Kundalini Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Kundalini is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning either "coiled up" or "coiling like a snake"; there are a number of other translations usually emphasizing a more serpent nature to the word—'serpent power' or suchlike.It is a term in yoga referring to the mothering intelligence behind yogic awakening and spiritual maturation. According to Yogic phenomenology a large part of this awakening is associated with the appearance of bio-energetic phenomena that are experienced somatically by the yogic candidate. This appearance is also referred to as Pranic Awakening. Prana is interpreted as the vital, life-sustaining force in the body. Uplifted, or intensified life-energy is called pranotthana and is supposed to originate from an apparent reservoir of subtle bio-energy at the base of the spine. This energy is also interpreted as a vibrational phenomena that initiates a period, or a process of vibrational spiritual development (Sovatsky, 1998). According to the Yogic tradition Kundalini is curled up in the back part of the root chakra in three and one-half turns. Quite a number of western translators interpret the energetic phenomena as a form of psychic energy, although the western parapsychological understanding of psychic energy, separated from its cultural-hermeneutic matrix, is probably not the same as the yogic understanding. Yogic philosophy understands this concept as a maturing energy that expresses the individual's soteriological longings. Viewed in a mythological context it is also sometimes believed to be an aspect of Shakti, the goddess and consort of Shiva.
Two early western interpretations of Kundalini were supplied by C.W. Leadbeater (1847-1934), of the Theosophical Society, and the Analytical Psychologist Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961) (The psychology of Kundalini yoga , Princeton: 1966).
Kundalini is a popular concept that is widely quoted among various disciplines of yoga and New Age beliefs. However, the recent popularization of the term within new religious movements has - according to some scholars of religion - not contributed to promote a mature understanding of the concept (Sovatsky, 1998). As with many eastern contemplative concepts there exist considerable difficulties, and possible semantic confusion, connected to the way these concepts are adapted to a western context. This has led to somewhat different interpretations and applications of the concept of Kundalini within the spiritual and contemplative culture in the west. On the one hand you have the New Age popularizations, on the other hand you have the traditional lineage of Kundalini Yoga understood from its cultural background and interpreted within the academic fields of Religious Studies and Transpersonal/Humanistic psychology.
Kundalini Yoga is a meditative discipline —or a system of meditative techniques and movements—within the yogic tradition that focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the bodys potential for maturation. The concept of life-energy - pranotthana - is central to the practice and understanding of Kundalini Yoga. It also gives special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening (Sovatsky, 1998). Recently there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological effects of meditation, and some of these studies have applied the discipline of Kundalini Yoga to their clinical settings (Lazar et.al, 2000; Arambula et.al, 2001; Capurroa et.al, 2003)
According to Yogic terminology the force of Kundalini is supposed to be raised through meditative exercises and activated within the concept of a subtle body, of body of energy and finer substance. As it raises from the root-chakra up through the spinal channel, called sushumna, it is believed to activate each chakra it goes through. The higher it gets, the more spiritual a person is supposed to be. In raising Kundalini, spiritual powers (siddhis) are also believed to arise. According to much contemporay spiritual literature it is not considered wise to engage in this sort of practice without the guidance of a credible teacher, or without thorough foreknowledge and education in yoga. Transpersonal Psychologists extend this warning and consider any intense contemplative or spiritual practice without the support of a cultural context, or without the support of thorough psychological preparation, to be unfortunate, or even dangerous. Both Bogart (1991) and Lukoff (1998) notes the growing occurence of meditation-related problems in western contemplative life (for more information on this particular topic see the section on adverse effects of Meditation)
Spiritual literature also describe a situation where Kundalini can be initiated. Initiation of kundalini activity is usually considered to take place by a form of 'laying on of hands', or shaktipat, where physical contact to the body or the forehead of the subject
by the guru or initiator is supposed to cause an experience of Kundalini that later may persist or grow with continuing practice, or fade away if practice is neglected. Eye contact during satsang with the guru is also supposed to cause this experience. Within the context of spiritual literature inadvertent kundalini experiences have also been reported to take place when subjects physically contacted powerful gurus, such as Meher Baba, by accident.
Kundalini as a spiritual experience has been thought to have parallels in many of the mystical
traditions of the world's great religions. The early Christians might have referred to
the concept as as 'pneuma', and there are some recent parallells in
contemporary Christian charismatic 'Holy Ghost' phenomena.
