Drawings of chakra centres and kundalini path

    
The book 'Kundalini Tantra' helps one understand the body's invisible energy centres and the path of kundalini energy.

When one meditates, one starts to understand the subtle body system. We do not need the knowledge from the books but they do help one get enthusiastic about meditation. These images clarify that meditation is not a pastime or simply an exercise to relax oneself but a very intense experience, an adventure which unfolds itself slowly. 

Naam is food, enjoy it

Naam hamara bhojan chhati prakar

Naam helps one understand one's subtle body and the only food the subtle body sustains on is Naam. If the subtle body is healthy, one won't have any physical problems. Therefore, its important to understand that its not the food and nutrition that makes us healthy but the feeling of wellness.

I undestand Naam as vibration that is produced when we chant. Repeating a word, making a sound is like creating ripples in the water by a drop of water. The point is not to simply make ripples but to observe those ripples and notice how far they go. Feel the peace when you travel with a wave of ripple.

Once you learn to observe, experiment with the way to expand your subtle body beyond the walls of your physical body. Feel the peace within your extended body. Now pull your body together, small enough to become a dot. With each in-breath expand as far as you can and with each out-breath become the tiniest dot above your navel.

Game of Karma doesn't lead to God's Door

Karmi Sahej na upjai
Vin saheje Sahsa na jaye

Man dhovo Shabd lago
Har syon raho chit lai

Kahe Nanak, Gurparsadi Sahej upjai....

Chit jinka hir laya Maya, bolan paye ravani

Shabad seti man milya sache laya bhao

Kahe Nanak, so tat paye
jisnu andin har liv lagai, jagat raen vihani

Eh dhan tina milya, jin har aape bhana

Emotions and diseases

http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/principles/applicationfiveelements.html

Vadiyai Veechaar - Contemplate on God's greatness (Godlike qualities)

The purpose of singing and contemplating on Godlike qualities is to slowly associate with them, eventually acquire those qualities and to become what He is.

Satnam          - Be Truthful
Kartapurakh - Be Creative
Nirbhau        - Be Fearless
Nirvair          - Have No Enimosity
Akalmoorut   - Recognise the timeless self 


When you acquire the above qualities, then you become one with Him and therefore
Ajooni - you will not reincarnate into physical form and
Saibhang - will become Self-illuminating. The knowledge and Wisdom will come from within ........

Ik Nanak ki Ardas, Je Tudh Bhavsi;
Mai Dejai Naam Nivas Har Gun Gavsi

jn nwnku hir hir hoieAw hir hir min vuTw

jan naanak har har hoeiaa har har man vut(h)aa ||4||12||19||

Servant Nanak has become the Lord, Har, Har; the Lord, Har, Har, abides within his mind

Stages of spirituality verses needs

Everyone is spiritual to some extent. Most people look up to a higher source to interfere when their efforts fail. At the very least, they wish God existed, even when they claim that He doesn't exist. Wise ones know that He prevails everywhere - outside and inside our body as well.

When we genuinely become interested in Him, without any personal need, then we consider ourselves to be actually spiritual. At this time, whether we pray, read scriptures or meditate; we become increasingly aware of ourselves - our body and our actions. We become aware of a special force within us. Focusing on this force helps us stop the minds chatter, feel the LOVE of God and bring on the desire to meet Him and seek his Darshan.

When we become aware of our body, we realise that there is a force / energy that exists within our body. We learn to awaken this energy within us and increase its activity at Will. This is the same energy that acupuncture specialists awaken with their needles and masseurs with their message. When this energy becomes blocked at some point within the meridians, it causes unease and eventually disease. This energy's flow is dependent on our emotions. When certain events in our life, cause us stress; when we disagree with someone or something that is going on in our life; we create an energy block in our body. Regret, anger, sadness, helplessness are all different forms of Disagreement.

When we understand that any form of disagreement only causes energy block within our body, we try our best to avoid disagreements. This is why we are asked to accept God's Will. Accepting God's Will is accepting what IS. Somethings are not in our control, like another person's reaction to a situation; in such circumstances accepting Will is simply becoming aware of What Is, what action causes what reaction and working with the understanding to achieve favorable results. However, we are emotional beings and we can't always avoid disagreements.

