Kundalini, Sadhana, Austerities, Physiology of the Spiritual Aspirant (To Jyothi

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

With due respect to very learned Gurus on this list, I would like to

share some thoughts regarding some questions that has been posted.

 

The awakening of Kundalini refers to a specific phase in the

Spiritual Pursuit of the seeker of Truth, and Enlightenment.

 

Whatever is the path that is followed, or the technique that is

used, e.g. yoga, meditation, etc. e.g. the 8 limbs of Yoga, The

Ashtanga Yoga, inclusive of practices like prayer and Japa, the

physiological transformation that leads to the Awareness of the

Truth, Satya is basically the same. E.g. awakening of Kundalini is

an inherent part or phase.

 

Traditionally different but similar descriptions are given to

explain about the rise or awakening of the Kundalini.

 

The physiology and nervous system of the Realized Soul is much

different than that of the ordinary man. A huge transformation on

the part of the physiology is needed for the ordinary man to evolve

into a Realized Person. For the ordinary person there are certain

parts / tracts of the spinal cord/column that contain dormant

nerves, (tracts that go up and down the spinal cord/column) e.g.

nerves that are alive but not functional, that do not transmit any

information, these areas are transformed into being fully functional

in the case of the Realized Person (also most of the brain

physiology is dormant and again depending on the state that is

reached, the whole of the brain starts to function in the case of

the Realized Soul). At a certain stage on the path, this

transformation of dormant nerves in the spinal cord/column is felt

by the aspirant as the rising of energy in the same region and

described as the awakening or rising of the Kundalini.

 

The spiritual path itself is no easy path to follow, due to much

past life karma being burnt up, the effects of which are felt by the

aspirant in his daily life, in the form of endless hurdles and

difficulties to be beared and surmounted. When we mention about

austerities, penance and sadhana, it is not only the many

difficulties the aspirant willingly submits himself to (or herself)

but equally great difficulties are met with, in the otherwise normal

daily life of the aspirant.

 

Kundalini awakening is not experienced by each and every aspirant

simply because it is one of the final stages in the path. But when

it happens, typically the transformation associated is very powerful

and requires a lot of adjustment in the life style, habits, and much

disconfort is experienced. Again typically from the first awakening

of the kundalini it takes many years to its full rise. So it is not

an easy short period that one bears and is finished with.

 

The whole of the spiritual path, and especially the rise of the

kundalini and stages that follow require the full blessings of a

powerful Guru, for the process to be safe and relatively more

confortable. It would be quite risky for one to try to pass through

this stage without the experience, knowledge and blessings of a

competent Guru, this explains the "dread" that is associated with

the Kundalini, e.g. experimenting with the Kundalini without

guidance is risky. In all walks of life, but especially regarding

the spiritual path, finding the right Guru cuts short the long path

that lies ahead of the aspirant. When The Right Guru is not

available, the path is much more longer, painful, risky and reaching

the goal is not at all assured. The Spiritual Guru safeguards the

aspirant in the many obstacles he comes across on the path. Some

techniques that are used for spiritual progress may even be

physically or psychologically harmful for the aspirant when the

correct guidance, protection and blessings of the Guru is not there.

 

Regarding specific questions of Jyothi; Kundalini awakening is much

sought after by the aspirants, simply because it leads to final

liberation, but is generally a difficult period to go through.

 

Except in rare cases, It does not just happen with no reason, all of

a sudden one morning. Typically long years of meditation or similar

techniques is needed for the Kundalini to start to rise. But a

person may have spiritually evolved in the previous past life so

much that in this life even a short period of practice or some other

factor may trigger/start it, but this is rare.

 

When one stops the practice that has lead to the awakening of the

Kundalini, the Kundalini activity ceases in a relatively short time,

like at the most a few weeks, and the associated disconfort that may

be experienced *generally* goes away, although this is not a rule,

and hence, again the note that one should not play around with the

kundalini. It is also possible that some sort of problem or

disconfort remains.

 

On the other hand, the soul feels that whatever is happening is

something for good, and the aspirant tries to continue on his path

despite the problems that may be associated with the awakening of

the Kundalini.

 

The above notes are general notes, the path and experience of each

aspirant is much different than the other, and this depends on past

life karmas and the Jyotish chart. There may be aspirants who

experience only bliss associated with the Kundalini, nothing else.

 

Sabri.

[Guest guest]

Dear Sabri,

 

> The physiology and nervous system of the Realized Soul is much> different than

that of the ordinary man. A huge transformation on> the part of the physiology

is needed for the ordinary man to evolve> into a Realized Person. For the

ordinary person there are certain> parts / tracts of the spinal cord/column

that contain dormant> nerves, (tracts that go up and down the spinal

cord/column) e.g.> nerves that are alive but not functional, that do not

transmit any> information, these areas are transformed into being fully

functional> in the case of the Realized Person (also most of the brain>

physiology is dormant and again depending on the state that is> reached, the

whole of the brain starts to function in the case of> the Realized Soul). At a

certain stage on the path, this> transformation of dormant nerves in the spinal

cord/column is felt> by the aspirant as the rising of energy in the same region

and> described as the awakening or rising of the Kundalini.

 

Thanks for the nice post!

 

I just want to add one subtle point.

