Guest guest Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 Having trouble finding "the brilliant lotus in the head"? (GG vs.95) Well, perhaps this practice will help. This is a practice called bhuta shuddhi, or purification of the elements. In it, one repeats the bija of each chakra in succession, purifying it and its associated nadis. This practice energizes each chakra in succession, leading the prana higher and higher, balancing the system, and opening the door to the experience of that consciousness peculiar to each chakra. Now, the bijas are lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, and om, but we are going to say them "the tantric way", as Swamiji once said to me. They are pronounced Lung, vung (the v is like a German w, halfway between a v and a w), rung, yung, hung, and om. The u sound for all of these is a short u, like "Oh! I took too deep a breath, and I have a pain in my LUNG!" Another change from the standard (this is a variation from the kundalini yoga tradition) is the om bija for ajna and sahasrara chakras (and this variation fits very well with the Guru Gita - you'll see what I mean) Instead of pronouncing "om" at ajna chakra, say so ham (and pronounce it this way "soooo hummmmm". Then at sahasrara, instead of saying "om" as well, say "ham sah". Pronounce it like "hummmmm Saaaaaa". At these two places I have not found the "ng" sound to be as effective, but you can experiment yourself, if you like, and see which is best. OK, now a bit about the chakras, in case you don't know. If you are one of those whose chakras fairly buzz at the mearest thought, you may skip this. Perhaps there are some of you doing this practice who are not even sure where your chakras are. Well, this should help. Each chakra (with the exception of muladhara) has an extention through the front of the body which can act as a "trigger point" for that chakra. In other words, it can help energize and locate the actual chakra, which is always located along the spinal axis. These "trigger points" are called kshetram. They are located on the front of the body (except for sahasrara, where the chakra itself doesn't really exist in the body, but above it). So, generally speaking, from the kshetram, draw a straight line back to the spine and you have the location of the actual chakra. So, muladhara doesn't have a ksetram. It is located at the perineum, between the anus and the genitals in men, and at the posterior of the cervix in women. Svadhisthana is located near the end of the tailbone, and its kshetram is right smack in the middle of the pubic mound. Manipura is located opposite its kshetram, which is at the navel. Anahata is located opposite its kshetram, which is in the middle of the breastbone, in a line between the two nipples (in men [it's in the same place for women, just imagine you don't have breasts]). Vishuddha is located opposite its kshetram, which is at the hollow of the throat. Ajna is located opposite its kshetram, which is between the eyebrows. And the kshetram of sahasrara is at the top of the head. Alright, now the practice. Each bija, from muladhara up to vishuddha is spoken at least sixteen times. The easiest way I've found to do this is to break it up into fours; two fours equals eight, and four fours is sixteen. Practice fours until you "get" how it sounds, then just combine to make sixteen (you can do more too). "lam, lam, lam, lam...lam, lam, lam, lam..."etc. Try to feel the vibration of each bija in its chakra; feel the chakra begin to come alive. If you're having trouble feeling the chakra, try breathing through the kshetram into the chakra on the inbreath. When you feel comfortable with the level of awareness in the chakra, move to the next. There are a couple of ways to do this. The best is to feel the prana moving up the spine and into the next chakra with the inbreath, then repeat the bija sixteen times. If you have trouble visualizing or feeling the prana in ths spine, try visualizing it following a path up the front of the body with the inbreath, from one kshetram to the next, and then into the chakra. You can also, as I mentioned before, simply breathe through the ksetram into the chakra and pronounce the bija sixteen times. When you reach ajna chakra, I have found it best to use a fairly high, nasal voice to pronounce the bija (as described in the Siddha Kunjika Stotram) resonating in the back of the head, opposite its kshetram, saying "SooooHummmmmmm, SoooooHummmmmmm, SoooooHummmmmmm". I have found that trying to do sixteen at this and the next chakra is just distracting, so I go slowly, in threes, until I get the response I want. Now at sahasrara I use an even higher tone (almost falsetto), and also purer, less nasal than before, "HammmmmmmSaaaaaaaaaaah, HammmmmmmmmSaaaaaaaaah, HammmmmmmmSaaaaaaaaah." Feel the subtle vibrations respond to the vibrations of the mantra in the chakra; feel the pressure grow, see the light, pure and white, and brilliant. Sometimes the light is not pure and white and brilliant. Sometimes you just have to take what you can get. As long as you can energize that chakra, as long as you can feel the awareness moving there, even a little, it is a step forward. Just perform the meditation, and thank the gurudevas. It is wonderful. In this practice, we have dissolved the elements into their subtle forms (at the perfected stage). To finish, we must resolve them into their gross forms to regain balance. Begin with Ham Sah, go to So Ham, to Ham, to Yam, to Ram, to Vam, and finally to Lam. Just say each once, or twice, or a few