Post by Rik Wallin on Apr 5, 2007 17:05:11 GMT -6
Kundalini
----------------------
This is from the book: "DAUGHTERS OF THE GODDESS, The Women Saints of
India" by Linda Johnsen, from the chapter: "Anandi Ma: Awakening the
Kundalini". Anandi Ma says:
"The _kundalini_ is the part of the soul which comes before, and prepares
the body before the soul can actually enter it. After the creation of the
physical body is completed, it becomes dormant at the base of the spine.
Yogis use that same energy to reach back to the soul, then to God.
"It is described as serpentine because of its motility, the way the energy
moves. It lies in three and a half coils, which have several different
interpretations. For example, it's said to represent the three aspects
of creation: creation, preservation, and destruction; also the three
qualities, _sattwa, rajas_ and _tamas_; purity, activity, inertia.
It also refers to the three states of consciousness at different levels,
what we know as the awake stage, the sleep state, and the dream state.
And most of all it is _sat, chit, ananda_, what we call truth,
consciousness, bliss. The half turn is the state we all should reach,
known as _turiya_, completely beyond this level of ordinary consciousness.
"The _kundalini_ is the mother energy, the _adi shakti_ leading the person
to the higher goal slowly and gradually. As a part of this awakening it
brings about, so to say, some negativity as part of the cleaning process.
That is what has caused some misunderstandings because people don't know
how to deal with it. There is also a lot of misconception in that
people my mistakenly think they have an awakened _kundalini_. We see
many of these people as well. It is clear like day and night when the
_kundalini_ is awakened or if it is something else. Unfortunately in
America because of the cultural background there is confusion, and
the mind often is not wiling to accept [the _kundalini_ experience]. It's
not heard of in this culture and so people believe there's something wrong
with them. That's the problem." [p. 63]
And then she says this about catastrophes/major accidents/rude shocks:
"The principle of Kundalini Maha Yoga is that once the energy is
awakened through _shaktipat_, it remains active for three lifetimes.
Within that period it will take the person to the goal for sure, by
hook or crook as we say. That's why we see some people have major
catastrophes in their lives, major accidents, or they lose someone they are
very attached to. That's often the _kundalini_ bringing about a rude
shock that breaks the person out of their sleep, so to say. 'Hey, it's
time to wake up and start moving on." [p. 67]
Kathy
kathy@xnet.com
@}-->---
Some quotes by Anandi Ma [as listed in above mentioned book]:
"It's written in the scriptures that there will be many false teachers
in this day and age. They will prosper and there will be more people
following them. True teachers will suffer more. It's a part of the
energy of the age, so nothing can be done about it." [p. 68]
"There is a tremendous energy within women that needs to be recognized
and used for the welfare of the world." [p. 70]
"It's nice that there seem to be more women teachers of promise--our
society needs that." [p. 72]
"A tantric scripture states that initiation by a woman teacher is
eight times more effective than by a male. Although this may or may
not be literally true, there is undeniably tremendous power in the
archetypal figure of the mother/virgin/guru."
--Linda Johnsen: DAUGHTERS OF THE GODDESS, Women Saints of India
More of the quote from Merrell-Wolff. Here it is:
"Traditional woman has been the custodian of pleasure, and the dispensing
of pleasure has been a large part of her glory and power. Too often, in
these latter days, womankind has been disposed to discredit her own
natural glories and powers by becoming an imitator of man. This is
really giving to man-power and man-function a greater tribute than they
deserve. That essence the outer embodiment of which is woman in a
peculiar sense constitutes a need of this world today that is especially
poignant. There is too great an over-balance of harsh wilfulness abroad
in the world. Consequently, there is a need for the counter-balancing
forces, and these woman, alone, is really competent to exercise. Among
these essentially feminine qualities the following stand out: Beauty,
Mercy, Tenderness, Charm, Ecstasy, preservation of proven values, etc.
