At a recent gathering, people asked for an explanation of what kundalini means in terms of our tradition and experience. They seemed surprised that it did not sound dangerous or refer to mystical visions or drugs.I said simply this: “In every person there is a dormant potential. When that is activated, it gives us the power to experience and express our uniqueness as a human being. It awakens and aligns our glands, cells, neurons, and chemistry to support each action without duality and within the flow. Purpose and power become an effortless dance, a natural expression of our intention. In spiritual terms, we say that our soul has found its heart and hands.”

So, kundalini is our uniqueness. Normally we try to be different, not unique. We lack the combination of humility, stillness and royalty needed to just be who we are. But in order to be different we fragment our self; we isolate; we select our group and then try to belong. On the other hand, when our capacity to be unique awakens, we belong to our Self and become available to all.

We have a mantra: ek ong kar, sat nam, siri wahe guru. It is the foundation mantra for awareness in kundalini yoga practice. The first condition is ek ong kar: to have the experience of connectedness to all things; to connect to your friends and enemies; to those known and unknown to you; to all those who lived before you and all those who will come after; to this moment and place; and to the timeless everywhere.

Only that connection with ALL allows us to become unique. When we release tension, fears and blocks, we can be still and open to say ‘yes’ to everything in this creation. Anytime we react from fear or a need to get something, we contract, fragment and enter into a finite game. We play the game to lose or win; but not to love, excel and be.

Kundalini is awareness. Awareness is a quality of our being that is both formless and within each form. When we awaken the kundalini, we can engage in the finite games of forms without losing ourselves within them, without being entranced by the form. We can excel in our role as a professional, a yogi, a basketball player or a corporate executive AND be fully present in our uniqueness as a human being.
The central part of the kundalini mantra is “sat nam.” That is our identity—the reality or truth of all that exists. When each form or name we create is true (sat) to our authentic Self, then our word is true.

Without ek ong kar, without the expansive energy of kundalini, we see only the truth of our own ego or personal need, instead of recognizing the truth and reality of this moment of existence. Sat or truth in this sense is a mutuality among all that gives rise to my self and my uniqueness. When I am mutual with all things then I am universally true. I love all. I do not restrict my compassion nor close my heart. If I am mutual only with a group that sees the same way I do, then I am only my ego, circumstantial and dependent on that group or situation. If I am mutual only to my own sensations or thoughts, then I am a true neurotic and a commotional witness to the pain that perspective causes. However, when the Kundalini awakens, the connection with All to the experience and truth of my uniqueness as a human being is seamlessly bound together. Kundalini opens us up to breadth and perspective. Kundalini is not a miracle, it simply lets you realize your Self as a miracle.

Finally we have the energetic phrase siri wahe guru: the ecstatic realization of our awareness and uniqueness in action; the ecstasy that accompanies states of flow in which the ego is transcended; the power of effortless effort. It is the ability to recognize the next step we should take—living a dharma. It is that experience of selflessness that lets us see every movement and moment of life as a teaching and an expression of wisdom. It fills us with gratitude, joy and the courage to embrace the fearless wisdom that is simple, innocent and relentless in this moment. Intuition expands. Energy abounds. We relax. We become fully human. Unique. As is.

We were always a partner with the Infinite. Spirit and grace are always here; the future in the present. Through all the pains and pleasures of life, a single thread of ecstatic awareness abides as a witness to our true Self, with love and patience—that is kundalini. Awareness pure and simple. The nectar of life. A key to our birthright of happiness. An ancient mystery come home to everyone, each one precious, unique and self-illumined.

Gurucharan Singh Khalsa, PhD

Director of Training

Kundalini Research Institute

 

****Chinese translation about this artricle is coming soon..... patience pay.. sat nam (nicol)