Kundalini Yoga Info Cntr - Recently Updated Pages

KUNDALINI YOGA INFO CNTR

satavtar — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 01:13:29 CDT

update: 6/2009

the information on this site
HAS BEEN MOVED TO:

http://www.kundalini-yoga-info.com/

Please go to it
for your mantras,
online classes,
Master Teachers listing

THANK YOU,

Sat Avtar Kaur

How to prepare, What to expect

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 19:07:57 CDT

update:11/2008

What to Expect	White Tantric Yoga® is done in pairs as a group meditation. You sit facing a partner and follow instructions for meditation given on video by the Mahan Tantric, Yogi Bhajan. A representative of the Mahan Tantric will be present to facilitate White Tantric Yoga®. The original facilitators were chosen personally by Yogi Bhajan from members of his staff. Since his passing the Board Members of Humanology and Health Science, which manages White Tantric Yoga, have used the profile he created for choosing new facilitators. Currently all White Tantric Yoga facilitators have studied personally with Yogi Bhajan. The facilitator's role is one of ensuring the methodology given by Yogi Bhajan is carried out, and helping participants maximize their experience. Each workshop consists of between six and eight kriyas. A kriya is a meditation incorporating: * a yoga posture (asana) * a hand position (mudra) * a breathing technique (pranayama) * a mental focus * and/or a mantra Sometimes the kriyas are accompanied by music. These kriyas vary in length from thirty-one to sixty-two minutes. There are breaks between each kriya. The environment is peaceful, and the atmosphere is friendly, supportive, and uplifting. A vegetarian lunch is provided. Who can Participate There are no prerequisites for participating in White Tantric Yoga®. Beginners will tune into their internal energies and enjoy a deep and sometimes challenging meditative experience. More advanced meditation practitioners will deepen their experience and make new inroads to their spiritual awareness. How to Prepare It is recommended to come to the course ready to meditate, having done some yoga or stretching exercises. What to Bring • Wear loose, comfortable, white clothing. White combines all the colors and enhances your magnetic field and auric strength. • Wear a white cotton head covering which completely covers the head and will stay on securely during exercises with movement. • Please bring a blanket or sheepskin to sit on and a light blanket to cover yourself with during relaxation periods. • Because this is a cleansing process you will want to drink water. Water will be provided during the day or you may bring your own.

What to Expect

White Tantric Yoga® is done in pairs as a group meditation. You sit
facing a partner and follow instructions for meditation given on video
by the Mahan Tantric, Yogi Bhajan.

A representative of the Mahan Tantric will be present to facilitate
White Tantric Yoga®. The original facilitators were chosen personally
by Yogi Bhajan from members of his staff. Since his passing the Board
Members of Humanology and Health Science, which manages White Tantric

Yoga, have used the profile he created for choosing new facilitators.
Currently all White Tantric Yoga facilitators have studied personally
with Yogi Bhajan. The facilitator's role is one of ensuring the
methodology given by Yogi Bhajan is carried out, and helping
participants maximize their experience.

Each workshop consists of between six and eight kriyas. A kriya is a
meditation incorporating:

* a yoga posture (asana)
* a hand position (mudra)
* a breathing technique (pranayama)
* a mental focus
* and/or a mantra

Sometimes the kriyas are accompanied by music. These kriyas vary in
length from thirty-one to sixty-two minutes. There are breaks between
each kriya.

The environment is peaceful, and the atmosphere is friendly,
supportive, and uplifting. A vegetarian lunch is provided.

Who can Participate

There are no prerequisites for participating in White Tantric Yoga®.
Beginners will tune into their internal energies and enjoy a deep and
sometimes challenging meditative experience. More advanced meditation
practitioners will deepen their experience and make new inroads to
their spiritual awareness.

How to Prepare

It is recommended to come to the course ready to meditate, having done
some yoga or stretching exercises.

What to Bring

• Wear loose, comfortable, white clothing. White combines all the
colors and enhances your magnetic field and auric strength.

• Wear a white cotton head covering which completely covers the head
and will stay on securely during exercises with movement.

• Please bring a blanket or sheepskin to sit on and a light blanket to
cover yourself with during relaxation periods.

• Because this is a cleansing process you will want to drink water.
Water will be provided during the day or you may bring your own.

The Active and Passive Aspects of Each Kundalini Yoga Exercise:

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 19:03:06 CDT

The Active and Passive Aspects of Each Kundalini Yoga Exercise:

Finally, it is vitally important to understand that each kundalini yoga exercise has an active part and a passive part. In other yogas this is not the case. Each posture is a complete exercise in itself, whatever the series might be or whether in a series (like a karate karta) or single posture to corps pose. But in Kundalini Yoga the purpose of the practice is to develop radiance (laya) and depth (pratyahar), which is only felt in other yogas much further along in their practice. In Kundalini Yoga you are maximizing and working directly with all the systems of the body simultaneously – circulatory, pulmonary, endocrine, nervous etc. Each posture and movement brings about a pressure in a specific area or system of the body. This pressure means that the blood will saturate in that area. As powerful Kundalini Yoga breathing techniques are combined with the postures and movements,these areas put under pressure will have the strong effect of thepurified and energized blood flow into that area. Initially, this means that these areas, where the capillaries and cells open under the pressure of the exercise, discharge their impurities and toxinsin return for the vitality of the purified energized blood flow. Moreover, these same areas begin to build a charge- a voltage.

Now, here is the important part to remember: The body is like a car battery, only with many batteries working together. In a car battery, there is water, and there are chemicals. As the chemicals are increased the voltage of the battery also increases - 3 volts, 6 volts, 12 volts, 24 volts, are a standard we can buy at any K-Mart. The body is mostly water, with some chemicals, whose secretion is the basis for the maintaining of voltage generated in the body. (This is why it is said: You are as young as your glands. In the practice of other yogas, there is a gradual process in which the tensions and blockages of the body are reduced and the mind begins to become still. The process accelerates with increase practice and especially fasting and internal purification, such as (in the west) colonics (versus Nauli Kriya for cleaning the large intestine). Then, as the energies of the body are used less and less towards the incessant pressure of thinking and identity encoding, imaging, impression taking and so on, there is a build up of unused kinetic energy, that begins to fill through the body, so that the body begins to lose its inertia, becoming satvic pure, transparent, blissful, easing into the ever-present oneness of the yogi’s surrounding.

Awareness to movement and eventually prana, as in Kundalini Yoga practice, is a key to the expansion of this kinetic energy in other yoga practices, what in Buddhist meditation and martial arts is called "Mindfulness." This is because that simple awareness through which we experience the inner and outer world is really the light of the Infinite Being. When the mind becomes pure and still, this light of awareness, through which we experience the inner and outer world, sinks into its source, and illumination flashes forth. In Kundalini Yoga, the posture/movement (always practiced with still awareness) combined with powerful breath creates this purification in various areas of the body directly, and with it comes an electrical charge to these areas. To support this electrical charge, and this is the very important point to remember in your Kundalini Yoga practice, the glands secrete very specialized chemicals.The charge or voltage generated directly impacts the glandular system causing the glands to secrete so that this charge may be sustained and maintained. Chemical electric pathways open.

Once the active part of the Kundalini Yoga exercise is completed, the passive part begins. The reaction of the glandular and nervous system to the vitality of the bloodstream impacting the specific areas of pressure brought about through the posture or movement takes some time to complete. The time period depends on the duration of the exercise and other dynamics of the body's ability to circulate the secreted chemicals. Therefore, you have an active aspect of each Kundalini Yoga exercise and a passive aspect, which must be experienced for the exercise to achieve its full benefit! In the experience of the passive aspect of a Kundalini Yoga exercise, initially, there is the sensation of decontraction of the cells and muscles and ligaments in the area. Then comes the sensation of opening and radiance.

Then the radiance begins to balance with all the other organs and cells of the body, strengthening the magnetic field of the whole body, bringing it into balance with the area affected in the exercise. And you begin to feel a previously impalpable sensation of "electric radiance" / "transparent electric" - which grows and expands (and brings about a deepening) through each progressing Kundalini Yoga exercise (and kriya) that make up a set, and then progressively building from set to set. At the end of each set, usually before a meditation, we allow the body to go into a deep relaxation, yoga nidra, through which all the energies compacted in various areas of he body may finally release, merge, deepen, effecting an entire systemic new increased voltage plateau in the body, so that gradually you will become aware of the inner and outer radiance continuously. In Kundalini Yoga, we usually diversify the sets practiced in order to bring about the opening of the cells, glands, organs, nerves and systems in every area of the body. Typically, the passive part of a Kundalini Yoga exercise is as long as the active part, but what you are looking for is a sensation of the radiance circulating and rising through the body to the crown and beyond, which indicates the balancing of the electromagnetic field is complete. Typically the Yoga Nidra is 10 to 15 minutes.

Purification of the subconscious: The body is a mechanism that stores the impressions of who we think we are.(The body is like the hard drive for computer storage, versus the brain as the RAM/cache storage.) Because the impressions are stored in the body structure, we call it the subconscious. With Kundalini Yoga practice, the electric chemical balance of the voltage of the body increases to bring about a system wide vibratory frequency that is higher – more subtle – than the frequency of thought vibration, so that your sense of identity begins to become clearer and clearer, less linked to thought and sensation. No longer drawn to this or that reactive thought or imbedded compulsion, but open single clear awareness of the pervasiveness of consciousness throughout the body field (i.e., the ten bodies). At the lower voltage level of the body, the mind's focusing mechanism of attention needs to be used to see and know. It moves through the darkness (unawareness) of the body/mind field like a flashlight used to see on a dark night whose light grips each arising thought, sensation, impression in order to compare or merge with the sense of “I” inherent in the light. Sometimes more is seen. Like the waxing and waning of the moon cycles, the mind becomes brighter (feelings of love, compassion – satvic) and dimmer (feelings of hate, distrust, judgment – rajasic, tamasic). Many people have no real sense or feeling of the energy radiance that pervades and sustains the body, i.e., their own life force, let alone that this force of Life is actually the Light and Life of the Infinite Being that denotes the single sense of "I" in the body. We focus to each part of the body and feel that part of the body. But with Kundalini Yoga practice, in particular a daily morning sadhana, the overall voltage of the body begins to become the same as, even greater than, the voltage of the focusing mechanism of the mind........

