QA
The human form is made up of five sheaths. Moving outward, from invisible to visible, from subtle to gross, these sheaths are:
• Anandamaya Kosha; a dimension of pure bliss.
• Vijyanmaya Kosha; the sheath of higher knowledge which manifests itself as intuition or insight.
• Manomaya Kosha; the dimension of mind which contains intellect, memory, concept and reason.
• Pranamaya Kosha which is composed of prana; the vital energy that activates the body and motivates the mind.
• Annamaya Kosha; the physical body, so called because it is dependent on anna - grain or gross food.
In simple terms, these sheaths of existence are said to be composed of bliss, intuition, intellect, energy and food.
All these dimensions of being interpenetrate and interact with each other. Each sheath is said to be composed of energy and the energy in each sheath has its own speed of vibration. In the physical sheath the energy vibration is slowest, though, as we move through the koshas the vibration becomes faster and finer until it once again resolves itself back to Pure Consciousness.
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Will the automatic movements which I experience during meditation ever stop? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Once the gross karma related to the different koshas gets cleansed through the manifestation of kriyas - breathing exercises, yogic postures and meditation practices - these movements become more subtle and are experienced internally while the process of purification continues. If one has only a few impressions of a certain type, the kriyas related to them will stop in a few days. They are like thought forms - there for a moment and gone in the next. If one has repetitive impressions of a certain kind, the kriyas pertaining to them can go on even for years, until the impressions are all exhausted. This is a purification process. As the purification completes itself at different levels, the external and internal movements will disappear.
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I seek your guidance. I have done two levels of a course in breathing techniques and also different levels in Pranic Healing. I have been practising both, alternatively. Though the breathing techniques lead me to a feeling of stillness, I still feel loss of energy and am left with a feeling of fatigue. (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
The first thing that is not right with your practice is the intermingling of the two systems. You must understand that each course is designed to give direction to the latent energy in a particular sequence. If, along with one course you practise another alternatively, you are sending your mental, emotional and physical system for a toss. You are creating confusion in your energy body, which will reflect in your physical body in one form or another. You need to exercise your sense of discretion.
If a certain course in breathing techniques is not giving the right response, it means either there is a mistake in your practice or it is not suited to your system or to the kind of person you are. Please use your judgement. I emphasise that once a path or course is chosen, one has to be loyal to it because the process becomes important and the steps must be followed with care in order to avoid creating any harm to yourself. Furthermore, you must inform the teacher if you are pursuing any other similar practice. This responsibility lies with you.
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CHAKRAS
How does evolution happen for the animal kingdom? Do animals also have chakras? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
All life is evolving and the animal kingdom is no exception. The scriptures tell us that below Mooladhara chakra there are chakras which represent the animal kingdom. These are: Atala, Vitala, Sulala, Talatala, Rasatala, Mahatala, and the lowest, Patala. Just as the Mooladhara is the lowest chakra in the human body, Patala is the lowest chakra in the animal body. In human beings the nadis - etheric channels for energy flow within the body - converge at the Ajna chakra; whereas in the animal body they converge at the Mooladhara. Chakras in humans start where the chakras of the animal kingdom end.
The animal kingdom is controlled by the laws of nature; therefore evolution for them takes place automatically.
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KUNDALINI
What is the difference between Kundalini and prana and how can one distinguish between them when they are manifested? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
The force that supports creation in all its aspects is called prana. The universal prana is the cosmic energy that we draw in through the breath. The cosmic manifestation of prana in the individual body is represented by Kundalini shakti which lies dormant at the base of the spine.
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How does the guru guide a disciple once the Kundalini awakens? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
When the energy first awakened in me, my guru's first questions to me were: Did I have old parents or in-laws to take care of, and did I have young children who needed my attention? I understand now that these questions were essential because once you get on to the path of Kundalini, it requires your full attention or you have to have the rare ability to handle the mundane and spiritual simultaneously.
Once the guru ascertains that the Kundalini has awakened in an aspirant, then it is guided by him through means appropriate to the receptivity of an aspirant. It may be done through transmission of thought, through one- to-one dialogue where the guru clears an aspirant's doubts and allays his fears, or he may guide an aspirant by telling him when to slow down, when to stop and so forth.
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I have heard people narrate experiences of Kundalini even though they do not have a guru nor follow any Kundalini technique. How is this possible? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
These days there are various workshops being conducted on yoga, pranayama, chakras and the mass awakening of the Kundalini. Such activities can produce a premature awakening and, if the teacher is not equipped to guide the awakened energy, it can prove to be harmful at the physical, mental and emotional levels.
Normally, a guru is essential for the awakening of the Kundalini. In rare cases, the awakening may happen due to past samskaras during which a person has probably practised some form of sadhana. So, at an appropriate time in this life, the symptoms of Kundalini are manifest to lead that individual to his next level of growth. In this situation if the individual can surrender, then the Kundalini itself becomes the guru. However, even in this situation, the person instead of getting confused and groping in the dark will have to seek the mentorship of a living guru who can provide guidance.
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If I do not manifest any symptoms of awakening, how will I know whether the Kundalini within me is awakened? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Swami Rama says that knowingly or knowingly, your Kundalini has awakened if you are dynamic, if you have attained something in your life that is uncommon, unusual and exceptional.
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MEDITATION
What is the purpose of meditation? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
In meditation, we go through the process of introspection, perception and negation. This means that if a negative thought surfaces, we observe it and let it pass. This is the preliminary process of purification in an aspirant, which involves his physical, mental and emotional bodies. In this way, the purification of thought takes place at conscious, subconscious, and unconscious levels.
The subconscious level is a storehouse of unfulfilled desires, unresolved experiences, and hurtful incidents that have sunk deep into the personality and are lying dormant, ready to surface as a defense mechanism in the form of an action-reaction situation. The unconscious is composed of impulses, instincts and moods that are totally unknown to us in the moment. They will surge up to express themselves under provocative conditions.