Religious studies also note parallells in Quakerism, Shakerism, Judaic davening (torso-rocking prayer),the swaying zikr and whirling dervish of Islam, the quiverings of the Orthodox hesychast, the flowing movements of tai chi and the ecstatic shamanic dance (Sovatsky, 1998).
The schools of Humanistic psychology, Transpersonal psychology and Near-Death Studies describe something called The Kundalini-syndrome, a complex psychological and somatic syndrome—or process—involving a pattern of motor, sensory, affective and cognitive/hermeneutic symptoms.
This psycho-somatic arousal and excitation is believed to occur in connection with prolonged and intensive spiritual or contemplative practice (such as meditation or yoga). It might also occur spontaneously as a result of intense life experiences or a close encounter with death, a near-death experience (Greyson 1993, 2000; Scotton, 1996; Lukoff, 1998). If the accompagnying symptoms unfold in an intense manner—that de-stabilizes the person—the process is usually interpreted as a Spiritual Emergency (Lukoff, 1998).
Interdisciplinary dialogue within these particular schools of psychology has now established some common reference-points regarding this condition (see references below). Motor symptoms are thought to include tremors, shaking, spontaneous or involuntary body-movements and changes in respiratory function. Sensory symptoms are thought to include changes in body-temperature, a feeling of energy running along the spine or progressing upwards in the body, a feeling of electricity in the body, headache and pressure inside of the head, tingling, vibrations and gastro-intestinal problems. Cognitive and affective symptoms are thought to include psychological upheaval, stress, depression, hallucinations (inner visions or accoustical phenomena), depersonalization or derealization, intense mood-swings, altered states of consciousness, but also moments of bliss and deep peace (Sannella, 1976; Greyson 1993, 2000; Scotton, 1996). Within the mentioned academic traditions this symptomatology is often referred to as the Physio-Kundalini syndrome (Sannella, 1976, Greyson 1993; 2000) or Kundalini-experience/awakening (Scotton, 1996; Lukoff, 1998). Greyson (1993) developed The Physio-Kundalini Syndrome Index in order to measure the degree of Physio-Kundalini symptoms among Near-Death experiencers. Most researchers within this field believe that the core of the process is not pathological, but maturational, even though the symptoms at times may be dramatic and very disturbing (Greyson, 1993; Lukoff, 1998).
According to the field of Transpersonal Psychology the Kundalini-syndrome is largely unknown to Western psychiatry. Many writers within this field are consequently working towards a clinical approach to the problem. Possible improvements in the diagnostic system that is meant to differentiate the Kundalini-syndrome from other disorders have been suggested (Hansen, 1995; Herrick, 1996; Scotton, 1996; Sovatsky, 1998; Lukoff, 1998; House, 2001; Grabovac & Ganesan, 2003).
Contemporary spiritual literature often notes that the chakras as described in the esoteric
kundalini documents bear a strong similarity in location and number to the major
endocrine glands, as well as nerve bundles called ganglions. One speculation is that the traditional practices have
formalized a method for stimulating the endocrine glands to work in a different
mode which has a more direct effect on consciousness, perhaps ultimately by
stimulating the release of DMT by the pineal gland, which may be analogous
to the 'pineal chakra'. Within the context of meditation Kundalini
might also be interpreted as a meditation-induced ecstatic experience, a non-sexual "air-gasm".
Within the transpersonal field Sovatsky (1998) has put forward the hypotheses of
post-genital puberties. The possibiliy of viewing pranotthana (yogic terminology for
intensified life-energy) and the larger Kundalini process as a maturation of body and
character beyond conventional psychological growth. He has also made some criticism about
the tendency—of much contemporary alternative culture—to frame the concept of Kundalini
in a New Age-vocabulary. A tendency that might hinder a mature understanding of the subject.
The interpretation of Kundalini as a developmental, or maturational phenomena, was first suggested to the west by the Indian Pundit Gopi Krishna, whose autobiography is entitled Kundalini—The Evolutionary Energy in Man (Boulder: Shambhala, 1971).
See also Kundalini Yoga Yoga Qi, Qigong, Chakras, Near-death experience, Self Realization, Meditation
This is an Article on Kundalini. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Kundalini Kundalini Yoga
Raising the Kundalini
Kundalini in the world's religions
The Kundalini Syndrome
Kundalini and physiology
References and Further reading - Books and Articles
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Kundalini Yoga in medical research
The Kundalini Syndrome — Clinical and Academic discussion
(Includes approaches to DSM-IV and ICD-10)External links
Research on Kundalini Yoga
Clinical approaches to the Kundalini syndrome
Kundalini Research
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