Spiritual Initiation

- Milestones to Enlightenment -

The journey to enlightenment is one governed by initiation. This is a fact often overlooked by those who yearn for spiritual growth. In the Esoteric Tradition, the study of spiritual initiation is a cornerstone of inquiry. To understand it is to grasp the requirements for walking the Path with greater comprehension and assurance. Often people hold the view that enlightenment is a state of consciousness suggesting spiritual perfection, and freedom from further incarnational life. From one perspective this is true. Enlightenment can be viewed as a final consummation. Unfortunately, when strictly holding to this definition, there is the tendency to forget that spiritual evolution is gradual. As such, it is valid to view enlightenment as an incremental process as well. Over countless lives, the soul is progressively learning how to express itself in the outer world. Each incarnation sees the soul gain a measure of added effectiveness in this regard. And, with each step forward, the soul is able to radiate more of its inherent light into the outer world. Herein is given another understanding of enlightenment. For when consciousness expands, so too does the individual’s capacity to radiate the soul’s light. The soul’s radiation “enlightens”, or brings light to life. It is therefore true to say that enlightenment is incremental as well as terminal. In this article we will examine the nature of spiritual initiation as a function of enlightenment. Discussion will be offered regarding each of the five initiations, their challenges and implications. Though this presentation is an overview only, it will nonetheless provide the reader with a deeper appreciation of the spiritual path, and the milestones of achievement that point the way.

To understand initiation, we must first consider the nature of the soul’s incarnational predicament. When incarnate, it is enwrapped in three layers of substance loosely referred to as the mental, emotional and physical bodies. These bodies are really vehicles that the soul seeks to utilize in order to interact with the outer world. In their sumtotal, they represent the personality (lower self). Yet, for most of the soul’s long incarnational history, the personality has had the upper hand in defining one’s behavior. All spiritually inclined people know this oh too well. Though we sense the soul within, the demands of the lower self will often take precedence over its agenda. The reason for this is that the three vehicles of the personality have not yet been mastered by the soul. From one perspective it can be said that the soul’s evolution is based upon its gradual ability to master these vehicles. Eventually the soul will demonstrate its control over the unbridled appetites of the physical body. This then is followed by its demonstration of authority over the ungoverned passions of the emotional nature. Finally, the soul must eventually gain the upper hand over the independent tendencies of the mind itself. These three steps represent the major milestones of development for the soul, and are the markers related to the first three initiations. They are the transitions most relevant to disciples today, particularly the first and second initiations.

When speaking of initiation, the reader would do well to avoid thinking of it as a physical event. Initiation is not something experienced by the outer personality. Rather, it is the soul, on its own level, that is initiated. Each initiation indicates that the soul has gained dominion over some aspect of the lower nature. The process of gaining such mastery is really the basis for all spiritual disciplines. Inherent within our lower nature is found a variety of distortions and impurities. This is true whether considering the mental, emotional or physical bodies. Such contamination is due to the misuse of these vehicles over countless incarnations. Yet, when one is spiritually disciplining his/her life, purification of the personality is the gradual byproduct of this effort. Slowly the soul inspires the personality to work toward cleansing itself. Only when these instruments are stainless will the soul have full mastery over the personality. And, it is the spiritual disciplines implemented in one’s life that make it possible for progress toward this end. Even so, the process of mastery is exceedingly slow, requiring many incarnations of effort. This is an important idea to keep in mind. There are many who claim that most (if not all) of the initiations can be taken in a single life. Though emotionally appealing, this notion is extremely misleading. Each of the initiations represents a major achievement in the long history of the soul’s journey through many incarnations. When an individual goes through an initiation, such an event is rare indeed. It has been said that there are no spiritual shortcuts in cosmos. This idea is very true, for soul evolution requires much inner labor, and many incarnations for full mastery to be achieved. Below is a brief discussion of each of the five major initiations.

First Initiation –    The Birth of the Christ within the Heart   

The first initiation occurs when the light of the soul becomes robustly expressed through the heart chakra. The nature of selfless love (Christ Principle) is then the pivotal force guiding one’s life, as well as a desire to uplift humanity. In addition, this initiation indicates that the soul has gained relative mastery over the appetites of the physical body. As such, the cravings of the body no longer hold control over consciousness. A new and higher understanding of sexuality also begins to govern life. This realization is based on an understanding that human sexuality is an outer symbol of the vertical intimacy existing between the soul and personality.  At this stage of spiritual development, the soul is a recognized fact within, and can be accessed with relative ease. This initiation marks initial entrance into the fifth kingdom in nature, the Kingdom of Souls.

Second Initiation  - The Baptism  

The second initiation is said to be one of the most difficult and painful. Fundamentally, it represents the triumph of the soul over the emotional nature of the personality. When this initiation is taken, the individual has demonstrated that the Self is no longer victimized by the tides of emotion and feeling states. Mastery over emotion is not here to be interpreted as repression. Rather, it represents one’s ability to rise above emotion, while still honoring it. This is accomplished through the use of the illumined mind. It is the mind, in its capacity to observe emotion, which makes it possible for this initiation to take place. When the mind is operating this way, the individual can free him/herself from the “slavery of ideas” and from fanatical reactions to truth. As such, a balanced perspective, and the expression of emotional temperance, are both prerequisites for taking this initiation. It is therefore not surprising that these disciples provide truly uplifting and powerful service in the betterment of humanity. Though speculation only, an example of a disciple of this status was Marie Curie, the discoverer of radium. In the Esoteric Teaching we are given to understand that it takes between five and seven incarnations to travel from the first initiation to the second. Not surprising, the bulk of today’s spiritual community are 1st degree initiates who are slowly working their way toward the second initiation.