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I saw Kali very clearly in my meditation. Is that how gods reveal themselves or is it pure imagination? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
You have probably been exposed to the worship of Kali and that has left an impression of the image in your mind, which has been stored as memory. In a relaxed state of meditation, when there is less of body consciousness, certain centres of the brain open up and stored memories or images emerge to the surface. The visions, whether of gods, deities or places, come from memory, from strong visual imprinting of events that take place in our daily life. These are mystical symbols and will relate to the culture and background you come from.
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As soon as I sit for meditation, there is a constant flow of thoughts. When will the thoughts stop? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
The more you dwell on thoughts, the deeper they get fixed in your memory. The only way to stop this from happening is to completely reject the past, and to stop thinking of the future. Do not get involved with the thoughts; remain a witness to them. Just as a plant when neglected wilts and dies, so do thoughts when they are not given attention. This can be accomplished by training yourself to be just a witness, so that you remain in the present.
When all deep-rooted, accumulated impressions are cleared through the practice of meditation, the thoughts will stop. Then what will remain are surface impressions that will flit across the mind as clouds across a sky.
Meditation means being and not doing. What is important is that, as far as possible, you should sit at a fixed time and at fixed place. This is advised because the place you sit at will develop a certain vibration, so that whenever you sit at that place, the already charged area will facilitate the process of meditation. The time is also fixed so that if you are under the guidance of your guru, his energy or vibration starts flowing towards you no matter whether he is physically present or not. Fixed time is stressed because with constant practice you have created a channel which starts to operate at the given time. If you are not present to receive and avail of the energy, it will move on.
You cannot stop the inflow of thoughts. What you can do is to be a witness to them. It is like standing in your balcony and watching the traffic go by. Or, you can bring your attention to the inflow and outflow of your breath. Every time the attention shifts you could come back to your breath. Don't stress yourself trying to focus on it.
The wise tell us that the thoughts that we hold, and the words that we go on repeating, create our life and experience. What we choose to think today will create our tomorrow and so our future. The purpose of meditation is to allow the stored data from the unconscious areas of the mind to surface. This is where we can let go of the old negative data of ill-will, spite, hatred, greed, etc. and experience release. Do not suppress any thoughts that emerge, whether they are of anger, resentment or grief. Allow them to surface and be open to the experience. Be a witness to whatever transpires, because if you suppress any negative emotions, they will release themselves through some means or another like in the form of physical illness, nervous breakdown or aggression in any form.
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I was sitting for meditation with my back resting against a wall in a Shiva temple. When the time came to get up, I realised that I could not move. Is there any explanation for something like this? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
This experience can occur in relation to a person, place or thing that is highly charged with energy. When a receptive aspirant enters this highly charged magnetic field, he can get into a 'locked in' posture. Temples, caves, churches, or any such place where worship and chanting are regular features, can elicit this kind of a response from an aspirant as a kind of fusion between the two energies takes place. The release will take place when the equilibrium between the aspirant's energy and the magnetic field happens. Just stay relaxed and be a witness of your experience. Don't force yourself to get up.
'Locked in' means when you get rooted to a spot. Your senses stop functioning and every part of your body, mind, and intellect get fixed. It is like the 'statue' game children play.
I remember when I went through this experience. I had gone to the Mahalaxmi temple one early morning to get a photograph I had of Durga Ma blessed. The morning's first puja was performed on the photograph. I brought it home and reverentially placed it in my altar. Next morning, when I lit the lamp, opened the altar door, and sat for meditation, a strong gust of energy hit me like a tornado and I was 'locked' in the posture in which I was sitting. Though I was aware of all that was going around me, I could not move. My senses and limbs were fixed. The only thing that I could do was to stay rooted till such a time when the lock released itself. When you are on a spiritual journey, you are not in control, there are higher forces that take charge and whatever is required for your spiritual growth will be implemented.
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In meditation, I sometimes get the feeling of wings flapping gently in my head. What does this mean? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
In my experience, I have usually visualised the wings at the level of the Ajna chakra and the Anahata chakra. These are vibrations of the chakras, which take on the shape of wings.
C.W. Leadbeater in his book The Chakras tells us that, "the wings typify the power of conscious flight through higher planes."The wing-like vibrations of the heart chakra would mean that an aspirant is moving towards compassion, and giving of unconditional love. One can understand why we usually see paintings of angels having wings.
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Why is 'witnessing' considered to be important for a spiritual aspirant? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Being a witness during meditation provides the consciousness with an opportunity to function freely; to witness and remove all negative impressions and memories that surface. Once all latent data and impressions are dissolved and there is nothing left to observe, witnessing stops.
In spite of it being a transient state, it acts as a ladder that helps you reach the top. Once the final goal is achieved, the ladder is no longer required.
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What is the process of visualisation in meditation? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
There is no process involved. If you are completely relaxed during meditation, the images may arise by themselves within your consciousness; you do not project them outside of yourself.
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Ever since I have started meditating, I find that some of my relationships are dropping off. I am quite fearful that soon I may have no friends and I will be left alone. Is this just a passing phase? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
This is bound to happen because there are shifts taking place in your consciousness. What you first thought was meaningful, you may now find as meaningless. The realisation has dawned that you were playing roles according to the needs of others, sometimes at the cost of your own freedom, in order to be appreciated and gain acceptance. One has to suffer through this phase in order to grow.
Why is there pain when you are alone? Osho says that it is your ego that is getting the pain because your ego can exist only with others. It has grown through relationships, so if it faces a situation in which it can exist no more, it feels suffocated and on the verge of death. This, he says, is the deepest suffering. You feel through as you are dying, but it is not you who is dying, only the ego, which you have taken to be yourself, with which you have become identified. Just go through the experience, no matter how painful and fearful; remain passive and let it pass.
So what is happening is that with relationships falling off, the ego is not being fed and it is losing its identity. You feel you no longer know who you are. This is good because the false 'you' is dissolving, and unless you become clean again, the real 'you' cannot emerge. And when your real Self emerges, you will come out of it transformed with new glory and dignity.
You will pick up new friends and new relationships but your interaction will be from another level of consciousness.
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I am doing breath meditation - is it right for Self-realisation? There is no stability in business even after twenty years. Please help. (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Do not take the word 'Self-realisation' lightly. First dwell on the meaning of the word and give it deep thought. Self-realisation is that moment when you know your true nature. Those who constantly abide in that - they will be self-realised. For this to happen great tapas - austere penance - is required, which is the domain only of the great sages.