The result of this is that you begin to lose your experience of the need to focus, i.e., direct attention, as your awareness now simultaneously encompasses the whole body! You realize yourself to be the single seer of the whole body and the radiant field around, which you actually experience without focusing. Kundalini Yoga practice includes the use of mantra and meditations. Mantra in Kundalini Yoga is much different in effect and impact than with other yogas, because through the practice of what we might call the “Yoga of Light,” as described above, the “Yoga of Sound” is amplified. With the Yoga of Light, the whole body begins to resonate. When you add the Yoga of Sound, the sound amplifies throughout the body, and has the unique and special effect of integrating the energy that has been systematically stored from each Kundalini Yoga exercise. It's like playing a regular guitar versus playing an electric guitar, where the reverberation increases with the amplitude of the voltage. But with Kundalini Yoga, the very use of the mantra also increases the amplitude of the voltage, so that you have a leveraged effect. Part of this is due to the effect of the sound causing a breakdown of subtle blockages of energy flow. Part has to do with the effect of releasing of energy stored in areas of the body from practicing Kundalini Yoga exercises. And, with the use of mantra, the glands also secrete to support and sustain the increasing voltage. You may practice a Kundalini Yoga set for an hour, and feel the radiance throughout your body and mind, and now you practice a mantra, and within 5 minutes the energy is so tremendously greater, and yet at the same time easy flowing and expanding, that there is no comparison.

While there are kriyas to benefit every part of the body and every aspect of the mind, and kriyas to activate the energy channels and control governors between the base of the spine and crown, there are also special kriyas and meditations to trigger the opening of the Spiritual Heart (not the anahata chakra) and the Pathway of the Self between the Spiritual Heart and the Crown. The Radiance felt here is both inward pulling and expansive, all absorbing and pushing out from within and between the atoms of the body. Time and space lose there meaning altogether. Stillness, radiance, pervasiveness, and all notions are relinquished. Once you are able to “hear” the soundless pulsing of the “I as I,” the radiance takes on a different characteristic that inwardly reflects the Truth (Sat), giving the continuous sensation of Remembrance of your True Self single and pervasive and Abiding as That.

Kundalini Yoga meditations have a very specific purpose of opening the gate to the Infinite Spirit, which is to say, to subtly dissolve the remaining idea that the notional sense of "i" we feel as myself in the body is separate or different from the True "I" of which our notional "i" is only a reflection in the mind ofthe Temple of the True "I" in the Spiritual Heart. As the mind becomes pure and satvic, there emerges a sense of a clear Force of Intelligence, that pervades the body field, but is felt initially in the area of the brain, wherein you feel the question arising, without a thought formation, of inquiry into where the sense of seeing arises.As the inner intensity increased, you feel a pulling force in your Heart (not the anahata chakra), initially like a magnet, and then like a graviton, transfixing the body and mind as one in Spirit, where inside and outside vanish, and “Everything is Whole” (YB)

Yogis call this force of intelligent awareness the budhi or discriminative faculty of the mind.The emergence of this discriminative faculty is because the mind is experienced tobe radiant, clear, pervasive and still. Abiding in that stillness and pervasive field of radiance, which has no here or there focus, the experiencer Itself amplifies Its own Intelligence to ask "Who ...? And suddenly something new happens, which we can call Yoga - Union. A Hearing, Recollection and Abiding. You hear and experience with a deep inner clarity that draws your sense of "i" powerfully inwards to a remembrance of who you are behind everything. Yogis call this experience Turya. You feel as though a sun is rising in the Heart, and with it that the moon of the mind is less and less needed to see and know, even though it may appear in the crystal blue sky. The notions of here and there become meaningless, and you abide in the recollection of your True Identity, the Ground of Being, as though coming out of an amnesia.

Initially, this "hearing" (sunia, sravana)is felt like a pulsing of "I as I" – like the striking of a tuning fork that reverberates as a soundless sound, or like a self-effulgent pervasive screen upon which everything emerges into appearance, only the images on the screen are seen from their perspective of the undifferentiated whole, and the idea of separateness simply dissolves from the conscious field. In Kundalini Yoga, the evolutionary/involutionary practice taken as a whole is called One Star Spirituality, the One Star being the Reality in the Heart that expands Light of Being outward while drawing the self inward to abide as one's True Self. The True Guru within us is experienced as sound and light that subtly draws us inward to awaken to our whole Self. While Kundalini Yoga is not a religion, with daily practice the words in the spiritual texts of all religions will be heard, and you will feel the force of your True Self awakening to the meaning within the sound of the words, like being called from a sound sleep. All this to say that, if a daily sadhana is taken up and you practice the breathing and locks properly, and you practice each Kundalini Yoga exercise, kriya, mantra and meditation understanding that with every active part there is an equally important (more important) passive part, then fear, imbalance, and everything related will pass and you will experience your True Whole Self. "Wait, be patient, relax, consolidate integrate, be You..." Yogi Bhajan Just practice, practice the right way, and keep up, and “everything that is good will come to you.” (YB) Sat Nam

Preparation of the Active/Passive Aspect of Kundalini Yoga Practice

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 19:02:35 CDT

Preparation: Each Kundalini Yoga exercise has a specific effect that can be felt in the radiance generated and longer term deepening of awareness. Kundalini Yoga exercises are usually put together in sets with a specific purpose or more powerful kriyas, which may also be part of a set.

In order to derive the full benefit of sets, kriyas, laya mantras and meditations, it is suggested that a few kundalini Yoga exercises and pranayamas be practiced in preparation, in order to activate the radiance throughout the body and charge and balance the channels, then the effect of the sets, kriyas and meditations will be immediate and much more powerful.

An example would be to start with the breath Awareness Exercise, lead by the teacher.

This might be followed by bringing the palms of the hands together, with thumbs against the sternum to begin the Invocation / Adi Mantra repeated 3 to 5 times, then inhale, hold the breath, pull the root lock and 30 seconds later, relax the breath. When you exhale you may feel a sensation of strong electricity moving through the spine and throughout the body. Just remain entirely passive and relaxed and the energy will flow outward.

Then sitting, spread the legs wide and bring the arms up to the sides, parallel to the ground pressing the shoulders back. In this exercise you slowly begin the lean forwards keeping the spine straight, leading with the heart and not the head, so the head remains slightly up. Then slowly start to stretch the arms forward, reaching and stretching the arms as far as possible. Feel the flow of radiance as you move.

Then slowly come into the starting position. Be aware of the stretching of the ligaments and muscles in the back and shoulders. With each slow forward and back motion, feel the radiance expanding throughout the body. You may notice a certain brightness in the source of the flow of attention between the heart and the brain. After 9 or 10 such stretches introduce a long deep breath as you come straight, hold a moment, then exhale as you stretch forwards. Again each slow motion will add pranic radiance. Then to increase the power and voltage much further, begin to move through this exercise with greater power in movement and breathing. You should begin to feel the radiance becoming electric. Then inhale and hold the breath, pull the root lock and let the energy fill the body, expand upwards and all around the body field. Exhale and lower the arms squeezing all the breath out until you feel the area below the navel contract upwards. Repeat in the same manner as Breath Awareness Exercise, several times, then inhale and hold again. Pull the root lock, feel the electricity flow through the legs, torso, back, arms and through the head, then relax for a minute, and come sitting cross-legged. The spine and back will be open and the Heart will be open from this exercise, and the whole body will radiate.

The next exercise is similar to the Breath Awareness Exercise in the intent to irradiate the body field. In this case one prepares for the practice of Kundalini Yoga exercises by bringing the arms forward, parallel to the ground, hands clasped in Venus Lock and doing the Breath of Fire. You begin lightly, then, as the prana begins to expand in the body, you will notice that the power of the breath, both in terms of volume of air pumped and speed, increases steadily throughout the exercise period. As you continue for up to 5 minutes, you will notice that all the muscles of the body are relaxed and that the powerful motion of the diaphragm itself becomes more and more effortless. A sense of clarity and electricity will begin to be felt expanding up from the legs and lower part of the body to the upper areas until you feel and expansion of this clarity and light filling the head and flowing out through the entire crown area, radiating around the body. Then inhale hold the breath, pull the locks, hold for 30 seconds or longer, then exhale squeezing all the breath out until the area below the navel contracts upwards. Keep the breath out in this way, without pulling the root lock, and all the energy will stabilize into this area and polarize. Then continue with the Breath Awareness Exercise, holding the breath in, then holding it out for 10 seconds after each inhalation and exhalation, while the cells of the body decontract, absorb the energy and begin to radiate.

Next comes spinal flex – camel ride. Again, you begin slowly. Sitting with legs crossed, holding the shins with your hands, then pulling the hands inwards, the spine arches straight and the neck comes into alignment stretching upwards in an easy neck lock. You will feel a releasing of energy all through the spine and flowing up through the top of the head, a clear, yet blissful sensation. After a few moments completely slouch the back, pressing the back arched spine back, stretching the nerves, muscles and ligaments that start to release their energy. Slowly come into the straight position, pulling the spine straight, and feel the released energy radiate upwards through the spine. Continue this slow motion several more times, then bring in the breath, inhaling to fill the lungs as you come straight, exhaling back, continuing slowly, feeling the radiance increasing even greater. At a certain point you will begin to feel the sensation in the spine of a will to vibrate more quickly, which in turn increases the power of the voltage being generated. In classes the teacher usually leads the movement until the power and speed is felt, then students continue on their own. Then inhale and hold the breath. Pull the locks, pressing the shoulders back, chest forward, suspending the breath 30 seconds, or longer. Then exhale, again, as previously squeezing all the air out until the area below the navel contracts upwards bringing about a polarization of the flow of prana (radiance) throughout the body field. Again continue with the Breath Awareness Exercise, as above, than sit still and relax, and feel the circulation and expansion of the radiance throughout the body, inside and eventually outside.

The exercises that follow are to open the moon channel and sun channel (the ida and pingala nadis). There are many variations, but here are 2 that open these channels in opposite ways.

The first is to come kneeling on the knees. Then extend the right leg straight to the right side. Then raise the arms up by the sides until they are stretched up, arms hugging the ears, with palms pressed together. The pelvis is pressed slightly forwards to keep a straight tension throughout the spine. Then begin very powerful Long Deep Breathing, completely expanding then contracting the lungs with every breath for 10 to 15 breaths, stretching the arms upwards with each inhalation. Then inhale, hold the breath for 10 to 15 seconds, pull the root lock, stretch the arms up, press the pelvis slightly forward and stretch the spine upwards. Feel the radiance fill the body, then slowly exhale, bringing the hands down in front of the kneed, bring the right foot back next to the left foot and come sitting back on the heels. Bring the spine straight, stretching the neck upwards, shoulders back slightly, chest forwards and wait. You will begin to feel a releasing of an electric current all along the left side of the spine, the moon channel, up through the back of the left side of the neck, up over the left side of the top of the head, to the point between the eyebrows. Wait, notice the flow of the energy, then release your attention and remain passive (negative mind meditation). The energy will begin to increase and expand all through the left side of the body, flowing upwards through the top of the head and around the left side of the body field. Just wait, maybe a minute or 3. Then repeat the same exercise, kneeling and extending the left leg out, arms stretched up, and so on to affect the sun channel to the right side of the spine. The second part of this ida pingala / moon sun channel cleansing is again to come up in the kneed, but this time, you press the pelvis forward as far as possible, arching the spine back, pressing the shoulders back, expanding the ribcage forward, then arching the neck and head all the way back. Feel the radiance. Then slowly extend the left arm up stretching the arm and the fingers upwards, as though to reach for a lightning bolt. Then twist slightly to the right to put the right hand on the right heal, then over the right foot. Press the pelvis forwards more, extend the left arm and fingers upwards even further and begin the Breath of Fire for a minute. Then inhale deeply, hold the breath, pull the root lock, press the pelvis forwards, reach up, arch the spine more, feel the expansion in the chest area. Feel the energy radiance beginning to increase forcefully throughout the body field. Then slowly exhale, come sitting on the heels, hands resting on the thighs, spine straight. You will begin to feel a powerful radiance through the moon cannel, then expanding to all the organs on the right side of the leg, torso, neck and head, with energy flowing powerfully upwards. Wait.

