Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini (25 page)

In the force-field, the fundamental action of bio-energy occurs through ida and pingala. These two force-motion lines are not like tubes or wires through which bio-energy passes. Force-motion lines are not material things. They are merely directions, forming, as it were, invisible lines. Bio-energy flows mainly through white and red lines. Activities and consumption of energy occur through red line; and control of activities and accumulation of energy take place through the white flow. In the body, the red flow causes catabolism, and the white flow anabolism. In the mind, the red flow causes mental diversity and restlessness, and the white flow makes the mind calm, attentive and reflective.

Pleasure which we experience in everyday life is the semblance of supreme bliss associated with the being of Shiwa. Man experiences pleasure in his creative activities, even though they are limited in nature. In the mental field, man creates material and spiritual sciences. He also experiences much pleasure in the building of his body. The life-force, having limited expression in the body due to the influence of the time and regulatory principles, causes growth and development of the body only for a certain limited time, and thereafter gradual decline and finally death. It is possible for man to develop great physical strength and prolong youth by appropriate methods, but senility cannot be altogether prevented, and death is inevitable. This is why eternal youth and life remain as dreams.

Begetting a new being is the highest form of creativity of the embodied being, by which the race is perpetuated. The procreative power is usually plentiful in all beings. Great intelligence plays no part in it, though there is room for constructive thoughts in this matter for man. For procreation it is not necessary to have a highly developed and strong body, though health and vitality are very helpful. And above all, the highest pleasure is experienced in the enjoyments of this kind. Procreation is a natural fact in life; but the enjoyment, which is inseparably associated with it, is also a natural fact. It appears that in the procreative act enjoyment is the primary factor and begetting children is secondary. Experience shows that hunger for this enjoyment persists after the loss of procreative power. We also find that conception usually occurs after many such enjoyments. The object of creativity is fulfilled by having one child through many enjoyments. The pleasure experience drives the two sexes again and again to perform this act, and under all circumstances. Is this natural enjoyment of pleasure ugly, shameful and unspiritual? We also find so many artificially continent persons.

The most intensified desire, and the love associated with it, in sexual enjoyment cause violent agitations of the mind and body. The infatuated mind finally becomes absorbed in deep lust-love in enjoyment; and the whole body takes part in it and helps the mind to experience the greatest pleasure by bringing about consummation. Thereafter, there is contentment and relaxation.

Adamantine Control

The yogi sees that the yoga-power is involved in sexual enjoyment. He sees that the highly excited mind becomes fully absorbed in deepest pleasure by abandoning other thoughts. This mental absorption has been possible by the aroused powers of control and concentration through intensified lust-love in enjoyment. In the body, the retentivity aroused by control plays an important role in enjoyment. According to yoga, yoga-power is expressed naturally in enjoyment to a certain extent, and it is possible to utilize it for developing concentration. The yogi is able to get sexual desire absorbed in the mantra ‘Kling’ by a special process, and to be in a state of concentration.

The yoga-process consists in two main forms—sight-process and touch-process.

Sight-process—Concentration with sound-process (japa) while seeing the desire-provocative points.

Touch-process—Concentration with sound-process while in contact with desire-provocative points. It has several stages: (1) with close contact; (2) with slight contact; (3) with direct contact—passive; (4) with direct contact—dynamic.

Dynamic contact becomes effective when ujjayi kumbhaka (both-nostrils breath-control) in combination with uddiyana (abdomino-retraction) and mulabandha (anal lock) is incorporated. At the final stage of enjoyment, the sexual desire, concentrated to its highest degree, is absorbed in the mantra-sound ‘Kling’ in the triangular process of the muladhara by concentration combined with sound-process; and this results in the development of a state of deep concentration. In this state, Kundalini, who is in yoga-sleep (superconcentration) in the triangle, is aroused and extends herself from muladhara to ajña. Then Kundalini comes to the sahasrara, and superconscious concentration is attained. Finally, Kundalini proceeds still further and is absorbed in Parama Shiwa—Supreme Being in non-mens supreme concentration.

This adamantine control process is extremely difficult and many practitioners are unable to execute it successfully. Unless the force aroused in the strongest desire is converted into spiritual concentration by control, Kundalini will not be aroused. This is why it is very necessary to prepare oneself by bhutashuddhi (purificatory thought-concentration). Now we have to study the nature of Kundalini.

