If you believe that kundalini awakening can help you achieve spiritual progress, then think over it again. liberation lies in the knowledge of the self, says NK Sharma
Man is the repository of sleeping powers of various kinds. Kundalini awakening figures on top of them. Kundalini means one which is sitting recoiled — like a serpent — in a pit that is a source of massive energy. It is believed to be rising up undulating and hissing like a snake. This energy lies right below the navel centre at the tip of the spine near the sex centre. Every work of God is law-bound. Sex is a power given to every living being for the purpose of creation, reproduction and evolution. The presence of such a big reservoir of power near the navel centre empowers this centre.
Kundalini has been used, after strongly awakening it and making it go upwards, to gain paranormal powers and spiritual experiences rather than spending it in sex. But a few points contradict this theory: First, kundalini awakening has nothing to do with spirituality, self-realisation or God. It is only a storehouse of massive energy in body that can be used for the development of physical, mental or psychic powers. Awakening of any of the above mentioned powers only boosts ego. The desire for power itself is desire for ego. After all, we desire acquisition of power only for making ourselves more superior or powerful than others, to enslave others and foster our own ego.
Second, ego is the greatest hurdle in becoming spiritual. So, the desire for awakening kundalini closes the door of spirituality forever. With the notion of kundalini awakening the practitioner becomes egoistic. That is why nobody — from lord Rama and Krishna to Buddha and Mahavira — ever tried to awaken it or even talked about it. Third, the purification of body and mind purifies the chakra and once that is achieved, kundalini starts to rise on its own accord, finding the way up free of blockage. It is not to be led up. last, Hatha yoga is the experiment to lift kundalini forcefully. It is harmful and causes mental abnormality and physical suffering.
Kundalini awakening is entirely a personal experience which does not benefit the larger world. It in no way helps awaken or transform the lives of thousand others. Hundreds of saints, gurus, yoga teachers and sadhaks have claimed to achieve this feat. But what contribution does it make in the progress of societyIJ Has it eliminated even an ounce of poverty, penury, religious dogmatism, corruption and immoralitiesIJ
Kundalini, in fact, is not to be awakened because once awakened, it starts its journey to upward chakras naturally. Kundalini awakening is the outcome of awareness and self-realisation. As we become aware and start liberating ourselves from physical, mental and emotional blockages (that we create out of our ignorance), and start flowing with the spontaneous laws of nature our being becomes pure and expanded, forcing the kundalini power to rise up.
Man has always desired power to boost his ego. If you believe that you will find God through kundalini awakening, then please come out of this illusion. liberation lies in the knowledge of the self; so, with your awakening you start perceiving Him immediately in yourself and in your surroundings.
First of all, the very idea of seeking God is pointless. You do not search for your image in mirror; the moment dust is removed, it appears before you. So, honestly speaking, our search for God is irrelevant. Our search for absolute bliss gets over with either complete submission (by complete dissolution of the ‘I’ sense) or in the supreme state of awareness where all our ambitions, desires, expectations and ego formations are burnt in the fire of knowledge. We then live our lives with supreme awareness.
Ironically, we can’t — and won’t — get this state with kundalini awakening. Also, if you think kundalini awakening is a means of spiritual experience or progress, then think over it again. It is not a way to achieve spirituality because the outcome of spirituality is love, celebration, happiness, equanimity and devotion. In kundalini awakening, one goes on to strengthen one’s individuality; that is why no one exudes love, egolessness, spirit of celebration, equanimity and devotion due to it. So, we will not achieve true happiness and peace of mind even with thousands of such awakenings.
If you experience anything good by following the advice of your guru, then the reason is not your guru but you yourself; after all, whenever you rely upon a guru, then it is your unshakable faith alone — and not the grace of your master — that transforms your life. So, do not run after a guru in the name of kundalini awakening. Make your faith unshakable and then hang on to that. You will have a lot of awakening on your hands anyway.
The author is a renowned naturopath