After 2 to 4 minutes, feeling the radiance increasing, then balancing, you can repeat the same exercise extending the right arm up and left hand back to the left heal, to affect the sun channel.

Now that the ida and pingala are charges and balanced, the exercise that follows is to open the central canal (the sushumna) and the Heart, simple but powerful. I this exercise, simply sit cross-legged. Bring the arms behind the back with the hands clasped in Venus lock. Bring the spine straight, arms stretched straight, press the shoulders back to bring the shoulder blades together, expanding the chest forward. Now inhale deeply, then lean forwards keeping the head slightly up, leading with the heart, while stretching your arms up from the back as high as possible. Hold for a few seconds, then exhale coming straight, again pressing the shoulders back. And continue slowly 10 to 15 times, then when you come up, after inhaling down, this time inhale deeper, using all your strength to press the shoulders back, clasped hands pressing into the lower spine, neck extending and stretching upwards, pull the root lock and hold for 10 to 30 seconds. Exhale completely, inhale immediately remaining with the spine straight, again pressing the shoulders back, while pulling the root lock and neck lock 10 seconds. Repeat one more time, then very slowly exhale and bring th hands slowly around from behind the back to the knees. Relax the breath. You will begin to feel a surge of e pillar of light all through the spine, upward flowing through the top of the head, opening the central canal of the spine (the sushumna) and the Heart. Wait for 1 to 3 minutes until the radiance extends throughout the body through the top of the head and all through the aura.

The final preparation exercise is to open up the higher centers from the Heart to the brain and the arc line. This is a very simple exercise. Sitting cross-legged, you reach your arms up 90 degrees, palms facing eachother. Then begin to stretch the shoulders and arms back, arching the spine, opening the chest cavity. Stretch. Stretch the nick upwards and drop the head back slightly, as though to look between the up stretched arms and hands. Begin a powerful Breath of Fire for 3 to 5 minutes, all the while focused on the arching of the spine, stretching the arms and shoulders up and back, expanding the chest. You will feel the radiance begin to flow upwards through the neck and the chakras and governors in the brain and through the top of the head, possibly feelings of bhakti and purity filling the mind. Then inhale, pull the root lock and hold for 30 seconds. Slowly exhale bringing the hands to the knees and wait. You will feel the radiance expanding throughout the body and flowing upwards. Just apply the awareness to the flow, without direct attention, and the radiant flow will deepen and increase. Try this series, as an example of what some might call a “warm up.” But in Kundalini Yoga, what in other yogas and sports is called a warm up, is a preparation of the body and mind for deep meditation on the radiance to be developed through every set, kriya and meditation.

There are variations of these after the Breath Awareness Exercise, but you are now ready to experience the full benefit of a Kundalini Yoga set, kriya and meditation.

In Kundalini Yoga practice, while the importance of stretching may be taught, the breathing and locks are somewhat different from hatha yoga practices, so it's important to understand how to do them so that the energy flows easily and correctly.

Translated from the original Tamil by Dr. H. Ramamoorthy and Nome

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:51:33 CDT

http://store.satramana.org/songofribhu.html
Item# B0142

Product Description
Translated from the original Tamil by Dr. H. Ramamoorthy and Nome

1st edition 2000, p 760 + xlviii paper

The Society of Abidance in Truth (SAT) has published the first complete translation into English of the Tamil book The Song of Ribhu. This classic work of Advaita Vedanta (nonduality) has ancient origins, probably dating from the period of the Upanisads. Sri Ramana Marharshi regularly recommended it to spiritual seekers.

The Song of Ribhu is instruction by the sage Ribhu to his disciple Nidagha to assist him in realizing the ultimate Truth. For any spiritual seeker interested in Self-knowledge, it provides a detailed and lyrical description of Self-Realization, Enlightenment, or the Realization of the Absolute.

This translation, in eight-line verse that simulates the Tamil original verses, is the result of several years work by Dr. H. Ramamoorthy, the Indian religious scholar and Nome, a teacher of the Society of Abidance in Truth. They have collaborated in translating several ancient works of Advaita, including previously unavailable works of Sankara and the English translation of the Sanskrit Ribhu Gita, published by SAT in 1995.

The Song of Ribhu and the Ribhu Gita are two distinct works. Although this Tamil Song of Ribhu and the Sanskrit Ribhu Gita are based in the same ancient teachings they are quite different in form. The verses, for example, cannot be directly aligned. The Sanskrit resembles a more spontaneous outpouring of expression of nondual Realization, while the Tamil text not only contains much different content but a more systematic arrangement of the expression of nondual Realization. The serious seeker is therefore well advised to seek benefit from both.

The Tamil work is also warmly recommended by H.H. Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasvati Swamigal Sankaracharya (Kanchipuram), and Srila Sri Tavatirthu Nachiappa Gnanadesiki Swami (Kovilur Math). This new publication is the translation of this unique text that is so highly recommended by sages and holy persons of India.

Sadhana, Ardhana, Pradhupati

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:49:12 CDT

Sadhana, Ardhana, Pradhupati

As you continue your daily sadhana, something new will begin to emerge, which Yogi Bhajan calls ardhana, where the experience of sadhana seemed to take on a more etheric dimension, and you begin to experience a sublimation of the minds outward flow of attention to the changing polarities of the mind, as though there are periodic jumps in the overall atmospheric pressure of the energy consciousness in and through the neutral body (4th chakra), physical body (5th chakra), arc line (6th chakra) , auric body (pineal gland – crown chakra), pranic body, subtle body, radiant body (energy pulses down through the tenth gate and up through the crown expanding a golden hue radiance over 9 feet from the body).

The idea of raising Kundalini from the base of the spine to the crown, begins to become an afterthought, as the overall satvic pressure seemed to open every system, from the Kandal to the ida and pingala and sushumna, to the gold cord and centers in the brain, to the One Star in the heart and right major vagus nerve to the Crown - as through there was a continuing influx or infilling of what one might call a feeling of inward pulling (like gravity) and expansive/pervasive light from inside and outside, even dissolving the notion of inside/outside. Subject without a seer. Action without a doer.

All this to say that you shouldn't feel surprised in your daily practice of Sadhana to begin to notice similarly a sense of the pure indwelling light of your own infinite being, quietly shining through the thoughts and images in your mind, as the sense of "I" disengages from attention. These words will become meaningful: As you begin to find yourself abiding as single unconditioned pure living light, "the screen upon which moves the kaleidoscopic picture composed of mobile and immobile objects of the Universe" (from The Cream of Emancipation verse 144) - the experience of "pradhupati" or crystallization that Yogi Bhajan talks about - that over time prevails through the waking state (opaque), then the dream state, as dream sleep becomes less (semi-precious gem), then the unconscious state, as you awaken to the ever present awake awareness of the Self of Its Creation (gem state), and then beyond, the Turya state - the purely crystallized consciousness, like a flawless diamond. Sadhana and daily practice comprises

1. KY exercises and kriyas

o [Tappa - to generate heat and electricity on the body field]

o What we've called the Yoga of Light that elevates the minds vibration above the frequency of thoughts and images, filling the nadi's with energy consciousness (Prana) that has an effect like the tightening of guitar strings so that the whole body resonates and radiates

Meditations on radiance through short Kundalini Yoga exercises with a dynamic aspect of posture, movement and breathing, followed by a static aspect of watchful awareness of he flow of etheric radiance in and through the body

Meditation on the force of “will,” which produces a powerful single sense of Self, resulting from the persevering and enduring of long periods of stress in maintaining a posture, movement and breathing, followed by an equally long period of feeling the sense of abiding as single Self Witness.
2. chanting mantra

o [Jappa - to generate radiant/resonance that links the conscious mind to the pervasive Naad vibration of the universe]

o What we've called the Yoga of Sound that takes hold of the 72,000 charged nadis, releasing their energy into a crescendo of radiance exponentially greater than the vibration produced by the Yoga of Light

Tappa and Jappa together producing laya, i.e., expansive radiance that absorbs identity to thought and impressions Producing a decoding of the habits and impressions stored and bound throughout the body field and Substituting the re-imprinting of sacred sound of the mantra that links the body and mind to the unexcelled experience of simran/ Naad/ anahat (unstruck sound) and

3. slow controlled repetitive breath

o Sanjam – resulting in simran, the attunement to the soundless sound of the infinite being

Producing pratyahar - a singular stillness of "simran" from and within which thoughts and impressions are seen to rise and fall without the least trace or effort to grasp them or hold them within the mind's power of attention and

4. Study - reading (without thought, conjecture or opinion, but just to "hear" (sunia / sravana) the sacred words of Saints and Saviors (Sat Gurus) describing their experience, recollection and abidance in and as the Self, that Light that lights each of us from and through the Heart (Hrdayam/One Star)

o scripture, such as Jaap Ji, Jaap Sahib and other non-dual texts and Gitas which results in the Self "hearing," recollecting (as though coming out of an amnesia) and abiding in and as Its True Identity, which we experience as our own Self which we call the Nam

where hearing and recollection refer to the soundless sound of the "I" pulsing as "I" and abiding refers to cessation, final relinquishment, dissolution of ideas of seer and seen.

o and o the words of Yogi Bhajan about all this in your TT Manual and other sources.

As your sensorial experience expands, these words read over from time to time will fill in with a new meaning and depth, and moreover that it is possible to become pure and in that purity "hear" the Truth.

Pieter
Sunday, July 06, 2003

BASIC KUNDALINI YOGA BREATHING

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:48:44 CDT

BASIC KUNDALINI YOGA BREATHING

Contents: PART 1: STARTING A KY CLASS

PART 2: HOW TO DO LONG DEEP BREATHING?