It is a grave mistake to regard these powers as inferior to the Creative
Will, the Will to Power, the Daring of the Unknown, and the Judgment
that peculiarly mark the masculine principle. The latter powers are
unquestionably indispensable both in the world-field and for Inward
Penetration, but by themselves they are unbalanced and can easily
drop from a constructive to a destructive level. The isolated masculine
principle cannot check this tendency and so, right here is where the
feminine quality is grievously needed. The feminine powers are just as
strong as the masculine, although they function in a more subtle way.
We greatly need more women who justly appreciate the ancient and natural
feminine powers and arts."
--Franklin Merrell-Wolff: Pathways Through To Space, An
Experiential Journal, Ch: XXII 'The Celestial Virgin' p. 46
Kathy
kathy@xnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surat Shabd Yoga takes a slightly different approach to the Kundalini. The
following is a quote from Sant Kirpal Singh's "Crown of Life".
The seeker has no need to begin from the very bottom, all he has to do is to
turn in the direction of the spiritual stream and the rest will follow.
What is ther in reaching the Lord?
One needs only to transplant the heart.
Inayat Shah
It is this simplicity of approach coupled with economy of effort that has
induced many to call the Surat Shabd Yoga the Sehaj Marg or the Easy Way. It
begins at the point where other yogas normally tend to end. Sahasrar, the
region of the thousand-petaled lights, which marks the end of the normal yogin's
journey after traversing the various bodily chakras, is well-nigh the the first
step to be taken by the follower of the Surat Shabd Yoga. Further, by refusing
to disturb the pranic or kundalinic energies, this yoga greatly reduces the
strain of physical transcendence. By contacting the Sound-principle, the
sensory currents are automatically drawn upward without the practitioner
consciously striving to achieve this end, and the motor currents are left
untouched. Not only does this simplify the process of entry into the state of
samadhi, but that of returning from it as well. The adept in this path needs no
outer assistance for coming back into physical consciousness, as is the case
with some other yogic forms; spiritual ascension and descent are entirely
voluntary and can be achieved by him with the rapidity of thought.
Kirpal Singh
I just thought I would offer the Sant Mat perspective to this topic. The quote
comes from page 164 of "The Crown of Life". For those of you that are
unfamiliar with the book it is an indepth study of the various forms of yoga and
some other spiritual paths that was compiled by Sant Kirpal Singh.
----------------------
This is from the book: "DAUGHTERS OF THE GODDESS, The Women Saints of
India" by Linda Johnsen, from the chapter: "Anandi Ma: Awakening the
Kundalini". Anandi Ma says:
"The _kundalini_ is the part of the soul which comes before, and prepares
the body before the soul can actually enter it. After the creation of the
physical body is completed, it becomes dormant at the base of the spine.
Yogis use that same energy to reach back to the soul, then to God.
"It is described as serpentine because of its motility, the way the energy
moves. It lies in three and a half coils, which have several different
interpretations. For example, it's said to represent the three aspects
of creation: creation, preservation, and destruction; also the three
qualities, _sattwa, rajas_ and _tamas_; purity, activity, inertia.
It also refers to the three states of consciousness at different levels,
what we know as the awake stage, the sleep state, and the dream state.
And most of all it is _sat, chit, ananda_, what we call truth,
consciousness, bliss. The half turn is the state we all should reach,
known as _turiya_, completely beyond this level of ordinary consciousness.
"The _kundalini_ is the mother energy, the _adi shakti_ leading the person
to the higher goal slowly and gradually. As a part of this awakening it
brings about, so to say, some negativity as part of the cleaning process.
That is what has caused some misunderstandings because people don't know
how to deal with it. There is also a lot of misconception in that
people my mistakenly think they have an awakened _kundalini_. We see
many of these people as well. It is clear like day and night when the
_kundalini_ is awakened or if it is something else. Unfortunately in
America because of the cultural background there is confusion, and
the mind often is not wiling to accept [the _kundalini_ experience]. It's
not heard of in this culture and so people believe there's something wrong
with them. That's the problem." [p. 63]
And then she says this about catastrophes/major accidents/rude shocks:
"The principle of Kundalini Maha Yoga is that once the energy is
awakened through _shaktipat_, it remains active for three lifetimes.