Kundalini

‘Kundalini’ and ‘Kundali’ are both Waidika and Tantrika terms. They have been used extensively and are widely known. They are synonyms. Kundalini has one thousand and eight names (—Rudrayamala, Part 2, 36.6–192), and each name signifies her specific character. The word Kundalini is from kundala, meaning circular or spiral or coil. Kundalini is that power which is circular, or spiral, or lies in coils. The meaning of Kundali is the same.

It is stated: ‘Kundali is a power’ (—Yogakundalyupanishad, 1.7). Also, ‘Kundali power lies in eight coils above the Kanda point’ (—Yogachudamanyupanishad, 36); ‘Here, i.e., in the triangle in muladhara, lies Kundalini—the supreme power’ (—Yogashikhopanishad, 1.169); ‘the yogis attain liberation when Kundalini power rises above the Kanda’ (—Yogashikhopanishad, 6.55); ‘here is Kundalini—the supreme power’ (—Warahopanishad, 5.51); ‘Kundalini power is in eight forms and in eight coils’ (—Shandilyopanishad, 1.4.8). So, according to the Waidika viewpoint, expressed in the Upanishads, Kundalini or Kundali is the power. The Tantrika viewpoint is also the same.

It is stated: ‘Shiwa (Supreme Being) is like a corpse without Kundali power’ (—Gayatritantra, 3.131); ‘Here lies Kundali power in a latent state, and is without form’ (—Brihannilatantra, ch. 8, p. 62); ‘Kundalini power is the Mother Goddess and lies in one hundred coils’ (—Bhutashuddhitantra, ch. 16, p. 14); ‘Pinda (basic force of the body) is Kundalini Power’ (—Mundamalatantra, ch. 6, p. 10).

Now, the nature of Kundalini power should be investigated. It is stated: ‘Lightning-like luminous and subtle Kundalini lies within it (muladhara); she is ‘seen’ in concentration, and as a result all sins are destroyed and liberation is attained’ (—Adwayatarakopanishad, 5). So, Kundalini is subtle, that is, she has no material form, and she is super-luminous. Consequently, she is beyond the senses. But she is ‘seen’ or realized in concentration. This means, when the sense-consciousness is transformed into concentrated superconsciousness, it becomes illuminated by the luminous Kundalini. At this stage all worldliness vanishes and the yogi ultimately attains liberation. This indicates the spiritual nature of Kundalini.

It is stated: ‘Kundali is in the form of eight coils around the eight cosmic principles. She remains veiled by encircling completely the entrance to brahmarandhra (passage to the sahasrara centre). When Kundali is coiled in this manner, the functioning of the life-force is maintained, and, consequently, alimentary and other functions of the body are carried out. When the dormant and supremely splendorous Kundali is aroused by the control of bio-energy in combination with supra-heat-energy, she appears in the Hrit centre’ (—Trishikhibrahmanopanishad, Mantra Section, 63–65). This means that Kundali power remains in eight coils around each of the eight subtle centres from the muladhara to the indu, causing the manifestation of knowledge arising from the activation of five senses, sense-mind, sense-consciousness and intellect. This coiled state of Kundali also causes bio-energy and all organs of the body to function. The coil indicates the dormant phase of Kundali in which the spiritual consciousness remains unmanifested and the sense-consciousness is aroused. In this way, eight great creative principles are in operation. They are the five sense principles located in the lower five centres and the sense-mind, sense-consciousness and intellect in the upper three centres. In each centre there is a coil, and this makes a creative principle situated in an appropriate centre manifest in consciousness. So, Kundali is the spiritual power-consciousness. When she is in coils, spirituality remains hidden and worldliness comes into being. When Kundali is aroused from her coiled state, spiritual power and spiritual consciousness are manifested.

It is further stated: ‘Very bright like ten million lightnings and extremely subtle like a lotus-filament, Kundalini is in that (i. e. the muladhara). There is the cessation of unspiritual knowledge. The “seeing” of Kundalini causes the destruction of all sins’ (—Mandalabrahmanopanishad, 1.2.6). Here also Kundalini is described as supremely luminous and subtle (without form). She is the central spiritual power-consciousness. When she is aroused, unspiritual knowledge and worldliness disappear.

About the coils of Kundali-power it is said: Kundali-power is of the form of eight coils above the Kanda; she is the cause of bondage for those who are unspiritual, and of liberation for the yogis’ (—Yogachudamanyupanishad, 44). The coils of Kundalini cause bondage. The coils are the unmanifested spiritual power and consciousness. Consequently, eight coils release the senso-intellectual knowledge of an unspiritual character. This is the cause of bondage. But a yogi, by concentration, arouses Kundalini by causing her to uncoil and, ultimately, attains liberation. So, when Kundalini is coiled, spirituality is blocked, and when she is uncoiled, spirituality is manifested.