Third Initiation –  The Transfiguration 

At the third initiation, the personality is fully transfigured by the light of the soul. By this is meant that the entire personality (lower self) is bathed in the radiance of the spirit, and is now a complete and willing servant on its behalf. Most important is the fact that the mind is now governed by the indwelling soul. No longer does the mind wander, or unintentionally shift from one thing to another. Instead, the soul is the directing agent of thought. As such, mental illusion gives way as the soul guides and dominates the mental body. At this stage, the Law of Sacrifice dominates the life. This represents a willingness to sacrifice all personality desires in support of divine Will as sensed though the soul. Because this initiation indicates the complete fusion of soul and personality, the soul has mastery over every aspect of the lower self. In today’s world there are relatively few third degree initiates, though their uplifting influence is profound. The third degree initiate is said to be a “world disciple”. Implicit in this title is the notion that his/her influence in the world will have global ramifications. A likely example of a third degree initiate is Abraham Lincoln or Ludwig van Beethoven.

Fourth Initiation - The Renunciation  

This initiation is by far the most difficult. Yet, it also indicates a transition into realms of indescribable joy when the challenges have been surmounted. This difficulty stems from the fact that it is the soul itself that must be transcended. When this occurs, the disciple is able to fully see an aspect of him/herself lying beyond the soul. It is the highest self that is visioned, the monad. This is a most difficult task, for it demands that s/he renounce everything that was thought to be the eternal Self within. In short, it is a renunciation of the soul itself that is here required. In the Esoteric Tradition, the soul is understood as an intermediary between the monad (pure spirit) and the personality. The fourth initiation is the stage when this intermediary is no longer necessary, and must be forfeited in order to make possible continued ascent. Such a relinquishment is deeply painful, for the soul has been the guiding light for many incarnations, and was believed to be the eternal Self. Yet, at this initiation the disciple is faced with the stark realization that soul consciousness is not the end, but only a means to the end. It should also be noted that a fourth degree initiate is one who has been liberated from all previously generated karma, and that the need for further incarnation is no longer mandated. This initiation is best revealed in the life of Jesus, and is sometimes called the Crucifixion Initiation.

Fifth Initiation –  The Revelation 

In many ways, this is considered the consummating initiation, relatively speaking. When taken, the initiate becomes a Master of Wisdom or Lord of Compassion. This stage represents perfection and liberation. In truth, it is a refinement of the transformation that occurred at the fourth initiation. Here, the Master becomes a masterpiece, so to speak. In addition, at the moment of initiation, s/he is afforded a profound revelation. This revelation relates to the various spiritual paths that are now open before him/her. They define the directions possible for continued spiritual development. In the ancient literature there are said to be seven of these paths, sometimes called the Higher Way of Evolution. Only one of them involves continued service upon our globe, the Path of Earth Service. Admittedly, the choice of which path to follow is not yet granted the Master, for that does not occur until the Sixth Initiation. Nonetheless, this understanding, coupled with one’s sense of inner destiny, insures that the correct path will eventually be chosen.  Speculatively speaking, an example of such a person is Sri Krishna.

From these brief descriptions it can be seen that initiation is an important aspect of spiritual evolution. Each initiation marks a moment of triumph, in that it indicates that the soul has achieved greater control over an aspect of the personality through which it is trying to express itself.  This is particularly true when considering the first three initiations, for they more directly related to the interactions of soul and personality. Initiation is truly a point of achievement, but it is also indicative of a new beginning. With the expansion of wisdom that it confers, initiation also broadens one’s capacity to serve. By this is meant that the Rite of Initiation is ever accompanied by a new and heightened sense of responsibility. Verily, initiation opens one up to an expansion within, and the reflection of this heightened state of consciousness is expanded outer service to others. Such is the nature of initiation as a force of upliftment in the world.

© 2000  William Meader

Biographical Information: William Meader is an author, teacher and counselor. Much of his work is focused on the subjects of Spiritual Creativity, the Evolution of Consciousness and the Art of Meditation. At present he is teaching in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He resides in Oregon, and can be contacted through his website at meader.org.

Source : http://meader.org/articles/spiritual-initiation-milestones-to-enlightenment/
Read more about initiation in the wonderful book "Initiation, Human and Solar", by Alice Bailey.

Loneliness on the spiritual Path.

"It is one of the features of the fourth Initiation that the man shall be left entirely alone. First he has to stand alone on the physical plane ; all his friends turn against him through misunderstanding ; it all becomes right afterwards but for the time the man is left with the feeling that all the world is against him.
Perhaps that is not so great a trial, but there is another inner side to it ; for he has also to experience for a moment the condition called Avichi, which means "the waveless", that which is without vibration. The state of Avichi is not, as has been popularly supposed, some kind of hell, but it is a condition in which the man stands absolutely alone in space, and feels cut off from all life, even from that of the Logos, and is without doubt the ghastly experience that is possible for any human being to have. It is said to last only for a moment, but to those who have felt its supreme horror it seemed an eternity, for at that level time and space do not exist. [...]"
 - The Masters and the Path , Charles W. Leadbeater

Jiddu Krishnamurti - Most people are occupied with jobs

1st QUESTION: The speaker has said that going to an office everyday from nine to five is an intolerable imprisonment. But in any society all kinds of jobs have to be done. Is K's teaching therefore only for the few?

