The Question: What is Kundalini?
I shall try to give a brief explanation of this concept for there have recently been so many myths and rumours on this subject.
First let us deal with etymology. The word “Kundalini” is combined by two words: Kund and Alini. The ”kund” is translated as “the edge”, or “coiled”, while the root of “alini” is “al” meaning “me”, “self”. Thus, according to the word etymology “Kundalini” means coiled or restrained “self”.
In order to proceed further on we need to turn to the concept background. It was in Sandilya Upanishad that the word “Kundalini” was used for the first time. The author of the text states that “By Kevala-restraint of breath, the knowledge of Kundalini arises” (1). In this way we receive the first data about the way one can reveal that very “self” that is of our interest. It becomes possible by means of holding one’s breath. One may find many techniques of this kind in yoga and they are described in many texts. Right now we shall speak in details about the simple breath-holding. Take a deep breath, intake some air to your lungs and hold your breath. A man without practice shall be able to hold it for a minute or so. In any way, one will reach the moment when one’s body will require taking a breath. This will come in form of a diaphragm spasm. You cannot confuse it with anything else for you will feel a rather intensive muscular contraction in abdominal area and next to ribs. At this stage you might feel that “something terrible might happen”. Yet here comes the most interesting thing. If one is scared and thus takes a breath he will for sure get some kind of body shake-up but there will be no sense of energy rising, and no crystallization of “self” shall happen. But in case you proceed with keeping your breath notwithstanding the spasm occurred, both in physical and mental (emotional/astral) bodies there shall emerge an extraordinary sensing resembling an explosion that releases the inner tension. And this will be the very process of liberation of “self” from one’s “kunda”, i.e. the Kundalini.
Here comes a normal question: “What for?”, and so we will once again turn to primary sources. The same Sandilya Upanishad (hereinafter – the S.U.) says that “He who causes this Kundalini to move – he is an emancipated person” (1). This statement is quiet reasonable, for if you have mastered your innermost instincts it means you’ve gained an additional degree of freedom for you have eliminated one of the most basic fears of yours – the inability of taking a breath. It is the refusal from this fear of suffocation that crystallizes the part of one’s consciousness that makes a choice – the very “self” that becomes released from the edging of ignorance and fear. It is also accompanied by release of much energy that one can easily feel while performing this technique under supervision of a professional instructor.
Let us continue with our contemplations on this subject. If we state that Kudalini is the energy that contains the potential of “self” which is released due to one’s refusal from standard patterns followed by physical and emotional body then being consistent we can make a conclusion that any decision that we take in contravention of a common deed shall also result in liberation of “self” from kunda and thus in “rising of Kundalini”.
Here is an illustrative example. Let us imagine a man who cannot say “no” to other people. He’s been doing the “donkey work” and enduring it. Inside he feels angry and bites his lips, but he keeps enduring, for he fears to say “no”. And in such a way he has lived for, let us say, 30 years. Then, one day, instead of giving a usual consent he behaves in an unexpected way, first of all not expected by himself, and despite the internal struggle he turns the request down.
If you have ever done something that is beyond the scope of your imagination then you might understand the energetic outburst one feels in such situation. Despite the fact that without having trained the practice of awareness one will be hardly able to do this after thirty years of stereotype behavior, it will nevertheless be a true example of kundalini rising up to the level of one’s Manipura chakra.
And finally, we will answer about Kundalini moving. According to classical Yoga texts and in compliance with the author’s personal experience, “A wise man should take it up from its place (Viz., the navel, upwards) to the middle of the eyebrows” (2) (or A Yogi should take the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara (3)), Yoga Kundalini Upanishad. The easiest way to feel it is by means of long breath holding. Muladhara is located at the base of your spine, between the anus and the genitals. According to popular saying it is this very place that “leaps” when one is scared. And by the way, according to S.U. “If it were to sleep in the lower part (of the body), it is for the bondage of the ignorant”. In other words, if a person gives way to his fears he remains ignorant and the only feelings he has come from the Muladhara area. But the one who deliberately and consciously breaks his stereotypes and habits makes Kundalini move, for “He who causes this Kundalini to move – he is an emancipated person”.
(1) http://www.astrojyoti.com/sandilyaupanishad-2.htm
(2) http://www.orkut.com/Main#CommMsgs?tid=5286877177052443802&cmm=14431874&hl=en
(3) http://svayambhu.blogspot.com/2008/07/yoga-kundalini-upanishad-part-1.html
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