- Swami Sivananda
According to Swami Satyananda any form of spiritual discipline will bring about the awakening of kundalini. Kundalini is the latent energy within our bio-psychological beings, which, when activated can bring about a spiritual transformation. This energy, much like electricity, is known indirectly through the phenomenal process it evokes within psyche and soma. Although the term “kundalini” belongs to the Sanskrit Tantric tradition, the phenomenon has been known cross-culturally and world-wide. We can see its unfolding states and stages in Shamanic initiations and in the writings of Christian and Islamic mystics. The ultimate goal of this inner process is the union of the individual with the Universal Consciousness; jivatman with Paramatman. It is the summon bona of human existence as proclaimed by mystic saints throughout the ages, the union of the soul with God.
It seems that many of those who practice yoga asanas, or postures, are unaware that these were originally designed to open the flow of prana, or bio-electromagnetic energy through the channels of the subtle body in order to pave the way for the awakening of kundalini. In the process there is a release of psychological and emotional stress which enhances both physical and psychological health. With the awakening of kundalini, however, one’s consciousness transcends both body and mind. The kundalini experience involves ego death and rebirth. The process often involves intense ecstasy as well as physical and psychological suffering. The ecstasy hooks us into the process while the suffering purifies the physical and energetic bodies.
Sexual energy, experiences and desires are a prominent early stage of the process. The kundalini energy is comprised of libidinal, psychological and spiritual energy. It represents a continuum. All is One. This can be problematic for those who have compartmentalized spirituality as good and sexuality as bad. The process of kundalini awakening can be awakened both through intense sexual pleasure and prayer. It is also dissipated through excessive sensuality and over-intellectualization. The ego has a myriad of strategies for avoiding the point. Active, intentional and dedicated surrender to the Divine is crucial.
The chakras are energy centers within the subtle, or psychic, body through which kundalini passes as it opens. Each center represents a developmental level of consciousness. These levels are based in and rest upon an overall evolutionary process in the universe. Kundalini is the process of universal evolution happening in and through us right here and right now. With the development of human beings the universe begins to become aware of Itself. At this stage we are each responsible to join in and participate in the universal creative process. Meditation on the chakras is a method discovered by the Tantric Masters (Mahasiddhas) for entering into this process.
To reiterate the point that this phenomenon doesn’t belong strictly to the East, I would like to share a poem by Hildegard von Bingen which seems to describe kundalini very well:
Holy Spirit
giving life to all life,
moving all creatures,
root of all things,
washing them clean,
wiping out their mistakes,
healing their wounds,
you are our true life,
luminous, wonderful,
awakening the heart,
from its ancient sleep.
(from The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, edited by
Stephen Mitchell)
Some resources:
Kundalini Tantra/2009 Re-print
Kundalini Energy & Christian Spirituality: A Pathway to Growth & Healing
Theories of the Chakras: Bridge to Higher Consciousness
Kundalini : The Energy of the Depths : A Comprehensive Study Based on the Scriptures of Nondualistic Kasmir Saivism (Suny Series in the Shaiva Traditions of Kashmir)http://satyamyoga.com/teachpro.htm
http://www.kundaliniawakeningsystems1.com/downloads/secret-of-yoga_gopi-krishna_(222pg).pdf
Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening
The Kundalini Experience: Psychosis or Transcendence