The 2nd best thing is to learn how to unblock this energy before it becomes disease. When in meditation, you will automatically receive wisdom / information about where the energy block is. Once you do know, then you must take action to unblock it. You would know from the life history of many spiritual people, like Sikh Gurus that they had the ability to heal.

To be able to heal, one must know the body and its constitution. There are cases when western practices of medicine are unable to diagnose and / or heal the individual. The only explanation I have for this problem is that modern machines and scans can only see the physical contents of the body. The body, according to Guru Granth Sahib is made of 5 elements - Fire (ex. temperature), Earth (ex. muscles), Water (ex. blood), Air (ex. gas) and Ether / Akash (unseen force). This fifth element can't be seen with physical eyes or with medical instruments. This is here meditation comes in handy. In meditation, you are able to See and feel this unseen force. It is present all over your body. It is easiest to feel it in the palms of your hands and feet. When you learn to maneuver this Force / Energy / Chi with your breath, from the tips of your fingers, to your arms, trunks and all the way to your tips of toes ; you can heal yourself. Maneuvering this energy everyday for a few minutes, helps to keep the body healthy. Healthy body is helpful in realising God but realising this energy and manuvering it is not the end goal of a spritual person.   A spiritual person does this in the beginning of his mediation session only to help focus his mind away from other thoughts. Once the minds chatter stops, feel the LOVE of God and bring on the desire to meet Him and seek his Darshan.

This is why gurbani says

pwTu piVE Aru bydu bIcwirE invil BuAMgm swDy ]

paat(h) parriou ar baedh beechaariou nival bhua(n)gam saadhhae ||

They read scriptures, and contemplate the Vedas; they practice the inner cleansing techniques of Yoga, and control of the breath.

pMc jnw isau sMgu n CutikE AiDk AhMbuiD bwDy ]1]

pa(n)ch janaa sio sa(n)g n shhuttakiou adhhik aha(n)budhh baadhhae ||1||

But they cannot escape from the company of the five passions; they are increasingly bound to egotism. ||1||

ipAwry ien ibiD imlxu n jweI mY kIey krm Anykw ]

piaarae ein bidhh milan n jaaee mai keeeae karam anaekaa ||

O Beloved, this is not the way to meet the Lord; I have performed these rituals so many times.

hwir pirE suAwmI kY duAwrY dIjY buiD ibbykw ] rhwau ]

haar pariou suaamee kai dhuaarai dheejai budhh bibaekaa || rehaao ||

I have collapsed, exhausted, at the Door of my Lord Master; I pray that He may grant me a discerning intellect.

moin BieE krpwqI rihE ngn iPirE bn mwhI ]

mon bhaeiou karapaathee rehiou nagan firiou ban maahee ||

One may remain silent and use his hands as begging bowls, and wander naked in the forest.

qt qIrQ sB DrqI BRimE duibDw CutkY nwhI ]2]

thatt theerathh sabh dhharathee bhramiou dhubidhhaa shhuttakai naahee ||2||

He may make pilgrimages to river banks and sacred shrines all over the world, but his sense of duality will not leave him. ||2||

mn kwmnw qIrQ jwie bisE isir krvq Drwey ]

man kaamanaa theerathh jaae basiou sir karavath dhharaaeae ||

His mind's desires may lead him to go and dwell at sacred places of pilgrimage, and offer his head to be sawn off;

mn kI mYlu n auqrY ieh ibiD jy lK jqn krwey ]3]

man kee mail n outharai eih bidhh jae lakh jathan karaaeae ||3||

but this will not cause the filth of his mind to depart, even though he may make thousands of efforts. ||3||

kink kwimnI hYvr gYvr bhu ibiD dwnu dwqwrw ]

kanik kaaminee haivar gaivar bahu bidhh dhaan dhaathaaraa ||

He may give gifts of all sorts - gold, women, horses and elephants.

