Shakti and Self, Yoga and Jnana, The Open Secret: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

Those who are advanced on the path of yoga and have broken the three granthis along the sushumna through intense meditation, often have a good understanding of the nature of Kundalini Shakti and its movements.

The secret behind the movements and the manifestations of Kundalini Shakti is simply this: Wherever awareness is consciously focused, the Shakti energy will follow. When the Shakti is working in higher centers it gives visions of angels, heavenly and celestial realms, and other countless experiences. A Yogi inclined to Jnana asks, “What happens, when Awareness, focuses not on anything in particular (such as Chakras) but simply and spontaneously on Itself. Where does the Shakti energy go then?

So, it seems that whereas in Yoga, awareness is used as a tool to consciously focus on something, in the Jnana perspective, the awareness is simultaneously the subject, tool to be used for focusing, and the object. Awareness being aware of itself is the essence of Advaitic practice and is also the goal as well, if one can call it that.

This is why Sri Ramana used to say that, “Sahaj Samadhi should be practiced right from the beginning!” The Sage once told Paul Brunton that, that which is “practice” or Sadhana for the aspirant, is the Sahaj (easy and natural) state of the Siddha.

Even though Jnanis do not consciously focus on any object of concentration, the Kundalini Shakti can spontaneously work through any Chakra and give rise to visions of the Goddess or other deities. Sages see no difference between knowledge, love, and devotion and many of them, including Sri Ramana, have written beautiful poetry in praise of the Divine Beloved. In Sri Ramana’s case, the devotional poetry is dedicated to Aruanchala, the holy mountain where he spent over fifty years.

Love to all

Harsha

The image was taken by Sumida at the Sri Nakarin Dam in Thailand, 2001.