Friday, January 10, 2014

How Kundalini is Perceived

If you're out there, dealing with Kundalini, how do you explain it to others, to yourself?

Recently, I had the opportunity to test this. I wasn't giving a talk or a presentation on Kundalini; I had been invited to join a community discussion group with five or six other men and I was attending my fifth or sixth session. Discussion usually skirted around cultural and any number of other progressive topics, but it never touched spiritual matters. And I never brought one up.
 
Faith or Science
Prayer or Practice

One day, however, one of the participants — I later discovered he was battling cancer — brought up the afterlife question in a way that flowed seamlessly into the existing context. I can't remember word for word what followed, but I did seize the opening to comment on my research into human energy potential and energy cultivation techniques, as well as my findings that death was not to be feared and was only a transition into a new state of being.

Someone asked me if I could prove it. I cited NDE and Kundalini as examples of consciousness existing outside mind and body. I underlined that this hypothesis was the result of research done in the laboratory of my own body, and it was supported by many similar accounts from all over the globe. Some members continued the discussion; the man who'd started it wanted to hear more. But several others began shouting that Kundalini had no scientific value; it was only a cult.

A cult, a religion, a philosophy, a practice, and an exercise regimen. It's been called all of the above, and probably less flattering names as well, I observed. One man kept shouting it's a cult, it's a cult. I spent two minutes trying to explain that Kundalini was a biological process, that I had no religious affiliations, and that kundalini, despite the unfortunate connotations attached to its name, was the driving force behind evolution. I mentioned that my kundalini experience had begun with breathing exercises, and then morphed into profound consciousness experiences I have documented in several books.

I stated that my experience was not the result of any religious practice. In fact, I told them I practiced no religion nor did I hold any position on God.
 

However, I said Kundalini did trigger many physical, metabolic, mental, psychic, and other effects in my being, right down to the cellular level, on which I could elaborate if the group was interested. I told them these effects had nothing to do with religion. They were the by-product of the biological energy Kundalini produces and they resulted in my becoming immersed in an Energy Continuum, not unlike the Unified Field physicists speak of. My experience inspired me to learn more about higher consciousness, energy cultivation, and the role of Kundalini in evolution. I added that the effects were largely unexpected and showed me that keeping an open mind was paramount if we are interested in the forces behind evolution.

"Cult, cult," he shouted.


It's not a religion or a cult, I said. You can't be "converted" to Kundalini, any more than you can be converted to a heart attack or an orgasm; they just happen. That's the nature of biological processes; they just happen. Some are triggered by external stimuli or practices, like meditation; others are autonomic or spontaneous.

Needless to say, the discussion ended there and that was the last meeting I attended. What's the point? If a person is so closed-minded he confuses biology with religion, there's little room for dialog.

Nevertheless, of the two most excitable critics, I learned that one was a virulent atheist who could not conceive of any middle ground between belief and non-belief in God and the other had been raised in fundamentalist surroundings and had it up to his chin hairs with religion. Both were college professors.

So how do you explain Kundalini? How do others react to your explanation? Did you learn anything from encounters with people whose minds are closed to any investigation of the hypothesis that biology is an expression of consciousness?

11 comments:

  1. Regrettable. Wish I was there to provide some support,
    How do I explain Kundalini? I speak about it personally only with people I know who have some knowledge and acceptance of it, and that's very very few in my circle. In conservative christian circles, I find anything to do with "energy" is rejected as heretical and is a very threatening subject; therefore communication is impossible. I believe that's why there is very little on kundalini in christian literature, and what is there is disguised in a different language like "dark night of the soul", "consolations", "spiritual ecstasy", "swooning", "locutions". St. Theresa of Avila experienced all these, but she was also accused by her superiors at the time that all this was the work of evil. The symbols and archetypal images of kundalini are construed with much suspicion and paranoia because they portray something very different in Christianity, for example the serpent.
    How do others react to my explanations? In my very few communications, the reaction is suspicion, followed by caution or warnings. Most of my communications are anomalous.
    Do I learn anything from these types of encounters? I heard it said once, when you are one spiritual step ahead, you can be challenging to your listeners. If you are two spiritual steps ahead, you become threatening. This area, except in very selective cases, regrettably is often too threatening for most. Therefore, we can only respect where people are and communicate at their level of acceptance, and every now and again, challenging. Otherwise, communication ceases.

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  2. I think I've genuinely told four people since that weird bittersweet day. I try not to talk about it now unless it's in an extremely general, non-descriptive kind of way, which is essentially not talking about it, but I do think there are probably moments when it can be useful to touch i.e. genuine seekers out there who may benefit in some mysterious way from hearing the tale of one's awakening.

    From my experiences, the reaction to talking about Kundalini has been largely positive in a sympathetic way, as in they were trying their best to understand but really couldn't accept it, and I don't in any way blame them for that because, really, how does one discuss something that insinuates an answer to the existence of an afterlife let alone a greater consciousness among us? It's just too much for most people without experiencing it so it'll always remain a mystery until then. I know this because before my experience with Kundalini, I was a seeker. I wanted desperately to know what Kundalini was because it seemed like such a big deal in the metaphysical circles. But even after reading about in your book and signing up and taking workshops on Kundalini and practicing Kundalini Yoga, it still made no real sense to me.