You have understood? Shall I read it again? The speaker has said that human society is so constructed throughout the world that most people are occupied with jobs, pleasant or unpleasant, from nine to five everyday of their life. And he said also that it is an intolerable imprisonment. I don't know how you feel about it. Probably you like being in prison, probably you like your jobs from nine o'clock to five o'clock, rushing, rushing back and all the rest of it. What shall we do? To the speaker he wouldn't tolerate it for a single minute - for the speaker. I would rather do something which would be pleasant, helpful and necessary to earn enough money and so on. But most of us accept this prison, this routine - right? We accept it. So what shall we do? Nobody, as far as one is capable of sufficient observation, nobody has questioned this. We say it is normal, it is the way of society, it is the way of our life, it is the way we must live. But if we all see together that such an imprisonment, which it is actually, that we all feel it is intolerable, not just verbally but actually do something about it we will create a new society - right? We will if all of us say we will not tolerate for a single day this routine, this monstrous activity of nine to five, however necessary, however good and pleasant, then we will bring about not only psychological revolution but also outwardly. Right? We may agree about this but will we do it? You might say, "No, I can't do it because I have responsibility, I have children, I have a house and mortgage, insurance" - thank god I haven't got any of those! And so you might say, "It is easy for you to talk about all this." But it is easy for the speaker to talk about it because he refuses to go in that pattern. From boyhood he refused it.

Jiddu Krishnamurti - Brockwood Park 2nd Public Question & Answer Meeting 30th August 1979

Swami Nardanand - KUNDALINI SHAKTIPATH

Swami Nardanand

Swami Nardanand was born in 1958 in a small farming village of Uttar Pradesh state in North India. As a specially gifted boy of 10, and with the blessings of his family, this eldest son moved to the banks of the Ganges at the holy city of Haridwar to attend gurukul, which is the ancient way of training in Sanskrit and spiritual matters. 

The course of study was 12 years, 24 hours per day. The name of the school is Gurukul Kangri, which is one of the finest such schools in India. When Swami Nardanand was graduated, he not only was the leading student of his class, but also was given a special award for his accomplishments and expertise, presented in person by the President of India.

At the age of 14, Swami Nardanand was initiated as a monk by his teacher, Paramahansa Lakshmananda, who now resides in the city of Vrindivan.

Later, Swami Nardanand met and was initiated into the more esoteric spiritual teachings by his teacher, Swami Shivom Tirtha, a widely recognized adept who left his physical body in 2008 (In his later years Swami Shivom Tirtha gave up his public life, left the ashram and started living in a isolated place near Indore, with two celibate disciples, writing many books. He left his body on 06/04/ 2008 at coimbatore: his ashes were offered to the Ganges at Rishikesh)

In 1990, Swami Nardanand founded Siddha Ashram along the banks of the Shipra River in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India, one of the four major Kumbha Mela sites.  

During the 2004 Kumbha Mela at Ujjain, Swami Nardanand was appointed as Mahamandaleshwara of Akhand Akhara. 

Swami Nardanand teaches Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra in India, Europe, North America, and South America.

I am blessed to have received initiation from Swami Nardanand in 2013, since that time my kundalini is stabilised and does not cause the severe problems of the past anymore. Swami Nardanand's initiation served as a protection by someone who was a few steps further on the path of higher consciousness than I am. Whenever I am in trouble, I can contact him by email, or chat with him through facebook. I don't do this often, the initiation made me more mature, I try to solve my problems on my own in the first place. By trying through trial and error without any help, we become wise. If a problem arises after we tried to solve it ourselves in the first place, we can also ask for guidance by Swamiji Swami was only a necessary help when the kundalini caused temporary mental crises and there are only a few realised persons who can properly guide this kind of awakening processes. I feel blessed for His help and move on on my own, independant.

OM

Kristof Van Hooymissen

KUNDALINI SHAKTIPATH

Shaktipat is the descent of spiritual energy. Since energy is all pervading and is present in every particle of nature, the question arises, "Where does this energy come from and where does it go?"

Shaktipat, thus, means the descent of Chit-Shakti (the power of mind-stuff) of the Guru on the Chit-Shakti of the disciple.

The Guru is regarded to be spiritually more advanced than the disciple. When the higher spiritual power of Guru is transferred to the lower one of the disciple, it arises and activates the disciple's Chit-Shakti and makes it introspective. This awakening and activation is easily possible through Shaktipat.

Kundalini Shaktipat, also known as Kundalini Maha-yoga is a self-perfecting spiritual practice, in which the Kundalini power causes an initiate to perform kriyas (automatic movements) through the power of Kundalini itself. Therefore, its other name is Siddha-yoga, or "the self-proven path of meditation," in which it is the Shakti itself that performs the meditation.

An initiate must not make any effort at all; one's duty is only to surrender. The time and characteristics of the manifestation of Shakti are solely the work of the divine power (Shakti) itself. To practice this type of meditation means that one must simply allow the divine power the opportunity to perform the meditation by itself.