Meditation, however, may lead to 'enlightenment'. This is a spontaneous happening for a long-time seeker when he comes to the end of seeking. It is an event wherein the ego dissolves into the 'whole' and there is no other but the 'one'. This is an experience, which has given him the glimpse of what is meant by 'self-realisation'.
To reach this stage is a long process. Sometimes, there is confusion that the mind must be completely free of thoughts during meditation. With this thought, an aspirant struggles to empty the mind, which is impossible because the mind is supposed to think. Instead of getting involved with the thinking, the meditator needs only to watch the thoughts that arise and let them pass. Meditation is just 'being' and not 'doing'. Be a detached observer of what is arising in the moment. If thinking is happening, allow it to be so.
An analogy that is often used in relation to thinking during meditation is that of clouds floating by in the sky. The clouds represent thoughts which come and go, but the sky always remains clear and blue behind the clouds. Identify with the blue sky rather than the clouds. By being a witness to the thoughts surfacing in the mind and allowing the thoughts to be as they are, the mind will in due course become more balanced.
There are many stages to meditative experience. First there is the oscillation between the right and left brain, meaning it is either active in the creative or logical brain.
When balance is maintained, the two merge into each other, the result is stillness.
Master Charles gives progressive stages in meditation as follows: detachment, wakefulness, witness consciousness, multi-dimensional awareness, expansion, and enlightening states of experience. He says that astute meditators need to constantly observe their meditative experience. Is there balance and stillness of mind? If not, which polarity is dominant - the negative or the positive? The dominance of one polarity indicates the necessity to emphasise the opposite to create balance. This involves affirmative thinking or use of affirmations in meditation.
Self-realisation and success in business ventures are unrelated. One has nothing to do with the other.
Once a businessman asked Swami Dayananda Saraswati: "Swamiji, I have been running a business for the last seven years and yet no progress is happening. What should I do?"
Swamiji's answer was: "If there is no progress in seven years, it is not meant for you. Don't waste your time; look at something else."
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Why is it specified that one should sit straight for meditation and not lean against a wall or the back of the chair? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
It is usually said that the subtle body of an aspirant radiates two inches beyond the physical body. The Kundalini and chakras are a part of the subtle body. In order to allow the free flow of energy, an aspirant is advised to sit with his back straight and not to disrupt the energy flow by leaning against any object.
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
What do the terms 'detachment' and 'involvement' mean? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Detachment represents a state of mind that is constantly observant of the nature of events and that remains unaffected by them. Once you realise that you can be a witness to the events taking place in your life, your awareness will expand and you will be able to see the reality behind situations. Detachment implies that no matter what is going on in your mind, no matter what you are thinking, rather than identifying with the thinking, you become the detached witness to what is transpiring in the moment. If thinking is happening, allow it to be so. The task is to learn to detach from petty ideas and feelings. In other words, detachment means going beyond delusion and opposites.
Verse 213 of the Dhammapada says, "Emotional ties bring only sadness and fear. Avoid attachment in emotion and you avoid sadness and fear."Once we are attracted to something, then our ego and the possessive quality of our nature is manifested. Detachment on the other hand, involves a state of mind in which you use your discretion and act accordingly. It is not a game of action and reaction but of stimulus and response.
'Involvement' means getting involved with a thought or situation and creating a drama out of it by getting into the why, how and what of it by oscillating between the past and the future, both of which do not exist. The past is dead and gone and the future is yet to be. Do not confuse involvement with attachment. Attachment creates illusions and desires. If a desire is unfulfilled, then what arises is anger. One thing leads to another, and anger leads to confusion. Once that happens one fails to use one's reason. This downward slide stems from a single unfulfilled desire.
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How does the guru's grace occur? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Through the disciple's reverence, devotion, love, and surrender to the guru.
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How will I know that I have been blessed with the grace of the guru? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
If a guru has entered you in the form of shakti or energy, that is an indication that you have been blessed with the grace of the guru. In other words, when in the energy field of a guru, your own energy gets awakened and you can feel its functioning within; it means that you are the recipient of your guru's grace. Once the energy is awakened, it will take you wherever you are meant to go and it will grant you whatever experiences it wants you to have. These will manifest in accordance with your accumulated impressions.
This has been very simply put by Master Charles: "What does it take to get a suntan? Nothing, whatsoever. It is just a matter of exposing oneself to the sun. It is the nature of the sun to radiate its power, its light. We do not need to do anything, except lay on the beach and expose ourselves to the rays.
"The master is the 'sun' to a meditator who endeavours to live more consciously and fully. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in the presence of a master, all you need is to stop 'doing'. This is traditionally understood in terms of surrender. Surrender means letting go of the need to do anything. We just follow the sun, so to speak, and the suntan keeps happening."
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What does 'transmission' mean and how does it take place? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
According to my understanding and experience, when knowledge through the guru is passed on to the disciple in silence - it is termed as 'transmission'.
There should not be any mental, emotional, physical or spiritual blocks in an aspirant because transmission can happen only when the aspirant has de-conditioned his mind and rendered it free from all limitations.
His mind has to be empty of all thoughts so that the transmission can be received. This would also mean that the guru and the disciple's consciousness functions at the same level of awareness. The aspirant's Kundalini has to move in the same sequence as the guru's (in the first two visuals on the facing page). The play of Kundalini is happening at the Sahasrar centre. The guru's Kundalini energy, which lies coiled at the base of the spine like a cauldron of fire has risen up to the Sahasrar centre and like a magnet the aspirant's energy follows the same course. The aspirant also needs to vibrate at the same frequency at the Ajna chakra in order to translate the knowledge received. Thus we see (in the next two visuals) the vibrations in the form wings at the aspirant's Ajna chakra matching those of the guru's vibrations. It is necessary that the aspirant vibrates at the same frequency as the guru in order for any transmission to take place.
The vibrations of the Ajna chakra give a feeling of wings. They represent the functioning of consciousness on the higher planes.
