TANTRA KRIYA YOGA.
Certain knowledge of the subtle body is required before one can begin the practice of
Tantric Kriya Yoga. This information includes the approximate location of the chakras
and other key energy points. Only the most basic fundamentals will be presented here, for
it is up to the serious practitioner to experience for him or herself. The key to success is
regularity, not how much one spends at a particular meditative session. Fifteen minutes
once a week every week is much better than one hour every now and then. Fifteen
minutes every day is a good goal for the beginner, but it is OK if you only do it once a
week. We will be adding at least one technique a lesson, and you will find the length of
your Kriya meditations extending naturally.
It is important to note that different spiritual traditions present disparate information
concerning the structure of the subtle body including the chakras and nadi system.
Each
tradition including Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist, mention the subtle body in ancient
sacred texts, but tend to disagree on the number of chakras and their attributes. For
instance the East Indian Tantric system generally states that there are 7 chakras, while the
Buddhists mention only 5. In their book, The Body of Light, Lar Short and Thomas Mann
discuss this phenomenon and present possible explanations. Their final advice is most
important: Do not let this be an obstacle. After years of Kriya practice, I have identified
no less that 20 energy points that have become part of my psychic being. These points
made themselves known to me over time as I increased my sensitivity. One can start with
any of the systems, but let your own experience be the guide by tuning into your inner
being.
With this in mind, a good starting point is the East Indian Tantric system. For those who
do desire a more complete explanation of this tradition, there are several excellent
Western texts that discuss the chakras with related techniques and meditations. The
classic is Kundalini Yoga for the West by Swami Sivananda Radha (Shambhala). Another
is Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith (Llewellyn) and more recently, Chakras by one of my
teachers, Harish Johari (Destiny Books). These three will give the reader more than
adequate coverage of the chakras and their associated attributes. These attributes include
sounds, senses, emotions, symbols, colors, elements, desires and obstacles. Once again,
however, don't let book study circumvent your own direct experiences. What you
experience is your reality; books can only present vague maps to those who seek the way
to transcendence.
One of the purposes of Kriya Yoga is to open and purify the chakras, nadis, and channels.
This will allow life force energy to flow easily through these centers and systems.
Though chakras and nadis are not physical in nature, that is, they are not to be found in
the physical body, when they become energized there are bodily sensations that occur on
the physical level. These sensations include warmth, tingling, pulsing, pressure, etc. As
Kriya practices take the aspirant into deeper states of consciousness, one's awareness of
these sensations will begin to refine and become very localized.
Ramayana, a replica of Vedas
ReplyDeleteS. VARADARAJAN
There are several versions of the Sri Ramayana, one of the two greatest epics. Following Sri Valmiki Ramayana several editions have been published in various languages, besides scores of commentaries written across centuries. Late. Gunturu Seshendra Sharma, scholar poet of 20th Century unearthed secrets of the Ramayana through his popular Telugu book “Shodasi”.
The novelty of nomenclature Shodasi , called Sri Vidya is reflected , in the 16th Chapter . Sharma’s intellectual depth comes forth in analyzing Sundara Kanda specially through Kundalini Yoga . The author highlights hidden truth in Valmiki’s thought that is similar to Vedas and says that Trijata’s dream in Sundara Kanda reflects Gayatri Mantra of 32 Syllabi in 4 lines. Sharma pays rich encomiums in the description of Lanka surrounded by three impregnable borders. He compares these three borders with Trikuta viz... Shakti , Kaamaraaja , Vagbhava Kutas with those of Sri Vidya in Kundalini . A staunch believer of Vedas, the author feels that Ramayana is a replica of Vedas and oriented towards the character of Indra . He concludes that in Ramayana the mentioning of the supreme God is Indra and not Vishnu, as the presiding deity of valour in Vedas. Utterances of the word Vishnu were considered to be imaginary overstatements in the author’s view.
This book lends a new perspective to the Ramayana by adding the dimension of Kundalini Yoga .
The foreword by Vishwanatha Satyanarayana adds credibility to the book. The current work is an English translation of the original by Gurujada Suryanarayana Murthy , a scientist by profession . His proficiency in the subject is evident in the translation throughout that doesn’t swerve from the original’s purport.
The Hindu
(Friday Review: 2nd October 2015)