Source : http://www.siddhaashram.net/swami_nardanand.htm

Services offered at Siddha Ashram

Siddha Ashram and Swami Nardanand are extremely committed to serving the needs of the poor people of India and the city of Ujjain in particular, the home of the ashram. A few of the ways this is done include:

Gurukul: Founded in 2006 by Swami Nardanand Gurukul Siddha Academy serving the most needy of the needy. Contact Siddha Ashram for more information or to make donations of money, materials, or other services. (There is a web page with additional information at Swami J's site; click here)

Natural Care Pharmacy Ujjain: Get well Natural Medicine. Founded by Swami Nardanand, Natural Care Pharmacy has created highly effective and unique formulas to help with a wide variety of conditions. Our Natural formulas are manufactured utilizing Pharmaceutical standards and offer the highest concentrations in the industry.

Elderly women at the ashram: Some of the elderly women who have no family, no house, no money, and no other means of support stay at Siddha Ashram. Some are so old and of ill health that they cannot do anything. Others, if able, may contribute to cleaning and other such activities around the ashram. All of their needs are provided by the ashram, including food, shelter, clothing and medical care.

Homeless people: Many other people also have little or no resources, and live on the street. When there money is there, Swamiji and the Ashram will purchase and distribute blankets, clothes, sweaters and food.

Medicine and treatment: Swamiji has many contacts in the medical community, including doctors who are his student. He will arrange through these doctors free medical treatment, as well as proving the money to purchase medicines and related medical materials and supplies.

Sewing machines: When financial resources are there, sewing machines and other machines are acquired so that the unemployed or unemployable may have a way to make their own income.

Finding jobs: Along with these services, the Ashram also helps people and community business people to work together to create and find jobs for those willing and able to work.

Food for saints and sadhus: Ujjain is a major spiritual center in India. As Siddha Ashram is prominently located on the Shipra River in the heart of Ujjain, there are many wandering monks and pilgrims, for whom food is regularly provided by the Ashram.

Path Breaking Ayurvedic Remedies

Swami Nardanand is an adept at exploring the depths of ancient Ayurvedic remedies for many diseases. Swamiji, many a time has arrived at insightful remedies during his meditation. This has lead to the development of natural medicine for Malaria, Chickengunya, Arthritis, and Cancer.

Thousands of people have benefited from the specially created natural medicines, which have been distributed at low costs to the poor in India. The effective formulas will soon be patented and the medicines will be dispensed over-the-counter at pharmacies across India. 

Natural Care Pharmacy Ujjain: Get well Natural Medicine. Founded by Swami Nardanand, Natural Care Pharmacy has created highly effective and unique formulas to help with a wide variety of conditions. Our Natural formulas are manufactured utilizing Pharmaceutical standards and offer the highest concentrations in the industry. 

To speak or not to speak? [SPEECH] - Remember : Silence is Golden!

Speech is important, its use or its non-use. To talk consciousnessly with compassionate and empowering words has way more impact on the global unity consciousness than hate-speech or tyrannical words, for instance. That's why the mystery religions throughout the ages thaught the neophytes to use SPEECH wisely, and to remember that silence is golden; sometimes, this since the time of the initiation of Pythagoras and many others, hundreds and thousands of years ago. These lessons of ancient wisdom are still the same today in the modern world, that's why it's called ageless wisdom, not? A difficult lesson to learn for all adepts. The time to speak out is now; that's for sure; but the time for introspection, rest, meditation, re-evalution must also be there. The voice of silence is very important, but when humanity must be protected and informed, it becomes our duty to talk wisely and show things that are normally unseen for the common eye. New revolutionary truths are always welcomed as insanity, laughed at, often face ridicule, and later on violent opposition from the forces that don't want us to evolve or that fear change, until the new truths become a new evident fact of our consciousness and reality - remember the Snowden revelations - 1) This can't be true 2) Snowden must be killed 3) Snowden is a hero [for the majority]. This is something we see in philosophy, in science and in religion. Those who had to struggle for survival, who often worked secretly behind the scenes are called to prepare for the externalisation of the work that needs to be done, by the written word, by works of art, by the development of new philosophies, sciences and so on. The time of preparation until 2012 is done. Many of us suffered enormously in society by fighting for the Great Work to accomplish, but hope is on the horizon. Their is a call for freedom and truth on the planet that is vividly a living reality amongst the cultural creatives, the 25% of the population that are pioneering us into a new lifestyle, based on integrity. The job is not done, but we must not stay silent as before. Maybe we suffered badly as being mistaken for weird, mad people in the beginning. In the mainstream media, our worldview get little attention. We think that we are alone, but we stand for millions and millions of people in America and Europe alone, according to Paul Ray's research on the subject. Our foundations are here and the preparations of the work can succeed. Humanity has the tools now to connect and fight back against the forces that are of evil intent. The next phase will be a further combat against controlling intentions, and a liberating struggle for humanity to become what they really are. We must liberate the world from poverty, from the horror of being forced to work in order to survive and eat. The more sentient beings that can be transfigured from striving needs into being needs, the better. From being arises rest , contemplation and it's a new source of energy, with new solutions to the problems together with our fellow men. Striving is still based on lacking something, while being is a state of full abundance, joy and power The secrecy within our former lives [often needed for our own protection and survival] will soon be part of the past. It's time to take the lead and envision the world towards the path of beauty, goodness and truth. We are halfway. Keep walking, the race is long, the next rest is in the year 2025, the year when the transformation of society should be done. [The Muse song is some nostalgia of the past - outdated please - raise your voices, no more reason to hide - speak out, but wisely and consciouss, with love and respect].

