Kundalini is a word that is based on Sanskrit terms: "kund" or "to burn" or "kunda," which literally means "coiled." According to Jana Dixion, author of "The Biology of Kundalini," kundalini is a concentrated field of vital energy that begins at the base of the spine and evolving as wisdom is gained. Kundalini is said to have the ultimate outcome of the union of will, knowledge and action.
Kundalini
According to Kurt Keutzer of the University of California at Berkley, kundalini as a force is said to be a sleeping, potential force that is part of man's subtle body, consisting of energy channels, chakras or psychic centers, subtle energy and drops of essence. Various practices such as kundalini yoga and meditation can cause this force to rise up through the spine, which leads to various levels of awakening and mystical experience. This continues until the kundalini reaches the head, and yoga practitioners achieve profound and mystical experience.
Chakras
The term chakra comes from the Sanskrit term for wheel. Chakras are considered focal points for energy, and are depicted as wheel-like vortices that rise up the center of the body. Traditionally seven chakras exist, running along the spine, a path which would be transfixed by the rise of kundalini. The chakras are located at major nervous centers within the human body. The locations are the ovaries or prostate gland, the base of the spine, solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye or pineal gland and the crown of the head.
Practice of Kundalini
Historically, there are two basic approaches to awakening Kundalini: active and passive. The passive approach involves the surrender and awakening by a teacher, or guru who has already achieved awakening. The active approach involves the practice of yoga as well as visual exercises and meditation. The passive approach is something that cannot be maintained, but can give the student a starting point from which to proceed using the active approach.
Uses of Kundalini
Kundalini yoga and meditation has been achieving scrutiny by the traditional medical community. Researchers from the Institute for Nonlinear Science, University of California, San Diego have studied its use in treating OCD with positive results. Kundalini yoga has long been demonstrated as a successful relaxation technique, and this prompted other researchers to apply this to other conditions. A pilot study in the "Indian journal of physiology and pharmacology" shows positive results with recovery for stroke victims.
References
- "CNS Spectrums"; Randomized Controlled Trial of Yogic Meditation Techniques for Patients with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder; D.S. Shannahoff-Khalsa, et al.; December 1999
- "Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation"; Yoga in Stroke Rehabilitation: a Systematic Review and Results of a Pilot Study; H. Lynton, et al.; July - August 2007
- "Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology"; Quantitative Evaluation of Muscle Relaxation Induced by Kundalini Yoga with the Help of Emg Integrator; R. Narayan, et al.; October 1990
- "Biology of Kundalini": Jana Dixon; 2008
- UC Berkelet: Kundalini Yogas FAQ
Member Comments