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Kundalini yoga is a physical and meditative discipline within the tradition of Yoga, associated with the subdivision of Hatha yoga, but more closely associated with Raja Yoga, Tantra, Ashtanga and the sutras of Patanjali. It describes a set of yoga exercises and meditations which are also sometimes referred to as Kriya Yoga or simply kriyas. Kundalini yoga is sometimes called "the yoga of awareness" because it awakens the "kundalini" which is the unlimited potential that already exists within every human being

According to Hindu tradition Kundalini yoga is a pure spiritual science that leads to enlightenment and God-realization under the guidance of a spiritual master. The awakening of kundalini means awakening of inner knowledge, awareness and evolved consciousness. Kundalini Yoga has been documented as a system of exercises and meditations and claims to provide extensive benefits for personal growth, health and improving mental and physical well-being, including asthma, diabetes, pain, stress-related diseases, healing and rehabilitating addictive behavior, and treating mental disorders.

In Hindu tradition, Kundalini techniques are only communicated from Master to disciple once the disciple is deemed ready. In this tradition some yogic masters believe that in ascetic settings ignorance or refusal to follow instructions of a master can lead to harmful effects. However, in a few instances teachers from India encouraged students to update and spread the teachings to the West, thereby putting doubt to this claim.

Underlying philosophy

Kundalini is a concentrated form of prana or life force, lying dormant in chakras in the body. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent (literally, 'kundalini' in Sanskrit is 'That which is coiled.' Sanskrit kund, "to burn"; kunda, "to coil or to spiral"). The serpent is considered to be female, coiled up three and a half times, with its mouth engulfing the base of the Sushumna nadi.

In the classical literature of Kashmir Shaivism kundalini is described in three different manifestations. The first of these is as the universal energy or para-kundalini. The second of these is as the energizing function of the body-mind complex or prana-kundalini. The third of these is as consciousness or shakti-kundalini which simultaneously subsumes and intermediates between these two. Ultimately these three forms are the same but understanding these three different forms will help to understand the different manifestations of kundalini .

The path of Kundalini is said to proceed from the Muladhara Chakra at the lower end of the spinal column up to the Sahasara Chakra at the top of the head. But its awakening is not thought to be a physical occurrence; it consists exclusively of a development in consciousness. According to some sources, awakening of kundalini brings with it pure joy, pure knowledge and pure love.

According to one source, the word kundalini literally means "the curl of the lock of hair of the beloved.". It is a metaphor, a poetic way of describing the flow of energy and consciousness which already is said to exist within each person. The practices are said to enable the person to merge with or "yoke" the universal self. This merging of individual consciousness with the universal consciousness is said to create a "divine union" called "yoga".

The Western & Sikh based practices

Recently, Kundalini Yoga, also known as Kundalini Yoga as Taught by Yogi Bhajan, was largely popularized and revealed to the West by Yogi Bhajan, Ph.D. in 1968, so that the previously secret yogic teachings could be safely practiced, openly shared and widely taught. As the practice emerged and was revealed to the public, it became very popular for its healing properties — and was eventually recognized by the US Congress and US Senate in 2004 for its many contributions to Western society. Since 1972 this branch of Kundalini Yoga has been overseen by the 3HO Foundation and the Kundalini Research Institute, which maintains the integrity of the Library of Teachings. Although Yogi Bhajan held the title of Sikh Minister of the West, and he integrated Sikh Dharma into the yogic philosophy, it was always his belief that Kundalini Yoga can and should be practiced without any religious dogma, and solely as a spiritual and scientific yoga for everyone to be happy, healthy, and holy.

Excerpts from the Joint Congressional Resolution reveal: "Whereas when Yogi Bhajan visited the United States in 1968, he recognized immediately that the experience of higher consciousness that many young people were attempting to find through drugs could be alternatively achieved through Kundalini Yoga, and in response, he began teaching Kundalini Yoga publicly, thereby breaking the centuries-old tradition of secrecy surrounding it."

"Whereas in 1969, Yogi Bhajan founded 'Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization (3HO), a nonprofit private educational and scientific foundation dedicated to serving humanity, improving physical well-being, deepening spiritual awareness, and offering guidance on nutrition and health, interpersonal relations, child rearing, and human behavior."

