Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

KUNDALINI & – TECHNOLOGY FOR THE TIMES

Keval Kaur Khalsa1

ABSTRACT: As we move into the 21st century, we find to connection; from fear and insecurity to conscious, ourselves in an age of information overload, widespread courageous action. This paper introduces critical and constant stress, lack of time, and increased social elements of Yoga practice – Pranayam, Kriya, and personal demands. Human activity is directly and Meditation& – and explains how this embodied negatively impacting the web of life on a global scale, spiritual practice develops awareness, consciousness, and and yet our consciousness as a species is still limited the courage to act from the heart as “spiritual warriors” and self-centered. How can we move beyond our in this time of unprecedented planetary chaos. limited ego-self, building spiritual capacity? How do we maintain mental, emotional and physical flexibility Keywords: Yoga. Meditation. Mantra. Pranayam. and stamina and integrate the spiritual aspect of our Spirituality. life with the material and technological? How do we understand deeply the interconnectedness of all things, RESUMO: À medida que entramos no século 21, and act consciously and courageously from that deep deparamo-nos com uma era de saturação de informação, understanding? Kundalini Yoga & Meditation as taught de stress generalizado e contínuo, de falta de tempo e by provides a framework for an internal de crescentes exigências sociais e pessoais. A atividade paradigm shift --- from “me” to “we”; from intellectual humana tem um impacto direto e negativo na teia da knowledge to a new relationship to intuition, emotion vida à escala global e, no entanto, a nossa consciência and instinct; from confusion to clarity; from isolation enquanto espécie é ainda limitada e egocêntrica. Como podemos ir além do nosso eu-ego limitado e desenvolver capacidade espiritual? Como conservar flexibilidade 1 Associate Professor of the Practice at Duke University e resistência mentais, emocionais e físicas, e integrar where she directs the Dance Program, founding member of o aspecto espiritual da nossa vida com o material e the Across The Threshold: Creativity, Being & Healing Working o tecnológico? Como compreender profundamente Group, professional Kundalini Yoga teacher trainer, Co-Ar- a interligação de todas as coisas e agir consciente e tistic Director and Co-Founder of 2 Near The Edge Dance corajosamente a partir dessa profunda compreensão? Company. 21 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

A Yoga e a Meditação Kundalini, ensinadas peloYogue 8:00a.m., October 4, 2011. As I tidy up the Bhajan, proporcionam um enquadramento para uma dusty wooden stage of the theater and clear the mudança interna de paradigma – do “eu” para o “nós”; remnants of chocolate cake and empty champagne do conhecimento intelectual para uma nova relação bottles from the adjoining green room, participants com a intuição, a emoção e o instinto; da confusão begin to arrive and spread their mats – stretching, para a clareza; do isolamento para a união; do medo yawning, chatting. Soon, the entire stage and the e da insegurança para a ação consciente e corajosa. Este documento apresenta elementos fundamentais floor between the front row of seats and edge of da prática de Yoga Kundalini – , Kriya, the stage are filled with mats and bodies. On this Meditação e Mantra – e explica como esta prática 2nd day of the Across The Threshold: Creativity, Being espiritual incorporada desenvolve a sensibilização, a & Healing conference at the Federal University in consciência e a coragem, para agir a partir do coração, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, we come together – not as enquanto “guerreiros espirituais”, neste tempo de caos South Americans, North Americans, Europeans -- planetário sem precedentes. but as spiritual beings in this human incarnation. Our common language is the language of embodied Palavras-chave: Yoga. Meditação. Mantra. Pranayama. spirit, which manifests through the that Espiritualidade. circulates through each of us as we chant the mantra OngNamo, DevNamo, consciously breathe RÉSUMÉ: Alors que nous entrons dans le 21ème siècle, nous nous trouvons confronter à une époque together, move together through our kriya, focus de surabondance d'informations, de stress constantet our minds in meditation, sink into deep relaxation. généralisé, de manque de temps, et de demandes Through this group practice of Kundalini Yoga & personnelleset sociales accrues. L'activité humaine Meditation, we move beyond perceived barriers, influence directement et négativement la toile de la awakening our awareness of the Oneness that vie à l'échelle mondiale, et pourtant notre conscience pervades all. comme espèce est encore limitée et égocentrique. This Oneness we experience through embodied Comment pouvons-nous aller au-delà de notre practices that humans have discovered/ developed capacitéde développement spirituel à égo limité ? over centuries and through different cultural Comment pouvons-nous maintenir la flexibilité et la traditions is the overarching theme of Across The vigueur mentale, émotionnelle et physique et intégrer Threshold gatherings. The four gatherings that have l'aspect spirituel de notre vie avec le matériel et le technologique? Comment pouvons-nous comprendre taken place over the last four years in Durham, en profondeur l'interdépendance de toutes choses, North Carolina, USA, and Salvador, Bahia, Brazil et agir consciemment et courageusement à partir de have been bridge-building events – bringing cette compréhension profonde? Le Yoga Kundalini together artists, scientists, mystics, academicians, et la méditation enseignés par Yogi Bhajan fournit un medical practitioners, traditional healers, religious cadre pour un changement de paradigme interne --- du practitioners – for the purpose of healing on «moi» au «nous»; de la connaissance intellectuelle à une individual, community, and planetary levels. In this nouvelle relation à l'intuition, l'émotion et l'instinct; de article, I will introduce the fundamental elements la confusion à la clarté; de l'isolement à la connexion; de of Kundalini Yoga & Meditation as taught by Yogi la peur et de l'insécurité à l'action courageuseconsciente. Bhajan, and discuss how this embodied spiritual Ce document présente les éléments essentiels de la practice develops awareness, consciousness, and pratique du Kundalini yoga –la respiration (pranayam), la série d’exercices (Kriya), la méditation etle mantra - the courage to act from the heart as “spiritual et explique comment cette pratique spirituelle incarnée warriors” in this time of unprecedented planetary développe la conscience, la sensibilisation, et le courage chaos. The combined elements of Kundalini d'agir avec cœur comme des «guerriers spirituels » en Yoga discussed in this paper work simultaneously cette période de chaos planétaire sans précédent. to balance and strengthen all the systems of the physical body, focus and discipline the mind, and Mots des clés: Yoga. Méditation. Mantra. Pranayam connect the practitioner with her/his spirit. In a (respiration). Spiritualité. world that demands more and more in less and less time, it is a challenge to hold to our center, keep 22 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