The two phases of Kundalini have been more clearly stated here: ‘When the power in the muladhara (that is, Kundalini-power) is asleep (that is, coiled), the knowledge of the objective world appears due to sleep (that is, spiritual unconsciousness). When the power inherent in Kundalini is aroused, the true knowledge of the three worlds (that is, the spiritual knowledge at the three levels of mind, power and matter) is attained. He who has gained the knowledge of the muladhara (and Kundalini) goes beyond darkness’ (—Yogashikhopanishad, 6.23–4). When Kundalini is in coils, the senso-intellectual knowledge is manifested, and when she is roused, spiritual knowledge appears. These are the two phases of Kuadalini—coiled and aroused. The power aspect is intrinsic to Kundalini.

Highest spiritual knowledge arises when Kundalini-power is roused. It is said: ‘The knowledge coming from the arousing of Kundalini and (the associated) state of actionlessness bring about automatically the sahaja state (samadhi)’ (—Warahopanishad, 2.77). The arousing of Kundalini is associated with that spiritual knowledge which leads to samadhi. Therefore, Kundalini knowledge is the super- conscious spiritual knowledge which culminates in superconscious concentration.

It is said: ‘Lightning is Brahman; as lightning removes the darkness in the sky, so Lightning-Brahman destroys the darkness of sins; he who knows Lightning-Brahman is able to remove sins which prevent the acquirement of Brahman’ (—Brihadaranyakopanishad, 5.7.1). The lightning-like luminous Kundalini is Brahman, that is, the power of Supreme Being by which worldliness is removed. The luminous power inherent in Kundalini is in the nature of absorption. When Kundalini is aroused, her absorptive power is released in concentration, and all the creative principles are absorbed.

It is stated: ‘Where (in the triangle of the muladhara) lies the supreme power called Kundalini’ (—Yogashikhopanishad, 5.6). So, Kundalini is the Supreme Power. In other words, Kundalini is the spiritual aspect of Supreme Power, which is different from the creative aspect of Supreme Power. When Kundalini is manifested, the creative aspect is withdrawn and Supreme Power as Kundalini becomes united with Parama Shiwa and remains one and the same.

Let us now consider the Tantrika exposition of Kundali. It has been stated: ‘Within the body is the muladhara and within the latter is a triangle which is the abode of luminosity (i. e. Kundalini). . . . Within the void of the triangle which is as bright as ten million moons, lies Kundalai—the Supreme Power-Consciousness (paradewata) who is splendorous like ten million suns, and as subtle as the lotus-filaments, and lies in three and a half coils’ (Gayatritantra, 3.44–6). And also, ‘The Supreme (para) Kundali is the only means to the attainment of Supreme Brahman; without Kundal; all the universes are like a corpse (without spiritual life), and even Shiwa (Supreme Being) is like a corpse. She is eternal, and the fifty mantra- sound units are in her and she is Supreme Consciousness (purnawidya)’ (—Gayatritantra, 3.130–1).

So Kundalini is formless and splendorous and lies in three and a half coils in the triangle of the muladhara. She is eternal, because she is with eternal Shiwa; she is Supreme Consciousness as she is supremely united with Shiwa and is one and the same with him. This is why it is said that Shiwa is like a corpse without her, that is, Shiwa is never without his power Kundalini. And through Kundalini only Supreme Being is reachable. Unless the human consciousness becomes fully illuminated by the spiritual light of Kundalini, Supreme Being is not realized. This is why she is called Parakundali—Supreme Kundali.

The Kundali power when unmanifested is in coils. So it is said: ‘That power (i. e., Kundali) which is in the muladhara is coiled like a serpent’ (—Matrikabhedatantra, ch. 3, p. 3). When Kundalini power is coiled, she is in a latent phase. It is stated: ‘Kundali power is in a dormant state and without form’ (—Brihanniatantra, ch. 8, p. 62). Kundalini remains coiled, that is, in a latent form, so long as our consciousness remains in an oscillatory state. Kundalini light is not reflected on the sense-consciousness. When Kundalini is not registered in our consciousness, owing to its being impure and multiformed, she remains coiled. When our consciousness is purified and in concentration, Kundalini power makes it spiritually illuminated by being uncoiled.