[JOY UNTO YE, O MEN OF MYALBA .
A PILGRIM HATH RETURNED BACK "FROM THE OTHER SHORE."
A NEW ARHAN IS BORN. . . .Peace to all beings

[Quote from The Voice of the Silence by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]

- THE SECRET OF ALL SECRETS now in plain sight, no longer hidden, after the struggle of walking the Path for years secretly, attacked and misunderstood] *

Watch here Muse - Ruled by Secrecy

New evidence shows link between childhood trauma and psychotic experiences.

Date:

July 10, 2013

Source:

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

Summary:

Researchers in Ireland have demonstrated that exposure to childhood trauma (physical assault and bullying) is linked to psychotic experiences, (such as hearing voices), and in turn the cessation of traumatic experiences led to a significant reduction in the incidence of psychotic experiences.

Researchers at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) have demonstrated that exposure to childhood trauma (physical assault and bullying) is linked to psychotic experiences, (such as hearing voices), and in turn the cessation of traumatic experiences led to a significant reduction in the incidence of psychotic experiences.

The findings are being presented today at the European Society for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Congress taking place in Dublin and appear in this month's edition of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

This was a collaborative project between the National Suicide Research Foundation (Cork) and RCSI with funding from the Health Research Board (HRB) and the European Union Framework 7 Programme. The researchers undertook a nationally representative prospective cohort study of 1,112 school-based adolescents aged 13-16 years, and assessed them at baseline, three-months and 12-months for childhood trauma (defined as physical assault and bullying) and psychotic experiences.

ProfessorMary Cannon, HRB Clinician Scientist and Senior Investigator, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI said "Our findings are the first to show there is direct evidence between exposure to childhood trauma and psychotic experience. Furthermore, it showed that the cessation of traumatic experiences was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of psychotic experiences. These findings place new weight on calls for more comprehensive preventions and intervention strategies against childhood trauma in the community from abuse at home and bullying in schools.

The study aimed to determine whether childhood trauma could be considered a cause of psychotic experiences. In order for something to be genuinely considered 'a cause', it has to show a number of characteristics such as, a strength of association -- namely the stronger the association the more likely that it is causal; a dose-response relationship -- as the dose increases, so should the odds of the outcome or cessation of exposure -- if exposure ceases or decreases, then the odds of the outcome should also cease or decrease.

Professor Cannon, continued "Our findings showed a clear relationship between exposure to childhood trauma and the onset of psychotic symptoms because the strength of the relationships was large in terms of odds ratios. We also saw a dose-response relationship with the odds of psychotic symptoms increasing in line with increasing levels of bullying."

Dr Ian Kelleher, Lead Investigator, Department of Psychiatry, RCSI said "Our analysis shows, we believe for the first time, that cessation of traumatic experiences predicted a significantly reduced incidence of psychotic experiences compared to individuals for whom the traumatic experiences continued. This is a very encouraging finding and suggests that population based approaches could have a large impact reducing the prevalence of psychotic symptoms."

"The research found that 'classmates' were the largest group inflicting physical harm. Additionally, as most bullying taking place within the school, teacher training could have a very important role to play in reducing this harm," said Dr Kelleher.

Dr Helen Keeley and Dr Paul Corcoran of the National Suicide Research Foundation were co-investigators on this research.

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Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

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Journal Reference:

1. Ian Kelleher. Childhood Trauma and Psychosis in a Prospective Cohort Study: Cause, Effect, and Directionality. American Journal of Psychiatry, 2013; 170 (7): 734 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.12091169

Source : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/07/130710103815.htm

Kundalini and Psychosis

Deeksha, meditation and emotional release may help facilitate the Kundalini awakening while the Kundalini in turn will help cleanse the system from physiological and psychological blocks. Yogi Amrit Desai says: “As the liberated energy (Kundalini) courses through the system, it actually sweeps away samskaras – karmic traces from the past that are still imprinted in the body and mind – like floodwaters clearing clogged debris from a river bed.”

When the Kundalini awakens it may stir up a lot of repressed feelings and traumas from the unconscious and cause considerable anguish and pain in the individual. A premature Kundalini awakening may cause psychotic episodes in individuals with severe early traumas. Such traumas are usually associated with serious organic or biological disturbances.

Some psychotic subjects tend to show low amplitude alpha mixed with moderate to high amplitude fast beta, often predominating in the frontal and perhaps in the temporal lobes of the brain. This may indicate a partial Kundalini arousal on a fragmented and fragile basis. This fast EEG frequency pattern, which lacks the slow frequency, high amplitude components, indicates a lack of grounding and a dissociation between levels of consciousness. There is a lack of integration of the system. This is like putting 220 Volt on a 110 Volt system. All weaknesses of the system will surface and create emotional turmoil and information overload in the brain causing anxiety, delusions and a racing mind. The problem with these psychotics is that they have a disintegrated personality. They are not properly grounded to their biological roots and connected to their deeper levels of consciousness.