times, and feel the vibrations and the consciousness reconnect with the world of matter at each level, in each chakra. There is a science to the use of tone, notes of the musical scale, to produce subtle effects. Experiment with moving up the tonal scale as you move up the chakras. At ajna and sahasrara I have found it especially valuable to kind of allow the shakti to help me select the proper tone to energize the chakra, so experiment a little bit, but use the high tones. You can also adjust the intensity of the vocalization, louder, softer, purer, etc. Depending on what's going on with you on any given day, a certain intensity of vocalization may change your experience. If you've ever heard Swamiji pronouncing bijas at homa, he makes the "ng" reverberate like there's a pipe organ in his spine. This practice can be even better if you can visualize the chakras as you pronounce the bijas, but that is too much for one post. The practice can be done without. If you're interested, I believe they are described in the Devi Gita. Good luck with this. If you practice you will not be disappointed. "In the morning remember the divine name in the brilliant lotus in the head, along with the Guru with two eyes and two arms, who grants the boons of freedom from fear and peace." Guru Gita vs.95 Jai Maa! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2005 Report Share Posted June 26, 2005 chris,thank you for posting this. i look forward to the post describing the visualizations you are a river of love, ~leela , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > Having trouble finding "the brilliant lotus in the head"? (GG vs.95) > Well, perhaps this practice will help. > > This is a practice called bhuta shuddhi, or purification of the > elements. In it, one repeats the bija of each chakra in succession, > purifying it and its associated nadis. > > This practice energizes each chakra in succession, leading the prana > higher and higher, balancing the system, and opening the door to the > experience of that consciousness peculiar to each chakra. > > Now, the bijas are lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, and om, but we are going > to say them "the tantric way", as Swamiji once said to me. They are > pronounced Lung, vung (the v is like a German w, halfway between a v > and a w), rung, yung, hung, and om. The u sound for all of these is a > short u, like "Oh! I took too deep a breath, and I have a pain in my > LUNG!" > > Another change from the standard (this is a variation from the > kundalini yoga tradition) is the om bija for ajna and sahasrara > chakras (and this variation fits very well with the Guru Gita - you'll > see what I mean) > > Instead of pronouncing "om" at ajna chakra, say so ham (and pronounce > it this way "soooo hummmmm". Then at sahasrara, instead of saying "om" > as well, say "ham sah". Pronounce it like "hummmmm Saaaaaa". At these > two places I have not found the "ng" sound to be as effective, but you > can experiment yourself, if you like, and see which is best. > > OK, now a bit about the chakras, in case you don't know. If you are > one of those whose chakras fairly buzz at the mearest thought, you may > skip this. Perhaps there are some of you doing this practice who are > not even sure where your chakras are. Well, this should help. > > Each chakra (with the exception of muladhara) has an extention through > the front of the body which can act as a "trigger point" for that > chakra. In other words, it can help energize and locate the actual > chakra, which is always located along the spinal axis. These "trigger > points" are called kshetram. They are located on the front of the body > (except for sahasrara, where the chakra itself doesn't really exist in > the body, but above it). So, generally speaking, from the kshetram, > draw a straight line back to the spine and you have the location of > the actual chakra. > > So, muladhara doesn't have a ksetram. It is located at the perineum, > between the anus and the genitals in men, and at the posterior of the > cervix in women. Svadhisthana is located near the end of the tailbone, > and its kshetram is right smack in the middle of the pubic mound. > Manipura is located opposite its kshetram, which is at the navel. > Anahata is located opposite its kshetram, which is in the middle of > the breastbone, in a line between the two nipples (in men [it's in the > same place for women, just imagine you don't have breasts]). Vishuddha > is located opposite its kshetram, which is at the hollow of the > throat. Ajna is located opposite its kshetram, which is between the > eyebrows. And the kshetram of sahasrara is at the top of the head. > > Alright, now the practice. Each bija, from muladhara up to vishuddha > is spoken at least sixteen times. The easiest way I've found to do > this is to break it up into fours; two fours equals eight, and four > fours is sixteen. Practice fours until you "get" how it sounds, then > just combine to make sixteen (you can do more too). "lam, lam, lam, > lam...lam, lam, lam, lam..."etc. Try to feel the vibration of each > bija in its chakra; feel the chakra begin to come alive. > > If you're having trouble feeling the chakra, try breathing through the > kshetram into the chakra on the inbreath. When you feel comfortable > with the level of awareness in the chakra, move to the next. There are > a couple of ways to do this. The best is to feel the prana moving up > the spine and into the next chakra with the inbreath, then repeat the > bija sixteen times. If you have trouble visualizing