In order to receive the transmission, the aspirant has to go beyond the mind and be open and receptive to the instructions or information passed on to him. This is where 'surrender' becomes so important in the aspirant's life, so that he is able to operate in a higher state of awareness and receive the guru's transmission of knowledge, grace and wisdom.
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How do mantras work? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Different mantras work on different levels of the mind. Each mantra, and the rhythm of its recitation, is designed to probe the deepest level of consciousness. If the initiation of an aspirant is performed with a particular mantra, it is not necessary that the same mantra will stay with him throughout. When the work of the mantra is completed at a particular level of the mind, the guru may change the mantra to take the aspirant to the next level of self-discovery, which would depend upon how sincere an aspirant is with his practice.
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What is the difference between being 'attentive' and being 'aware'? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Attentiveness means that you are focusing on one thing exclusively, whereas to be aware means to be conscious of the whole.
For example, when there are a variety of fruits in a basket and your attention is only on the apple and you do not see anything else; when you look at the stars and do not see the space in which they appear, this is attentiveness, wherein the 'you' or the 'I' is very active. By seeing only the apple and the stars, you have blocked out the rest of the fruits, the basket and the void in which stars appear. Our brain works in such a way that we cannot give attention to something without ignoring something else.
When you see the basket and the space around it as a whole i.e. the basket with all the different fruits - apples, mangoes, bananas etc., then you just 'are'; there is no focused feeling of 'I'. This is awareness. There is a sense of just 'being', you are just 'aware'. In awareness, there is no thought, the 'I' disappears and you are a part of the whole. As soon as you lose awareness, thinking starts and the 'I' steps in, and with that, the ego also returns. Simply put, awareness is inclusive of all that is; attention is exclusive.
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My guru does not give any explanation for my experience even though it is all happening in his space. What can be the reason for it? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
When I asked my guru for any explanation, his answer would always be, "It will unfold."I feel the guru's response would vary from aspirant to aspirant. However, what you find out for yourself becomes a great source of energy and motivates you to reduce your limitations and expand your experience; to discover and understand what is transpiring. It encourages you to think intuitively, to explore and enquire. The less that is fed into your mind, the more insights you get by yourself. You do not doubt your personal experiences because it is your experience and your truth. You have to keep in mind that it is 'your truth' and not the universal truth. Each aspirant's experience will be according to his psyche and the karmic data stored in it.
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Can one change one's destiny? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Destiny is of two kinds. One is controlled by a higher force or God. This concerns your birth and death - you have no control over it. The nature or destiny of fire is to burn, of wind to blow, and the river to flow.
The second destiny, that of your life's path, can be changed by you. There is a statement in the scriptures, which says that through karma you can change your destiny. This is possible provided that through action, you try to channel the forces of your life with awareness. That would mean a shift from unconscious living to conscious living, where every act is viewed as a stimulus and every reaction becomes a conscious response.
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How does one find out whether the guru one has chosen is a true guru? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
If one has any doubts, it is better to wait. Just as love is blind, so is faith. When the soul gets embodied, it enters the state of limitation because it is governed by the law of its karma; whether it be a guru or a disciple. Once a guru or anyone is born in the physical body, he will undoubtedly have flaws. So, when you meet your guru and if you begin to analyse him intellectually as a spiritual, moral or learned person, then you will not get anywhere.
If you judge your guru with your heart and your feelings rather than your intellect, you will overlook and not recognise the flaws, which not only your guru but every guru has or will have. Swami Satyananda Saraswati says that, "If you look for a guru with your intellect, you are not going to find one because there is no one who can fulfil your intellectual needs. A guru is not an intellectual need, just as love or marriage is not an intellectual need."
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What role does 'surrender' play in an aspirant's spiritual journey? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
'Surrender' melts away one's pride, wipes away accumulated impressions, does away with cravings and longings, dispels ignorance, and establishes one in the real Self.
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PRANA
I have been practising pranayama and meditation for a number of years. Some months ago I had participated in a Chakra Workshop. Since then, when I sit for meditation, I feel something stirring in my body. I am quite afraid. How should I handle this? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
What is meant by the term 'subtle bodies'? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Will the automatic movements which I experience during meditation ever stop? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
I seek your guidance. I have done two levels of a course in breathing techniques and also different levels in Pranic Healing. I have been practising both, alternatively. Though the breathing techniques lead me to a feeling of stillness, I still feel loss of energy and am left with a feeling of fatigue. (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
CHAKRAS
How does evolution happen for the animal kingdom? Do animals also have chakras? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
KUNDALINI
What is the difference between Kundalini and prana and how can one distinguish between them when they are manifested? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
How does the guru guide a disciple once the Kundalini awakens? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
I have heard people narrate experiences of Kundalini even though they do not have a guru nor follow any Kundalini technique. How is this possible? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
If I do not manifest any symptoms of awakening, how will I know whether the Kundalini within me is awakened? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
MEDITATION
What is the purpose of meditation? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
I saw Kali very clearly in my meditation. Is that how gods reveal themselves or is it pure imagination? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
As soon as I sit for meditation, there is a constant flow of thoughts. When will the thoughts stop? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
I was sitting for meditation with my back resting against a wall in a Shiva temple. When the time came to get up, I realised that I could not move. Is there any explanation for something like this? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
In meditation, I sometimes get the feeling of wings flapping gently in my head. What does this mean? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Why is 'witnessing' considered to be important for a spiritual aspirant? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
What is the process of visualisation in meditation? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Ever since I have started meditating, I find that some of my relationships are dropping off. I am quite fearful that soon I may have no friends and I will be left alone. Is this just a passing phase? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
I am doing breath meditation - is it right for Self-realisation? There is no stability in business even after twenty years. Please help. (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Why is it specified that one should sit straight for meditation and not lean against a wall or the back of the chair? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What do the terms 'detachment' and 'involvement' mean? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
How does the guru's grace occur? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
How will I know that I have been blessed with the grace of the guru? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
What does 'transmission' mean and how does it take place? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
How do mantras work? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
What is the difference between being 'attentive' and being 'aware'? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
My guru does not give any explanation for my experience even though it is all happening in his space. What can be the reason for it? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Can one change one's destiny? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
How does one find out whether the guru one has chosen is a true guru? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
What role does 'surrender' play in an aspirant's spiritual journey? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
PRANA
I have been practising pranayama and meditation for a number of years. Some months ago I had participated in a Chakra Workshop. Since then, when I sit for meditation, I feel something stirring in my body. I am quite afraid. How should I handle this? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Because you have been meditating, the workshop has probably activated the dormant energy within you which is rising upwards. It is crucial that you bring this to the notice of your guru. If you don't have one, then you should go back to the person who conducted the Chakra Workshop and ask for guidance. You could either discontinue your practice and get on with your life or you could become regular with your practice. Begin by fixing a time and place for meditation because once the energy starts to move upwards, the physical, mental and emotional bodies will undergo several changes. You must exercise complete surrender. Do not resist the energy. Let go of yourself completely and float along with the current. Higher forces have taken over, you need not worry.
