Guided Kundalini Meditation

By Denise T. Walker


Some say that the ultimate purpose of yoga, is to facilitate the awakening of kundalini- the power of God in the human body. From a certain viewpoint, this is true, and from other perspectives it is not. So what is it and what is yoga's relationship to it?Vedic philosophy, in particular the school of Tantra, see it as the link between the human body and cosmic Divine consciousness, responsible for creation. it is a potent seed of this force lying dormant at the base of the spinal column in every human body. According to Vedic and Tantric texts it is coiled around the base of the spinal column in three and a half spirals. Hence the ancient sages of India called it kundalini, the one coiled like a snake, and a snake has been symbolic of it ever since. it is considered manifest aspect of the Divine - the Divine Mother - 'Shakti' (Power or Force). She is seen as the aspect of the Divine present in and as the manifestation and that that animates 'life'.

The ancient Rishsi (seers) described an elaborate network of 72,000 nadis, an energetic web-like system spread throughout the human body, very much like the meridians of far Eastern systems. The three most important of these nadis spiral upwards from the root of the spinal column ascending to the crown of the head and the seventh yogic chakra called Sahasrahara. The middle channel, considered the most important of all, is called Sushumana. The other two major nadis on either side of Sushmana are called Ida (the feminine/moon channel) and Pingala (the masculine/sun channel). The six yogic chakras, centers of consciousness, are located vertically above one another at specific intervals along Sushmana where Ida and Pingala cross it.When it is awakened, it begins to rise through sushmana ultimately to reach sahasrahara, uniting with Param Shiva, the eternal unmanifest masculine aspect of the Divine. As it spirals upwards through sushmana, it enters the network of nadis and in ascending opens the chakras/cakras one by one as it rises. (NB:The chakras of the Indian yogic tradition do not correspond to the chakras as they have been understood and popularized in contemporary times.) It is here that we can see clearly the relationship between yoga and kundalini. As outlined through the eight limbs of yoga, yoga as a spiritual practice is a process of 'purification'. This purification can be seen as preparation for the awakening and rising of it. Essentially the more purification has been achieved, the faster and more easily it will ascend to the awaiting 'union' at the crown of the head.

These symptoms of may range from inexplicable physical pain, to extreme emotional disturbances, up to a complete psychotic break-down of one's functioning ego-personality. What makes matters worse, these painful experiences are usually exacerbated by a lot of mental confusion because the person who is going through them often cannot understand what is happening to them.

Traditionally, it is taught that ,it's rising (or whatever people want to call it according to their cultural background) can only be achieved through years of dedicated spiritual practice. However, since the publication of Gopi Krishna's book 'Kundalini' many people have come forward to report so-called spontaneous awakenings, which were independent of intensive spiritual practice. During these spontaneous experiences often the negative and confusing it's symptoms were much more pronounced than the rewarding aspects.

The coiled Serpentine energy known as Shakti is not to be feared of. We have to under all circumstances look at the face of the cobra with a feeling that we have to overcome the fear imbibed within us. Fearing the coiled Shakti shall be of no help.The practice of absolute celibacy brings about a radical change in the personality of a serious seeker of spirituality. As we conqueror the coiled Shakti... we shall find an enormous glow on our forehead visible to the mankind.The glow on the forehead of any human being directly represents the inner thinking process of any human being. More the glow... the higher the human being is supposed to be on the spiritual pedestal.We may indulge in this awakening right now or in subsequent manifestations... there is absolutely no escape. We have to indulge in this type of awakening in one of the manifestations so that our soul (atman within our body) regains its pristine pure from at the earliest and liberates forever from the cycle of birth and death.In the last 150 years two persons have very successfully awakened their belief and realized God. Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharishi Ramana while proceeding on the path of pure spirituality in search of God had their kundalini awakened fully. It was only after their believe had awakened were they able to reach the stage of Nirvikalpa samadhi.Every true seeker of spirituality understands the importance of it's awakening. If we are to realize God within our lifetime... we have to awaken our kundalini fully in this very life. Unless we take the lift straight up... we shall not reach the level of an awakened one... a living Buddha!This awakening... however fearful it may seem to be... is representative of the positive powers of the Cosmos overtaking the Satanic powers forever. Every God realized soul reaches the level of a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed only after having conquered the negative forces for ever by awakening of this type of belief.This awakening is better possible in a Man... The prime reason why in the whole history of mankind only two ladies had awakened fully... Gargi, the bachelor philosopher and Maitreyi... the famous wife of Sage Jnanavalakya!

If we make an examination of mystical literature and traditions in cultures outside India we find that kundalini, called by various names, seems to have been a universal phenomenon in esoteric teachings for at least the last three thousand years. these descriptions or experiences are found in esoteric teachings and symbolism of the Egyptians, Tibetans, Chinese, some Native Americans, and the Kung bushmen of Africa. it has been interpreted from the Bible as "the solar principle in man," or possibly the concept as 'pneuma', and is referenced in the Koran, the works of Plato and other Greek philosophers, possibly as well in alchemical tracts (the philosopher's stone), and in Hermetic, Kabbalistic, Rosicrucian, and Masonic writings.it is then the power of the Divine within us, and it's awakening and rising will ultimately result in the ultimate 'union' of yoga, the union of Divine consciousness in the human body.*vasana: (Sanskrit) "Subconscious inclination." From vas, "living, remaining." The subliminal inclinations and habit patterns which, as driving forces, color and motivate one's attitudes and future actions. Vasanas are the conglomerate results of subconscious impressions (*samskaras) created through experience. Samskaras, experiential impressions, combine in the subconscious to form vasanas, which thereafter contribute to mental fluctuations, called vritti. The most complex and emotionally charged vasanas are found in the dimension of mind called the subsubconscious, or vasana chitta.




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