The chakras and channels of energy
Inside every human
being there is a network of nerves and sensory organs that interprets
the outside physical world. At the same time, within us resides a subtle
system of channels (nadis) and centers of energy (chakras)
which look after our physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual being.
Each
of the seven chakras has several spiritual qualities. These qualities
are intact within us, and even though they might not always be manifest,
they can never be destroyed. When the Kundalini is awakened, these qualities
start manifesting spontaneously and express themselves in our life. Thus,
through regular meditation, we become automatically very dynamic, creative,
confident and at the same time very humble, loving and compassionate.
It is a process which starts to develop by itself when the Kundalini rises
and starts to nourish our chakras.
Mooladhara Chakra
 The
first chakra is located at the base of the spine below the sacrum bone
and is called muladhara chakra (mula means "root") in this chakra resides
the Kundalini. It is represented by the letter "lam".The first chakra
is symbolized by a lotus flower with four petals, and its shape is triangular.
Its main aspect is innocence. Innocence is the quality by which we experience
pure, childlike joy, without the limitations of prejudice or conditionings.
Innocence gives us dignity, balance, and a tremendous sense of direction
and purpose in life This is the chakra which is connected to survival
on the material plane. When this chakra is disturbed one has fear about
survival. When this chakra is ballenced then one feels that one belongs
on the earth, and is connected with its bounty.
It
is the inner wisdom that is ever present in the little children, and
gets sometimes clouded by our modern lifestyles. But it is a quality
which exists eternally within us and cannot be destroyed, waiting to
be manifest as pure joy when the Kundalini rises.
Swadishthana Chakra
The second chakra is represented
by a six-petaled lotus and it is circular in shape. It is located in the
area of the genital organs and is called swadhisthana chakra from "sva"
or vital force and "adhisthana" meaning abode. The seed letter is "vam".
Balance in this chakra is manifested by balance and appropriateness in
sexual activity, as well as by fertility (when appropriate) and creativity.This
is the center of pure, steady attention and power of concentration. It
is the one which connects us to the inner source of inspiration, and enables
us to experience the beauty around us. The pure knowledge given by this
chakra is not mental, but it is direct perception of the Reality, that
can be felt in our palms and indicates our subtle blockages.
On
the physical level it looks after our liver, kidneys, and the lower
abdomen.
Nabhi Chakra
Manipura chakra,
the third chakra, is located in the region of the navel, and is represented
by the element of fire . The form is again triangular, the seed syllable
is ram. It is a ten-petaled lotus. This is the chakra of digestion, manifestation
and power. The ego can manifest itself for good or harm through the power
of the navel chakra. It is the one that gives us the sense of generosity,
complete satisfaction and contentment. On the left side, the main quality
of this center is peace - clearing this chakra can relieve stress and
tensions. On the right side, it looks after our liver which is the organ
of our attention and power of concentration.
When
enlightened by the Kundalini, the Nabhi chakra gives us our spiritual
ascent, righteousness and inner sense of morality, and complete balance
at all levels in our life.
The Void
Surrounding
the second and the third chakra is the Void which stands for the principle
of mastery (guru principle) within us. In many spiritual traditions, this
area is the "ocean of illusions" that needs to be crossed with the help
of a spiritual guide. When the Kundalini is awakened and passes through
the Void, this principle of mastery is established within us. Thus, you
become your own guru, your own spiritual guide since you can feel on your
fingertips all your subtle problems and have the power to cure them using
your own Kundalini. Moreover, establishing this center helps us get rid
of all our habits, laziness, gross attachments, and everything that enslaves
us in a way or another: we become our own master.
Following
false "gurus" who are more interested in power tricks or your purse
can damage very much the Void area. But after Self Realization, everything
can be cured through the purifying power of the Kundalini in meditation.
The Heart Chakra or Anahata Chakra
There is
a shift at the level of the fourth chakra. While the first three chakras
are associated with survival, regeneration and power in the world, the
heart chakra or anahata chakra is the site of the beginnings of compassion
for others. Anahata means the unstruck sound. Meditation on this chakra
is said to reveal the underlying sound of the universe.It is the place
where resides our Spirit, our true Self, which is eternally pure and
unaffected by anything, like a shining diamond hidden within us which
witnesses all our actions.It is a twelve-petaled lotus and its syllable
is "yam". Balance in this chakra is expressed by empathy and caring
for the suffering in the world. This is represented by the shape of
two triangles in the chakra, one pointing up, the other down. This symbolizes
being equally connected to the earth and heaven.
After
Self Realization, our attention becomes for the first time connected
to our Spirit and we gradually become aware of it. Our misidentifications
with our ego or conditionings drop and we start becoming identified
with our Spirit, which is our true nature.
