Tuesday, June 2, 2009

TANTRA YOGA (Part 3): Chakras - Muladhara Chakra

The following is the third installment of a new book on Tantra Yoga that I am writing. As a follower of this blog you have the opportunity to read this soon to be published book as each chapter comes out. So please make sure to check this blog as often as you can. Or better yet, sign up as a follower of this blog to be automatically notified via email when each new 
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CHAKRAS

The word "chakra" comes from Tantra yoga and belongs to the astral body. It is the center of psychic energy which is a higher level of ability in human beings, known as siddhis (extra superability, ESP, and/or psycho-kinesis ability). There are seven chakras in our body. These chakras are related to certain parts and organs of the physical body and also have a deep relation to the center in the brain. Many parts of this center in the brain are still undeveloped and not utilized or activated. In order to activate and develop these centers completely, it will take humans several million years to complete the process of evolution. The whole universe is evolving. We have evolved this much (...minerals ---> plants ---> animals ---> man). We are in the middle of a process. It is possible to complete evolution in one lifetime or several life times. In other words, developing the chakras will help process the evolution of mankind. Tantra already knows where we are going to evolve to the level of Buddha, the level of Jesus Christ, level of Jain, etc. They completed the evolution of mankind about 2000 years ago. In other words, they are several hundreds and thousands of years ahead of everybody. They are our examples of the way. Buddha, Jesus, Jain, Mohammed... they are not the only individuals that have attained enlightenment. Hundreds of yogis, Zen masters and various religious, spiritual practitioners have attained self realization. Therefore, there are many Buddhas and gods. Another meaning of Buddha or Christ is no different from Atman, the eternal self or soul. In this way, someone who lives next door to you could be a Buddha, or, everybody is God.

Locations and Functions of the Chakras

(7) Sahasrara Chakra (crown chakra) - top of head
(6) Ajna Chakra (third eye) - center of forehead
(5) Visuddha Charka ((throat chakra) - throat area
(4) Anahata Chakra (heart chakra) - center of the breast
(3) Manipura Chakra (navel chakra) - navel area
(2) Svadhisthana Chakra (2nd chakra) - sexual organ
(1) Muladhara Chakra (root chakra) - perineum area

(1) Muladhara Chakra (root chakra)

This is the 1st chakra. The meaning of Muladhara is Mula (root) Adhara (foundation or base), therefore, Muladhara Chakra is the basic foundation of the seven chakras.

Mula = Mulaprakriti.
Mulaprakriti is the transcendental orgin of nature. Nature, the phenomenon world that we see, everything came from mulaprakriti, and everything resolves to mulaprakriti. Therefore, mulaprakriti is the origin of nature's evolution. Mulaprakriti is basically responsible for the physical, material, psychological, and emotional --- everything that occurs in the human body. Muladhara chakra exists as a transcendental, non-material source in material (flesh) body, and it is supposedly fully developed and functioning in the future.

Muladhara chakra belongs to the earth principle; this principle is related to smell. Therefore muladhara chakra relates with smell, nose, and earth. The location of the muladhara chakra is at the perineum (in between the anus and the sexual organs) for man and at the neck of the womb (cervix of uterus) for woman and/or at the base of the spine and is the seat for the great dormant power, Kundalini Shakti.

There are seven more chakras below muladhara chakra, atala, vitala, sutala, talatala, rasatala, mahatala, patala --- they belong to animal dimensions. Muladhara is the highest level chakra of these seven chakras, but is the lowest in the level of human existence. In muladhara, animal-like instinct and passion are dominant but sacred shakti also exists here. Therefore, this chakra is highest in animal dimension and lowest in human existence. As the highest chakra in the animal kingdom, uncountable experiences at the level of the animal state before human is stored in muladhara as abilities and as karma. For example, sleeping, eating, feeling, sexual behavior, etc. We obtained these abilities while we were in the animal state in the process of evolution. It is still working at the human level and is a function of muladhara chakra. So muladhara chakra is an origin of our conscious (mind) and unconscious activities.

For regular people, Kundalini Shakti rests in the muladhara chakra. This serpent power is in a sleeping state. When Kundalini Shakti awakens, it will raise up the sushumna nadi (astral nerve tube in the spine) and open up each chakra. Awakened Kundalini power will bring siddhi (supernatural powers) to individuals. When Kundalini awakens, it activates the muladhara chakra. In other words, muladhara chakra is activated by Kundalini Shakti. One will receive the abilities of increased memory, strong will power, mystical power of sense of smell, astral travel, beginning state of clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc. Blockage of this chakra causes fear of death, fear of abandonment. This chakra is the dimension of the physical, egocentric (ego-oriented). Therefore, the yogi (practitioner) obtains siddhis but is still in the realm of the egocentric.

Kundalini Shakti
  • Kundalini Shakti is the life force which carries superior abilities.
  • The cosmic force called Kundalini Shakti is the greatest energy in man.
  • Kundalini Shakti brings people's spirituality to a higher level. Successful activation will bring siddhis.
According to Tantric texts, the purpose of pranayama (yogic breathing technique) is to awaken the Kundalini Shakti. You understand that Kundalini Shakti is the most sacred, superior energy in human beings. But a wrong approach will create great danger to your life. Only a pure, sincere approach will bring its superior benefits. Great yogi Swami Devananda explained this matter in his literature this way:

"Only advanced yogis could take Kundalini to the highest center. That is to the Ajna Chakra situated between the eyebrows and above it to the brain center and retain it for a long time. Only few yogis can awaken Kundalini and take her at will to the anahata chakra or heart center for a short period. Some students of yoga who often speak of Kundalini only stumbled upon that power, and know either how to take her to the higher centers at will, nor how to retain her in the highest centers. Nowadays we can see many such people who, after stumbling upon that force, pose as teachers and claim to know everything. It is said that one should become completely desireless and be full of dispassion before attempting to awaken Kundalini Shakti. Otherwise, the awakened power will be uncontrollable and inflict a terrible feeling of pain and heat upon the entire body. No doctor can diagnose  or cure it, because there will be no noticeable external symptoms. When purity of mind is attained through devotion and selfless service, pranayama, and meditation, then alone does the awakened Kundalini move upward and impart different kinds of experience, powers, and ananda (or bliss)."

"With the help of pranayama and the chanting of mantras, the sleeping Kundalini power is roused and moves to the next higher center, Sivadhisthana. From there onward the student with great effort carries the power to the next higher centers in regular ascending order: manipura, anahata, visuddha, ajna. Only when the power reaches consciously the ajna center in between the eyebrows may it be said that the practitioner has obtained success in controlling and manipulating the Kundalini Shakti, which appears like a brilliant flash of lightning. Even to reach this state, one has to work hard for several years and follow the method and contemplation taught by one's teacher. Nowadays, we can see everywhere pseudo yoga teacher who claim on public platforms that they can awaken Kundalini with their yogic powers if students can afford to pay a large amount of money. Yogic students are warned again and again that Kundalini can never be awakened by the power of such teachers, except through long and steady practices of meditation, chanting and breathing. A true teacher never expects anything from his students, and awaits the proper time --- perhaps years --- before he teaches everything to them."

 
 

2 comments:

  1. Hi, what an interesting article you have here!
    I just wonder, what is the sign or character of people who have really awaken their Kundalini state?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hey I'm from India can you tell me how can I find a true guru(teacher) to awake the Kundalini

    ReplyDelete