With the upward movement of the Kundalini many unexpected things may happen because you are now moving into the region of the unknown. Do not be afraid, things will unfold as you go along with your practice. At this stage, any resistance is liable to create problems and can prove to be harmful. If possible, get in touch with someone who has been through the Kundalini experience or talk to like-minded people who are going through a similar process. Remember, if there is even an ounce of fear, either discontinue your sadhana or consult the person who had conducted the workshop.
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What is meant by the term 'subtle bodies'? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
'Subtle bodies' is a term used for psycho-spiritual bodies, each corresponding to a subtle plane of existence in a sequence that culminates in the physical form, moving outward, from invisible to visible. The subtle body is that part of our being in which we experience our thoughts and emotions. It is made up of light and energy and cannot be seen with the physical eyes. It is usually described as an oval halo of shimmering light that surrounds the physical body. In the scriptures it is defined as Panch Kosha.
The subtle body comprises of the mind, intellect, ego, accumulated impressions, jnanendriyas (subtle aspect of the senses), karamendriyas (subtle aspect of the organs of action) and the pranic body comprised of five pranas (the five vital airs); prana, apana, samana, udana and vyana.
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The human form is made up of five sheaths. Moving outward, from invisible to visible, from subtle to gross, these sheaths are:
• Anandamaya Kosha; a dimension of pure bliss.
• Vijyanmaya Kosha; the sheath of higher knowledge which manifests itself as intuition or insight.
• Manomaya Kosha; the dimension of mind which contains intellect, memory, concept and reason.
• Pranamaya Kosha which is composed of prana; the vital energy that activates the body and motivates the mind.
• Annamaya Kosha; the physical body, so called because it is dependent on anna - grain or gross food.
In simple terms, these sheaths of existence are said to be composed of bliss, intuition, intellect, energy and food.
All these dimensions of being interpenetrate and interact with each other. Each sheath is said to be composed of energy and the energy in each sheath has its own speed of vibration. In the physical sheath the energy vibration is slowest, though, as we move through the koshas the vibration becomes faster and finer until it once again resolves itself back to Pure Consciousness.
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Will the automatic movements which I experience during meditation ever stop? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Once the gross karma related to the different koshas gets cleansed through the manifestation of kriyas - breathing exercises, yogic postures and meditation practices - these movements become more subtle and are experienced internally while the process of purification continues. If one has only a few impressions of a certain type, the kriyas related to them will stop in a few days. They are like thought forms - there for a moment and gone in the next. If one has repetitive impressions of a certain kind, the kriyas pertaining to them can go on even for years, until the impressions are all exhausted. This is a purification process. As the purification completes itself at different levels, the external and internal movements will disappear.
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I seek your guidance. I have done two levels of a course in breathing techniques and also different levels in Pranic Healing. I have been practising both, alternatively. Though the breathing techniques lead me to a feeling of stillness, I still feel loss of energy and am left with a feeling of fatigue. (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
The first thing that is not right with your practice is the intermingling of the two systems. You must understand that each course is designed to give direction to the latent energy in a particular sequence. If, along with one course you practise another alternatively, you are sending your mental, emotional and physical system for a toss. You are creating confusion in your energy body, which will reflect in your physical body in one form or another. You need to exercise your sense of discretion.
If a certain course in breathing techniques is not giving the right response, it means either there is a mistake in your practice or it is not suited to your system or to the kind of person you are. Please use your judgement. I emphasise that once a path or course is chosen, one has to be loyal to it because the process becomes important and the steps must be followed with care in order to avoid creating any harm to yourself. Furthermore, you must inform the teacher if you are pursuing any other similar practice. This responsibility lies with you.
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CHAKRAS
How does evolution happen for the animal kingdom? Do animals also have chakras? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
All life is evolving and the animal kingdom is no exception. The scriptures tell us that below Mooladhara chakra there are chakras which represent the animal kingdom. These are: Atala, Vitala, Sulala, Talatala, Rasatala, Mahatala, and the lowest, Patala. Just as the Mooladhara is the lowest chakra in the human body, Patala is the lowest chakra in the animal body. In human beings the nadis - etheric channels for energy flow within the body - converge at the Ajna chakra; whereas in the animal body they converge at the Mooladhara. Chakras in humans start where the chakras of the animal kingdom end.
The animal kingdom is controlled by the laws of nature; therefore evolution for them takes place automatically.
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KUNDALINI
What is the difference between Kundalini and prana and how can one distinguish between them when they are manifested? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
The force that supports creation in all its aspects is called prana. The universal prana is the cosmic energy that we draw in through the breath. The cosmic manifestation of prana in the individual body is represented by Kundalini shakti which lies dormant at the base of the spine.
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How does the guru guide a disciple once the Kundalini awakens? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
When the energy first awakened in me, my guru's first questions to me were: Did I have old parents or in-laws to take care of, and did I have young children who needed my attention? I understand now that these questions were essential because once you get on to the path of Kundalini, it requires your full attention or you have to have the rare ability to handle the mundane and spiritual simultaneously.
Once the guru ascertains that the Kundalini has awakened in an aspirant, then it is guided by him through means appropriate to the receptivity of an aspirant. It may be done through transmission of thought, through one- to-one dialogue where the guru clears an aspirant's doubts and allays his fears, or he may guide an aspirant by telling him when to slow down, when to stop and so forth.
