Ian & Stuart's Australian Mac: Not for Sale/Another.not.for.sale (Australia).iso/Dr. Doyle/Spirit/Kundalini.faq

Text File | 1994-10-08 | 16KB | 339 lines

   Healing/ Yoga/ OBE: Kundalini FAQ

                                 KUNDALINI FAQ

   Kurt Keutzer ([e-mail]) 17 Aug 1994 writes:

   In alt.meditation, alt.magick and other newsgroups there have been
   recurrent discussions about kundalini, kundalini yoga, Siddha yoga and
   other related topics. I personally find FAQ's and pointers to
   references the most useful aspect of netnews so I hope some find some
   use in this FAQ. Please feel free to post and send me feedback. I
   especially enjoy additional tidbits on kundalini. If this FAQ is
   successful I'll let loose a couple others on Siddha Mahayoga and
   intentional forms of Kundalini Yoga.

KUNDALINI: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND SELECTED REFERENCES

    Version 1.0, August 1994
   Copyright Kurt Keutzer, 1994 ([e-mail])

   The author grants the right to copy and distribute this file,
   provided it remains unmodified and original authorship and copyright
   is retained.

   The author retains both the right and intention to modify and extend
   this document.

   TABLE OF CONTENTS:

     1. What is kundalini?

     2. What does kundalini have to do with spiritual enlightenment?

     3. Does everyone agree that kundalini awakening is necessary for
     enlightenment?

     4. Is there any scientific basis for kundalini and the cakras? Do I
     really have to believe that all these cakras physically exist?

     5. Is kundalini the same as prana or qi? Is Chinese qi gong a kind
     of kundalini yoga?

     6. What about Tibetan Buddhism - has kundalini been known in Tibet?

     7. Are there any other traditions that show awareness of kundalini?

     8. So how do I awaken kundalini?

     9. Are these methods of awakening kundalini dangerous? What about
     Gopi Krishna's books?

     10. Some approaches to kundalini yoga say there is no danger in
     their approach - are they misrepresenting themselves?

     11. But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it a faster way to
     enlighenment?

     12. There have been many scandals among kundalini yoga teachers -
     particularly sexual scandals. Is there a correlation between sexual
     scandals and kundalini yoga practice?

     13. If my kundalini is awakened will I need to change my lifestyle?

     14. Where can I learn more?

   I bow to the vibrant source of my innermost bliss.



   What is kundalini?

   ``Kundalini'' literally means coiling, like a snake. In the classical
   literature of hatha yoga kundalini is described as a coiled serpent at
   the base of the spine. The image of coiling, like a spring, conveys
   the sense of untapped potential energy. Perhaps more meaningfully
   kundalini can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy at
   the base of the spine.

   From a psychological perspective kundalini can be thought of as a rich
   source of psychic or libidinous energy in our unconsicous.

   What does kundalini have to do with spiritual enlightenment?

   First we need a few concepts: In yogic anatomy the sushumna is the
   central channel and conduit for the kundalini energy that runs along
   our spine and up to the crown of our head. Along this channel are
   placed additional channel networks called cakras. These cakras are
   associated with major aspects of our anatomy - for example our throat,
   heart, solar plexus, and in turn these aspects of our anatomy are
   related to aspects of our human nature. For example we have many
   everyday associations with the heart that do not make sense relative
   to our physical heart. We say: `` I don't have the heart to tell
   him.'' ;``Take heart.'' ``She's so kind hearted.'' All of these allude
   to some sort of subtle functioning associated with the heart area.

   In many systems of spiritual practice enlightenment is precisely
   correlated with the kundalini awakening from its slumber at the base
   of the spine rising through the sushumna and ultimately reaching our
   crown. When the kundalini is permanently fixed in the crown then
   enlightenment is achieved.

   It's not useful to sit with our consciousness fixed in our head and
   think of kundalini as a foreign force running up and down our spine.
   Unfortunately the serpent image may serve to accentuate this alien
   nature of the image. It's more useful to think of kundalini energy as
   the very foundation of our consciousness so when kundalini moves
   through the sushumna and through our cakras our consciousness
   necessarily changes with it.

   So does everyone agree that kundalini awakening is necessary for
   enlightenment?

   This view is held in the diverse literature of Kashmir Shaivism and in
   other Hindu Tantric literature. It is found in the literature of the
   Hatha Yogis and the Nath Sampradaya. You will find similar views in
   many Buddhist Tantric works. In addition this view is held by recent
   spiritual figures such as Shri Ramakrishna, Swami Sivananda,
   Paramahamsa Yogananda and Swami Vivekananda and of course by
   contemporary kundalini yogins themselves.