PART 3: HOW TO DO BREATH OF FIRE?

In our classes here in Bangkok, before we even start the class with Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo we always practice several types of Long Deep Breathing (LDB) and Breath of Fire (BF). Quite often students come to the class somewhat disjointed, frazzled, tense, agitated, our of since, so that a few Long Deep Breaths followed by Breath of Fire will make the blood alkali, sooth and charge the nerves and steady and balance the electromagnetic field and the mind.

While some may wait to teach the various locks for a later class, we teach the locks as part of the breathing before every class, because the locks regulate and direct the flow energy/ consciousness (prana). Even a very light set done with correct breathing can be so powerful that it is important that the locks are learned and applied from the beginning.

The set is comprised of the opening salutation / mantra. Here we usually do the long Ong Namo version, in which each of the 5 sounds are made with a single deep breath, after 3 to 5 repetitions we inhale hold the breath and pull the root lock (Mul Bhand), then slowly relax the breath. This often puts many of the students into an electromagnetic grip that gradually subsides and dissipates through the body and mind. The mind is now perfectly still and prepared to simply watch the Kundalini Yoga exercises without thought or inclination of being the "doer." We call this approach "Applied Awareness."

Then to the specified set with rest periods after every KY exercise or Kriya or after 2 or 3 short KY exercises. Maybe because of all the KY classes taught in gymnasiums, where people come for a workout, KY classes have tended to become more of an aerobics of one to the next to the next without a break or very little break. But the rest period in KY is as important as the exercise period. When the breathing is understood and done properly during a KY exercise, blood saturates into the area and nerve/energy channels that the KY exercise puts under an expanding or contracting pressure. After a few minutes the capillaries open and relax under the pressure and the clean vibrant fresh (molecular) air, brought in from the lungs to the heart and out through the arteries, fills the cells with oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and the other elements of the air, and accumulated waste and gasses is removed and discharged through the veins to the heart and out through the lungs. During the exercise, the cells of the glands and organs and nerves of the body become pranicly charged, and the body needs to have a rest period to assimilate, process, store and balance the energy. Glands secrete and vitalize the blood, and these various types of pranic energies need to flow throughout the body to be assimilated and stabilized within the magnetic field.

During this relaxation period, students will become aware of and feel and experience for themselves the flow of prana, which is missed if one goes from one KY exercise to the next without some break. Not only this, but due to this allowing of the prana to flow and balance, the electric charge in the nerves and organs becomes much stronger and deeper with each successive exercise.

Sometime we joke here about the level of electrocution one felt during and after a set and meditation, because with this resting period, the prana is allowed to accumulate and in the process; it permeates every part of the body to a saturation point. Spiritual and psychic centers open by themselves and deep intuitions rise into the consciousness. Yogi Bhajan relates many wonderful benefits to the practice of certain sets, kriyas and meditations, but, if the practice is not done correctly, these benefits will not accrue.

When we go to sleep, the energy in the body increases filling the body with light. This light then withdraws into the ida and pingala, then into the sushumna and to the brain and down to the spiritual heart (not the heart chakra) where the prana merges in infinite undifferentiated light, and the body and mind are restored.

With the practice of KY, where the rest periods are included, the student begins to become aware of this pranic flow, such that it begins to become a natural expanding experience from KY class to KY class. You begin to become consciously aware of the levels of energy/consciousness that we formerly lost consciousness to when falling asleep. In Reality the body - the Universe, in all its dimensions is bathed in and appears within the Infinite Field of Awareness of Light - always. With the practice of KY this Light emerges into the student's consciousness until the grip of the thoughts and sensations and impressions of the mind dissolves and we say Truthfully, "I am Light."

The KY set is usually followed by a Laya chant (mantra) and/or meditation. The KY set creates the effect of an amplification of the electromagnetic field, which is often felt as some kind of etheric pranic pressure. This pressure is released and resonates with a tremendous power throughout the chakras and spiritual centers, including the aura. The effect is often so powerful that one feels as though the sun has appeared in the spiritual heart, penetrating from behind the veil of the mind suffusing everything with Light.

The end of the set and meditation is necessarily followed by an extended period of relaxation - 10 minutes or longer. It's like entering a new program into a computer and the computer needs to reboot for the new programming to take effect.

This whole process of reprogramming is to bring the awareness to the point where it no longer reflects the old images, but reflects it's single Self. It's as though through this "programming" process, the individual PC is linked to the universal Server, and in the process we become linked "yoked" to and unified with everything, not just as an idea but as a living continuous experience.

After some time the students are brought back from their yoga nidra (yogic sleep) with a few deep breaths, then rotating ankles and wrists, then rubbing the palms of the hands together and soles of the feet together, followed by taking hold of the knees and rocking forward and back the spine. Then, sitting up cross legged for a minute. This is followed by raising the arms straight out at 60o with the tips of the fingers curled in (not the fist), thumbs up and feeling the prana flowing in the spine, through the top of the head, through the heart and arms and around the body's magnetic field. Then Breath of Fire for 2 to 3 minutes. Inhale hold 30 seconds, then, still holding the breath, put the thumbs together over the top of the head. Then making tight fists and pressing the thumbs together with some pressure about 4 inches before the forehead, while leaning forwards slightly and bringing the prana to the third eye (Ajna chakra). Then relax the arms and meditate for a while. The class is finished by chanting long Sat Nam, which is to place the palms together at the sternum level, inhale deeply, chant "Saaaa...t, Nam," where the "aaaa.." continued until the breath is nearly finished, and ending with "t... Nam" This is repeated several times as the students are made aware of the sound of the "sss" and "aaaa" vibrating through the spine and throughout the body.

Then everyone inhales, pulls the root lock (Mul Bhand), holds the breath suspended in the chest for 30 or more seconds, then slowly exhales. Some may feel an electromagnetic gripping in the posture, as the mind becomes perfectly placid and pervasive. Many students will continue to stay and remain unmoving, engulfed in meditation in that etherically still pervasive pranic state, watching the flow of prana, free of any thoughts or inclinations.

After, we have Yogi Tea.

One question that might be asked. If this is what the students experience, what does the teacher experience. Something quite extraordinary happens to the teacher. Before the KY class, while beginning to think about the set and meditation, the teacher will feel the flow of prana related to the KY exercises as he/she goes through them. When the teacher sits before the class, a liquid light flows up through the body filling the teacher's mind, like a stream of polarized etheric energy. The teacher's mind becomes very still and he/she seems to lead the class from an intuitive space. Become a KY teacher and see what happens.

PART 2: HOW TO DO LONG DEEP BREATHING?

Just a brief explanation of what happens physiologically when practicing Kundalini Yoga exercises and kriyas.

The once side of the heart receives the vitalized blood from the lungs, then pumps the blood out through the arteries to the capillaries of the organs and to their cells. The cells take in the vitality from the blood and discharge toxins, waste and gasses, which travel back up through the veins to another chamber of the heart, which pumps the blood through the lungs, where the impurities are discharged and vital air recharged into the blood, and so on. This process is explained in detail in various Kundalini Yoga Manuals, as it reveals a key to how and what Kundalini Yoga is all about and provides the understanding of why these Kundalini Yoga sets and kriyas combined with proper breathing are so effective. The postures and movements create an expanding or contracting pressure on certain areas of the body that causes the blood to saturate the organs and glands, which with the nerves expand under the pressure opening more and more to the vitality of the blood. To vitalize the blood, it is necessary that the lower part of the lungs, where most of the blood sacks are, is expanded. The diaphragm comes down behind the ribs and wraps under, below the lungs. When you expand your breathing downward, the lower part of the diaphragm expands downward and out pushing against the abdominal muscles. Pressing the diaphragm down, you should feel the sense of its distention all the way below the navel and to the sides above the pelvis as the abdomen comes out. The abdominals remain relaxed, as the diaphragm does the breathing. In a long deep breath, while expanding your breath downward, the diaphragm will naturally expand and distend forward. First you feel the expansion of the air filling the lower lungs higher and higher until there is a sense of suspension that continues to lifting the rib cage from the lower solar plexus area to the shoulder clavicular area, without the slightest exertion of the muscles of the rib cage.

As an assistance to this experience of the diaphragm, you sit cross-legged on the floor with the spine straight, hands resting on the knees, breath in consciously expanding and compacting the air downward to the lowest part of the lungs. As the air is filling in, you press your hands inward against the knees towards the hips and slightly downward. This causes the spine to arch forward and rib cage to open and lift without any exertion of the muscles in the ribs. (Try it.)

As you continue to inhale, pressing the air downward, the middle and upper parts of the lungs will become completely full. Then bring the shoulders back and exhale compressing all the air out of the lungs from the top downward, so that the lower ribs (solar plexus) and abdomen (the Kandal, behind the navel area) contract. This is one long deep breath. It can be done easily and smoothly or with force and power.

Either way, it is the diaphragm which generates the expansion and contraction of the lungs. You can feel the extension of the diaphragm when you breath inward slightly and suspend the breath, which gives a unique sensation without reference to inhaling or exhaling or holding. With this kind of breathing the blood's chemistry changes dramatically with a few breaths. Before we start a Kundalini Yoga class, we will take several long deep breath, maybe 10 or 20 in different sitting positions, as a means to cleans the energy channels, such as the ida and pingala, charge the nerves so they resonate and clear the mind of distracting thoughts. In this way the mantra dedicating one's practice at the start of the class will have its full effect. For example, try this to cleans the channels before a class: Sitting straight, as mentioned above, you stretch up your left arm straight beside the left ear, palms facing inwards. Then you raise your right arm, with the right thumb covering the right nostril fingers pointed straight up like antenna. Then begin long deep breathing, stretching the left arm up so that pressure is always felt in the armpits and upward reaching arm. This also opens all the vertebra along the peripheral nerves on the left side of the spine, allowing blood to saturate this entire area. Continue long deep breaths 10 to 20 times (or more), then inhale deeply and completely, hold the breath by pressing the shoulders back and suspending the breath forward in the chest, turn the eyes towards the top of the head, tongue pressing the pallet, pull the root lock expanding the chest, and hold for 30 seconds (or more) without strain. During this breathing and while you hold the breath, with a slight attention, you will feel the ida nadi or moon nerve (that cools the body), an energy channel from the point between the eyebrows (left lobe of the pituitary) up over the left side of the top of the head and down the back of the left side of the neck and left side of the spine to the base of the spine. You may even be able to consciously follow the flow of energy in and down the energy channel as you inhale and up and out, as you exhale, which draws in and deepens the mind into a penetrating stillness.

Then, keeping the left arm straight, slowly exhale through the left nostril, and after few moments gently lower your arms and hands back to the knees. Sitting straight, you will feel an electric current along this ida nadi, that will become stronger as you sit, while stilling the mind.