It
is from our heart that the compassion and love manifests, and also the
heart chakra is the one that gives us the sense of responsibility and
pure behaviour towards others. The heart chakra manifests in the center
(at the level of the sternum bone) as complete security and confidence.
All our worries, doubts and fears are destroyed when the heart chakra
is fully enlightened by the Kundalini.
On
the physical level, this chakra looks after our heart and lungs.
Vishuddhi Chakra
The throat
is the region of the fifth chakra, which is called vishudha, meaning
"pure" and the seed is "ham." It has a sixteen-petaled lotus as a symbol.
This is the chakra which has the power of speech and manifestation through
words It is the chakra of diplomacy. Balance here is expressed by clarity
in speech, thought and action. It removes all our guilts and remorses
when it is opened by the Kundalini, and gives us a kind and compassionate
voice. The tendencies to dominate others or to feel dominated by others,
the feelings of superiority or inferiority and all jealousies are removed
when this chakra is nourished by the Kundalini.
The
Vishuddhi is the chakra which gives us the connection with the whole,
enabling us to feel our oneness and the fact that we are all part and
parcel of the whole.
The Agnya Chakra
The sixth
chakra is termed agnya (command) chakra and is located between the eyebrows;
it has two petals. The seed symbols for meditation on this chakra are
"ham" and "ksham".Ajna is the site of intuitive wisdom. This chakra
may be associated with the pituitary gland. When this chakra is balanced,
one intuitively understands the nature and truth of reality. It is the
chakra of forgiveness and compassion. Forgiveness is the power to let
go of anger, hatred and resentment and to discover, in humility, the
nobility and generosity of the Spirit. It is the one that dissolves
all our ego, conditionings, habits, false ideas of racialism, and all
our misidentifications. It is the narrow gate which opens the way for
our consciousness to ascend to its final destination, which is the seventh
center.
Roving
eyes, watching impure things, or self-centeredness damage this chakra.
Watching the sky, earth or nature can help cleanse it.
The Sahasrara Chakra
The crown
chakra, or thousand-petaled lotus, is called sahasrara chakra; located
at the top of the head.When the coiled serpent of kundalini energy is
moved upward from the base of the spine and unites with this chakra,
then all duality is banished and the yogi exists in deep connection
with all that is. The seventh center integrates all the chakras with
their respective qualities. It is the last milestone of the evolution
of human awareness. Nowadays, we are at a level which corresponds to
this chakra, and our consciousness is able to easily enter into this
new realm of perception, which is beyond our limited mind and concepts,
and which becomes absolute at the level of the Sahasrara. This chakra
gives us the direct, absolute perception of Reality on our central nervous
system.
This
is precisely what is achieved by Self Realization, through the spontaneous
awakening of the Kundalini through daily yoga.
A word
about the three channels of energy. The left channel (blue) corresponds
to our past, emotions, desires, affectivity. Its termination is the
superego, which is the storehouse of all our memories, habits and conditionings.
The right channel (yellow) corresponds to our actions and planning,
to our physical and mental activity. Its termination is the ego, which
gives us the idea of I-ness, the sense that we are separate from the
world. The central channel is the channel of ascent, it is the power
which sustains our evolution and guides us, consciously or unconsciously,
towards the higher awareness of the Sahasrara (seventh chakra).
The idea
of nadis - variously translated as "nerves" or "veins" but more properly
channels of subtle vital force (prana) is there in the earliest Upanishads
(7th-8th century b.c.e.). The heart was said to be the centre
of the 72,000 nadis.
The concept
was developed in the later Upanishads - from 2nd century b.c.e. to the
2nd century c.e. and later - and the nascent Yoga and Tantric schools.
The Kshurika-Upanishad mentions the 72,000 nadis, especially
the Ida (lunar), Pingala (solar), and Sushumna (central) channels.
In the
later Shakta Tantra and Kundalini/Laya Yoga traditions emphasis was
placed on the central nadis which represented concentric (hence increasingly
subtle) channels located vertically along or in front of the spine or
backbone, and along which are strung seven (or however many) chakras.
These main nadis are:
Sushumna-nadi
starts from the Kanda-mula, lying just below the Muladhara
chakra, and goes upward centrally within the vertebral column.
Vajra-nadi
starts from the starting point of Sushumna and goes upward, lying within
Sushumna.
Chitrini-nadi starts at the
starting point of the Vajra nadi and goes upward, liying within the
Vajra nadi.
Brahma nadi
or Brahmarandhra nadi starts from the orifice of Swayambhu-linga
in the Muladhara and goes upwards, lying within Chitrini
A more
indepth explination on chakras and energy channels is available on audio
cassette from the Yoga Boutique.
|