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I have heard people narrate experiences of Kundalini even though they do not have a guru nor follow any Kundalini technique. How is this possible? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
These days there are various workshops being conducted on yoga, pranayama, chakras and the mass awakening of the Kundalini. Such activities can produce a premature awakening and, if the teacher is not equipped to guide the awakened energy, it can prove to be harmful at the physical, mental and emotional levels.
Normally, a guru is essential for the awakening of the Kundalini. In rare cases, the awakening may happen due to past samskaras during which a person has probably practised some form of sadhana. So, at an appropriate time in this life, the symptoms of Kundalini are manifest to lead that individual to his next level of growth. In this situation if the individual can surrender, then the Kundalini itself becomes the guru. However, even in this situation, the person instead of getting confused and groping in the dark will have to seek the mentorship of a living guru who can provide guidance.
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If I do not manifest any symptoms of awakening, how will I know whether the Kundalini within me is awakened? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Swami Rama says that knowingly or knowingly, your Kundalini has awakened if you are dynamic, if you have attained something in your life that is uncommon, unusual and exceptional.
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MEDITATION
What is the purpose of meditation? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
In meditation, we go through the process of introspection, perception and negation. This means that if a negative thought surfaces, we observe it and let it pass. This is the preliminary process of purification in an aspirant, which involves his physical, mental and emotional bodies. In this way, the purification of thought takes place at conscious, subconscious, and unconscious levels.
The subconscious level is a storehouse of unfulfilled desires, unresolved experiences, and hurtful incidents that have sunk deep into the personality and are lying dormant, ready to surface as a defense mechanism in the form of an action-reaction situation. The unconscious is composed of impulses, instincts and moods that are totally unknown to us in the moment. They will surge up to express themselves under provocative conditions.
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I saw Kali very clearly in my meditation. Is that how gods reveal themselves or is it pure imagination? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
You have probably been exposed to the worship of Kali and that has left an impression of the image in your mind, which has been stored as memory. In a relaxed state of meditation, when there is less of body consciousness, certain centres of the brain open up and stored memories or images emerge to the surface. The visions, whether of gods, deities or places, come from memory, from strong visual imprinting of events that take place in our daily life. These are mystical symbols and will relate to the culture and background you come from.
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As soon as I sit for meditation, there is a constant flow of thoughts. When will the thoughts stop? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
The more you dwell on thoughts, the deeper they get fixed in your memory. The only way to stop this from happening is to completely reject the past, and to stop thinking of the future. Do not get involved with the thoughts; remain a witness to them. Just as a plant when neglected wilts and dies, so do thoughts when they are not given attention. This can be accomplished by training yourself to be just a witness, so that you remain in the present.
When all deep-rooted, accumulated impressions are cleared through the practice of meditation, the thoughts will stop. Then what will remain are surface impressions that will flit across the mind as clouds across a sky.
Meditation means being and not doing. What is important is that, as far as possible, you should sit at a fixed time and at fixed place. This is advised because the place you sit at will develop a certain vibration, so that whenever you sit at that place, the already charged area will facilitate the process of meditation. The time is also fixed so that if you are under the guidance of your guru, his energy or vibration starts flowing towards you no matter whether he is physically present or not. Fixed time is stressed because with constant practice you have created a channel which starts to operate at the given time. If you are not present to receive and avail of the energy, it will move on.
You cannot stop the inflow of thoughts. What you can do is to be a witness to them. It is like standing in your balcony and watching the traffic go by. Or, you can bring your attention to the inflow and outflow of your breath. Every time the attention shifts you could come back to your breath. Don't stress yourself trying to focus on it.
The wise tell us that the thoughts that we hold, and the words that we go on repeating, create our life and experience. What we choose to think today will create our tomorrow and so our future. The purpose of meditation is to allow the stored data from the unconscious areas of the mind to surface. This is where we can let go of the old negative data of ill-will, spite, hatred, greed, etc. and experience release. Do not suppress any thoughts that emerge, whether they are of anger, resentment or grief. Allow them to surface and be open to the experience. Be a witness to whatever transpires, because if you suppress any negative emotions, they will release themselves through some means or another like in the form of physical illness, nervous breakdown or aggression in any form.
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I was sitting for meditation with my back resting against a wall in a Shiva temple. When the time came to get up, I realised that I could not move. Is there any explanation for something like this? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
This experience can occur in relation to a person, place or thing that is highly charged with energy. When a receptive aspirant enters this highly charged magnetic field, he can get into a 'locked in' posture. Temples, caves, churches, or any such place where worship and chanting are regular features, can elicit this kind of a response from an aspirant as a kind of fusion between the two energies takes place. The release will take place when the equilibrium between the aspirant's energy and the magnetic field happens. Just stay relaxed and be a witness of your experience. Don't force yourself to get up.
'Locked in' means when you get rooted to a spot. Your senses stop functioning and every part of your body, mind, and intellect get fixed. It is like the 'statue' game children play.
I remember when I went through this experience. I had gone to the Mahalaxmi temple one early morning to get a photograph I had of Durga Ma blessed. The morning's first puja was performed on the photograph. I brought it home and reverentially placed it in my altar. Next morning, when I lit the lamp, opened the altar door, and sat for meditation, a strong gust of energy hit me like a tornado and I was 'locked' in the posture in which I was sitting. Though I was aware of all that was going around me, I could not move. My senses and limbs were fixed. The only thing that I could do was to stay rooted till such a time when the lock released itself. When you are on a spiritual journey, you are not in control, there are higher forces that take charge and whatever is required for your spiritual growth will be implemented.
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In meditation, I sometimes get the feeling of wings flapping gently in my head. What does this mean? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
In my experience, I have usually visualised the wings at the level of the Ajna chakra and the Anahata chakra. These are vibrations of the chakras, which take on the shape of wings.
C.W. Leadbeater in his book The Chakras tells us that, "the wings typify the power of conscious flight through higher planes."The wing-like vibrations of the heart chakra would mean that an aspirant is moving towards compassion, and giving of unconditional love. One can understand why we usually see paintings of angels having wings.
