he aim of all yogic practices is to release the great cosmic
power or Kundalini Shakti which lies coiled three and a half times
in Mooladhara Chakra in the form of a snake. The process of
awakening this force or prana is described in the scriptures as
"The
flight of a bird rising from earth to heaven tied to a golden thread".
By manipulating, storing and expanding the Prana within the
body, it is possible to awaken the sleeping Prana Shakti or
Kundalini. The purpose of Vedic Science is to expand the dimensions of
Pranayama, of Prana and Knowledge of Prana.
In the Upanishads it is said that A man may have ears, eyes, all
faculties and parts of the body but unless he has Mahaprana, there
is no consciousness. Prana is both macrocosmic and microcosmic being the
substratum of all life.
Mahaprana is the cosmic, universal, all encompassing energy out
of which we draw substance through the breathing process.
Modern man and woman are under tremendous pressures today, perhaps even
greater than at any other time in history. Whatever the lifestyle, one seems
to move too fast to digest the experiences that take place during each day.
The pressure felt is not exclusively because of work, although this may be
part of it, but because of the enormous amount of material that has to be
assimilated by an individual to survive in a highly competitive environment.
The complexity of life has become such that one becomes either panicky or
lethargic. In the latter case, the attitude of "It doesn't matter anyway"
may act as a key sentence in the mind and, through its unaware repetition,
may achieve an almost hypnotic effect. Once settled in the mind, it is kept
alive by emotions that can be both desperate and depressive. If violence is
not one's nature, resignation to life seems the only way. The natural life
rhythm simply cannot absorb the constant impact of news, television, urban
living, combined with the many power struggles which are outside the domain
of an individual's control. "Live NOW"
becomes the motto. However, this is an unfortunate reaction leading one ever
faster down the road to disaster, encouraging self-indulgence and excesses
on many levels.
Modern technology, despite the numerous and superficially impressive
advances, is rather a punishment in disguise, increasing the burden for the
average individual. With the massive bombardment of the senses which
supposedly brings relaxation, relief and pleasure, men and women are driven
away from their inner being. The true source of power and energy renewal is
buried to such a degree that help is needed to rediscover it. There is no
point in an individual expecting this help from technology and the
manipulators of power.
Related Topics: Kundalini Shakti - A Dance-Yoga Ballet