   Nevertheless there are some dissenters from this view. These include
   Sri Chinmoy, Da Free John and Gurdjieff. Then there are many other
   spiritual practices, such as Zen, Vipassana meditation that consider
   kundalini irrelevant.



   Is there any scientific basis for kundalini and the cakras? Do I
   really have to believe that all these cakras physically exist?

   Research on kundalini is especially spotty. There is no compelling
   work to show that the system represents insights into actual human
   anatomy. But it's important to understand that kundalini and its
   network of channels and cakras is simply how yogins have chosen to
   explain their experience and that yogins from many cultures have
   arrived at similar, though not identical, concepts. The true physical
   mechanisms underlying these experiences may be very different from
   those described. Izaak Benthov has proposed a model to explain
   kundalini in terms of micro- motion in the brain. In this model
   experiences are associated with parts of the body, such as the heart,
   because the part of the brain associated with that part of the body is
   stimulated by micro-vibrations. His model is treated in ``The
   Kundalini Experience'' by Sannella referenced below. From a practical
   perspective the key thing is our subjective experience and that the
   roadmap of these subjective experiences has been mapped out.

   Is kundalini the same as prana or qi? Is Chinese qi gong a kind of
   kundalini yoga?

   There is ongoing debate among scholars as to the precise relationship
   between prana and kundalini. Kundalini may be defined such that it
   subsumes the concept of prana. Alternatively prana may be defined such
   that is subsumes the concept of kundalini.

   What is probably more relevant is to distinguish two different
   experiences which are often confused. In one an individual experiences
   some pleasant energizing electric energy running along the spine. This
   experience brings vitality and sensitivity. This experience may be due
   to the activity of kundalini moving at the base of the spine but it is
   not the same as kundalini rising up the spine. It is often
   characterized as a movement of prana or qi. Another very distinct
   experience is the experience of kundalini entering the sushumna and
   rising up the spine. As soon as kundalini enters the sushumna this
   experience will completely overwhelm ordinary waking consciousness.
   This experience much more profoundly transfigures consciousness.

   What about Tibetan Buddhism - has kundalini been known in Tibet?

   Kundalini yoga in the Natha Sampradaya and Vajrayana in Tibetan
   Buddhism both take their origin from the Mahasiddhas who were active
   in India from the 8th century to the 12th century. Kundalini yoga
   practices formed the core of the teachings of a number of these
   Mahasiddhas and are strongly represented in Tibetan Buddhist
   practices. Kundalini yoga was spoken of as ``Candali yoga'' by these
   Mahasiddhas and became known as gTummo rnal 'byor in Tibet. Candali
   yoga was a key practice of the famous Tibetan yogin Milarepa.

   Are there any other traditions that show awareness of kundalini?

   If you believe that kundalini is at the basis of spiritual progress
   then every valid spiritual tradition must have some awareness of
   kundalini. Christianity, Sufism, Qabalistic mysticism, alchemy and
   magick all have literature which demonstrates an awareness of the
   kundalini process but these traditions are not, to this author's
   awareness, so open in their exposition of the techniques and so it is
   hard to judge the depth of understanding latent in these traditions.
   Nevertheless, the imagery is so unmistakable in these traditions that
   each must have, at least at one time, been conversant with the
   movement of kundalini.

   So how do I awaken kundalini?

   Indirectly kundalini can be awakened by devotion, by selfless service,
   or by intellectual enquiry.

   Broadly speaking there are two radically different direct approaches
   to awakening kundalini. One approach requires initiation by a guru and
   relies upon a technique called shaktipat, or ``descent of shakti.''
   The other approach uses intentional yogic techniques . The yoga style
   using shaktipat is variously called: Siddha Yoga, Mahayoga, Sahaja
   Yoga (see Siddha Mahayoga FAQ - to be released). The styles using
   intentional techniques include Hatha Yoga, Laya Yoga and Kriya Yoga
   (see Kundalini Yogas FAQ - to be released).

   Are these methods of awakening kundalini dangerous? What about Gopi
   Krishna's books?

   If we take the psychological perspective and view kundalini as the
   power latent in our unconscious then it is easy to understand that
   awakening this force is going to bring a greater amount of unconscious
   material into our consciousness. Even in the best of circumstances
   this is likely to be uncomfortable and if an individual is barely
   coping with his unconscious even under normal circumstances then
   awakening kundalini may push the individual over into psychosis. This
   phenomenon has been documented many times.