After a minute or 2, begin the same breath on the opposite side, which will cleans the pingala nadi, or sun nerve (heats the body), an energy channel from the point between the eyebrows (right lobe of the pituitary) up over the right side of the top of the head and down the back of the right side of the neck and right side of the spine to the base of the spine. When you notice how this simple Kundalini Yoga exercise has this dramatic effect, even for many students very first class, then you also realize and understand that this same purification process occurs in every Kundalini Yoga exercise, kriya and meditation, as it relates to the creation of a pressure on the glands, organs and nerves, where such pressure causes the blood to saturated the area under pressure.

You will feel your life force, and as the glands purify and secrete, vitalizing the blood, the electric feeling will deepen and become almost liquid and pervasive. There are several types of pranayamas combined with certain angles, mudras, pressures that generate a similar effect.

Even though we are not aware of it, the body field generates and is in the midst of tremendous levels of energy. The sounds and images we hear and see in the mind are the creation of the movement of atoms that vibrate on a molecular level. The same energy that powers the atom, forms and binds the molecules to create the cells of the body and regulate the entire continuous manifestation of the body and mind as a constant single intelligent support and substratum. As we continue to practice Kundalini Yoga, gradually the cells charge and we begin to become aware of this energy as consciousness. The yogis refer to prana as an intelligent force of light that begins to become brighter and more pervasive than the typical firing of action- reaction thought patters, emotions and moods. We find ourselves no longer gripped by the identity to these inherent tendencies, and we begin to feel and become aware of ourselves as this intelligent pervasive light. The body seems to become spacelike - transparent and free, like a light in a projector, turned up to become brighter, as it passes through the reel to reel ongoing movie of impressions and drama, appearing on a screen that fades to white.

Over time, especially if one remembers to relax between Kundalini Yoga exercises to allow the body to readjust to the discharging of waste and recharging of the cells, and the balancing of the glands, organs and nerves, the energy levels deepen to the point where the encoded patters of the mind in all the cells and molecules of the body field are outshined, and you feel the pervasive light shining through you from within, between and behind the atoms of the body. All this to say that, if one practices the Kundalini Yoga exercises and Kriyas, Laya chants and meditations with still watching awareness; if one practices the long deep breathing, as outlined herein with the energy locks (Bhandas) when required, the outturned mind will begin to reflect the single pervasive Living Light penetrating from the core of Being, and you will recognize yourself as That.

Once one is able to do Long Deep Breathing, which is to say, to feel the complete expansion an contraction of the diaphragm and lungs without the need to feel that the abdominals or ribs are involved in the breathing process, then the Breath of Fire comes naturally and easily. More on the Breath of Fire later ....

PART 3: HOW TO DO BREATH OF FIRE?

The main thing for breath of fire is that it is done properly, using the whole length of the diaphragm going evenly in with pressure on the navel and solar plexus, and out, where the lower, middle and upper areas of the diaphragm project out.

To feel the inhalation aspect of the outward distending diaphragm, you might want to try to sniff some air in and feeling it through the lungs evenly, suspend the breath, as though you were still inhaling, but without the continuation of the filling of the upper clavicular area, as with LDB.

You should feel a sensation all along the diaphragm, that may even be felt in the face, brow and crown, like a radiation. Then compress the diaphragm inwards, without squeezing the air out completely, as with LDB or, moreso, kapalabati at the navel and solar plexus. After doing this sniffing in, suspension and contracting back a few times, so that you can feel the length and breadth of the diaphragm and like one side of a board that opens evenly in a bellows, begin to expand and contract the diaphragm rhythmically, then begin to add more speed and power to the breath, evenly expanding and contracting. 6 / 7
Often people will do the breath of fire using just the upper area of the diaphragm, and even try to use the rib cage and shoulders to act as a pumping mechanism, or they may focus on just moving the navel, or they may mistakenly pump the navel with an inward force, relaxing the breath on the inhale, similar to kapalabati. None of these is correct or a substitute for breath of fire done, as described above with the even full length of the diaphragm expanding and contracting rhythmically with increasing power.

The speed and power of the breath of fire depends on the capacity and development of the student / practitioner. Some may take quite some time to get it right, others will get it right from the beginning. Others will get it right, but it will take time to be able to do the breath with speed and power.

All this to say that so long as you are aware that everyone is doing the breath properly, the rhythm power and speed are up to the practitioner's capability. It's better to do it right and develop the right breathing habit than do it wrong, and not receive the full benefit of the leverage that breath of fire brings to the kundalini yoga exercise, set, kriya, meditation. In our classes here in Bangkok, we start the classes first with an exercise in long deep breathing, which also assists in discovering the fill length and capacity of the diaphragm and then we do an exercise, variations as described above, in breath of fire.

As these 2 pranayamas are the prerequisite for gaining the full benefit of kundalini yoga exercises and full vibratory effect of mantras, we practice these first. It also brings the mind into a clear state of awareness, as the blood becomes alkali with the long deep breathing exercise, and electric from the breath of fire. With the mind still and clear, it becomes much easier to watch the flow of awareness towards the movements and positions in each kundalini yoga exercise and link that awareness (which is the universal consciousness pervading and shining within each of us) to the breath, which in turn further amplifies the flow of (cosmic) energy into the areas of the body put under pressure by the posture, movement or position of the exercise, or kriya, so that you begin to feel the radiance and flow of prana throughout the body and through the arc-line and aura.... merging with the all-pervasive consciousness. At the end of the exercise in long deep breathing and breath of fire, inhale deeply and hold the breath. The root lock and neck lock should be applied, as when you do these pranayamas correctly, there will be a great flow of energy prana circulating throughout the nervous, circulatory and glandular systems, and the locks channel the energy into nerves and centers that are able to carry a higher voltage easily, namely the ida, pingala and sushumna. As you know, root lock is the tightening or pulling in of the anus and sex organs to lock the anal sphincter muscles, while pulling in on the navel (arching forward the lower spine), which creates a triangulation effect in the area between the navel and 4th vertebra, called the Kandal, which regulates the energy in the body. From the Kandal, the energy will automatically flow to the base of the spine and upwards through the spine. In the beginning people don't feel this flow, but after a while the energy awareness is strong enough that you do feel it naturally. The neck lock involves pressing the shoulders back and the chest forward, which converts the inhalation holding the breath to a suspension of the breath, in particular when you also bring the chin back slightly and extend the neck upwards by sensing the atlas and axis (top 2 vertebra) and pulling them back and up with a slight pressure, keeping the head straight. If you do this properly, the suspended breath will circulate, flow downward to the root lock and circulate easily up the spine towards and through the brow point and crown. Just a note that the pulling in of the chin and pulling back and up of the atlas and axis is slight, not forceful as we sometimes see a soldier at attention. When the neck lock is done in this way, you will also feel the shoulders, which you have pressed back, also arch back and seem to lock downwards. Try it and you will see what is meant here, and feel the difference, if you haven't been practicing root lock and neck lock in this way.

These locks are important to assist in the easy smooth flow of the prana that is generated and released when you do long deep breathing and breath of fire properly as a pranayama on its own or in any position, asana or movement, or with any meditation or chanting of mantras, where the release of vibratory energy can be even greater. When the electromagnetic field becomes balanced and strong, the lower spine will arch forward pulling from within, the chest will come forward with an inward pushing pressure, and the root lock and neck lock will pull into place with a magnetic sensation automatically, and the whole body will fill with light. While this is a long answer to a simple question, it is important from the outset of kundalini yoga sets, kriyas and meditations, to breath properly and execute the locks properly. One other area of importance, is that as the energy is so much greater, when you practice properly, it is even more important to be sure that between each pranayama or kundalini yoga exercise that you wait, pause and let the energy make it's complete release in the pressured areas related to the exercise, and then completely circulate so that the glands can secrete, nerves settle with the restabilizing of the prana and the magnetic field balance. Then you will also receive and experience the full intended benefit of the kriya and set and meditation you practice. The difference of effect from pausing between exercises and not, is enormous. You will feel the whole body radiating terrifically. Many students, including the teacher, will want to stay on long after the class and meditate in the deepening stillness that by itself draws you into the seer, until you suddenly realize your Self as the screen upon which and within which everything appears.

Breath of Fire (Bastrika and Kapalabati)

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:48:30 CDT

Breath of Fire (Bastrika and Kapalabati)
by Pieter Schoonheim Samara 3 / 3

A typical set of Kapalabati in Kundalini Yoga practice might be as follows:

You begin by inhaling and exhaling, breathing in deeply and completely, then
exhaling squeezing the breath out completely, 5 breaths. Then begin Kapalabati
for 3 to 5 minutes, followed again with 5 more breaths, then one more round of
Kapalabati, followed by 5 more breaths. At the end of the last breath inhale
deeply, pull the root lock, press the lower vertebra forward, press the
shoulders back and down, bring the chin in slightly, and project the flow of
energy up through the spine and through the passage through the crown and
through the third eye (forehead). Then exhale and pull all the locks
(Mahabhanda) holding the breath out. Inhale relax.

A milder version of Kapalabati is used in kriyas and mantras and meditations
where you chant "har" repeatedly, while exhaling and compressing the navel
inwards, the diaphragm upwards. Another example is the mantra:

"Eh Ong Kar-ah, Sata Nam-ah, Siri Wha-ah, He Guru" where on each "ah" sound
you contract inward, as though doing Kapalabati, releasing to allow the air to
flow inwards.

After Kapalabati, one might also do a set of Sat Kriya, because, when you make
the sound "Sat," pulling the root lock and compressing the navel inward, the
diaphragm goes inward and upwards together with the shoulders and arms as the
palms are pressed together, bringing the flow of energy up to nourish the glands
in the brain, which in turn opens the tenth gate in the crown.

Again to affect the greatest benefit of Sat Kriya, you will find that after
Kapalabati, when you squeeze with the sound "Sat" the diaphragm is compressed
similar to Kapalabati. So that when you release air flows in allowing you to
chant the sound "Nam" and then continue with "Sat." In a Sat Kriya series
following a set of Kapalabati, the nadi system including the circulatory system,
nervous system and meridians will be so energized and free flowing with prana,
that the sound of the mantra - Sat Nam - will begin to vibrate powerfully
throughout and around the body, even generating a kind of subtle blissful energy
that will have the effect that you will want to continue on with Sat Kriya for
some time.

Hopefully, from the above descriptions of Bastrika and Kapalabati in relation to
Breath of Fire, as well as the weblink, these three types of pranayamas will be
well understood, as well that Breath of Fire is neither of the other 2.

