AYP Lesson 410 - Early Signs of Kundalini Awakening

Advanced Yoga Practices
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Lesson 410 - Early Signs of Kundalini Awakening (Audio)

From: Yogani
Date: June 7, 2010

New Visitors: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: I have understood that when kundalini awakens, it has to start at the root and work its way up one chakra at a time. In my own case, I have been frustrated that despite a steady, though aggressive, twice daily practice of the full routine for over a year now, I have not felt any energy movement from the root. I have felt quite often what I think is energy movement, mostly in the ajna (brow) chakra and crown region, during spinal breathing pranayama. A fellow practitioner told me this must be kundalini, and that it can awaken from any point. This does not sound right to me. Could you clarify please?

A: Your friend is correct. Kundalini can be noticed beginning anywhere with a sensation or symptom here or there. But the telltale indicator is "ecstatic conductivity," meaning an instant ecstatic connection perceived between root and brow and/or crown. Once that occurs, there is no turning back. From there it continues to be a gradual process of increasing energy expansion from the center (sushumna), assuming effective practices and self-pacing are in use. And stillness rides on that, which is the outpouring we often speak of. In fact, anyone who is meditating and feels rising love and a tendency to engage in service is experiencing this process of energy expansion beneath more dramatic energy symptoms which may or may not be present. So kundalini is always expanding in there when we do practices, whether we notice so-called energy symptoms or not. There are many ways that it may express itself, and it evolves ever-outward from there.

Kundalini going up the chakras in step-by-step sequence from bottom to top like a ladder is an idealized scenario, and not accurate about what really happens. It is a simplified classical way of explaining it, but bears little relationship to the reality of kundalini awakening, which can vary according to the pattern of purification and opening occurring in the individual practitioner. So what you have going on there is good good early signs of energy awakening. All you have to do is keep going and it will expand gradually over time.

In any case, not to dwell on it too much. Ecstatic energy awakening is a given with the rise of abiding inner silence resulting from deep meditation. Paths that put kundalini awakening before cultivation of abiding inner silence are putting the cart in front of the horse, and we see it again and again in the often chaotic results.

So relax, practice, and enjoy life. You have the tools, and signs of progress are there. When your nervous system is ready, it will move to the next stage. One year is very short. Think how far you have come, and how much more there will be in 2, 3 and 5 years. Most importantly, continue to be engaged in your life in the present. It is all we have. The past is gone, and the future can never be experienced in the present. What we are doing today is the fruit of our past and is writing our future. As we continue to lay our foundation in abiding inner silence, all good things will come.

Practice wisely, and enjoy!

The guru is in you.