Source : http://www.newbrainnewworld.com/?Awakening_of_Kundalini:Kundalini_and_Psychosis

Present! - Stan Grof and the Healing Potential of Non Ordinary States of Consciousness

Some more kundalini research

Therapy & Mental Health Issues

One common characteristic of a Kundalini process is heightened sensitivity of the brain and nervous system. This type of change can lead to great benefits, such as inspired creativity. But it can also have the effect of magnifying various quirks or imperfections in our psychological makeup so that they become more problematic. This is the reason why many great geniuses were also highly eccentric.

In some cases various neuroses or even psychoses may manifest. But if efforts are made to facilitate the process (as outlined in the Lifestyle section), these difficulties could eventually abate.

Although ‘spiritual process’ has now been formally recognized in the psychiatric Diagnostic Services Manual edition 4 (DSM 4), many therapists in both the psychological and psychiatric communities remain unaware of this, and have little or no understanding of how this type of process works.

It is to be hoped that knowledge and awareness of Kundalini as a natural process will become more common in the mental health community, so that individuals who are experiencing difficulties can be more effectively helped through facilitation of the process.

Lifestyle Considerations

The importance of lifestyle in managing a Kundalini process cannot be overstated.  Usually the enhancements that Kundalini is trying to bring about cannot happen without substantial changes in lifestyle.

Changes of this type can be quite challenging, especially if one has obligations and responsibilities, such as a dependent spouse or children.  But failure to make the necessary changes will usually make the process more difficult, prolong its duration, and affect its outcome.

During the time a process is very active it is imperative that the body be able to provide the quantity and quality of vital energy that the brain requires. This ability is impacted by numerous factors, of which the following are primary.

Diet:

A healthy diet is essential for a successful process.  But diet is individual in nature, and what is good for one person to eat may not be good for another.  It is therefore very important to be aware of how one's body reacts to different foods, and to consume those that enhance the process.

In general, one should eat as natural and healthy a diet as possible, emphasizing organically grown fruits and vegetables, and avoiding heavily processed, artificial or ‘junk’ food.

Meat, particularly red meat, tends to temporarily inhibit a Kundalini process.  This may be useful if one needs to be more ‘grounded’ for a period of time.  If consumed, it should be organically raised, from animals that are fed on natural and appropriate feed.

Sleep

Kundalini is often highly active during sleep, and an adequate amount of sleep is essential for a healthy process.

Physical Fitness

The ability of our body to provide the necessary quantity and quality of vital energy is closely connected to our level of physical fitness.  Emphasis should be on moderate forms of exercise, done in nature, such as walking or gardening.

Stress

The effect of stress is to produce toxins in the body that detract from the quality of vital energy going to the brain.  As much as possible, stressful activities should be avoided.  If that is not possible, then stress-reducing activities, such as spending time in nature, should be done.

Alcohol, Smoking and Recreational Drugs

These also tend to seriously degrade the quality of vital energy or prana in the body, and should be avoided.

Concentration

If mental difficulties arise during a Kundalini process, it is strongly advised that intense forms of concentration be reduced or stopped.  These may bework related, or part of a spiritual practice, such as meditation.  If one injures a muscle from over-exercise, doing further exercise with that muscle does not facilitate the healing process.

Sexual Activity

New activity in the brain must be fuelled by increased energy from the body.  At first such energy is supplied by the sex organs, in the form of prana.  In time the nervous system becomes adjusted to extracting the energy from other organs and tissues in the body.  Until this happens, it is essential that sexual activity be kept at a level that leaves enough vital energy for the brain.  This may mean a reduction in activity, or total abstinence.  If feelings of mental distress arise after sexual activity, then it is too frequent.

Another problem may arise when the sex organs are stimulated to hyper-activity but the quality of the energy produced is poor.  This may be due to an impure or toxic state of the body. In this case the energy would actually be harmful for the brain.  So in order to protect the brain from harm, the transformation and transmission of the sexual energy is blocked, forcing this heightened activity to be expressed outwardly.  This may result in an intensed sexual appetite that cannot be satisfied.

If this happens it is strongly advised that every effort be made to purify the body (as outlined above) so that the process may continue in a more healthy way.

Relationships

As Kundalini can have the effect of transforming a person’s personality, and often requires them to make major lifestyle changes, it can also be very stressful for a spouse or other family members.  Therefore it is essential that these people be educated about what Kundalini is and what it is trying to accomplish.  

Kundalini is a natural process with a desirable goal, similar to pregnancy and childbirth. When family members realize this they may be more understanding and willing to make the adjustments in their lifestyle necessary to facilitate the process. In the end, most people undergoing a Kundalini process have no choice but to make such adjustments.

More About Lifestyle

Having read about some of the aspects of lifestyle considerations and how they might impact the process of Kundalini we also thought that it would be important to provide an in-depth article looking at The Deeper Significance of Health.

Read excerpts below and the complete article .

More than the absence of disease, health can be understood as the body's ability to function effectively within a given environment. Because our environment is constantly changing, our health is a process of continuous adaptation to the stresses and challenges we confront internally and externally.

A quiet, patient attitude enables us to listen to our body and facilitate its healing process. In fact, this attitude is the original meaning of the word "patient": a person who is prepared to reflect on his or her condition and do what is required so that the body can perform its functions as completely and as efficiently as possible.

