Revelations Kundalini

Thus also, we may see an explanation for that person, whoever it was-perhaps John the Apostle himself-who combined the first of Christ's words above (concerning Moses' lifting up the serpent in the wilderness) with the hint of Christ's later crucifixion. This passage occurs, as I said, very early in John's Gospel. Christ, moreover, had also raised his own kundalini, for he was a true master. It would be perfectly consistent with his deeper teachings for him to say, in reference to kundalini awakening (rather than to the Crucifixion), that "whosoever believes truly in him [the Christ] will not perish, but have eternal life."

It requires, however, a considerable mental stretch to tie this statement by Jesus, literally true though it is, to that completely unanticipated event: his crucifixion. It is, on the other hand, universally true that the "son of man"-every son of man-must lift his consciousness, through kundalini awakening, in order to know God.

A vitally important technique for this awakening is Kriya Yoga. A principle effect of Kriya Yoga is the circulation of energy around the spine, magnetizing it. It is also important, however, that Kriya Yoga be practiced with devotion, and with high spiritual aspiration. Too much has been made in the yoga teachings of the importance of raising the kundalini by merely mechanical methods. Many misguided students have, in consequence, turned an important spiritual teaching into a mere physical exercise. This, obviously, is wrong. Even without any such method, but with exalted devotion, many have experienced, during meditation, an awakening of their kundalini power. On the other hand, when kundalini awakening is accomplished by mechanical means alone, and without devotional aspiration, the energy may rise temporarily, but it will soon fall again. Until the heart has been completely cleansed of all worldly attachments and desires, the increased focus of energy in the spinal centers may stimulate any one of those centers in such a way as to flow outward, and to reawaken latent delusive tendencies.

In a book of mine, Conversations with Yogananda, I included an account of one time when our Guru said to us, "When one thinks good thoughts, the kundalini automatically starts moving upward. When one thinks evil thoughts, it moves downward. When one hates others, or has wrong thoughts about them, it moves down. And when one loves others, or thinks kindly about them, it moves up.

""Kundalini is not awakened by yoga techniques alone.""

One significant aspect of that statement is that wrong thoughts move the kundalini downward. Isn't the kundalini already-one may ask-as low as it can go, since it is "locked" at the base of the spine? Unfortunately, such is not the case. Kundalini energy can move ever further down the ladder of consciousness, into the stygian darkness of the deepest delusions.

How far is it possible for the soul to fall? If it has the potential to rise toward infinity, it stands to reason that its potential for sinking downward must be limitless also. It is indeed possible, as I said before, for man to plunge down so far as to become identified again with the infinitesimal.

The implications here are far from comforting. They have been treated in my book, The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda (as remembered by his disciple, me). Let me recommend, if you find this subject interesting, that you obtain that work and study it carefully. For it does not seem to me appropriate to go into it more deeply here.

These truths, then, must be clearly understood. Let me enumerate them: 1) All spiritual awakening depends on what we make of ourselves inwardly, and is minimally affected by outward material, social, or physical improvements. 2) The highway to God is the spine, and not some fancied outward "stairway to the stars." 3) True spiritual awakening depends on intense aspiration, and also on serious effort expended to keep one's consciousness uplifted toward God. The Lord has no favorites. "God," as Yogananda put it, "chooses those who choose Him." 4) You will win the Lord's favor not by superficial efforts, such as giving to charity (which is, for all that, a self-uplifting act, and will create good karma for you), but by sincere love for Him in your heart. Outward acts cannot ever, in themselves, bring inner spiritual freedom. 5) You will find God's guidance ever with you, the more you open yourself inwardly to His guidance. Accept wholeheartedly, therefore, whatever He sends you in life. His tests can sometimes be very difficult! Try always to refer everything back to Him. Hold nothing back for yourself.

Paramhansa Yogananda is considered one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the 20th century, and one of the first to bring yoga teachings to the West, He is the author of dozens of popular spiritual books including Autobiography of a Yogi, widely considered a spiritual classic, and read by millions worldwide.

Swami Kriyananda is a direct disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda. He has in his lifetime lectured, taught, and written eighty-five books that have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 30 languages. Kriyananda was recently appointed to the prestigious Club of Budapest joining such luminaries as the Dalai Lama.

By Swami Kriyananda