What is kundalini?

[Guest guest]

``Kundalini'' literally means coiling, like a snake. In the classical literature

of hatha yoga kundalini is described as a coiled serpent at the base of the

spine. The image of coiling, like a spring, conveys the sense of untapped

potential energy. Perhaps more meaningfully 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. Unfortunately the serpent image may serve

to accentuate this alien nature of the image. It's more useful to think of

kundalini energy as the very foundation of our consciousness so that when

kundalini moves through our bodies our consciousness necessarily changes with

it.

 

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.

 

In the classical literature of Kashmir Shaivism kundalini is described in three

different manifestions. The first of these is as the universal energy or

para-kundalini. The second of these is as the energizing function of the

body-mind complex or prana-kundalini. The third of these is as consciousness or

shakti-kundalini which simultaneously subsumes and intermediates between these

two. Ultimately these three forms are the same but understanding these three

different forms will help to understand the differerent manifestations of

kundalini.

http://www.dhyansanjivani.org/kundalini/what_is_kindalini.asp