A greater degree of harmony within ourselves and our environment can be created by becoming aware of and living according to nature's rhythms, which govern all living organisms and much of the physical world as well.

Once we acknowledge the inherent healing capacity of the body, we can easily adopt a more holistic approach to our health, in terms of our daily activities, an approach based on the simple principles of living. We are then more likely to discover and include appropriate nutrition and exercise into our day, and to learn how to relax and interact with the external world as it is.

KUNDALINI AWARENESS: A CALL FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

In this section we provide a brief overview of ICR's approach to the study of Kundalini and consciousness as well as a summary of the literary researchthat has taken place to this point. We have also included information about ICR’s Research Honorarium Fund and complete articles about Kundalini and our mystics & geniuses research.

Mankind seems to be voyaging into a new world of perception and does not yet have reliable tools to cope with this apparently new environment. Just as most of the key ideas upon which our presently accepted science is based were known to the Greeks and lay fallow for almost 2,000 years, before development, most of the key ideas upon which this new science will be based seem to have been known to the Eastern cultures for even longer. Now seems to be the time for transforming these ideas into an accepted science.

—Prof. William A. Tiller

…we can develop a science that embraces the religions of the world, working in concert with them to understand the wholehuman condition. The centerpiece of this new paradigm is the recognition that modern science validates an ancient idea, the idea that consciousness, not matter, is the ground of all being.

—Amit Goswami, Ph.D.

Source : http://www.icrcanada.org/

Gopi Krishna and Kundalini.

by Teri Degler and Michael Bradford

"Gopi Krishna was a pioneer in the land of
spirituality. His insights into the quantum
nature of the body predates the scientific
discoveries of today. I salute this great
sage and scientist of the twentieth century."

–Deepak Chopra

The ICR offers a number of books written by Gopi Krishna in our store. Your contributions are greatly appreciated and are vital in allowing ICR to continue our mission.

Gopi Krishna is widely recognized as having done more to advance our understanding of Kundalini than anyone else in modern times. He has put this amazing aspect of our nature in a logical, consistent and scientific light, and presented us with a new understanding of the goal of evolution, both as individuals and as a species.

Kundalini awakened in him quite forcefully in 1937 after 17 years of intense meditative practice. From that moment onwards, his consciousness was radically altered and over the next 12 years or so, it underwent an even more dramatic transformation to a perennial state.

It was Gopi Krishna’s belief that knowledge of Kundalini is essential for the survival of the race, and that with this knowledge we would then begin to explore aspects of creation totally hidden from our view at present.

Gopi Krishna was born in 1903, near the city of Srinagar, in the Jammu and KashmirState in northern India. He spent his earlier years there and later, in Lahore, in the Punjab of British India. At the age of twenty, he returned to Kashmir. During the succeeding years he secured a post in the state government, married and raised a family.

With wife Bhabi

Early in his career he became the leader of a social organization that was devoted to helping the disadvantaged in his community, especially with regard to issues concerning the well-being and rights of women.

In 1967 he published his first major book in India, Kundalini—The Evolutionary Energy in Man (currently available under the title Living with Kundalini). Shortly thereafter it was published in Great Britain and the United States and has since appeared in eleven major languages. The book presented to the western world for the first time a clear and concise autobiographical account of the phenomenon of the forceful awakening of Kundalini.

Kundalini Awakening

At the age of thirty-four, while meditating one morning, he experienced the sudden and forceful awakening of Kundalini. As he sat meditating - exactly as he had for the three hours before dawn each day for seventeen years - he became aware of a powerful, pleasurable sensation at the base of his spine. He continued to meditate, and as he did, the sensation began to spread and extend upwards. It continued to expand until he heard, quite without warning, a roar like that of a waterfall and felt a stream of liquid light enter his brain. In Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man, he describes what happened:

"The illumination grew brighter and brighter, the roaring louder, I experienced a rocking sensation and then felt myself slipping out of my body, entirely enveloped in a halo of light…I felt the point of consciousness that was myself growing wider, surrounded by waves of light…I was now all consciousness, without any outline, without any idea of a corporeal appendage, without any feeling or sensation coming from the senses, immersed in a sea of light simultaneously conscious and aware of every point, spread out, as it were, in all directions without any barrier or material obstruction…bathed in light and in a state of exaltation and happiness impossible to describe."

Gopi Krishna's experience radically altered the path of his life. He came to believe that our brains were evolving and that an individual's profound mystical experience was a foretaste of what would eventually become an all-pervasive transformation in human consciousness.

 In his own case, Gopi Krishna's initial experience triggered a transformative process that lasted for twelve years. During this time, the sensations of light, splendor and joy alternated with - and were often completely overshadowed by - sensations of fire, unbearable heat and bleak depression.

Being from a culture that was steeped in the yogic tradition, Gopi Krishna looked there for an explanation for what seemed to be happening to his mind and body. Immersing himself in the ancient teachings on the subject, he discovered that much of it was in symbolic and cryptic language. He learned one reason for this was that the tantric yoga masters had not wanted the knowledge to fall into the hands of those who were not fully prepared for the experience. It was believed that premature or incorrect awakening of Kundalini could cause a number of frightening symptoms, including searing lights, horrific heat, and deep depression. Some ancient yoga masters even believed that the incorrect awakening of Kundalini could cause insanity or death.

