Why would you want to raise Kundalini?

[dwai]

 

I think it is a precise rebuttal the commonly held belief that the practice of raising the kundalini alone can bring you to the recognition of the place free of bondage or to non-duality. He is highlighting that it isn't even necessary and doesn't directly lead there and doesn't destroy the mental tendencies which block realisation (there are many assumptions that it purifies everything in the way), which is pretty useful information in my opinion, especially as people seem to be obsessed with Kundalini stuff these days. 

 

That might not be the way or purpose you are using raising K in your own practice and by the sounds of things you are incorporating it into a wider framework, yet overall I feel it is particularly relevant..

 

 

I think this fits well with a discussion of the different approaches or yogas that one can employ in their quest. That is, not the ashtanga yoga but the 4 yogas, namely bhakti, karma, Jnana and raja. The kundalini raising/methodical body-mind exercising is considered to be Raja Yoga.

 

The specific constitution and proclivities of individuals will determine what is best suited for them. If you read the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna clearly states that each of the 4 yogas are equally efficient. It is up to the individual to choose that which is best suited for him/her. 

[Sahaj Nath]

Oops. about that "unfair" statement i made above: i was unclear. i wasn't saying i thought you were unfair to post it or to offer it; i was trying to express that i thought it would be unfair for ME to criticize his words as a general argument removed from its context. sorry about that if it came across like i was calling you unfair, Jetsun.

 

for example, i or any number of K-yogis could make counter-arguments that he was never intending to address, and i feel like it would be intellectually dishonest to seize on something like that. context matters. had he been talking to me or a gathering of K-yogis, i'm sure he would have been more thorough, measured, and nuanced. he would have considered the multitude of approaches just like you did in giving me the benefit of the doubt.

 

yeah, i just wanted to clear that up.

[phore]

Ramana Maharshi on raising Kundalini up the Sushumna:

 

Question : How to churn up the nadis [psychic nerves] so that the kundalini may go up the sushumna?

 

Ramana Maharshi : Though the yogi may have his methods of breath control for this object, the jnani's method is only that of enquiry. When by this method the mind is merged in the Self, the shakti or kundalini, which is not apart from the Self, rises automatically.

 

The yogis attach the highest importance to sending the kundalini up to the sahasrara, the brain centre or the thousandpetalled lotus. They point out the scriptural statement that the lifecurrent enters the body through the fontanelle and argue that,viyoga [separation] having come about that way, yoga [union] must also be effected in the reverse way.

 

Therefore, they say, we must by yoga practice gather up the pranas and enter the fontanelle for the consummation of yoga. The jnanis on the other hand point out that the yogi assumes the existence of the body and its separateness from the Self. Only if this standpoint of separateness is adopted can the yogi advise effort for reunion by the practice of yoga.

 

In fact the body is in the mind which has the brain for its seat. That the brain functions by light borrowed from another source is admitted by the yogis themselves in their fontanelle theory. The jnani further argues: if the light is borrowed it must come from its native source. Go to the source direct and do not depend on borrowed resources.

 

That source is the Heart, the Self. The Self does not come from anywhere else and enter the body through the crown of the head. It is as it is, ever sparkling, ever steady, unmoving and unchanging. The individual confines himself to the limits of the changeful body or of the mind which derives its existence from the unchanging Self.

 

All that is necessary is to give up this mistaken identity, and that done, the ever-shining Self will be seen to be the single non-dual reality. If one concentrates on the sahasrara there is no doubt that the ecstasy of samadhi ensues. The vasanas, that is the latent mental tendencies, are not however destroyed. The yogi is therefore bound to wake up from the samadhi because release from bondage has not yet been accomplished.

 

He must still try to eradicate the vasanas inherent in him so that they cease to disturb the peace of his samadhi. So he passes down from the sahasrara to the Heart through what is called the jivanadi, which is only a continuation of the sushumna.

 

The sushumna is thus a curve. It starts from the lowest chakra, rises through the spinal cord to the brain and from there bends down and ends in the Heart. When the yogi has reached the Heart, the samadhi becomes permanent. Thus we see that the Heart is the final centre.

In this quote ramana maharshi does not seem to be indicating that raising the Kundalini is unnecessary. 

From my reading he is saying that physical methods (churning up the nadis) are unimportant.  He seems to be suggesting that when the mind is in alignment with the self the kundalini rises without the physical methods.

 

His particular statement "The Shakti of Kundalini, which is not apart from the self"  taken with his method of raising Kundlaini without physical practice suggests that he views the experience of Kundalini as universal, as opposed to a phenomonon confined to specific indian systems.

 

He furthermore suggests that the Kundalini is not apart from the self.  His further discourse points out that viewing the Kundalini as a physical process that has mental or spiritual effects is from the perspective of the duality of the body and self.  Veiwing the Kundalini as a spiritual/ mental process that has physical effects is a nondual perspective.

 

This taken together suggests that he was indicating that his method of raising the kundalini works directly with the subjective (pretaining to the subject or self) nature of the Kundalini, as opposed to approaching the Kundalini from an objective (pretaining to object or the body) perspective. 

 

I find that Ramanas words on bringing the Kundalini down into the heart and the sushuma being a curve, suggests a Tao connection, as it sounds similar to the practice of the Microcosmic orbit.

 

Concerning the correlation between the Greater Kan and Li with the Full blown Kundalini Experience, I believe Glenn Morris Verifies this in Pathnotes of an American Ninja Master.

 

Love and Light

Tony

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

Wrong....The topic is "Raising Kundalini".......sorry......Reread it!

 

I would expect you with your Dzogchen bent, Tibetan Ice, to realize this fact:

When I want to awaken MY Kundalini, IT"S a SELFish act.

Does that make more sense?

Modern Buddhism acknowledges no "Self" to begin with....Also Kundalini is irrelevant completely to the Dzogchenpa.

Kundalini belongs to Tantra proper as Jnana Yog belongs to Advaita Vedanta proper.

 

 

So would it be more appropriate to think " I will raise myself to match the Kundualini energy." or not to think about it at all?

[healingtouch]

I highly recommend getting a Reiki attunement or even better, a Kundalini Reiki attunement if one is planning to awaken their Kundalini. I myself had a spontaenous Kundalini awakening and it brought out to the fore, in full force, many of my darkest aspects which I manged to bring out under control only after getting the Reiki attunement. In fact, I feel this is so important that I will share two videos that are very relevant and will greatly help anyone looking to awaken the serpent

 

One that explains what happens when chakras become activated (as a result of the Kundalini energy for example)

 

And one where I offer a free Kundalini Reiki level 1 attunement

 

Warmest regards,

Titus

[Edward M]

Interesting points in this thread... bumping it up in case anyone has anything more to say...