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Why is 'witnessing' considered to be important for a spiritual aspirant? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Being a witness during meditation provides the consciousness with an opportunity to function freely; to witness and remove all negative impressions and memories that surface. Once all latent data and impressions are dissolved and there is nothing left to observe, witnessing stops.
In spite of it being a transient state, it acts as a ladder that helps you reach the top. Once the final goal is achieved, the ladder is no longer required.
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What is the process of visualisation in meditation? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
There is no process involved. If you are completely relaxed during meditation, the images may arise by themselves within your consciousness; you do not project them outside of yourself.
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Ever since I have started meditating, I find that some of my relationships are dropping off. I am quite fearful that soon I may have no friends and I will be left alone. Is this just a passing phase? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
This is bound to happen because there are shifts taking place in your consciousness. What you first thought was meaningful, you may now find as meaningless. The realisation has dawned that you were playing roles according to the needs of others, sometimes at the cost of your own freedom, in order to be appreciated and gain acceptance. One has to suffer through this phase in order to grow.
Why is there pain when you are alone? Osho says that it is your ego that is getting the pain because your ego can exist only with others. It has grown through relationships, so if it faces a situation in which it can exist no more, it feels suffocated and on the verge of death. This, he says, is the deepest suffering. You feel through as you are dying, but it is not you who is dying, only the ego, which you have taken to be yourself, with which you have become identified. Just go through the experience, no matter how painful and fearful; remain passive and let it pass.
So what is happening is that with relationships falling off, the ego is not being fed and it is losing its identity. You feel you no longer know who you are. This is good because the false 'you' is dissolving, and unless you become clean again, the real 'you' cannot emerge. And when your real Self emerges, you will come out of it transformed with new glory and dignity.
You will pick up new friends and new relationships but your interaction will be from another level of consciousness.
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I am doing breath meditation - is it right for Self-realisation? There is no stability in business even after twenty years. Please help. (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Do not take the word 'Self-realisation' lightly. First dwell on the meaning of the word and give it deep thought. Self-realisation is that moment when you know your true nature. Those who constantly abide in that - they will be self-realised. For this to happen great tapas - austere penance - is required, which is the domain only of the great sages.
Meditation, however, may lead to 'enlightenment'. This is a spontaneous happening for a long-time seeker when he comes to the end of seeking. It is an event wherein the ego dissolves into the 'whole' and there is no other but the 'one'. This is an experience, which has given him the glimpse of what is meant by 'self-realisation'.
To reach this stage is a long process. Sometimes, there is confusion that the mind must be completely free of thoughts during meditation. With this thought, an aspirant struggles to empty the mind, which is impossible because the mind is supposed to think. Instead of getting involved with the thinking, the meditator needs only to watch the thoughts that arise and let them pass. Meditation is just 'being' and not 'doing'. Be a detached observer of what is arising in the moment. If thinking is happening, allow it to be so.
An analogy that is often used in relation to thinking during meditation is that of clouds floating by in the sky. The clouds represent thoughts which come and go, but the sky always remains clear and blue behind the clouds. Identify with the blue sky rather than the clouds. By being a witness to the thoughts surfacing in the mind and allowing the thoughts to be as they are, the mind will in due course become more balanced.
There are many stages to meditative experience. First there is the oscillation between the right and left brain, meaning it is either active in the creative or logical brain.
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When balance is maintained, the two merge into each other, the result is stillness.
Master Charles gives progressive stages in meditation as follows: detachment, wakefulness, witness consciousness, multi-dimensional awareness, expansion, and enlightening states of experience. He says that astute meditators need to constantly observe their meditative experience. Is there balance and stillness of mind? If not, which polarity is dominant - the negative or the positive? The dominance of one polarity indicates the necessity to emphasise the opposite to create balance. This involves affirmative thinking or use of affirmations in meditation.
Self-realisation and success in business ventures are unrelated. One has nothing to do with the other.
Once a businessman asked Swami Dayananda Saraswati: "Swamiji, I have been running a business for the last seven years and yet no progress is happening. What should I do?"
Swamiji's answer was: "If there is no progress in seven years, it is not meant for you. Don't waste your time; look at something else."
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Why is it specified that one should sit straight for meditation and not lean against a wall or the back of the chair? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
It is usually said that the subtle body of an aspirant radiates two inches beyond the physical body. The Kundalini and chakras are a part of the subtle body. In order to allow the free flow of energy, an aspirant is advised to sit with his back straight and not to disrupt the energy flow by leaning against any object.
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
What do the terms 'detachment' and 'involvement' mean? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Detachment represents a state of mind that is constantly observant of the nature of events and that remains unaffected by them. Once you realise that you can be a witness to the events taking place in your life, your awareness will expand and you will be able to see the reality behind situations. Detachment implies that no matter what is going on in your mind, no matter what you are thinking, rather than identifying with the thinking, you become the detached witness to what is transpiring in the moment. If thinking is happening, allow it to be so. The task is to learn to detach from petty ideas and feelings. In other words, detachment means going beyond delusion and opposites.
Verse 213 of the Dhammapada says, "Emotional ties bring only sadness and fear. Avoid attachment in emotion and you avoid sadness and fear."Once we are attracted to something, then our ego and the possessive quality of our nature is manifested. Detachment on the other hand, involves a state of mind in which you use your discretion and act accordingly. It is not a game of action and reaction but of stimulus and response.
'Involvement' means getting involved with a thought or situation and creating a drama out of it by getting into the why, how and what of it by oscillating between the past and the future, both of which do not exist. The past is dead and gone and the future is yet to be. Do not confuse involvement with attachment. Attachment creates illusions and desires. If a desire is unfulfilled, then what arises is anger. One thing leads to another, and anger leads to confusion. Once that happens one fails to use one's reason. This downward slide stems from a single unfulfilled desire.
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How does the guru's grace occur? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 1)
Through the disciple's reverence, devotion, love, and surrender to the guru.
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How will I know that I have been blessed with the grace of the guru? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
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If a guru has entered you in the form of shakti or energy, that is an indication that you have been blessed with the grace of the guru. In other words, when in the energy field of a guru, your own energy gets awakened and you can feel its functioning within; it means that you are the recipient of your guru's grace. Once the energy is awakened, it will take you wherever you are meant to go and it will grant you whatever experiences it wants you to have. These will manifest in accordance with your accumulated impressions.