Within that period it will take the person to the goal for sure, by
hook or crook as we say. That's why we see some people have major
catastrophes in their lives, major accidents, or they lose someone they are
very attached to. That's often the _kundalini_ bringing about a rude
shock that breaks the person out of their sleep, so to say. 'Hey, it's
time to wake up and start moving on." [p. 67]
Kathy
kathy@xnet.com
@}-->---
Some quotes by Anandi Ma [as listed in above mentioned book]:
"It's written in the scriptures that there will be many false teachers
in this day and age. They will prosper and there will be more people
following them. True teachers will suffer more. It's a part of the
energy of the age, so nothing can be done about it." [p. 68]
"There is a tremendous energy within women that needs to be recognized
and used for the welfare of the world." [p. 70]
"It's nice that there seem to be more women teachers of promise--our
society needs that." [p. 72]
"A tantric scripture states that initiation by a woman teacher is
eight times more effective than by a male. Although this may or may
not be literally true, there is undeniably tremendous power in the
archetypal figure of the mother/virgin/guru."
--Linda Johnsen: DAUGHTERS OF THE GODDESS, Women Saints of India
More of the quote from Merrell-Wolff. Here it is:
"Traditional woman has been the custodian of pleasure, and the dispensing
of pleasure has been a large part of her glory and power. Too often, in
these latter days, womankind has been disposed to discredit her own
natural glories and powers by becoming an imitator of man. This is
really giving to man-power and man-function a greater tribute than they
deserve. That essence the outer embodiment of which is woman in a
peculiar sense constitutes a need of this world today that is especially
poignant. There is too great an over-balance of harsh wilfulness abroad
in the world. Consequently, there is a need for the counter-balancing
forces, and these woman, alone, is really competent to exercise. Among
these essentially feminine qualities the following stand out: Beauty,
Mercy, Tenderness, Charm, Ecstasy, preservation of proven values, etc.
It is a grave mistake to regard these powers as inferior to the Creative
Will, the Will to Power, the Daring of the Unknown, and the Judgment
that peculiarly mark the masculine principle. The latter powers are
unquestionably indispensable both in the world-field and for Inward
Penetration, but by themselves they are unbalanced and can easily
drop from a constructive to a destructive level. The isolated masculine
principle cannot check this tendency and so, right here is where the
feminine quality is grievously needed. The feminine powers are just as
strong as the masculine, although they function in a more subtle way.
We greatly need more women who justly appreciate the ancient and natural
feminine powers and arts."
--Franklin Merrell-Wolff: Pathways Through To Space, An
Experiential Journal, Ch: XXII 'The Celestial Virgin' p. 46
Kathy
kathy@xnet.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surat Shabd Yoga takes a slightly different approach to the Kundalini. The
following is a quote from Sant Kirpal Singh's "Crown of Life".
The seeker has no need to begin from the very bottom, all he has to do is to
turn in the direction of the spiritual stream and the rest will follow.
What is ther in reaching the Lord?
One needs only to transplant the heart.
Inayat Shah
It is this simplicity of approach coupled with economy of effort that has
induced many to call the Surat Shabd Yoga the Sehaj Marg or the Easy Way. It
begins at the point where other yogas normally tend to end. Sahasrar, the
region of the thousand-petaled lights, which marks the end of the normal yogin's
journey after traversing the various bodily chakras, is well-nigh the the first
step to be taken by the follower of the Surat Shabd Yoga. Further, by refusing
to disturb the pranic or kundalinic energies, this yoga greatly reduces the
strain of physical transcendence. By contacting the Sound-principle, the
sensory currents are automatically drawn upward without the practitioner
consciously striving to achieve this end, and the motor currents are left
untouched. Not only does this simplify the process of entry into the state of
samadhi, but that of returning from it as well. The adept in this path needs no
outer assistance for coming back into physical consciousness, as is the case
with some other yogic forms; spiritual ascension and descent are entirely
voluntary and can be achieved by him with the rapidity of thought.
Kirpal Singh
I just thought I would offer the Sant Mat perspective to this topic. The quote
comes from page 164 of "The Crown of Life". For those of you that are
unfamiliar with the book it is an indepth study of the various forms of yoga and
some other spiritual paths that was compiled by Sant Kirpal Singh.