Originally Published in Daily Bhaskar
Most
important thing to know about Kundalini?
A tantric, is an ascetic, and only those tantrics whose sole
interest is in merging with the Supreme Reality work on awakening of the
Kundalini. That’s the purpose, the awakening of Kundalini serve in our
terrestrial existence- ‘catalyzing the process of our merger with Supreme
Reality’.
This means that an awakened kundalini is only a catalyst in this
process. The process can and does still happen without it also.
Why
is Awakening Kudalini such a buzz?
However, awakening kundalini is very popular, perhaps because it
is marketed as an amazing, exciting and wish fulfilling thing happening in our
physical existence. We all somewhere desire to be a super hero, don’t we? Is
this branding of kundalini in alignment with truth though?
I leave this question for you to answer. I will simply show you
the complete picture of kundalini, so that your views stand on solid foundation
of facts.
The most important fact here to know is, the other name of
kundalini.
The
other name of Kundalini
This is where the dilemma about awakening and the key to
awakening both reside. This other side of Kundalini is referred to as ‘Ahamkara’
in Tantric, palm leaf manuals.
Whether your physical being is aligned with the Kundalini or
towards ‘Ahamkara’ is determined by the direction of your awareness and
attention.
Aham, in Sanskrit means ‘I’, Kara means ‘create’. Therefore,
Ahamkara means energy of identification. Meaning that faculty in organism that
creates identification with its small limited terrestrial self- This is my
name, this is my sex, this is my body, I belong to this place, I do this, I
want this, and the list goes on.
This self identification is a result of focusing the Supreme
Energy that resides amidst us in a narrow, self-cherishing individualized
manner. This is what we call Ahamkara in Samkhya Philosophy.
However, when instead of focusing on self, we take this energy
and direct it towards cherishing the macrocosm this multiverse and the Supreme
Energy manifesting it all, it becomes Kundalini.
How
this helps in Awakening of the Kundalini
According to Samkhya Philosophy, this organism that we label ‘I’
is engineered to move in the direction of our awareness. If our awareness is
directed towards the union with the Supreme Reality, the organism will follow
that path. If awakening kundalini is a requisite of the process it will happen,
whether or not we are practicing the fancy ‘Kundalini Yoga’.
It is that simple!
But
beware
Rewind a bit- Kundalini awakens when our energy is aligned with
merger with Supreme Reality, and not with our terrestrial existence (and all
the materialistic comforts that it brings). Therefore, the flow of logic
implies that person with completely awakened kundalini has obtained a union
with the Supreme Reality & the terrestrial existence of that individual is
finished. The being, by the mere definition of kundalini, can’t be in this
plane of terrestrial plane after it has awakened.
This is the reason, why tantrics (the authentic ones) have kept
the technique of kundalini awakening a secret; because most of us want an
awakened kundalini for materialistic comforts- good health, success, better
sex, intellectual superiority, the list is long. This process is an oxymoron.
If we are lucky, we will fail. If we meddle too much, we will damage our
‘Self’. Remember, this ‘self’ not only includes our body & psyche, but also
everything we identify with- what we do, whom we love, etc.
Does
it mean one can’t have an awakened Kundalini and stay alive?
According to Mahabharata, Vasuki, the serpent king, was able to
awaken the kundalini to a certain degree and yet managed to stay alive. In
fact, Vasuki lived to see all the four yugas- from Sata Yuga (mention in Samudra Manthan), to Treta Yuga (mention in
Ramayan), Dvapara Yuga (mention
in Mahabharata) to Kaliyuga (mention in legends of Buddha).
The key word Vasuki’s Kundalini Awakening is ‘certain degree’.
Vasuki while aligning himself with Supreme Reality, managed to preserve enough
‘Ahamkara’ for his terrestrial well-being.
Since Vasuki was a Shiva devotee (according to Vishnu Puran, he
is the snake on Shiva’s neck), the tantrics follow the cult of Shiva. They do
so with the hope of figuring out the Vasuki’s technique to preserving the right
amount of Ahamkara.
What
can we do?
Salute Kundalini! She’s the Supreme Goddess of our inert and inner energy. This
inner and inert energy makes you become something more than you are right now;
something out of this plane of your existence. However, you need to ask
yourself a question first- do I really want this? If you have any attachment
with your body, with people whom you love, with materialistic comfort; awakening
kundalini isn’t the path for you.
Perhaps, you can follow the lead of Vasuki and awaken it to a
certain degree. Using the limbs of Yoga is the easiest way to do it:
Step 1: Create a universal, macrocosmic consciousness by
practicing the Yams & Niyams (Dos and Donts) Yoga.
Step 2: Prepare your gross body for the uncoiling of Supreme
Energy through Asanas.
Step 3: Practice the art of controlling & directing the flow
of energy through Pranayams.
Step 4: Steady your mind through Dharna. Just like you can’t
plug in an energy source with shaky hands, you can’t pulg-in the flow of
Kundalini through a shaky point.
Step 5: Follow a plug-point system. Not every electric point can
handle a high voltage of current, similarly not every body can handle the
strength of Kundalini. So find a teacher who can help you in uncoiling it in
small, measured doses. Allow you to take a step back. Observe the effects &
then repeat the process if it’s safe for your terrestrial being.
The
DIY Kundalini
If you’re not a big fan of doing the hard-work and finding the
guru; you would rather do it in the comfort of your home, here’s what to do:
Simply start putting needs of others before yourself. Every
action that you take, ask yourself- how is it going to bring universal
well-being. As your terrestrial self will gradually move towards the
macrocosmic, universal self; your Kundalini will gently uncoil.
This will be slow, like the process of a monkey evolving into a
human. The plus point is- just like that monkey’s evolution; it will be
organic, in alignment with the nature and hence painless.
What
not to do?
Don’t force your Kundalini to awaken. Kundalini is a Goddess.
Goddess is nurturing Shakti as well as devastating Kali. Never forget that love
and respect evokes Shakti, while force brings out Kali. Not all of us has the
spiritual, mental & physical bandwidth to download Kali in our system.