   Forceful methods of awakening kundalini pose additional dangers.
   Because quite forceful methods can be used to awaken kundalini these
   techniques themselves are potentially physically and mentally
   disruptive. An individual named Gopi Krishna awakened his kundalini by
   doing unguided meditation on his crown cakra. His life after awakening
   was both blessed by ecstatic bliss and tormented by physical and
   mental discomfort. Eventually his experience stabilized. He wrote down
   his experiences in a recently re-released autbiography entitled
   ``Living with Kundalini.'' Gopi Krishna's autobiography appears to be
   an honest representation of his experiences but it is only one extreme
   datapoint in the panorama of experience on kundalini yoga. It
   represents dangers in forceful unguided practice but it is not
   representative of a typical practicioner's experience.

   Some approaches to kundalini yoga say there is no danger in their
   approach - are they misrepresenting themselves?

   These approaches typically do not try to awaken the kundalini directly
   - at least not for some time. Instead they focus on purifying or
   ``magnetizing'' the central channel without awakening kundalini. One
   sign of such approaches is that no breath retention is used.

   But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it a faster way to
   enlighenment?

   First of all it may be useful to observe that there is no technique
   currently known on earth that appears to be rapidly catapulting large
   number of individuals toward enlightenment. Because kundalini yogas
   deal so directly with a powerful enlightening force it seems natural
   that they would be ``faster'', but there appears to be alot of
   tortoise and hare phenomena at work with newbie kundalini yogins. Many
   people begin kundalini yogas, have strong initial experiences and then
   become frightened. Many who perservere through this initial phase
   become distracted by the energy and focus on temporal and phenomenal
   applications of the energy.

   There have been many scandals among kundalini yoga teachers -
   particularly sexual scandals. Is there a correlation between sexual
   scandals and kundalini yoga practice?

   There have been scandals regarding the teachers of many paths, both
   spiritual and non-spiritual ; however, it is probably fair to say that
   kundalini yogins have had more than their share. An advanced kundalini
   yogin is typically a powerful charismatic individual who has the
   ability to directly influence the minds of others. Westerners often
   mistake this power as a sign of enlightenment and allow such teachers
   liberties as a result.

   In addition it is quite common for kundalini yoga to temporarily
   accentuate the sex drive. This period requires extra discipline.
   Finally, kundalini yoga is closely associated with tantrism and sex is
   often used in conjunction with tantric practice. Where sex is used
   there is of course the opportunity for misuse or abuse.

   If my kundalini is awakened will I need to change my lifestyle?

   It's hard to have your cake and eat it too. If you awaken kundalini in
   order to change and enrich your life it's reasonable to expect you may
   need to change your lifestyle as a result. The recommendations of both
   classical literature and experience is that sleep and diet will need
   to be moderated otherwise severe discomfort may arise. Furthermore
   without moderating sexual activity and physical work it will be hard
   to experience much success with kundalini. The extent that these
   elements of your life need to be change depends on the nature of the
   individual. While genuine mental imbalances arising from kundalini are
   rare nearly every kundalini yogin will find periods when one needs to
   be especially sensitive to needs for sleep, quiet and diet.

   Where can I learn more?

   Here are some references for further reading. They may not be the
   easiest books to find but they are currently in print and are very
   good in their categories. Note that by definition no reputable book on
   kundalini will tell you how to awaken your kundalini. Either by effort
   or by shaktipat initiation, practicing kundalini yoga requires the
   instruction of an experienced teacher. Some introductory practices for
   cleansing the channels can be learned from books.

   Good introductory survey:

     White, John (Editor) (1990). Kundalini - Evolution and
     Enlightenment. New York: Paragon House.

   Classical Works:

     Svatmarama (1985). The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Swami Muktibodhananda
     Saraswati, Trans.). (First ed.). Munger, Bihar: Bihar School of
     Yoga.

     Silburn, L. (1988). Kundalini - Energy of the Depths (Jacques
     Gontier, Trans.). Albany, NY: State University of New York.


     _________________________________________________________________



   Contemporary Kundalini Yogins:

     Chetanananda, S. (1991). Dynamic Stillness. Cambridge,
     Massachusetts: Rudra Press.

     Muktananda, Swami (1989b). From the Finite to the Infinite (First
     ed.). Volumes I &II, South Fallsburg, NY: Siddha Yoga Dham of
     America Foundation.

     Tirtha, Swami Vishnu (1980b). Devatma Shakti (Fifth ed.). Rishikesh:
     Yoga Shri Peeth Trust.

   From Tibetan Buddhism:

     Gyatso, Geshe Kalsang (1982). Clear Light of Bliss. London: Wisdom
     Publications.

   Psychology and Pathology of Kundalini:

     Greenwell, Bonnie (1990). Energies of Transformation . Shakti River
     Press: Cupertino, CA.

     Sannella, Lee (1987). The Kundalini Experience. Integral Publishing:
     Lower Lake, CA.