Proper understanding and practice of the different pranayamas, in particular
Long Deep Breathing and Breath of Fire, leads to gaining the maximum benefit in
the shortest time with the least problems in Kundalini Yoga Sadhana - the
Radiant Road to Reality, through which all the knots (granthis) that seem to
bind one's idea of identity to the reflected consciousness if the mind in the
Sacred Centers of the Kandal, the Sahasrara and 10th Gate, and the One Star
(Hrdayam) - are sundered.

Then you inhale and hold the breath. With this flow of energy swirling through
the body, it's important that you know how to hold the breath at the end of a
session of Breath of Fire, whether sitting in easy pose or from a posture or
movement. In easy pose, you expand the lungs from the very bottom, feeling the
downward pressure through the navel to the solar plexus, then continuing to
breathe downward, with your hands on your knees, you pull and expand the ribcage
forward and press down with the hands against the knees to cause the upper part
of the ribs to lift. This will enable you to fill the lungs entirely from the
bottom, to the top and every area between.

Then you pull the shoulders back, chest forwards, pull the root lock, press the
lower spine forwards (the spine remains straight) and you will feel a sensation
of the breath suspending, as the energy flow presses from the spine through all
the frontal chakras through the heart, throat, forehead and crown. Then exhale
and squeeze the breath out until the sides compress and the area below and
between the navel and 4th vertebra contracts upwards creating an electromagnetic
sensation in the Kundal. Repeat this (inhale hold/suspend, exhale contract
suspend) a few times, then relax the breath. You may feel a swirling sensation
in the area just below the navel, a sensation of a flow of electricity from this
area (Kandal) to the 4th vertebra and an electric sensation from the base of the
spine through the crown. Then just wait! Wait a few minutes for the glands to
secrete and support the electric flow, so that the electric flow deepens. This
results in the conversion of bindu to ojas, where you develop a ground of basic
voltage and with each Kundalini Yoga exercise, kriya, mantra and meditation the
ground of energy consciousness deepens and expands.

Kapalabati is a special type of pranayama that is also not Breath of Fire,
although
one often sees Breath of Fire described in yoga books as being Kapalabati. In
Kapalabati, the air in the lungs is entirely expelled and squeezed / out by
contracting the diaphragm inwards together with the navel and solar plexus in a
way that you feel the area between the navel and 4th vertebra contracting
upward, as though you are effecting a root lock, but without actually pulling
the anus and sex organs. The basic practice of this pranayama can be done
sitting crosslegged in easy pose or sitting on the heels in rock pose. When you
exhale you also press the hands down on the knees to effect a complete
contraction of the diaphragm. There is no inhalation involved, only exhalation
with a force that in the process of squeezing the air out, the abdomen and sides
between the hips and ribs are compressed inwards and the ribs are compressed
inwards. Thus, when you release the internal contraction, the abdomen and ribs
spring back to a relaxed state and the air naturally is drawn back into the
lungs without effort.

Kapalabati is performed with a rhythmic breath, forceful on the exhalation and
contraction, no force on the inward flow of air. The effect is to completely
squeeze the impurities from the blood steam, as the lungs are compressed to the
deepest part where most of the blood sacks are located. At the same time the
entire bronchial system is purified. All the tensions in the abdominal and chest
areas are also wringed out of the body.

from PDF file by pieter
Oct 2009 by Sat Avtar Kaur

Mind and Mindfulness

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:44:28 CDT

Message #620
Krishna Singh Khalsa
Mind and mindfulness: Surrender to Nothing

As a spiritual teacher, Yogi Bhajan never said, "Follow Me." Rather
what he did say was, "Don't love me, love my teachings. Practice
them and become 10 times greater than me."

Of all the teachings, we can ask, "What is the very first teaching
by which we can leave the worldliness of Karma behind and enter the
free and enlightened realm of Dharma?" The answer to that question
eventually becomes so obvious and so blindingly simple that at first
it doesn't seem like it's enough. It doesn't seem as though THAT
could actually be all that it's all really about. But it is.

So what is the answer, and where is it hidden? How can this mystery
be resolved? How can we become adept in knowing what is truly true,
no matter what, no matter where or under what circumstances we may
find ourselves." The irony is that the most important teaching of
all is the very first teaching, as practitioners of Kundalini Yoga
as taught by Yogi Bhajan, the answer is right under our noses , we
see it and tend to ignore it every day, looking directly into it
with our eyes wide shut.

In-ept vs. Ad-ept
The Conventional Mind is inept (from L. ineptus "unsuitable,
improper, tactless,") rather than adept, whereas the masterful
Yogic Mind is the embodiment of being adept (from L. adeptus
meaning "one who is skilled in the secrets of anything"). As
practitioners of yoga, our ultimate purpose is to evolve and move
ourselves from ineptitude to adeptitude. And the amazing,
historical, philosophical fact is that of all the paths to oneness,
Yogiji bequeathed us with the most, MOST simple and accessible way
of getting there. It's hidden in plain view, and if we master this
one simple teaching, we can become one with the tree of life and
Dharma, and all the other birds of truth will flock to us and nest
in our branches. No further searching required. Everything will
become known and understood. So ask yourself, "What is the first
teaching that EVERY student is taught, from which we generally rush
on to unfold the vast body of teachings known as Kundalini Yoga as
taught by Yogi Bhajan?" What is it that we ignore by not spending
more time with this "First Teaching"?

There's a beautiful parallel to this situation in a great mystery
story written by Edgar Allen Poe, titled "The Purloined Letter." It
turns out that the true master, the adept, provides access to what
is most important by hiding it in plain sight. In the story a
prefect of police conducts and exhaustive search for a letter that
was stolen and hidden by a minister of the government (for some good
reason).

However, the police prefect never once thought it probable or
possible that the Minister had deposited the letter immediately
beneath the nose of the whole world, by way of best preventing any
portion of that world from perceiving it. The letter was hidden by
being in plain sight all the time, and by its obviousness no one
noticed it. (The story is only a few pages long, and you can google
it on the world wide web).

The worldly mind, which renders us unable to see what is most
profoundly important, is the trap we're all attempting to escape.
The "First Teaching" we're looking is the knife that cuts the noose
of the world and the worldly mind. It's the first mantra, the Adi
Mantra with which we begin each class, "Ong Namo, Guru Dev Namo."
The ultimate authority ("have no other gods before me") is Infinity,
Formlessness, Shunyata, Emptiness, Namelessness which we access
through the sound of Ong. No verbal command of any teacher will
ever take precedence over this reality. It is our first place of
surrender and our ultimate source of refuge. In Sikh Dharma it is
known as Wahe Guru. These are all simply different words and sounds
for the same thing, which is also the indwelling essence of
everything, including ourselves. There's no other reason needed for
explaining why we are all, therefore, One. What better place to
begin (and end)? In terms of spiritual authority, this defines
who's really in charge, and in terms of energy itself,
where "charge" comes from. When we leave this life either we will
be charged with the "crime" of ignorance and not fulfilling the
purpose we contracted for before we came into the life, or we'll be
charged with light and thereby be admitted into even higher realms
of truth and bliss.

And so for this, God bless you.

Kundalini Yoga - Sanjam

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:44:13 CDT

Message #392
James L Buechler
Re: [Kundalini-Yoga] Sanjam

Dear Pieter,
If you wouldn't mind mentioning where in the TT manual is Radiance found I would be appreciative.

Sat Nam,
Karam Singh

Dear Ravi,

Sanjam is a bit different from the attachment you sent me. The one you have attached is similar to what Yogi Bhajan calls the "U-breath" in which you are holding only when you inhale. It's part of the Path of Laya (Radiance). Someone asked about this a few days after the initial write up 6/29/06.

In Sanjam, which is the main component of the Path of Pratyahar (Dissolution), there is the balance, where you hold also equally on the exhale.

Also on the inhale, you need to remember to stretch the spine and bring the shoulders back and come into neck lock, the way I described. When you stretch the spine in this way, it automatically aids in holding attention at the base of the spine.

When you inhale (following thechannel down)and hold, you expand the energy in the pranic center which is 8 vertebra down. the radiance spreads through the body, expanding through the heart from there, while you hold.

Then you exhale (following the channel up) and squeeze out the breath from the upper part - the clavicle area, down through the chest, through the solar plexus until you feel the lower spine pulling in and the diaphragm below the navel coming up and inward. maintaining that, hold. Thenyou will also feel a sensation between the 4th vertebra upfrom the bottom and the Kandal. The effect you will start to feel is the eliminative force of the apana, which you will feel as a sensation of dissolving, as though the whole body and its tensions dissolve, along with the mind, making it very still, a stillness that begins to go beyond silence.

And so you alternate prana expansion, apana withdrawal.

Just a reminder that Kundalini Yoga has a symmetry. Within the practice of the Path of Laya (Radiance), in every set, each exercise has an active and passive aspect, where in you have the posture or movement combined with various types ofoften powerful breathing, followed by the equally important passive aspect during which period the glands secrete to support, sustainand balance the voltage created during the active period. Then at the end of the set, there is the passive period where the body goes into yoga nidya, like allowing a computer to reboot for new programming to take. So too, the whole Path and Practice of Laya/Radiance is balanced or held in juxtaposition to the more passive, but equally as important Path and Practice Pratyahar/Dissolution. So, each opposite enables another dimension and depth of deepening.

Now in pure Laya practice, radiance expands, and with practice, it starts to penetrate. In many Kriyas you will fee the voltage through the ida and through the pingala, in certain centers, and through the sushumna, like a penetrating electric radiance.Eventually in every cell of your body and throughout the magnetic field.But in Pratyahar practice, which is exemplified by Sanjam, your attention alone moves a kind of a joti or light along the nadis, and at the ajna, base of the spine and muladara. You become very single, inward bent, still, empty, clear, motionless, though moving, and as the mind resolves itself in the heart (spiritual hear, not the chakra), you will notice that you begin to actually see the nadis in your mind's eye. It's as though you were in a dark room, where you can't see anything, but you have a pinpoint flash light, where you can behind to follow the boarder lines of the room your in. Only in this case, as you keep on following them, it begins to leave both a trace of light and the light of awareness your shining along these lines becomes brighter and brighter itself. You'll see whatI mean when you practice every day, at least 10 cycles per sitting, until you feel / see this, then repetitions add little by little. In fact, what your looking at is the under pinnings of the Creation of the Creator, and as you begin to see it, you also experience yourself seeing with the eyes of the Creator.

Now, the mind's eye is different from the physical and mental eyes. The mind's eye is the field of consciousness itself in which the body appears and upon which the thoughts and impressions appear.

If you are practicing Kundalini Yoga, as Yogi Bhajan taught, which is something completely unique and complete, unlike any other Yoga, you will also feel the sensations and experiences I'm writing about here.

