The Gospel of Jesus Decoded: Christ and Kundalini, Part 1 by Michael Bowes
Although it is referred to in many different ways the Kundalini Shakti plays a key role in all spiritual traditions. The principles are the same, the effects are the same; but the words and symbols used to express Kundalini differ. In the Judeo/Christian tradition Kundalini is known as the Holy Spirit, Living Water, Christ, the Anointing, the Word and by other terms as well.
But before exploring the details of Kundalini in the Judeo/Christian scriptures, I would like to introduce the subject by examining the authentic and original message of Jesus. Unless one understands Jesus’ core message it will not be possible to see how Kundalini is the key to his teaching. The original message of Jesus was lost in translation, couched in symbol and metaphor and obscured by time, and has never been commonly understood. Today there are many different Christian sects with vastly different interpretations of Jesus’ sayings. How then is it possible to decipher the mystery so long after the fact? To determine the original and authentic message of Jesus, as well was the involvement of Kundalini; we will examine his words in the original languages that the Bible was written in – Hebrew and Greek. And then we can compare his message to the teachings of other spiritual luminaries such as Shankara, Sri Ramana Maharshi, Sri Ramakrishna, and others. We will discover that the great spiritual teachers all agree on the most sacred essence of spirituality.
And what is his fundamental message? In the Bible when Jesus uses the word “gospel”, which usually means message, the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” or “Kingdom of God” is always present in the same sentence or passage. So Jesus’ message is that the “The Kingdom of Heaven/God is within you.”
Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
— Luke 17:20, 21
Jesus did not teach that he had come to earth to be a sacrifice for men’s sins. He proclaimed the amazing message of the Kingdom of Heaven. He also commanded his disciples to proclaim the message of the Kingdom of Heaven/God, and as far as I know he did not instruct them to preach anything else. But what is the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God?
In the Bible the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” is translated from the Greek words BASILEIA OURANOS. BASILEIA is translated as “kingdom”. According to Thayer’s Lexicon the primary meaning of BASILEIA is “royal power”. Power creates and sustains a “kingdom”. Without power a kingdom cannot exist. Without power a king is nothing. That is why the word “kingdom” is actually a secondary definition of BASILEIA. BASILEIA is feminine gender and its primary meaning is “royal power” or “governing power”.
When Jesus replied to the disciples about the coming of the Kingdom (Acts 1:8), he stated that they would “…receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” By this statement Jesus related the “kingdom” to a “spiritual power”.
Jesus expressed the same fact in Mark 9:1.
And He was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
The apostle Paul asserted the same truth:
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.
— First Corinthians 4:20
It is obvious from the primary definition of the word BASILEIA and its use in the scriptures, that it can be translated as “royal power or governing power”. In this sense BASILEIA is very similar to the definition of SHAKTI. According to the Monier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary the word SHAKTI, usually translated as “divine power” (feminine), also means “regal power” and “feminine or procreative energy”.
The word “heaven” in the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” is translated from the Greek word OURANOS. The definition of OURANOS is—UNIVERSE. In old English the concept of the universe was expressed as “the heavens”. Somewhere along the way the plural expression “heavens” was replaced by the singular expression—“heaven”. The attempt to translate or interpret OURANOS–“universe” as “heaven” (singular), is totally erroneous and misleading.
The biblical Greek phrase BASILEIA OURANOS should translate as—“the DIVINE POWER OF THE UNIVERSE”. Jesus’ message was about the “power of the universe”, The Cosmic Lord; not about an “earthly kingdom” or a “paradise” to be enjoyed after death. Jesus taught that the “divine power of the universe” or the “power of God” is within you. Jesus taught a version of pantheism (worship or reverence of the universe and nature). But Jesus also taught that the very power that manifests itself as the Universe is within you, and can be experienced within one’s self and that it IS one’s true SELF – the Self of All. He referred to this experience as the New Birth. The concept of the New Birth is also found in Hinduism, and is expressed as DWIJA (the twice-born).