According to Sikh tradition the practice of yoga is used to aid one to attain a higher level of awareness and consciousness, ultimately to experience the individual self merging with the greater consciousness of all, and to become one with God. This is specifically attained through repetition (meditation, or 'jap') of the celestial sound (mantra, also 'naam', or the Name of God). The goal of the practice includes enlightenment, which is equally synonymous with the realization that true happiness comes from selfless service (seva) and the recognition of an equal and common brotherhood of men and women, without regard to religion, race, class, creed or caste.

The Sikh based practice of Kundalini Yoga goes back to the time of the Ten Sikh Gurus and Guru Nanak. Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru worked to wrest the teachings away from the Hindu binds of secrecy and open them to all castes and classes, and so instructed his disciples to learn Sanskrit and study the ancient Vedic texts and teach the yogic system to all Sikhs.

Developmental perspective

Sovatsky, a scholar of Yoga associated with transpersonal psychology, adapts a developmental and evolutionary perspective in his interpretation of Kundalini Yoga. That is, he interprets Kundalini Yoga as a catalyst for psycho-spiritual growth and bodily maturation. According to this interpretation of yoga, the body bows itself into greater maturation , none of which should be considered mere stretching exercises.

Observations

All intensive spiritual practices associated with Asian traditions require attentive practice. Psychiatric literature notes that "Since the influx of eastern spiritual practices and the rising popularity of meditation starting in 1960s, many people have experienced a variety of psychological difficulties, either while engaged in intensive spiritual practice or spontaneously". Among the psychological difficulties associated with intensive spiritual practice we find "kundalini awakening", "a complex physio-psychospiritual transformative process described in the yogic tradition". Also, writers in the fields of Transpersonal psychology and Near-death studies describe a complex pattern of sensory, motor, mental and affective symptoms associated within the concept of kundalini. Often it will be found that negative experiences occur only when acting without appropriate guidance or ignoring advice.

Medical research

Recently there has been a growing interest within the medical community to study the physiological, as well as the psychological, effects of meditation, and some of these studies have applied the discipline of kundalini yoga to their clinical settings.

• Arambula et al. has studied the physiological correlates of a highly practiced kundalini yogi.
• Peng et al. has studied the heart-rate oscillations, associated with slow breathing during the practice of kundalini yoga meditation.
• Venkatesh et al. has studied twelve kundalini (chakra) meditators, using the Phenomenology of Consciousness Inventory. They found that the practice of meditation "appears to produce structural as well as intensity changes in phenomenological experiences of consciousness".
• Narayan et al. studied the degree of relaxation of muscle under the effects of kundalini yoga with the help of an EMG integrator.

Notes

1. Sovatsky, 1998, p. 14
2. Guru Fatha Singh Khalsa, The Essential Gursikh Yogi: The Yoga and Yogis in the Past, Present and Future of Sikh Dharma, Toronto, Monkey Minds Press, 2008, 188-89, 210-12, 222-39.
3. Sat Bachan Kaur Karla Becker, 2004.
4. ^ Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, The hidden power in humans, Ibera Verlag, pages 47, 48. ISBN 3-85052-197-4
5. Swami Sivananda Radha, Kundalini Yoga for the West, timeless, 2004, pages 13, 15
6. ^ Congressional Honorary Resolution 521 US Library of Congress
7. David Shannahoff-Khalsa, Kundalini Yoga Meditation for Complex Psychiatric Disorders: Techniques Specific for Treating the Psychoses, Personality, and Pervasive Development Disorders, 2010
8. David Shannahoff-Khalsa, Kundalini Yoga Meditation: Techniques Specific for Psychiatric Disorders, Couples Therapy, and Personal Growth, 2007
9. Swami Sivananda Radha, Kundalini Yoga for the West, timeless, 2004, pages 13, 23
10. "Kundalini Yogas FAQ". Eecs.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
11. Satya July 99: Kundalini Yoga by Deborah Clapp
12. "Yogi Bhajan". Store.goldenbridgeyoga.com. 1969-01-05. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
13. design@lancasters.co.uk. "What is Kundalini yoga?". Kundaliniyoga.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-04.
14. Yogi Bhajan Yogi Bhajan Arrives in the United States
15. Yogi Bhajan - Secrets of Kundalini Yoga Revealed to the West!
16. About KRI - Kundalini Research Institute
17. Siri Guru Granth Sahib, 903 - The holy scripture and the final Guru of the Sikhs.
18. Vars of Bhai Gurdas Varan Bhai Gurdas Var 29, Verse 15
19. Sovatsky, 1998: p. 6, 82, 142
20. Sovatsky, 1998: p. 142
21. ^ Turner et al.,pg. 440
22. Scotton, 1996
23. Kason, 2000
24. Greyson, 2000
25. Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda, The hidden power in humans, Ibera Verlag, pages 47, 48, 49.
26. Cromie, 2002
27. Lazar, et al., 2000
28. Arambula et al. ,2001
29. Peng et al., 1999
30. Venkatesh et al., 1997
31. Narayan et al., 1990