When the mind becomes very still in this way, and you can feel the nadis and centers as though there was a finger of light moving along them as you watch the movement with the breathe inhaling or exhaling or holding, then you will begin to also have a number of experiences, such as feeing your sense of "I" as a field of consciousness in which the body is indistinct, undifferentiated. It's a bit the way baby's see and feel. Very very pure.

You will also begin to notice awareness in dreams, and then the diminishing of dreams into a pure state of awareness, which some may call the Christ Consciousness or in all Religions, the Way. For example, the Third Zen patriarch says, "The Way is perfect, like vast space..."

In this Way, you may begin to hear certain sounds, and have certain sights that are happening within you. If you happen to be walking down the street when this occurs, others will feel and experience it as well. You will have some idea then of what it must have been like when Guru Nanak, Christ, Buddha Rama and others walked the Earth. In fact you will feel that kind of presence which is the essence of your True Being.

When you practice the Laya Path with all the Kriyas, etc, and also the Pratyahar Path - Sanjam, then in the Laya practices, you will also notice the disengagement of the focusing mechanism of the mind and simultaneous total body radiance, as though the whole body radiates with light without attention. And you will feel a sense of spatial consciousness, as though your senses are in abeyance, not that you aren't using them, but rather that there is a deeper fuller awareness that pervades and sees truly, and you are within that.

As this continues, something new will begin to happen, and it happens to a large extent due to reading about the Lives and Words of the Sages, Saints and Saviors, which are the manifestation of the Embodiment of Truth. In Buddhism, it's called the Dharmakaya. It's the expresses when he states "I am the Truth" or I am the Light of the World" (Consciousness Itself). It;s the same as when after several weeks in a cave, Guru Nanak comes out and says, "Sat Nam" which can best be translated as "I am the Truth" - and suddenly you experience that there is a complete disengagement of attention and subtle awareness to even the sense of spatial consciousness. the "field" as Krishna calls it, vanishes and you are the screen or substratum of being and light. The Sikhs call this the experience of the "touch nothing" Saint, Apart from the occasional soundless sound of the "I" pulsing as "I", or occasional thought percolating from the fathomless depths, such as "unconditioned" .... "uncaused" .... "without time" .... "no space" .... you are here yet utterly beyond. Complete, yet relying on nothing.

What happens as the mind becomes pure, through this practice of the Path of Laya (Radiance) and the Path of Pratyahar (Dissolution), is that you begin to have the capacity to "hear" the word, meaning to hear who you are, and suddenly there is this inner sense of recollection, a feeling like coming out of a stupor or from a coma, or maybe better said, from a state of amnesia. There arises this impalpable sensation of the pulsing of "I as I" and single pervasive abiding in the Spiritual Heart. (Kartar Purkh illuminates me." (YB)

This is the experience of the "Ik Tar" - the One Star Spirituality.

When the experience first happens to you, it is totally and utterly Grounding, like a Graviton has begun to pulse and suck in and dissolve everything, mind, body everything, and yet you're trying to find out what happened. naturally, you would turn to the lives of the Sages, Saints and Saviors, wherein every Word fills and grips you in a sense of recognition, acknowledgement, remembrance, so that you begin to feel the Transfiguration, as though the atoms of the body are dissipating.

All this to say. Yes, practice Radiance, but also practice Sanjam. This is also expressed clearly in the TT manual.

There's a lot moreI could tell you, but really, everything will become clear and well understood when you practice. In so many lectures of yogi Bhajan, in which he describes so many stories and situations people get themselves into, what you will discover is that the remedy is Sadhana, a daily practice, no matter what. Then the days events whatever they are also become part of the Sadhana, and you will understand the teachings better and better, because you rise through to higher and higher vistas.

When the mind becomes very still, the light of awareness begins to light the body, then the nadis, then the sushumna, and you experienceand as it passes the throat upwards, the crown opens and there is a sensation of "Wha...." No matter what practice one has, whether Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, you will have this. All this to say that these kinds of words that we read are archetypal.

The world and what we are and who we are is much much more than we can conceive.

Pieter

---- Original Message -----
From: Ravishankar B
To: pieter
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 7:35 PM
Subject: Thank you!

Dear Pieter,

First off, thanks very much for thedetailed description on Sanjam breathing and visualisation during the breathing! I have attached a document with this mail that should tell you about the kind of breathing exercisethat Ifollow.
Is it allright if I use the same visualisation for this breathing exercise as the one you suggest below?
I am referring to the 'Anuloma Viloma' exercise in the attached document.

Sat Nam,
Ravi

On 6/29/06, pieter <pietersa@loxinfo.co.th> wrote:

Sat Nam Ravi,

In Kundalini Yoga practice this kind of breathing is called Sanjam.

There are 2 basic Paths in Kundalini Yoga, one is the Path of Laya or Radiance, which is what most people know about, and the other is the Path of Pratyahar or InwardWithdrawal. In this case Yogi Bhajan uses these terms to describe whole Paths versus their specific meaning, for example a Laya Yoga Kriya or Pratyahar, as one of the 8 limbs of Raja Yoga (what the ancient yogis called Ashtanga Yoga).

In the Pratyahar Path is a specific practice called Sanjam or breath simran. This is to say slow repetitive breathing as you describe. There are several types that involve the breathing while watching the flow of the prana movement along and within the nadis, such as the ida and pingala. Others watch the flow over the top of the head where the 2 hemispheres of the brain join, another watches the flow along the sushumna, and others.

The one you describe is more typically done in a ratio of 1:4:2, which is to say that you use your left hand middle finger to close your right nostril and breath in through the left. As you breath in, you visualize the prana flowing up through the left nostril, up over the left side of the top of the head, as though following a fiber optic channel yogis call the ida nadi, where your steady awareness itself generates the light in the channel. Then down the left side of the back of the neck, down the left side of the spine to the base of the coccyx. Then hold the breath and close the left nostril with your thumb

Remember that the neck is straight and stretched upwards, chin in slightly, so you feel the stretching of the atlas and axis at the top of he spine. Also remember that the lower spine is stretched straight as well, which will cause the spine to straighten from below, with the shoulders coming back automatically. You will feel a pressure in the coccyx and an automatic pulling sensation, as though you were going to do the root lock, which comes from stretching the coccyx down (nor in and forward, but straight and down). In this way, you will be able to easily retain your attention at the base of the spine. Sitting in this manner also causes the pranic center in the chest area projecting from the 8th vertebra down to radiate while you hold the breath in, while feeling a flow of subtle current between the coccyx and the Kundal (locatedbetween the coccyx and navel). This sensation is the location of what Yogi Bhajan calls the "reverse channels" which triggers the Kundalini through an electromagnetic sensation at the 4th vertebra. (Learning how to do spinal flex properly with power and ease from the Laya Path side of the practice is, in this regards, important.)

If you were breathing in to the count of 4, then you watch the base of the spine for the count of 16, and now you open the middle finger from theleft nostril, while keeping the thumb over the entrance to the right nostril and slowly exhale to the count of 8 (the 1:4:2 ratio), as you watch and direct your awareness slowly up through the fiber optic like channel yogis call the pingala nadi, along the same path as you went down on the left side, only now your going up and over the top of the head and down to the point between the eyebrows on the right side.

Again at the point between the eyebrows, you close the middle finger over the right nostril, be sure to sit properly as described above and hold the breath, while counting to 16, andwhile keeping a steady flow of awareness directed through the point between the eyebrows from an area just behind and inward towards the center of the head, fromwhere the flow of directed attention will seem to originate.

The whole process is very silent, space-like, empty, without any thoughts whatsoever, just following the flow of light that is created along these channels and centers by your own light of awareness. As though your body and surroundings are a dark space, and you are using the light of your awareness to see the life force flowing along these channels.

Having counted to 16 at the ajna chakra, i.e., the point between the eyebrows, you now do the same process in reverse, breathing in the right nostril andfollowing the pingala, to the count of 4, holding at the base of the spine to the count of 16 and exhaling up the ida for the count of 8, and holding at the ajna chakra for the count of 16. This completes 1 cycle.

In the practice of Sanjam, which should be practiced in balance with the Laya Path practices, you should repeat at least 10 such cycles at a sitting at least once a day, better more.

Now, the feeling and sensation and experience of awareness in this practice is entirely different from the radiance of energy that you might say lasts along the spine even without attention from the Laya Path Practice of Radiance. For example, sitting with your left heel between your buttocks pressing on the sacral plexus (anal sphincter muscles between the anus ad sex organ, and with the right leg (calf) across the left thigh, knees naturally on the ground (a variance from sitting cross legged), you put your right hand behind your back with the arm pressed against your back and press down. Then you stretch your left arm up as high as possible so that the left side of the spine opens. Pressing the shoulders back you now begin a powerful breath of fire for 3 to 5 minutes. Inhale, hold, pull the root lock, stretch the left arm up, right arm down, shoulders back, neck stretched and after 10 seconds exhale, squeeze the breath out, inhale forcefully and completely, then slowly exhale while slowly bringing the left are straight towards the side and down to your knee. Then sit cross-legged with the hands on the knees. Now, you will feel a terrific flow of radiance, pranic life force, voltage along the left side of the spine, the back of the left side of the neck and up over the top of the left side of the head and down to the ajna, even if you don't pay attention, you will feel it. From there, the Radiance will diffuse throughout the whole body. Then wait. With every active part of a KY exercise is a passive aspect, where you just wait. During this waiting, the glands secrete to support and sustain the voltage along the spine and throughout the body. As you keep practicing in a balanced manner, and especially keeping in mind that every KY exercise has an active and passive aspect, a pressure of voltage and radiance will begin to penetrate in and through every cell of the body.

But, as mentioned in the beginning, this radiance needs to be counter balanced with the practice of inward withdrawal, which is essentially this above described practice of sanjam - breath simran.

You will notice, especially, when you take the time to do at least 10 cycles as described above, that the mind will begin to become very subtle, extremely silent and still, like windless night, a placid ocean, and you will begin to internally see with your mind's eye, which is to say with consciousness itself the flow of light and sensation in and through these nadis. What you can see within will also come to light throughout the body and your surroundings, and you will experience yourself as a filed of light a field of consciousness of pervasive awareness.

This whole teaching of Yogi Bhajan is understood and appreciated much better, when you have a daily Sadhana. there's so much that he taught, that you can really only understand through a daily practice. Then with the practice comes an intuition of the purpose, meaning, benefit and knowledge about the practice that the world can only indicate.

This deepening also deepens the experience of Radiance.

When we come to that part of the TT manual, I'm always careful to explain these aspects in the TT program. So as teachers and practitioners, if you were not explained that the Path of Laya or Radiance is to be balanced with the Path of Pratyahar or Inward Withdrawal, then, please note it now and practice and experience for yourself.