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However, Gopi Krishna also discovered that the esoteric teachings contained a number of simple practices that might help bring the energy back into balance after it had been awakened incorrectly. A few of these practices, particularly those related to living a moderate life-style, helped him begin a long process of bringing the energy back into balance.

The Bloom of Genius

Over the years, the periods of suffering waxed and waned until, finally, they were replaced by the visions of light, sensations of bliss and the spontaneous development of an extraordinary level of creative ability. Before his death in 1984 at the age of eighty-one, Gopi Krishna would write seventeen books on Higher Consciousness - three of them entirely in verse. He credited this enormous output not to his own efforts but to inspiration from a higher source. This inspiration was so extraordinary that one of his books, The Shape of Events to Come – a volume of more than two hundred pages - was composed in three weeks.

Relating to the crises that still haunt the world today, Gopi Krishna made it clear that one of the main reasons the earth teeters on the brink of environmental and nuclear destruction was that the masculine and feminine are so out of balance. Of course, he was not referring here to traits held by "men" as opposed to those held by "women" but rather those characteristics associated with the masculine and feminine principles we all hold within ourselves.

Within this context, he made a forceful argument, showing how, particularly in the last two centuries in the western world, the glorification of the ideals traditionally associated with the masculine - reason, logic, power, strength, victory, territorialism - and the denigration of those related to the feminine - emotion, intuition, nurturing - had led to the proliferation of arms, the development of agents of mass destruction, the spread of war and terrorism and the systematic rape of the environment.

It is not surprising that Gopi Krishna had such a keen understanding of the importance of the feminine side of our natures. Kundalini, the cosmic force that was so active in his body is seen in the yogic tradition as feminine. Known also as kundalini-shakti, kundalini is said to operate in the microcosm of the human body in ways that parallel the way Shakti - the divine feminine principle and partner of the divine masculine principle, Shiva - operates in the macrocosm that is our Universe.

Social Activism

One of the little known facts about Gopi Krishna's life is that he was a crusader for women's rights. Putting this in historical and cultural context shows how very extraordinary his dedication to this cause was. In 1930 it had been less than ten years since women had won the vote and the vast majority of the women in the world were still considered chattel. In India conditions for women were even worse and a man campaigning publicly for women's rights would have been unheard of.

Gopi Krishna did far more than just speak out for women. He acted, and at one point ended up imprisoned for his actions. One of his most far-reaching contributions involved bettering conditions for widows. At that time in India, the plight of a woman whose husband died was often horrific, especially if she had no grown children to help or protect her. The custom of suttee (throwing oneself on the husband's funeral pyre) though outlawed was still practiced, particularly in remote areas. Even if a widow was saved from this terrible death, she and her children were often abandoned by her in-laws. If these women's own families could not care for them - and they often could not as they had already impoverished themselves paying her dowry - begging or prostitution were her only means of survival.

One of the groups that Gopi Krishna
organized to help women.

Horrified by this injustice, Gopi Krishna began a movement to save these women and children. Passionately speaking out and educating others, he soon gathered together a small band of like-minded individuals in Srinagar. Eventually they raised enough funds to build a large protective compound with small individual dwellings for each woman and her children. Over the years, he and his co-workers were also able to provide the women with equipment like sewing machines and looms and the training they needed in order to operate their own cottage industry on the premises.

Gopi Krishna also fought against the custom whereby women could not remarry. He worked to educate the public about the injustice of this custom and met with some success. A number of women under the Society's care found gentlemen they wished to marry - the women's wishes being the key. These women were protected just as they would have been by a loving family and no courtship was begun or marriage considered unless the woman explicitly desired it. When a marriage did occur the couple invariably insisted on showing their gratitude by including Gopi Krishna in the wedding party, often in the role of the father giving away the bride.

Gopi Krishna's efforts to improve conditions for women took many forms in addition to his work for widows. At one point he even staged a mock insurrection in the streets of Srinagar so that a young woman who had been sold into bondage could be rescued. Unfortunately, the police jailed him and the supporters who had caused the disruption. When the news reached the ears of the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, she immediately ordered his release. After Gopi Krishna insisted that all be released, the authorities relented.

Father of the Modern Kundalini Movement

Along with all of his humanitarian efforts, Gopi Krishna produced beautiful poetry and books in prose and verse form. But his main thrust over the years was to write about mystical experience and the evolution of consciousness from a scientific point of view - that there is a biological mechanism in the human body, known from ancient times in India as Kundalini, which is responsible for creativity, genius, psychic ability, religious and mystical experience, as well as some types of aberrant mental illness.

In fact, he steadfastly resisted the ever increasing numbers of spiritual seekers who urged him to become a guru. From that day in 1937 when his awakening occurred, to the end of his life, the energy was fully active in his body, bringing about a radical and permanent transformation of his perceptive faculties. Traveling extensively in Europe and North America, he dedicated his life to promoting the scientific study of Kundalini and developing the Kundalini hypothesis which is described in “A Memorandum for Kundalini Research”. His books, such as The Biological Basis of Religion and Genius elucidate his theories and provide direction for possible scientific research.

Bron : http://www.icrcanada.org/learn/historicalbasis/gopi-krishna-kundalini