AMn bsqR BUim bhu Arpy nh imlIAY hir duAwrw ]4]

a(n)n basathr bhoom bahu arapae neh mileeai har dhuaaraa ||4||

He may make offerings of corn, clothes and land in abundance, but this will not lead him to the Lord's Door. ||4||

pUjw Arcw bMdn fMfauq Ktu krmw rqu rhqw ]

poojaa arachaa ba(n)dhan dda(n)ddouth khatt karamaa rath rehathaa ||

He may remain devoted to worship and adoration, bowing his forehead to the floor, practicing the six religious rituals.

hau hau krq bMDn mih pirAw nh imlIAY ieh jugqw ]5]

ho ho karath ba(n)dhhan mehi pariaa neh mileeai eih jugathaa ||5||

He indulges in egotism and pride, and falls into entanglements, but he does not meet the Lord by these devices. ||5||

jog isD Awsx caurwsIh ey BI kir kir rihAw ]

jog sidhh aasan chouraaseeh eae bhee kar kar rehiaa ||

He practices the eighty-four postures of Yoga, and acquires the supernatural powers of the Siddhas, but he gets tired of practicing these.

vfI Awrjw iPir iPir jnmY hir isau sMgu n gihAw ]6]

vaddee aarajaa fir fir janamai har sio sa(n)g n gehiaa ||6||

He lives a long life, but is reincarnated again and again; he has not met with the Lord. ||6||

rwj lIlw rwjn kI rcnw kirAw hukmu APwrw ]

raaj leelaa raajan kee rachanaa kariaa hukam afaaraa ||

He may enjoy princely pleasures, and regal pomp and ceremony, and issue unchallenged commands.

syj sohnI cMdnu coAw nrk Gor kw duAwrw ]7]

saej sohanee cha(n)dhan choaa narak ghor kaa dhuaaraa ||7||

He may lie on beautiful beds, perfumed with sandalwood oil, but this will led him only to the gates of the most horrible hell. ||7||

hir kIriq swDsMgiq hY isir krmn kY krmw ]

har keerath saadhhasa(n)gath hai sir karaman kai karamaa ||

Singing the Kirtan of the Lord's Praises in the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is the highest of all actions.

khu nwnk iqsu BieE prwpiq ijsu purb ilKy kw lhnw ]8]

kahu naanak this bhaeiou paraapath jis purab likhae kaa lehanaa ||8||

Says Nanak, he alone obtains it, who is pre-destined to receive it. ||8||

qyro syvku ieh rMig mwqw ]

thaero saevak eih ra(n)g maathaa ||

Your slave is intoxicated with this Love of Yours.

BieE ik®pwlu dIn duK BMjnu hir hir kIrqin iehu mnu rwqw ] rhwau dUjw ]1]3]

bhaeiou kirapaal dheen dhukh bha(n)jan har har keerathan eihu man raathaa || rehaao dhoojaa ||1||3||

The Destroyer of the pains of the poor has become merciful to me, and this mind is imbued with the Praises of the Lord, Har, Har.

Recognising the advice of Ego and of the Soul

When we need to take a major step in life, we often indulge in talking to ourself within our mind. We often fail to recognise if the advice being given back to us is coming from our Ego or from our Soul.

It is important to know that Ego never lets us admit that we are wrong or we have done something that will hurt another person. On the contrary, Ego always shows us that we are so nice, so much more sensitive, caring and understanding personality than the other person. So simply recognise that your Ego is talking when its telling you that you are right and you are so good. Ego never hesitates to lie and hide the truth. Ego plays the game of - I Win and You Lose, take revenge, change the other person and their wellbeing is their problem.

Soul, that we all have within us; can't lie. It must tell the truth even when its us who is at fault. Soul speaks the language of gentleness towards others, sees the other as facing harsh conditions and therefore forgives the other easily and feels sorry for the other soul. Soul plays the game of - I need to improve myself,  forgive others for their blindness and pray for their wellbeing.

In 2009, I had decided that I will continuously meditate until the end of 2012 and craved to have my kundalini go through sushmina nadi, open my seventh chakra and I become one with God. What a target! These things can't be achieved by planning this way. I know this but my deepest desire was to see what Guru Nanak saw at the age of 36, by the time I am 39. Anyway, in Dec 2011, some days after my birthday, one night in my sleep I heard this, "Today, your Kundalini will open." In my waking life, hearing this I would have rejoiced and had gone crazy thanking the universe for listening to my request and respecting my deadline. At that time my Soul had an upper hand over my ego and I couldn't believe how I responded. I said, "But I still have a craving for money!". In other words, I said that I am not ready and not worthy of it yet? My ego was so upset and is so upset until today for missing the opportunity. Ego is still saying, wasn't there another option to achieve my goal that day?

I know now that Ego tries to bend the truth to achieve what it wants but Soul only speaks the undeniable truth.

