Methods of Awakening the Kundalini

 

Methods of Awakening the Kundalini

 

    The highest purpose and potential for a human is self- realization. We go through life looking for peace, satisfaction and true lasting joy. Driven by a sense of being incomplete as though something were missing we seek fulfilment and happiness in the external world until finally realizing that the external can only offer us momentary pleasure & satisfaction. Real joy and contentment comes from within. We are the source of all we seek outside. Realizing and fully experiencing this truth is Self-realization. This experience is the highest state of Yoga or union. Union of the individual soul with the universal soul.

Kundalini Yoga is a path to Self realization. The need for a realized Guru on the path of Kundalini Yoga is of utmost importance. Though there are rare instances when the Guru is not found outside of oneself, but instead guidance comes from within.

Awakening of the cosmic Shakti Kundalini activates the human consciousness in an extraordinary manner. The practitioner gains access to dormant parts of the brain & immense creative potential. The most beneficial qualities of the personality are nurtured and a new intimate relationship with nature is established. Awareness of the working of the entire cosmos dawns as the individual embraces her/his oneness with the creator.

Tantra Shastras speak of a variety of ways by which the cosmic power Kundalini Shakti may be awakened. Though the end goal remains self-realization, the paths, practices & experiences there in range from mild to extremely intense, challenging and risky. An ideal practice should be selected based upon the capabilities, tendencies and interests of each practitioner. The methods may be practiced individually or in combination. This article gives a brief overview of the various paths to awakening Kundalini. The first method of course cannot be practiced as it is a natural event that occurs at birth.

 

v Awakening spontaneously at birth

When the parents of a child are highly evolved spiritually, the child could be born with an awakened Kundalini. Or the Ida, Pingala & Sushumna may be awakened which causes the higher faculties to be partially or fully accessible. A child born under these conditions is said to be endowed with the qualities of a saint or an avatar.

v Mantra japa

M Mantra chanting is a very effective and relatively easy path to awakening the  Shakti. The mantra for awakening is effective only when one is initiated to it by a realized Guru. Such a mantra is called a Jagrut or awakened mantra. If it is randomly selected and you just decide to start chanting a mantra that catches your fancy the mantra is called Jada or stuck or unawakened and will not be effective in awakening the Shakti. The mantra received from a guru is to be treated with utmost reverence and is kept a well-guarded secret between the Guru and disciple. 

v Bhakti yoga

Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion and unconditional love for the divine. Through complete trust and surrender the bhakta transmutes lower emotions into devotion. The greatest obstacle to realization is the ego. Egoic identification and attachment keep the veil of delusion alive. A true bhakta surrenders the ego and immerses themselves in the divine and receives ecstatic awakening as a reward.

v Tapasya

Tapasya or practicing austerities as a means to awaken the Kundalini is an extremely arduous path and not for the weak willed. This is the path of the Veera or the brave one. Tapasya is a method of purification. One dissolves or burns away negative tendencies and karmic blocks through determination and steadfast practice. This method is powerful and often in the beginning one is confronted with temptations and an upsurge of latent tamasic tendencies that rise up with the internal churning caused by the practice of austerities. It is important to not be distracted by these and lose sight of the goal.

v Raja yoga

Raja yoga is a difficult method as it requires an enormous amount of patience, dedication, perseverance and discipline. Awakening and union with the divine consciousness on this path occurs through a steadily evolving process of meditation and concentration. Training & Concentration of the mind is one of the main requirements on this path. That the mind is one of the most difficult things to achieve control over as it is the nature of the mind to be forever active makes this an extremely challenging path to awakening.

v Kriya yoga

Kriya yoga may be considered the safest and most ideal method of awakening in our contemporary society. The awakening through this process is generally gentle and slow. Shakti awakens and falls back to sleep several times before full awakening occurs. One often experiences visions and oscillating energy as well mood swings and fluctuating behavior on this path to awakening.

v Shaktipat

Shaktipat is the transference of energy from the Guru to the Shishya. A realized Guru has the power to kindle and awaken the sleeping Kundalini in a disciple. This may be brought about through, mantra diksha or initiation, a touch, Prasada energized by the Guru, a gaze or the mere intent of the Guru can awaken the shakti too. This path is sometimes also referred to as the shortcut path. The Guru is the one at the wheel of awakening and takes on the responsibility of awakening and leading the disciple to liberation. There are several fake gurus in the world therefore it important to choose a SadGuru with care.

v Pranayama

Before one can approach pranayama as a path to awakening, sufficient preparation is required. A great deal of attention and care has to be taken to ensure that the environment, diet, and life style is conducive to a successful pranayama practice. The body too needs to be prepared to sustain and support the practice as awakening through this method may occur in an explosive manner. When practiced correctly pranayama brings the mind under control effectively and transforms it beautifully.

v Tantric initiation

Tantric initiation is a rather secretive topic. The guidance of a Guru makes it a relatively easy path to awakening. This path however is only for those who have transcended the urges of the flesh and have overcome their passions. Otherwise it is a pitfall that traps susceptible minds and feeds on the baser desires taking one very far from Awakening.

 

v Use of plant medicines & hallucinogens

In ancient Ayurvedic and yogic texts there is information on aushadhi or plant medicine some of which have special properties that can induce awakening almost spontaneously. This is however an awakening that cannot be sustained without the help of external stimulus and can be a rather dangerous and unreliable route to take especially without the guidance of an experienced master. Random use of marijuana, Lsd or other hallucinogens do not lead to awakening. They only lead one to a world of delusion and illusion.

There are however indigenous tribes across the world that work rather reverentially with plant medicine. There are very specific rituals and guidelines that they follow in procuring and using these.                                                      Plant medicines can help relax and focus the mind and take one into a state of altered reality that can induce a state of Samadhi or oneness with the universal consciousness and also start the process of awakening the Kundalini.

 

There might exist more methods of awakening Shakti beyond the ones I speak of in this article. However an attitude of complete surrender and a strong sankalpa or resolve to awakening shall definitely take you to the highest state of Yoga. It might take a long time but it is bound to happen.