A microcosm of the universe, the universal ocean of power and bliss, dwells within one’s own heart. The sum total of all of the light, power and bliss that is manifested throughout the entire macrocosm can be experienced within the Spiritual Heart, which is the same as one’s own Self.
Please consider the following quotations from various sources:
7:5. This is My lower nature. But, different from it, know, O mighty Arjuna, My higher nature—the Indwelling Spirit by which the universe is sustained.
7:6. Know that these two form the womb of all beings. I am the origin of the entire universe and also its dissolution.
7:7. There exists nothing whatever higher than I AM, O Dhananjaya. All is strung on Me as a row of gems on a thread.
Bhagavad Gita, Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
To realize the whole universe as the Self is the means of getting rid of bondage. There is nothing higher than in identifying the universe with the Self. One realizes this state by excluding the objective world through steadfastness in the eternal Atman.
Verse 339, from The Vivekacudamani of Sri Shankaracharya, translated by Swami Madhavananda
When there is not the I-thought, then there will be no other thought. Until that time, when other thoughts arise, (asking) “to whom?” (will call forth the reply) “To me.” He who pursues this closely, questioning “What is the origin of the I?” and diving inwards reaches the seat of the mind (within) the Heart, becomes (there) the Sovereign Lord of the Universe.
Eight Stanzas to Arunachala, by Sri Ramana Maharshi (A Portion of Stanza Seven)
11: The whole universe is in the body and the whole body is in the Heart. Hence all the universe is contained in the Heart.
12: The universe is nothing but the mind, and the mind is nothing but the Heart. Thus the entire story of the universe culminates in the Heart.
SRI RAMANA GITA Chapter Five, THE SCIENCE OF THE HEART
“Master: ‘The jnani reasons about the world through the process of Neti, Neti, and at last reaches the Eternal and Indivisible Satchidananda. He reasons in this manner: Brahman is not the living beings; It is neither the universe nor the twenty-four cosmic principles. As a result of such reasoning he attains the Absolute. Then he realizes that it is the Absolute that has become all this—the universe, its living beings, and the twenty-four cosmic principles.”
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
Similar quotations from various sources about the nature of the Universal Self are included in an addendum at the end of this article. Hopefully the reader already understands that the message of Jesus, The Bhagavad Gita, Shankara, Sri Ramana Maharshi and Sri Ramakrishna all resonate as One. According to these masters the summit of spirituality is the realization of our Oneness with the indwelling Power of the Universe – The Cosmic Lord, The Self of All. Jesus called it the Divine Power of the Universe; but it has been misunderstood by the Christian Church and the Bible translates it as the Kingdom of Heaven.
So what role does Kundalini play in the realization of the Cosmic Lord, the Self of All? We will begin to explore that question in Part Two of The Gospel of Jesus Decoded.
POTENT QUOTES
7:5. This is My lower nature. But, different from it, know, O mighty Arjuna, My higher nature—the Indwelling Spirit by which the universe is sustained.
7:6. Know that these two form the womb of all beings. I am the origin of the entire universe and also its dissolution.
7:7. There exists nothing whatever higher than I AM, O Dhananjaya. All is strung on Me as a row of gems on a thread.
Bhagavad Gita, Translated by Swami Nikhilananda
When you return to your Self , this is called awakening , liberation, freedom. Having known your Self , you know everything. In this awakening the whole universe is discovered to be within yourself. All universes are within you , and you are the universe.
This is ultimate understanding . Knowing this , you know everything. If you don’t know this , you know nothing , regardless of how much information you collect. Without this knowledge , you are ignorant. Having known the absolute, you are everything … without beginning , middle , end , without birth or death.
Here , all fears end.
WAKE UP AND ROAR, Satsangh with H.W.L. Poonja Volume 2
The following is from: SRI RAMANA GITA–Chapter One, ON THE IMPORTANCE OF UPASANA (literally “being seated near”, meditation.)
“First Question:
Is Mukti (Release from phenomenal existence) to be had by mere discrimination between the real and the unreal or are there other means for the ending of bondage?
