm of 8 sounds occurs

frequently.

 

Blessings,

 

Awtar Singh

Rochester, NY

 

 

 

 

- ----------------------

Sat nam!

 

I am new to Kundalini Yoga, having practiced hatha and

ashtanga as well as vipassana/zen meditation for a few

years. I am very drawn to KY as I wish to allow my

highest potential to spread the light of service to

all beings I encounter. I have a couple of intro

questions about my practice that I hoped some more

experienced KY people could answer.

 

First, I have a hard time chanting mantras. I

understand that the sounds of Sanskrit were chosen by

the yogis long ago to vibrate the body mind in certain

ways, and also that faith in the process is

prerequisite. I want to trust the mantras. However,

I don't speak Sanskrit; the words aren't meaningful to

me. If I am going to learn their translations, why

would I not simply chant the translation, or an

English mantra? Isn't my understanding/intention/will

the spark behind the words - wouldn't English mantras

work better for a native English speaker? Don't

English words have their own related frequencies, like

each flower has its own scent and not another? Why,

or why not?

 

Second, I want to practice Sat Kriya, but I have found

the instruction confusing. It seems as though there

should be a continual flow of Sat Nam, but when do I

inhale? Just after Nam? Should I inhale with the

locks at the navel and throat relaxed, or draw them

up? I have read that there is "no coordination of the

breath with the mantra," but I cannot imagine how I

would be doing two rhythmic things (chanting and

breathing) with no coordination between them. I would

appreciate any advice!

 

Thanks so much! Namaste to you all! Smile, it is all

so wonderful!

 

Be joy-full today!

Peat Burkindine

[Guest guest]

Sat Nam,

dear Peat,

 

the beauty of chanting mantras is the following: In the upper palate you

have some 48 reflex points, which are directly connected with glands and

parts of the brain. By chanting the mantras and moving the tongue in the

mouth you stimulate this points. The other point is, that the vibration of

the sounds affects your brain activity as well. Even when you chant silent

/ mentally the mantras are working perfectly. So it is not necessarily

important to 'know' the meaning of the mantras (translation of the gurmukh

words) rather to pronounce them right. Important is also the mental focus

and the correct position of the head (neck lock) to allow the full effect

of the mantras.

 

While teacher training one of the teachers described the chanting of

mantras like having sex: the tongue (lingam) is moving gently / wildly /

compassionately around in the mouth (yoni) until you reach extacy. And I am

sure, with this picture / understanding you have a different view of

chanting the japji each day for half an hour :-)

This also explains the difference between listening (passive) and chanting

(active) a mantra - so don't hold back in classes - CHANT!

 

Re Sat Kriya: best is to see a teacher and to learn this sacred exercise

under his/her guidance. After a short while you will get the complete

rhythm of Sat (pull navel point in) - Nam (release the navel), which

happens approx 8 - 10 times per 10 seconds. Breathing happens in between -

difficult to describe, more difficult to do this consciously - but easy,

when you stick to the rhythm, concentrate on the 3rd eye point and simply

go for it.

The breath then happens 'automatically' in between - and so far I know of

no case of suffocation while doing this kriya ;-)

 

Sending blessings and light from Shanghai,

 

Adarsh S.