    Looking back now, if it weren't for guys like you and Gopi Krishna and the handful of websites that discuss Kundalini, I probably would have thought I was possessed by a demon for at least the first year, and for that I thank you. Now of course it's the greatest blessing, and although sometimes it doesn't feel that way, i know that behind the occasional discomfort is a great and enduring wisdom that I am only beginning to see a glimpse of its glimpse of a glimpse.

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  3. The context of the meetings I attended was to discuss of progressive topics. These were highly educated men. I later found out that two of them had been indoctrinated into fundamentalist Christian religions as children, and, as they grew older, they had rejected all religion. The feelings triggered by this backlash rendered them unable to process simple statements like:

    "Kundalini is a biological process." "It's not a religion or a cult. You can't be 'converted' to Kundalini, no more than you can be converted to a heart attack or an orgasm; they just happen."

    Had it not been for the gentleman suffering from cancer's introducing the subject of life after death, I would never have brought up the issue. That a discussion among educated men devolved so quickly into incoherence was a shock, not because of the closed-mindedness of certain participants, but because of the level of virulence. A shock, but not a surprise.

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  4. This is a very important subject. In the past there was a saying 'those who speak don't know and those who know don't speak" and I think it was because those who 'knew' knew that those who listened wouldn't understand. Hearing does not inevitably lead to understanding. This is why it is not so much the details of experiences which are important to share and not hide from sharing but their transformative results. People are never going to understand the experiences but what is undeniable is the physical, mental and spiritual transformation which arises as a result. So the onus is very much on us who stand up and declare these experiences to be the example of what these experiences make possible, not to get hung up on the experiences themselves.

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  5. I think, transformation forces (kundalini) and arousal inner energy, changed fundamentally. JJ, says," before enlightenment I chop wood and carrying water, after enlightenment i do the same" It seems nothing changed but life is change inside,even simple experience may look new, fresh, and hope full. I'm talkin about real kundalini we know in texts Gopi Krishna, probably Alex Grey, Osho, Krishnamurti. And J. For me, this kind of experience change category thinking, and feelings. Same people may have god's komplex, feel chosen. It's transform human condition, physical and mental, certain in NEW BODY! Consciousness of body is higher, because all this experience happens in body not in air. Be awareness of energy is a result larger consciousness. Men see, not only result of energy for example plants grows, but see energy using inner eye who exist. So that is real benefits, even world and others don't see. Every secret isn't good for personality, disturb coherence.

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  6. Why talking is good?, Why communication is worth to exist? Cause Metaphor to include experience within. For example " he is closed in a ivory tower" Everyone understand, because it is typical available experience. How to express enlightenment or awakening kundalini and results by over understanding metaphor, by all.? The philosopher Kant says: the world of experience is our. We live in one world. It's problematic. Mystics know what they are talking about.

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  7. I tell you a secret, my researche, Maynard James Keenan from toolband is high spiritual. He sing about Holy gift, but that is kundalni, he says:

    We barely remember
    Who or what came before this precious moment
    We are choosing to be here
    Right now
    Hold on, stay inside

    This holy reality
    This holy experience
    Choosing to be here in

    This body
    This body holding me
    Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
    This body
    This body holding me
    Feeling eternal, all this pain is an illusion

    Alive, I

    In this holy reality
    In this holy experience
    Choosing to be here in

    This body
    This body holding me
    Be my reminder here that I am not alone in
    This body
    This body holding me
    Feeling eternal, all this pain is an illusion

    Twirling round with this familiar parable
    Spinning, weaving round each new experience
    Recognize this as a holy gift and
    Celebrate this chance to
    Be alive and breathing
    A chance to be
    Alive and breathing

    This body holding me
    Reminds me of my own mortality
    Embrace this moment
    Remember
    We are eternal
    All this pain is an illusion

    What do you think JJ.? Just look a video "Parabola"

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=_z2O289Jemo

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  8. Thank you for posting. Here's one written by Neil Bethell Sinclair, a friend:

    A Spiritual Mystery

    A life well lived,
    An outlook shown
    From a standpoint different
    Than the traditional known.
    An expression of mystery,
    Of forces hidden,
    A poetic description
    Comes when bidden.
    A world of difference,
    An altered state,
    Perception transfigured
    Reveals destiny, fate.

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  9. Did someone read a book: " Yoga, immortality and freadom" author Mircea Eliade? It is old book, and has been usefull for me. Has a chapter about kundalini, and author said that arousal of kundalini is a rare succes.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Martin,
      I remember the author Mircea Eliade, when I first read as a child, maybe 16-17 years old, at that time,... he was writing about some aspects of yoga. I liked a lot "Nights at Seramphore" where he presented a fictional story. Arousal of Kundalini is rare but can be achieved, in some cases, by practice... you must be very motivated in not losing semen and make a powerful goal to attend this skill. If you are in good health, if you eat natural food and practice pranayama, then you'll have enough mind-power to trigger the sudden transformation.

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    2. Hi Cristian,
      Mircea Eliade comes from Romania like you! He explain liberation in practice of yoga and kundalini is a key for adepts. But he didn't has his own experience kundalini.
      I have read many times, and carefully, becouse I trying to find this ideas on my playground here where I live and of course in my internal world.

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