References

• Arambula P, Peper E, Kawakami M, Gibney KH. (2001) The Physiological Correlates of Kundalini Yoga Meditation: A Study of a Yoga Master, Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback, Jun 2001; 26(2): 147 - 53, PubMed Abstract PMID 11480165.
• Cromie, William J. (2002) Research: Meditation Changes Temperatures: Mind Controls Body in Extreme Experiments. Harvard University Gazette, April 18, 2002
• Greyson, Bruce (2000) Some Neuropsychological Correlates Of The Physio-Kundalini Syndrome. The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Vol.32, No. 2
• Laue, Thorsten: Kundalini Yoga, Yogi Tee und das Wassermannzeitalter. Bibliografische Einblicke in die Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization (3HO) des Yogi Bhajan. Tübingen: 2008. Online abrufbar unter: http://tobias-lib.ub.uni-tuebingen.de/volltexte/2008/3596/
• Laue, Thorsten: Kundalini Yoga, Yogi Tee und das Wassermannzeitalter. Religionswissenschaftliche Einblicke in die Healthy, Happy, Holy Organization (3HO) des Yogi Bhajan, Münster: LIT, 2007, ISBN 3825801403
• Kason, Yvonne (2000) Farther Shores: Exploring How Near-Death, Kundalini and Mystical Experiences Can Transform Ordinary Lives. Toronto: Harper Collins Publishers, Revised edition, ISBN 0-00-638624-5
• Lazar, Sara W.; Bush, George; Gollub, Randy L.; Fricchione, Gregory L.; Khalsa, Gurucharan; Benson, Herbert (2000) Functional Brain Mapping of the Relaxation Response and Meditation, NeuroReport, Vol. 11(7) May 15, 2000, p 1581 - 1585, PubMed Abstract PMID 10841380
• Narayan R, Kamat A, Khanolkar M, Kamat S, Desai SR, Dhume RA. (1990) Quantitative Evaluation of Muscle Relaxation Induced by Kundalini Yoga with the Help of EMG Integrator. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. Oct 1990; 34(4): 279 - 81, PubMed Abstract PMID 2100290.
• Peng CK, Mietus JE, Liu Y, Khalsa G, Douglas PS, Benson H, Goldberger AL. (1999) Exaggerated Heart Rate Oscillations During Two Meditation Techniques. Int J Cardiol, Jul 31, 1999; 70(2): 101 - 7, PubMed Abstract PMID 10454297.
• Scotton, Bruce (1996) The phenomenology and treatment of kundalini, in Chinen, Scotton and Battista (Editors) (1996) Textbook of transpersonal psychiatry and psychology. (pp. 261–270). New York: Basic Books, Inc
• Sovatsky, Stuart (1998) Words from the Soul: Time, East/West Spirituality, and Psychotherapeutic Narrative, Suny Series in Transpersonal and Humanistic Psychology, New York: State University of New York Press
• Turner, Robert P.; Lukoff, David; Barnhouse, Ruth Tiffany & Lu, Francis G. (1995) Religious or Spiritual Problem. A Culturally Sensitive Diagnostic Category in the DSM-IV. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease,Vol.183, No. 7 435-444
• Venkatesh S, Raju TR, Shivani Y, Tompkins G, Meti BL. (1997) A Study of Structure of Phenomenology of Consciousness in Meditative and Non-Meditative States. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol, Apr 1997; 41(2): 149 - 53. PubMed Abstract PMID 9142560.

External links

• Columbia Encyclopedia article on Yoga
• ReligionFacts.com - Kundalini Yoga

• Meditation
• Yoga styles
• Sanskrit words and phrases