Answer to the First Question:
Abidance in the Self alone releases one from all bonds. Discrimination between the real and the unreal leads to non-attachment.
The jnani is unfathomable; he abides always in the Self alone. He does not consider the universe as unreal or as different from himself.
The following quote is from the Ninth Edition of “Talks”, #263, 20th October, 1936
Dr. Syed: Sri Bhagavan says that the Heart is the Self. Psychology has it that malice, envy, jealousy and all passions have their seat in the heart. How are these two statements to be reconciled?
M.: The whole cosmos is contained in one pinhole in the Heart. These passions are part of the cosmos. They are avidya (ignorance).
The following is an excerpt from a letter written as a reply to an inquiry by an Englishman named Harry Dickman. The reply was written with Bhagavan’s approval by Sri T.K. Sundaresa Iyer. This excerpt was taken from an article published in the September/October 2000 “The Maharshi Newsletter” published by Arunachala Ashrama, New York.
“A staunch devotee living in England, Harry Dickman, was soaked in Sri Bhagavan’s teachings, though he could not have His darshan. He wrote asking for an explanation as to the term ‘Hridayam’ and its significance. I got from Bhagavan hints on how the reply should be formed. The following is the gist of the reply, which was approved by Bhagavan and sent to Harry Dickman:” -TKS
JUST AS THERE IS a cosmic centre from which the whole universe arises and has its being and functions with the power or the directing energy emanating therefrom, so also is there a centre within the frame of the physical body wherein we have our being. This centre in the human body is in no way different from the cosmic centre. It is this centre in us that is called the Hridaya, the seat of Pure Consciousness, realized as Existence, Knowledge and Bliss. This is really what we call the seat of God in us.
THE FOLLOWING QUOTATIONS ARE FROM THE VIVEKACUDAMANI OF SHANKARA:
Verse 227: “All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.”
Verse 230: “Similarly, the whole universe, being the effect of the real Brahman, is in reality nothing but Brahman. Its essence is That, and it does not exist apart from It. He who says it does is still under delusion–he babbles like one asleep.”
Verse 231: “This universe is verily Brahman–such is the august pronouncement of the Atharva Veda. Therefore this universe is nothing but Brahman, for that which is superimposed (on something) has no separate existence from its substratum.”
Verse 236: “Whatever a deluded man perceives through mistake is Brahman and Brahman alone. The silver is nothing but the mother-of-pearl. It is Brahman which is always considered as this universe, whereas that which is superimposed on Brahman, viz. the universe, is merely a name.”
Verses 237-238: “Hence whatever is manifested, viz. this universe, is the Supreme Brahman Itself, the Real, the One without a second, pure, the Essence of Knowledge, taintless, serene devoid of beginning and end, beyond activity, the Essence of Bliss Absolute–transcending all the diversities created by Maya or nescience, eternal, ever beyond the reach of pain, indivisible, immeasurable, formless, undifferentiated, nameless, immutable, self-luminous.”
339. To realize the whole universe as the Self is the means of getting rid of bondage. There is nothing higher than identifying the universe with the Self. One realizes this state by excluding the objective world through steadfastness in the eternal Atman.
355. The Sannyasin, calm, self-controlled, perfectly retiring from the sense-world, forbearing, and devoting himself to the practice of Samadhi, always reflects on his own self being the Self of the whole universe. Destroying completely by this means the imaginations which are due to the gloom of ignorance, he lives blissfully as Brahman, free from action and the oscillations of the mind.
385. The sky, divested of the hundreds of limiting adjuncts such as a jar, a pitcher, a receptacle for grains or a needle, is one, and not divers; exactly in a similar way the pure Brahman, when divested of egoism etc., is verily One.
386. The limiting adjuncts from Brahma down to a clump of grass are all wholly unreal. Therefore one should realize one’s own Infinite Self as the only Principle.
