What is Kundlini yoga?

Kundlini is the enormous source of energy. Human body consists of source of kundlini energy (prana/sexual energy) and it has a distribution network called nadis. Nadis connect at special points of intensity called chakras. Activating this kundlini and raising it thourgh different higher level chakras is know as kundlini yoga. But one has to very careful activating it. One has to prepare himself/herself to handle this enormous energy.

Source of kundlini energy is in Muladhar chakra, which is at the base of spinal cord. We have three main nadis called Ida , Pingala and Sushumna. Out of these Sushumna is at center and Ida( negative polarity) and Pingala (positive) are left and right side respectively. Sushumna is the nadi which connects base chakra ( Muladhara) to crown chakra (Sahasrara). We have other chakras swadistana (navel), Manipura , Anahata ( heart) , Vishudha(throat), Ajna (Third eye) in order between Muladhara and Sahasrara on the Sushumna.

We all know if one tries to pass high level of current in the distribution network which does not have the capacity to handle it. It may destroy the distribution network along with the electrical equipment attached to it. Same principle applies here. If one tries to awaken the kundlini without making sure the nadis are purified, have capacity to handle the prana passing through it, It can cause physically harm to the sadhaka.

One will ask, Why we need to learn about kundlini?

There are so many ways to raise ourselves spiritually like Bhakti Yoga, Raja yoga,Gyan yoga , Tantra yoga, karma yoga. Whatever ways is/ are chosen by sadhaka for raising spiritually is raising the kundalini to higher chakras itself. All these disciplines are considered safer than Kundlini Yoga as these gives the less important to awaking the kundlini and gives more importance to purify nadis before kundlini is getting awakened.

We all know the story of elephant and some blind persons. They touch the elephant and tries to define the elephant. As they are touching the elephant's different parts there definitions are also different.

Similarly our problem is that as a learned person we do not accepts the new things as it is! We are not open in thinking that there are things which are not realized to us. We have to raise ourselves above and try to co-relate the small pieces of puzzles which we have realized and try to form a bigger picture. Like the blind persons in the story, we are binding ourselves to five physical senses. One need to raise oneself and try to be open for there are many things which are not realized by our physical senses.

Recently I came across one very good site

http://www.newbrainnewworld.com/

This site provides a very good in site about spirituality with some scientific approach. It explains the brain functioning and brain mapping results after studying the yogis and other activities.

Principle of Detachment

Recently I came across a blog from one of my very good astrologer friend Milind Chitambar

http://astromnc.blogspot.com/2009/04/mandate-of-your-life-this-birth.html

He has discussed the "Mandate of your life this birth" exceptionally well!!! Whatever he talked about "Karmik debt and reward" is the expression of whatever we have done/happened in the past. It's the basic principle of universe. We also know this as Punya and Papa.

The good karmas and bad karmas we do,get recorded in our chitta(individual and cosmic consciousness). And these get manifested in future as sukha (harmony with universal forces) and dukha (disharmony with universal forces).This becomes the endless loop as past karmas drives your today's karmas and today's karmas will drive the tomorrow's.

Then question comes how to break this cycle? Here comes the Principle of Detachment in picture. It's the essence of Bhagwad Gita. It say's -

- Do the karmas/kartavyas(duties) selflessly.

When we start attaching self (I, Ahum) to karmas then we start having expectations. The expectations is at the base of all evils. We name it (Jelosy,greed,anger,hate...) we will find the expectations at the base. And I/AHUM at the base of expectations.

To elaborate more on detachment, we can take an example. If some one is working as engineer/manager,then he need to discharge his duties with full devotion and selflessly. It does not mean that work without any wages. If one does so then how he will fulfil his obligations toward his family? It also does not mean that work at half of the wages one should get. It becomes injustice. One need to fight injustice or somebody not doing his duties.

SO YOGI ACTS, HE DOES NOT REACTS. HE IS ALWAYS IN FULL CONTROL OF HIS ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS!!!

Here I am discussing the Grihasta,Not Sanyasi's. It's easy to detach oneself as sanyasi but difficult as grihasta. Imagine the universe with all forces refusing to do there duties. Imagine river stops to flow, air stops to blow. That's why grihasta has higher status than sanyasi's.

-Shirish

What is YOGA?

Yoga is nothing but harmony of forces. To understand this one need to go in details about some scientific concepts we have learnt till today.

Many of us have studied the LAW OF CONSERVATION, which states " Energy cannot be created nor destroyed. One type of energy get converted in to another." Many of us have also studied the QUANTUM MECHANICS/PHYSICS. It defines the Dual Nature of Matters, which states the subatomic particles like quark , colors behaves like particles as well as waves. If one tries to co-relate all these scientific laws can easily conclude that everything in the universe is nothing but energies. Energies influence each other and their properties get changed which is manifestation.

Human body is constructed by different types of substances (energies) working together. Same principle applies to universe. Learning Yoga is nothing but learning about keeping the energies in harmony, realizing the energies. Secrete of good physical health and healthy mind lies in harmony of energies within one's body and with the external universal energies.

Then question comes what's the way to achieve this?
To understand this we need to understand what's subconsciousness. It's the energies which define one's body with prana.In other word it's vast records of information across our incarnations, which is not directly recallable by our mind. To prove it if we put two people in same situation where they need to react fast, they will react it differently. These instant reactions are driven by our subconscious. If we sit quitely and start observing the thoughts coming in our mind it will reflect the state of our subconscious.

Some simple steps can be followed to become yogi are as follows:
- Observe, witness the thoughts ( energies).
- Train ourselves to subsidize the negative thoughts which creates disharmonies.Promote the constructive thought in mind.
- Slowly develop state of mind without any thoughts and being in that state for longer time period. It's easier to say and very hard to achieve. It comes with practice and dedication. This will help the forces to work on there own without any negative interference and all forces will start working in tandem.

Another way is to concentrate on particular object or though such that if one persists in concentrating the mind on any one given thing until one reaches the summit of the realization of the essence of the object or though getting manifested.

-Shirish

Welcome to All....

Hi All,
I am a student of yoga, spirituality from 7-8 years and trying to understand what's lies beyond my understanding. The ultimate universal knowledge ( bramha gyan). Slowly my horizons are getting increasing but still it's miles away from what I am looking for. May be it will take years after years... Incarnations after incarnation....
Here I am trying to share what I realized, which may help my co-seekers!!!
-Shirish