or feeling the > prana in ths spine, try visualizing it following a path up the front > of the body with the inbreath, from one kshetram to the next, and then > into the chakra. You can also, as I mentioned before, simply breathe > through the ksetram into the chakra and pronounce the bija sixteen times. > > When you reach ajna chakra, I have found it best to use a fairly high, > nasal voice to pronounce the bija (as described in the Siddha Kunjika > Stotram) resonating in the back of the head, opposite its kshetram, > saying "SooooHummmmmmm, SoooooHummmmmmm, SoooooHummmmmmm". I have > found that trying to do sixteen at this and the next chakra is just > distracting, so I go slowly, in threes, until I get the response I > want. Now at sahasrara I use an even higher tone (almost falsetto), > and also purer, less nasal than before, "HammmmmmmSaaaaaaaaaaah, > HammmmmmmmmSaaaaaaaaah, HammmmmmmmSaaaaaaaaah." Feel the subtle > vibrations respond to the vibrations of the mantra in the chakra; feel > the pressure grow, see the light, pure and white, and brilliant. > > Sometimes the light is not pure and white and brilliant. Sometimes you > just have to take what you can get. As long as you can energize that > chakra, as long as you can feel the awareness moving there, even a > little, it is a step forward. Just perform the meditation, and thank > the gurudevas. It is wonderful. > > In this practice, we have dissolved the elements into their subtle > forms (at the perfected stage). To finish, we must resolve them into > their gross forms to regain balance. Begin with Ham Sah, go to So Ham, > to Ham, to Yam, to Ram, to Vam, and finally to Lam. Just say each > once, or twice, or a few times, and feel the vibrations and the > consciousness reconnect with the world of matter at each level, in > each chakra. > > There is a science to the use of tone, notes of the musical scale, to > produce subtle effects. Experiment with moving up the tonal scale as > you move up the chakras. At ajna and sahasrara I have found it > especially valuable to kind of allow the shakti to help me select the > proper tone to energize the chakra, so experiment a little bit, but > use the high tones. > > You can also adjust the intensity of the vocalization, louder, softer, > purer, etc. Depending on what's going on with you on any given day, a > certain intensity of vocalization may change your experience. If > you've ever heard Swamiji pronouncing bijas at homa, he makes the "ng" > reverberate like there's a pipe organ in his spine. > > This practice can be even better if you can visualize the chakras as > you pronounce the bijas, but that is too much for one post. The > practice can be done without. If you're interested, I believe they are > described in the Devi Gita. > > Good luck with this. If you practice you will not be disappointed. > > "In the morning remember the divine name in the brilliant lotus in the > head, along with the Guru with two eyes and two arms, who grants the > boons of freedom from fear and peace." Guru Gita vs.95 > > > Jai Maa! > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2005 Report Share Posted June 27, 2005 Yes, yes, it is very cool. The bidge words carry us through one gate to another, keeping us from being waylaid by river pirates as we reach toward the treasure troves. Turning the hiramic key/s the vault doors swing open. We then imbibe the treasure profusely agian and again until we ourselves become that treasure. Tat twameva twameva tat. , "durgakali8" <durgakali8> wrote: > chris,thank you for posting this. i look forward to the post > describing the visualizations > > you are a river of love, > ~leela > > > > , "Chris Kirner" > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > Having trouble finding "the brilliant lotus in the head"? (GG vs.95) > > Well, perhaps this practice will help. > > > > This is a practice called bhuta shuddhi, or purification of the > > elements. In it, one repeats the bija of each chakra in succession, > > purifying it and its associated nadis. > > > > This practice energizes each chakra in succession, leading the prana > > higher and higher, balancing the system, and opening the door to the > > experience of that consciousness peculiar to each chakra. > > > > Now, the bijas are lam, vam, ram, yam, ham, and om, but we are going > > to say them "the tantric way", as Swamiji once said to me. They are > > pronounced Lung, vung (the v is like a German w, halfway between a v > > and a w), rung, yung, hung, and om. The u sound for all of these is a > > short u, like "Oh! I took too deep a breath, and I have a pain in my > > LUNG!" > > > > Another change from the standard (this is a variation from the > > kundalini yoga tradition) is the om bija for ajna and sahasrara > > chakras (and this variation fits very well with the Guru Gita - you'll > > see what I mean) > > > > Instead of pronouncing "om" at ajna chakra, say so ham (and pronounce > > it this way "soooo hummmmm". Then at sahasrara, instead of saying "om" > > as well, say "ham sah". Pronounce it like "hummmmm Saaaaaa". At these > > two places I have not found the "ng" sound to be as effective, but you > > can experiment yourself, if you like, and see which is best. > > > > OK, now a bit about the chakras, in case you don't know. If you are > > one of those whose chakras fairly buzz at the mearest thought, you may > > skip this. Perhaps there are some of you doing this practice who are > > not even sure where your chakras are. Well, this should help. > > > > Each chakra (with the exception of