387. That in which something is imagined to exist through error, is, when rightly discriminated, that thing itself, and not distinct from it. When the error is gone, the reality about the snake falsely perceived becomes the rope. Similarly the universe is in reality the Atman.
388. The Self is Brahma, the Self is Vishnu, the Self is Indra, the Self is Shiva; the Self is all this universe. Nothing exists except the Self.
389. The Self is within, and the Self is without; the Self is before and the Self is behind; the Self is in the south, and the Self is in the north; the Self likewise is above and also below.
391. All this universe known through speech and mind is nothing but Brahman; there is nothing besides Brahman, which exists beyond the utmost range of the Prakriti. Are the pitcher, jug, jar, etc. known to be distinct from the clay of which they are composed? It is the deluded man who talks of “thou” and “I”, as an effect of the wine of Maya.
394. What is the use of dilating on this subject? The Jiva is no other than Brahman; this whole extended universe is Brahman Itself; the Sruti inculcates the Brahman without a second; and it is an indubitable fact that people of enlightened minds who know their identity with Brahman and have given up their connection with the objective world, live palpably unified with Brahman as eternal Knowledge and Bliss.
478. The verdict of all discussions on the Vedanta is that the Jiva and the whole universe are nothing but Brahman, and that liberation means abiding in Brahman, the indivisible Entity. The Srutis themselves are authority (for the statement) that Brahman is One without a second.
“But all you really want is to keep your body-mind sense intact; that just will not do. Thus, to realize that ‘I-am-ness’ means the manifest world and the universe is the very fulfillment of jnana-yoga.”
THE NECTAR OF THE LORD’S FEET-Final Teachings of Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj. Edited by Robert Powell.
“This raises philosophical issues of great importance. Have we the least accurate knowledge of ourselves? Who am I? And what is this flame of consciousness that gives me awareness of myself and of the world around?”
“The explanations furnished by great philosophers about this marvelous stuff we call life are the guesses of little children about the moon, mere fairy tales that appear absurd in the extreme at the very first glimpse of the Self”
“…The true roots of our life do not lie in our body, in our brain, or our individual prana, but in the intelligent cosmic force or Universal prana that sweeps through the cosmos and is responsible for every organic structure of life….”
“If this store of cosmic prana were inanimate, without a will and a direction of its own, we could very well flatter ourselves that every thought and fancy that we have is the product of our own volition. But since we are ourselves the products of this Superintelligent Cosmic Power, it would be illogical to the last degree to presume that our individual ideas and fancies are exclusively our own creations and have no relationship to the ocean of which we are but a tiny drop. When it is once admitted that mind and consciousness are cosmic entities, it would then be ridiculous to suppose that the thoughts and ideas in an individual atom of this Cosmic Consciousness can have an entirely independent existence and not reflect the will and design of the Cosmic Whole.”
“…This perception of the hitherto completely unimaginable and unsuspected inner universe through the supersensory channel, developed by kundalini, is metaphorically known as the opening of the ‘Third Eye.’
Pages 176-178, HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS AND KUNDALINI, Gopi Krishna
“…For the ultimate target of every occult or religious practice is to bring the mind in tune with Cosmic Consciousness or the Infinite Universe of Life, hidden from the normal mind. Supernormal psychic gifts, enhanced intellectual caliber, and literary talents invariably attend the crowning stages of the metamorphoses brought about.”
KUNDALINI–THE SECRET OF YOGA, Gopi Krishna
The true aim of Yoga is transformation of Consciousness, the creation of a heaven on earth. What lasting joy can supernormal talents or command over supernatural forces bring to a man whose inner being has not risen above the narrow, vacillating periphery of the human mind? What greater happiness can occult gifts, temporal power or earthly riches confer on a man who, in perennial communion with the Universal Ocean of Life, has realized his own immortal nature, knows himself as one with the Eternal Fount of Cosmic Consciousness, in want of nothing and beyond the farthest reach of the contaminations of the earth: sorrow, decay and death?
KUNDALINI–THE SECRET OF YOGA, Gopi Krishna
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