Kundalini and Visionary Leadership-1: By Dr. Harsh K. Luthar

According to yogic texts, Kundalini Shakti is the great power that is latent in all human beings. Nurturing this hidden intelligence allows one to develop insight into the nature of things and use more fully the powers inherent in the brain, the whole nervous system, and the mind.

Kundalini awakening invariably lead to a variety of  evolutionary mental and spiritual experiences in one’s consciousness. When care is taken in understanding this energy and harmonizing it, it makes the individual creative, imaginative, and bestows leadership and visionary qualities.

The main elements of yogic psychology  are found in religious texts of Hindus written thousands of years ago. These include the Upanishads (Vedas), Bhagavad-Gita, and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras among others. Jain, Buddhist, and Taoist works also emerge from the same roots and contain similar systems of thought. That is why many of the meditation and yogic methods as well as offering mantras as prayers tend to be common to these seemingly diverse religious thoughts.

No matter what the spiritual tradition, almost all classic yoga texts emphasize the energizing effect of proper food, yoga, mindful breathing (pranayama), and meditation to create the foundation of success for the awakening and development of the Kundalini. It is this power and mental energy which when used wisely propels one to achieve the goals one undertakes.

In this paper, based primarily on my own experiences, I discuss the factors associated with awakening and developing the Kundalini energy from the perspective of various yogic systems. Further, I explore the enhanced focus and sharp clarity in awareness that comes from the emergence of this power that allows one to exercise visionary leadership. Finally, I conclude with the importance of a moral framework to manage this power for the benefit of humanity.

First, I consider the role of food and drink. In Kundalini Yoga, optimal nutrition is important; especially in the initial stages of awakening and development of this power.

Continued in Part 2.