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This has been very simply put by Master Charles: "What does it take to get a suntan? Nothing, whatsoever. It is just a matter of exposing oneself to the sun. It is the nature of the sun to radiate its power, its light. We do not need to do anything, except lay on the beach and expose ourselves to the rays.
"The master is the 'sun' to a meditator who endeavours to live more consciously and fully. If you are fortunate enough to find yourself in the presence of a master, all you need is to stop 'doing'. This is traditionally understood in terms of surrender. Surrender means letting go of the need to do anything. We just follow the sun, so to speak, and the suntan keeps happening."
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What does 'transmission' mean and how does it take place? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
According to my understanding and experience, when knowledge through the guru is passed on to the disciple in silence - it is termed as 'transmission'.
There should not be any mental, emotional, physical or spiritual blocks in an aspirant because transmission can happen only when the aspirant has de-conditioned his mind and rendered it free from all limitations.
His mind has to be empty of all thoughts so that the transmission can be received. This would also mean that the guru and the disciple's consciousness functions at the same level of awareness. The aspirant's Kundalini has to move in the same sequence as the guru's (in the first two visuals on the facing page). The play of Kundalini is happening at the Sahasrar centre. The guru's Kundalini energy, which lies coiled at the base of the spine like a cauldron of fire has risen up to the Sahasrar centre and like a magnet the aspirant's energy follows the same course. The aspirant also needs to vibrate at the same frequency at the Ajna chakra in order to translate the knowledge received. Thus we see (in the next two visuals) the vibrations in the form wings at the aspirant's Ajna chakra matching those of the guru's vibrations. It is necessary that the aspirant vibrates at the same frequency as the guru in order for any transmission to take place.
The vibrations of the Ajna chakra give a feeling of wings. They represent the functioning of consciousness on the higher planes.
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In order to receive the transmission, the aspirant has to go beyond the mind and be open and receptive to the instructions or information passed on to him. This is where 'surrender' becomes so important in the aspirant's life, so that he is able to operate in a higher state of awareness and receive the guru's transmission of knowledge, grace and wisdom.
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How do mantras work? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Different mantras work on different levels of the mind. Each mantra, and the rhythm of its recitation, is designed to probe the deepest level of consciousness. If the initiation of an aspirant is performed with a particular mantra, it is not necessary that the same mantra will stay with him throughout. When the work of the mantra is completed at a particular level of the mind, the guru may change the mantra to take the aspirant to the next level of self-discovery, which would depend upon how sincere an aspirant is with his practice.
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What is the difference between being 'attentive' and being 'aware'? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Attentiveness means that you are focusing on one thing exclusively, whereas to be aware means to be conscious of the whole.
For example, when there are a variety of fruits in a basket and your attention is only on the apple and you do not see anything else; when you look at the stars and do not see the space in which they appear, this is attentiveness, wherein the 'you' or the 'I' is very active. By seeing only the apple and the stars, you have blocked out the rest of the fruits, the basket and the void in which stars appear. Our brain works in such a way that we cannot give attention to something without ignoring something else.
When you see the basket and the space around it as a whole i.e. the basket with all the different fruits - apples, mangoes, bananas etc., then you just 'are'; there is no focused feeling of 'I'. This is awareness. There is a sense of just 'being', you are just 'aware'. In awareness, there is no thought, the 'I' disappears and you are a part of the whole. As soon as you lose awareness, thinking starts and the 'I' steps in, and with that, the ego also returns. Simply put, awareness is inclusive of all that is; attention is exclusive.
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My guru does not give any explanation for my experience even though it is all happening in his space. What can be the reason for it? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
When I asked my guru for any explanation, his answer would always be, "It will unfold."I feel the guru's response would vary from aspirant to aspirant. However, what you find out for yourself becomes a great source of energy and motivates you to reduce your limitations and expand your experience; to discover and understand what is transpiring. It encourages you to think intuitively, to explore and enquire. The less that is fed into your mind, the more insights you get by yourself. You do not doubt your personal experiences because it is your experience and your truth. You have to keep in mind that it is 'your truth' and not the universal truth. Each aspirant's experience will be according to his psyche and the karmic data stored in it.
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Can one change one's destiny? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
Destiny is of two kinds. One is controlled by a higher force or God. This concerns your birth and death - you have no control over it. The nature or destiny of fire is to burn, of wind to blow, and the river to flow.
The second destiny, that of your life's path, can be changed by you. There is a statement in the scriptures, which says that through karma you can change your destiny. This is possible provided that through action, you try to channel the forces of your life with awareness. That would mean a shift from unconscious living to conscious living, where every act is viewed as a stimulus and every reaction becomes a conscious response.
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How does one find out whether the guru one has chosen is a true guru? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
If one has any doubts, it is better to wait. Just as love is blind, so is faith. When the soul gets embodied, it enters the state of limitation because it is governed by the law of its karma; whether it be a guru or a disciple. Once a guru or anyone is born in the physical body, he will undoubtedly have flaws. So, when you meet your guru and if you begin to analyse him intellectually as a spiritual, moral or learned person, then you will not get anywhere.
If you judge your guru with your heart and your feelings rather than your intellect, you will overlook and not recognise the flaws, which not only your guru but every guru has or will have. Swami Satyananda Saraswati says that, "If you look for a guru with your intellect, you are not going to find one because there is no one who can fulfil your intellectual needs. A guru is not an intellectual need, just as love or marriage is not an intellectual need."
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What role does 'surrender' play in an aspirant's spiritual journey? (Kundalini Meditation - Vol. 2)
'Surrender' melts away one's pride, wipes away accumulated impressions, does away with cravings and longings, dispels ignorance, and establishes one in the real Self.
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Other Articles
Last Days with the Guru
Caution: Hairpin Bend Ahead (Life Positive, 2007)
Kundalini
Prana
Chakras
Vibrations
Power of Affirmations
In search of a Guru
Mind and Meditation
Nada and the Golden Egg
Symbols
The Spiritual Heart
Shanishcharya (Shani)
Shambala: The Mystical Mountain