And you will experience yourself as still, radiant, pervasive being, as Consciousness Itself." And you will know for yourself the experience and meaning of "I am the Light of the World." and know that the light that lights you, also is the same light that pervades and animates the universe and lights everyone born into it.

Then with this experience begins the inwards sense of consolidation and integration Yogi Bhajan speaks about and wishes for us which culminates in the experience of "hearing" (sunia) in which you say "I am the Truth" or as we say "Sat Nam."

So, please practice Sanjam, "Staying with the Breath" and become subtle. Transfigured.

Pieter

Non-Dualism in Vedanta

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:44:00 CDT

Message #112
"pieter"
Non Dualism in Vedanta and the Teachings of Christ.

The Self, Maya and the Heart: The Philosophy of Non-Dualism

(the pdf file is no longer available since the website was hijacked last year)

This paper was written for a East-West Religion class in the Junior Year at the University of Vermont in 1993. The Teacher gave the paper an A- because he didn't agree with the last part regarding the radical non-dual teachings of Christ. I forwarded the paper to Baba Ram Das, who wrote back that he would have given the paper an A+ an agreed completely with the last part.

In particular there is this section in Luke Ch 11:34
"The eye (the part that sees, the seer) is the light of the body. When thy eye be single (abide as the seer), they whole body will be filled with light (Enlightenment of the Whole Body)."

When one practices Kundalini Yoga every day, as one's Sadhana, the voltage gradually increases until there is an "impact" (to use Yogi Bhajan's description) between the individual unit of consciousness ad the Infinite. At that time there arises a radical sense of recollection in which the notion of separateness entirely dissolves, and you become undifferentiated, and abide in and as Truth, Consciousness Itself.

The article is useful reading for those practicing Kundalini Yoga, as they have the voltage necessary to recollect their True Self with only a slight mention of It. Then you experience the Transfiguration, or Enlightenment of the Whole Body.

Pieter

Sustainable voltage and the non-dual experience

satavtar — Sun, 09 May 2010 18:43:48 CDT

update: 10-2009

Message #103
"pieter"
Sustainable voltage and the non-dual experience

Kundalini Yoga is a practice of the Paths of Radiance and Inward-Withdrawal, combined with study that elicits Remembrance of your True Being. As one develops a proper practice of Kundalini Yoga, in particular the breathing, rhythm of movement, use of sound, and adherence to the practice of the active and the passive aspects of each yoga exercise, kriya and set, gradually the sustainable voltage increases, deepens, penetrates and radiates; and in and through that process you experience a space-like clarity and grounding, like the force of a graviton, a sense of the mind becoming inward bent, dwelling and pondering in consideration of a deepening stillness which is at the core of your being, the pulsing recollection of your Self. The reflective mindin the brain becomes absorbed in the self-effulgent sun ofyour spiritual heart (unrelated to the anahata chakra), consumedby in That Singularity,That spatial Portal towhere, who and what you always are.In the practice of Kundalini Yoga, the effect is relentless and inexorable. Moreover, you will find that It is also unaffected by the degree and intensity of work, life and activities no matter how demanding, which are enhanced by It. You become completely and fully here, penetratingly and pervasively in the moment, a singular moment which is also eternal.

One day you will speak in a pervasive voice: I am Consciousness Itself, I am the Truth, and you, ever abiding as single and pervasive being, will reverberate Sat Nam.

So, simply put, just continue every day Sadhana, and This, which is What is only Real,will all emerge by Itself.

Pieter

Kundalini Yoga Prosperity Articles

satavtar — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:55:31 CDT

updated: 6/2009

THE PROSPERITY ARTICLES CAN BE FOUND AT:

http://www.dasvandh.org/articles

*A Life Fully Lived
*Absorbing and Manifesting – Questions answered
*Challenging the Mind
*Experiencing Peace in Prosperity
* Facing Change
*Faith and Doubt
*Giving Thanks
*Hope
* I Can’t Afford Not to…
* I've Come Home to Stop Yearning...
*Intuitive Generosity
*It’s My Life
*Lessons in Letting Go
*No Sacrifice
* Relationship to Self
*Relaxation for Prosperity
*Rise Above the Hurdles
*Seva - Selfless Service
*Stepping up to the plate
*Success
*The Act of Giving
*The Bridge
*The Fear of Giving
*The Healing Power of Intention
*The Inspiration to Give
*The Law of the Vacuum
*The Seven Steps to Prosperity
*Tithing
* We Are One
* What is Giving?

Pink Lotus - KY Meditations to cure depression

satavtar — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:28:06 CDT

update: 10/2008

Kundalini Yoga Meditations To Cure Depression


KY Meditations to cure depression	KY meditation to prevent sinking into depression KY meditation as antidote to depression KY meditation if you're irritated, depressed, in a weird mental state KY meditation to cure acute depression in 11 minutes KY meditation against addiction
KY Meditations for psychotherapy	KY Meditation for total mental balance KY meditation to make you intuitive and sensitive KY meditation to resolve conflict KY meditation a psychotherapy KY Meditation for immediate relief to any wavering spaced-out mind KY Meditation to balance both sides of the brain KY meditation to handle your more sensitive brain activity KY meditation to coordinate both areas of the brain KY meditation to resolve many complications KY meditation to give self-confidence KY meditation to neutralize the central portion of the brain KY meditation to bring mental balance 1 KY meditation to bring mental balance 2 KY meditation to bring mental balance 3 KY meditation to bring mental balance 4 KY meditation to bring mental balance 5 KY meditation to balance the brain to bring you in touch with your higher self KY meditation for brain drain, to balance the brain KY meditation for inner faculty KY meditation against addiction KY meditation for mental control
KY Survival exercises	KY Exercise miracle bend KY Exercise for fighting spirit KY Exercise nerve balance series

KY meditation Kirtan Kriya	KY meditation for atomic radiation
KY meditation to prepare for earthquake	KY meditation to adjust your magnetic field after an earthquake
KY meditation for stress or sudden shock	KY meditation to handle a grave situation
KY meditation for insanity	KY meditation to maintain the body without having to eat
KY meditation to ward off death	KY meditation when there's no hospital
KY meditation to totally recharge you	KY meditation to keep up with your children
KY meditation for hair trigger efficiency	KY meditation for tremendous strength
KY meditation to control death	KY meditation when you don't know what to do
KY meditation to tranquillize the mind	KY meditation to prevent freaking out
KY meditation for strong nerves	KY meditation to become sharp witted
KY meditation for transformation	KY meditation healing meditation for acute depression
KY meditation to do when nothing else works	KY meditation to make you feel cozy and contented
KY meditation to prevent aging	KY meditation to relax and rejoice
KY meditation for absolutely powerful energy	KY meditation for fever sickness or discomfort
KY meditation against burn-out	KY meditation for mental control
KY meditation for rough times ahead	KY meditation ready for action
KY meditation for concentration in action	KY meditation to feel and see your energy body
KY meditation for the Divine Shield	KY meditation to take you out of danger
KY meditation for the lower triangle	KY meditation medical meditation for habituation
KY meditation for human quality	KY meditation choke meditation
KY meditation prosperity--PDF last meditation on page	KY meditation Guru Gobind Singh Shakti Mantra Meditation

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Pink Lotus KY Meditations for Survival- NEW

satavtar — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:27:39 CDT

update: 10/2008

Kundalini Yoga Meditations for Survival


KY Meditation Tratakum Meditation
KY Meditations for the gray period of the planet http://www.pinklotus.org/ (Pink Lotus is the main site)	KY meditation to become sharp witted KY meditation for strong nerves KY meditation to do when nothing else works KY meditation to make you feel cozy and contented KY meditation to prevent aging
KY Meditations for emergency situations	KY Meditation for atomic radiation KY meditation to prepare for earthquake KY Meditation to adjust your magnetic field after an earthquake KY meditation for stress or sudden shock KY meditation to handle a grave situation KY Meditation for insanity KY meditation to maintain the body having to eat KY meditation to keep up with your children KY meditation for hair trigger efficiency in a life and death situation KY meditation for emergency treatment for insanity (*) KY meditation to become sharp witted KY meditation to protect you from irrationality KY meditation to give control over ones own death
KY Meditations when you don't know what to do	KY meditation when you don't know what to do KY meditation when nothing else will help KY meditation for the answer to abnormal conditions we don't understand KY meditation when you're at your wits' end KY meditation to do when nothing else works KY meditation for rough times ahead KY meditation against addiction
KY Meditations to energize you	KY meditation to energize you KY meditation to give constant flow of energy KY Meditation to build up your circumvent force and electromagnetic field KY meditation to totally recharge you KY meditation to work on the magnetic field KY meditation for tremendous strength KY meditation to feel very energetic KY meditation for absolutely powerful energy
KY Meditations for nerves	KY meditation to prevent nerves being shattered KY meditation to bring the entire nervous and glandular system into balance KY meditation to prevent nervous breakdown KY meditation for failing nervous systems
KY Meditations to control death	KY Meditation to ward off death KY Meditation control death KY Meditation for control over ones own death
KY Meditations for healing	KY Meditation Kirtan Kriya KY meditation to bring health and healing ability KY meditation when there's no hospital KY meditation for longevity KY meditation to heal all sickness KY meditation to alleviate acute depression in others KY meditation to prevent aging KY meditation to revitalize the glandular system KY meditation for fever sickness or discomfort KY meditation to give power, strength and vitality KY meditation against burn-out KY meditation to defend your total health
KY Meditations to calm and relax you	KY meditation to calm and relax you KY Meditation to still the most restless mind KY meditation for a relaxation never before experienced KY meditation to tranquillize the mind within 3 minutes KY meditation to gain a calm mind KY meditation to completely neutralize tension KY meditation to relax and rejoice KY meditation for burn-out


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Kundalini Yoga Blog Links

satavtar — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:13:19 CDT

update: 10/2008

BLOGS

http://www.lighttravel.org/com.htm

Hari Kartar RUSSIAN and English http://www.harikartar.blogspot.com/

Sukhmani Kaur, Britannia private

Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa http://ekongkaar.blogspot.com/
Random Calligraphy Publications: Japji Sahib: The Song of the Soul

Hari Arti Singh, Germany http://mydaysinindia.blogspot.com/

Prabhu Singh, New Mexico http://mydaysinindia.blogspot.com/

Sikh Espanola Volunteer Association http://sikhsewa.blogspot.com/

Gurumustuk Singh Khalsa and this website is a personal (yet very public) online journal to share my family, experiences, thoughts, local sangat, and how we live as Sikhs. One of my goals with this website is to build bridges of understanding between the different Sikh communities (particularly Sikhs like myself who are not from a Punjabi Origin). There is so much mis-understanding in this world and my hope is that as you read articles, watch videos, Listen to audios, and look at pictures that you get to know us better. Hopefully you learn something new and share it with others.

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