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The following is a letter I received about awakening kundalini energy and my response to the letter:
Hello, I have practiced kundalini off and on for about six years, using Carol Carlson's tape. Did it without putting much thought into it, thinking just about physical aspects. Few months ago, though, I really got into meditation. I did feel amazing results. Tons of energy, tranquility,lost of appetite- and weight( not significant, but noticeable). All the experiences were very pleasant. Until today. I went on the web to order the CD for my friend, as I wanted to share the beauty of it and.......found bunch of sites describing horrifying experiences of awakened kundalini. Sickness, insanity....How do you prepare for all that. Why is it not at least mentioned on any Kundalini tapes. To be honest with you, I am really scared. I have two little children and do not want end up in a psychiatric ward. Just wanted to get in shape and learn how to relax. Hope my kundalini is still asleep. How do I proceed?
Namaste, Thank you for your email. I appreciated the honesty, both in your search and discoveries, and in your warning. And, yes, there should be a disclaimer on all the activities we do as we play and work with the creative life force--the Divine energy and try to fit it into the limitations of these physical bodies. One has only to read of the dangers on the webpages, told and untold, seen and understood and not understood, to realize the danger of premature kundalini awakening to see and appreciate the wonder of what we are working with. I am a Tantra teacher and on more than one occasion another so-called Tantra teacher has asked with fear and accusation in their voice how I could be teaching something that could put someone into a mental institution or possibly lead to death. All one has to do is read the story of Gopi Krishna and his premature awakening of the Kundalini to know and feel the dangers. And, yet, Gopi Krishna went on to become the greatest proponent of awakening the Kundalini, stating that it is the jump start of the greatest step in man's evolution--physically and spiritually. I would recommend the reading of some of the books that he has written to awaken the scientific community to the importance of this. Kundalini can become awakened in a number of ways prematurely--falling on our tail bone, drugs, meditation, etc. We say prematurely, because the actual goal IS activation of the Kundalini. Its original purpose IS to ravel up the Sushumna. There are 3 major nadi systems in the human body--the Ida feminine channel simplistically pictured on the left side of body), the Pingala the masculine channel on the right) and the Sushumna the central channel between those two, running up the area of the spinal column. The legend of the Kundalini serpent (energy) is that it is entwined three times around the root chakra with its head pointing downwards. One of our paths in life is to turn Kundalini's head upwards and uncoiling the energy for movement upwards through the central channel and through each chakra to the divine. To act as a safeguard, the body has 3 'blocks' called Grathi knots, one is around the 1st chakra, one around the heart/throat, and one at the Ajna (third eye). One might think of them as beaver dams with logs and twigs (issues of karma and problems) that need to be identified and separated, working on those issues for our growth. If we break through these areas before the issues have been cleared, OR if the kundalini is pushed up either the Ida or the Pingala channel by its awakening--that is where the psychosis comes in and the dangers.
All of Yoga was for the safe opening
of the Kundalini energy, the preparing of the body for this cosmic
energy movement. Once balance is obtained in the Ida and Pingala
channels... or, in other words... we have a balance in our masculine
and feminine energy through the body and including the right and left
hemispheres of our brain, the passage up the central channel becomes
open and the Kundalini can safely and naturally arise, connecting in a
marriage like union the physical with the Divine. To me, it is so
beautifully symbolic---the balance of the masculine and the feminine in
a marriage like union becomes the step to our marriage like
connection with the Divine--as within so without--one picturing and
leading to the other. And, is that not what Tantra is all
about? It is often said--if you are lead there--known
or unknown--you are ready for what the universe has brought you
to. Your activation will not be an accident. You are
knowingly or unknowingly preparing your body and life by your
Kundalini practice. And, consciousness now has been brought to
the process. This is as natural as child birth--with the same
type of dangers if one does it unconsciously. But, what is given birth
to is a New Being also---A new You. My 'hope' is a safe birthing
into this most natural of occurences and our Birthright. As the
Kundalini is asleep--so is mankind. And as the Russian mystic
Gurdjief says "You must realize you are asleep before you can wake
up". These teachers (Gopi Krishna and Gurdjief) were giving
mankind their wake-up call--to a New Dawn of Bliss, Enlightenment,
and Tranquility you are beginning to feel and are being moved to share
with your friends. Trust that /smile as you move on your
path. A daily practice will cleanse and purify (the feminine
portion of a daily practice). Reading and meditation (the masculine portion) adds consciousness. Again--as within-so
without. As above--so You have to love the symbolism and symmetry of it all. It is beautiful. Namaste and Bliss always--Gary |