Re-educating the body cells

Reiki  and the healing buddha by Maureen J. Kelly is a great book for deeper understanding of the symbols and of the buddhist / Tao philosophy and its true meaning in practical terms.

Your body is a drawing board

Not feeling spiritual at all? Mind is racing crazy from one thought to another?

In your mind's eye, see your body as a drawing board, your breath a chalk and your conscience the force that gives direction to the chalk. Now draw from left to right and vice-versa continuously.
Or make your breath - a ball and consciously bounce it from left to right and back again with each breath. At the same time, imagine there is water rising and making the ball bounce on higher points than the last time. Once you reach the top of the head, then imagine this water receding slowly, making the ball bounce on lower points each time.
These mental exercises will stop the racing mind and you will be connected to your higher self. Ask for the truth to be revealed to you. The higher self knows what is your most pressing need and it will reveal the truth associated with that matter.

Your body is truly a drawing board where emotions are literally drawn. The emotions stay on this board until you meditate, focus on the area where a certain emotion is and release it. When you get massage done on you, the masseur also does the same thing for you. By pressing on a certain part of your body, they release the tension built by negative emotions. Since you don't know about the damage done by negative talk / thought / emotion; you continue doing the same in your daily life.

Unease, discontent and tension arise within you through judgement of self, resistance to what is in your life, the way the power struggle within relationships is and what others have and you don't. This uneasiness and resistance to what is, will vanish the moment you accept what is NOW and the way it is.

When you chant any name / sound, you are engrossed in listening to the sound. For that moment, you are not judging yourself or others. At this time you can involve your whole body by observing how your body is releasing tension bit by bit as you breath and chant in rhythm. Singing hymns also does the same. At the time when you are singing or listening to kirtan or any song; the focus is on the tune, words, voice, emotion and not on the things that make you worry, judge and compare yourself with others. At the time of meditation, life is not a competition. We need to slowly transform ourself in a way that we feel this way even when we are not meditating.

joqI joiq imlweIAY surqI suriq sMjogu ]

jothee joth milaaeeai surathee surath sa(n)jog ||

When one's light merges into the Light, and one's intuitive consciousness is joined with the Intuitive Consciousness,

ihMsw haumY gqu gey nwhI shsw sogu ]

hi(n)saa houmai gath geae naahee sehasaa sog ||

then one's cruel and violent instincts and egotism depart, and skepticism and sorrow are taken away.

Fascination of Death, time in Astral world and reincarnation

One thing is certain that whoever is born must die and whatever is created must get destroyed
 - Jo upjyo so binas hai
My father died, that's nothing extraordinary. I was able to receive messages from him that affected my life and warned me of dangers that I wasn't aware of; while he was in the spirit world. What happened to him after that is a mystery yet to be solved.
Now my big ? is how long can one last in the spirit world before one is reborn again and why? Knowing how much meditation he did everyday and how advanced his progress was, I find it difficult to believe that he has already reincarnated. May be he hasn't. Its not about one soul, its a bigger question.
I know that desire is the cause of birth and each birth has a time of death destined. So we have limited time to fulfill the desire that caused the birth. On earth, we get fascinated by material objects and possession of them becomes the goal. Fulfillment of one desire causes another desire, an endless process.

The desire of the soul is to learn lessons from experiences on earth and improve itself by letting go of the FEAR and walk towards LOVE / GOD. As I understand, we keep on reincarnating until we are so full of LOVE that not only we start to see the Creator and his Creation as one and none other but ONE GOD - Ek Onkar; but become one with GOD. Then there is no you, but only I, Ek Onkar - tuhi tuhi. The drop becomes the ocean as it is merged with the rest, and not trying to stand-alone like a bubble. Experiencing this even for a split second is very soothing, actually joyful and powerful. That is the moment of truth; the moment when truth is revealed and the veil is lifted but that is not enough to get out of the circle of reincarnations. Then what is???????????????
How long are we to keep playing the game of Father reincarnating as Son etc? If we keep changing families we are born into, then why do we try to hoard our wealth? Isn't it better to do things that benefit the whole humanity, to secure our future home for the next life? If only we could all see our past lives and our connections with our parents, siblings and children; we would never see our relatives as competitors in wealth collection. We are here to help each other let go of our FEAR and just give / provide / nurture like a mother feeds a newborn without any expectation of favours being returned.