 

It is not clear if the dormant nadis that become active with Kundalini rise are

nerves in the gross physical body. The 72000 nadis mentioned in the classics

are not necessarily physical nerves of the gross body. Some of them may have

corresponding nerves in the gross body, but most of those nadis are channels in

the "subtle body" (sookshma sareera). Subtle body is made up only of ether, air

and fire and has no water and earth. It lives inside this gross physical body

(sthoola sareera), which is made up of all the five elements. The subtle body

has a lot of channels that are made of air, ether and fire. Life force flows

thru these channels and it interacts with and controls the gross body.

 

Many dormant nadis of the subtle body, such as sushumna nadi, become active when

the subtle body is purified through sadhana. These are not all necessarily

nerves of the gross body.

 

However, flow of praana through these channels of the subtle body can be

perceived by one. Just because it is related to the subtle body, it is not

something abstract. When praana moves through various nadis of the subtle body,

one can feel it. Subtle body is not made of only ether - air and fire are also

there! Moreover, praana flow in various nadis of the subtle body does result in

various associated activities in the gross physical body.

 

May Jupiter's light shine on us,

Narasimha

-------------------------------Free Jyotish

lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software

(Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

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http://www.SriJagannath.org-------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Dear and Respected Narasimha-Ji, Namaste,

 

Thanks indeed so much for the corrections regarding my post.

 

And please allow me to express my amazement, about the broadness and

depth of your knowledge on not only Jyotish but also many other

areas of the Ved, having perfect command over so many intricacies

and nomenclature.

 

I myself have studied the Vedic Knowledge and Literature for well

over 10 years, but don't have even a minute fraction of what you

posess as knowledge. Also I would so much wish to be a Sanskrit

scholar like yourself.

 

Please allow me to note that I wanted to stress the physical aspect

of the phenomena, actually ignoring the subtle part, since I have

seen over the years that the Kundalini matter is thought about in

very abstract terms, as if comprising of only subtle and mysterious,

mystical dimensions, not having much physical or practical bearing.

 

My thoughts are based on a very interesting work by Dr.Tony Nader on

the Discovery of Ved In The Human Physiology, namely; "Human

Physiology and the Expression of Veda and the Vedic Literature" (*).

As you are mentioning in your lectures, as the "God is within you"

this interesting text is showing actually which Devata figuratively

lives where or corresponds to which part of the human physiology.

 

I would like to add a parallel correction to my own post, that

experiences relating to Kundalini describe a straight path as the

trajectory of energy movement wheras the spine itself is not

straight at all. As you have pointed out also, there is indeed a

correlation between what is going on physically on the coarse level

and what is happening in the subtle body, but the experiences also

say, as you have noted, what is felt directly relates more to the

nadis and the subtle body.

 

Wishing the best of success with your new book, and thanking again

for your precious guidance, in all aspects,

 

Sabri.

 

(*) http://www.maharishi.org/books/tonybook.html where by chance a

correspondence with Rig Ved and the spinal column is portrayed,

where we see, listening to which verses of chapter 1 of Rig Ved will

open up or purify which part of the spinal cord.

 

 

vedic astrology, "Narasimha P.V.R. Rao"

<pvr@c...> wrote:

> Dear Sabri,

>

> > The physiology and nervous system of the Realized Soul is much

> > different than that of the ordinary man. A huge transformation on

> > the part of the physiology is needed for the ordinary man to

evolve

> > into a Realized Person. For the ordinary person there are certain

> > parts / tracts of the spinal cord/column that contain dormant

> > nerves, (tracts that go up and down the spinal cord/column) e.g.

> > nerves that are alive but not functional, that do not transmit

any

> > information, these areas are transformed into being fully

functional

> > in the case of the Realized Person (also most of the brain

> > physiology is dormant and again depending on the state that is

> > reached, the whole of the brain starts to function in the case of

> > the Realized Soul). At a certain stage on the path, this

> > transformation of dormant nerves in the spinal cord/column is

felt

> > by the aspirant as the rising of energy in the same region and

> > described as the awakening or rising of the Kundalini.

>

> Thanks for the nice post!

>

> I just want to add one subtle point.

>

> It is not clear if the dormant nadis that become active with

Kundalini rise are nerves in the gross physical body. The 72000

nadis mentioned in the classics are not necessarily physical nerves

of the gross body. Some of them may have corresponding nerves in the

gross body, but most of those nadis are channels in the "subtle

body" (sookshma sareera). Subtle body is made up only of ether, air

and fire and has no water and earth. It lives inside this gross

physical body (sthoola sareera), which is made up of all the five

elements. The subtle body has a lot of channels that are made of

air, ether and fire. Life force flows thru these channels and it

interacts with and controls the gross body.

>

> Many dormant nadis of the subtle body, such as sushumna nadi,

become active when the subtle body is purified through sadhana.

These are not all necessarily nerves of the gross body.

>

> However, flow of praana through these channels of the subtle body

can be perceived by one. Just because it is related to the subtle

body, it is not something abstract. When praana moves through

various nadis of the subtle body, one can feel it. Subtle body is

not made of only ether - air and fire are also there! Moreover,

praana flow in various nadis of the subtle body does result in

various associated activities in the gross physical body.

>

> May Jupiter's light shine on us,

> Narasimha

> -------------------------------

> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

> SJC website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

> -------------------------------