muladhara) has an extention through > > the front of the body which can act as a "trigger point" for that > > chakra. In other words, it can help energize and locate the actual > > chakra, which is always located along the spinal axis. These "trigger > > points" are called kshetram. They are located on the front of the body > > (except for sahasrara, where the chakra itself doesn't really exist in > > the body, but above it). So, generally speaking, from the kshetram, > > draw a straight line back to the spine and you have the location of > > the actual chakra. > > > > So, muladhara doesn't have a ksetram. It is located at the perineum, > > between the anus and the genitals in men, and at the posterior of the > > cervix in women. Svadhisthana is located near the end of the tailbone, > > and its kshetram is right smack in the middle of the pubic mound. > > Manipura is located opposite its kshetram, which is at the navel. > > Anahata is located opposite its kshetram, which is in the middle of > > the breastbone, in a line between the two nipples (in men [it's in the > > same place for women, just imagine you don't have breasts]). Vishuddha > > is located opposite its kshetram, which is at the hollow of the > > throat. Ajna is located opposite its kshetram, which is between the > > eyebrows. And the kshetram of sahasrara is at the top of the head. > > > > Alright, now the practice. Each bija, from muladhara up to vishuddha > > is spoken at least sixteen times. The easiest way I've found to do > > this is to break it up into fours; two fours equals eight, and four > > fours is sixteen. Practice fours until you "get" how it sounds, then > > just combine to make sixteen (you can do more too). "lam, lam, lam, > > lam...lam, lam, lam, lam..."etc. Try to feel the vibration of each > > bija in its chakra; feel the chakra begin to come alive. > > > > If you're having trouble feeling the chakra, try breathing through the > > kshetram into the chakra on the inbreath. When you feel comfortable > > with the level of awareness in the chakra, move to the next. There are > > a couple of ways to do this. The best is to feel the prana moving up > > the spine and into the next chakra with the inbreath, then repeat the > > bija sixteen times. If you have trouble visualizing or feeling the > > prana in ths spine, try visualizing it following a path up the front > > of the body with the inbreath, from one kshetram to the next, and then > > into the chakra. You can also, as I mentioned before, simply breathe > > through the ksetram into the chakra and pronounce the bija sixteen > times. > > > > When you reach ajna chakra, I have found it best to use a fairly high, > > nasal voice to pronounce the bija (as described in the Siddha Kunjika > > Stotram) resonating in the back of the head, opposite its kshetram, > > saying "SooooHummmmmmm, SoooooHummmmmmm, SoooooHummmmmmm". I have > > found that trying to do sixteen at this and the next chakra is just > > distracting, so I go slowly, in threes, until I get the response I > > want. Now at sahasrara I use an even higher tone (almost falsetto), > > and also purer, less nasal than before, "HammmmmmmSaaaaaaaaaaah, > > HammmmmmmmmSaaaaaaaaah, HammmmmmmmSaaaaaaaaah." Feel the subtle > > vibrations respond to the vibrations of the mantra in the chakra; feel > > the pressure grow, see the light, pure and white, and brilliant. > > > > Sometimes the light is not pure and white and brilliant. Sometimes you > > just have to take what you can get. As long as you can energize that > > chakra, as long as you can feel the awareness moving there, even a > > little, it is a step forward. Just perform the meditation, and thank > > the gurudevas. It is wonderful. > > > > In this practice, we have dissolved the elements into their subtle > > forms (at the perfected stage). To finish, we must resolve them into > > their gross forms to regain balance. Begin with Ham Sah, go to So Ham, > > to Ham, to Yam, to Ram, to Vam, and finally to Lam. Just say each > > once, or twice, or a few times, and feel the vibrations and the > > consciousness reconnect with the world of matter at each level, in > > each chakra. > > > > There is a science to the use of tone, notes of the musical scale, to > > produce subtle effects. Experiment with moving up the tonal scale as > > you move up the chakras. At ajna and sahasrara I have found it > > especially valuable to kind of allow the shakti to help me select the > > proper tone to energize the chakra, so experiment a little bit, but > > use the high tones. > > > > You can also adjust the intensity of the vocalization, louder, softer, > > purer, etc. Depending on what's going on with you on any given day, a > > certain intensity of vocalization may change your experience. If > > you've ever heard Swamiji pronouncing bijas at homa, he makes the "ng" > > reverberate like there's a pipe organ in his spine. > > > > This practice can be even better if you can visualize the chakras as > > you pronounce the bijas, but that is too much for one post. The > > practice can be done without. If you're interested, I believe they are > > described in the Devi Gita. > > > > Good luck with this. If you practice you will not be disappointed. > > > > "In the morning remember the divine name in the brilliant lotus in the > > head, along with the Guru with two eyes and two arms, who grants the > > boons of freedom from fear and peace." Guru Gita vs.95 > > > > > > Jai Maa! > > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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