up with our daily responsibilities, and enjoy life Planetary Shifts – The Challenges of These along the way. Kundalini Yoga is a comprehensive Times technology that was developed for “householders”, or people who maintain active lives in the world, Yogi Bhajan felt compelled to “go public” with rather than “renunciates” – those who withdraw these practices because of the planetary shifts from normal worldly activities. As such, it works that are now taking place. Astrologists and quickly and effectively with even a brief amount of characterize this as the shift from the Piscean Age time devoted to a regular and earnest practice. It to the Aquarian Age. According to Yogi Bhajan, gives us the stamina and grit to keep up with our the Piscean Age was dominated by machines and lives and to stand up for the rights and welfare of hierarchies. Knowledge about human potential ourselves and others. was guarded by secrecy, and people could hide and get away with corrupt behaviors – embezzlement, “In yoga a person has to be humble, have the power to merge, destruction of the environment, oppressive regimes. and to be spiritually, mentally, and physically committed for In the last 3,000 years of the Piscean Age, gender exalted experiences.” (Bhajan, 2003/2007, p. iii) relationships have been dominated by exploitation of women and men whose fearful and insecure Yogi Bhajan – Master of Kundalini Yoga behavior led to the creation of more and more weapons of destruction. But the most destructive Harbhajan Singh Puri, more commonly and trend of the last century, Bhajan states, “is that man affectionately known as Yogi Bhajan, was born in started finding God outside himself. Man forgot 1929 in the district of Gujaranwala in what is now that God is the working God, Karta Purhk, which, Pakistan, but at that time was still a part of India. Nanak said, works and breathes in us. It’s part of us; (Khalsa, 1979, p. 18).He was declared a Kundalini It’s not separate. We were blind to God’s presence Yoga master at the age of 16 ½ by his teacher, everywhere” (Bhajan, 2003/2007, p. 7). When SantHazara Singh. When he arrived in the United we see God as being separate from ourselves, it States in December of 1968, Yogi Bhajan stated becomes easy to view the world from a dualist “us his mission quite clearly. He said, “I have come against them” perspective, leading to justification to create teachers, not to gather disciples.” He of discriminatory practices, massive incarceration, was not a philosopher or a preacher. He was a suspension of social programs, unadulterated greed, transmitter of the same mastery that he achieved torture, war. And while it is easy to condemn those (Khalsa, Ed., 2002, p. 69). of our leaders who profess a belief in God while In 1969 when Yogi Bhajan taught his first class sanctioning/engaging in the above-listed actions, in Kundalini Yoga in the United States, hardly if we sit passively and do nothing, we are unwitting anyone had accurate information about this partners in the continuation of this dualist “power- ancient, sacred, and up until then, secret, science. over” paradigm. Its technology for transformation and empowering His Holiness the Dalai Lama expresses a similar of the individual human being had been given only concern: to those students who could prove their devotion, dedication, self-discipline, humility, and obedience We live at a time when human actions have to the Teacher. Despite scriptural warnings that developed a creative and destructive power that whoever taught Kundalini Yoga publicly would not has become global in scope. And yet we fail to live to see his next birthday, Yogi Bhajan flaunted cultivate a corresponding sense of responsibility. tradition and began teaching the practice openly to Most of us are concerned only about people all who were willing to learn and property that are directly related to us. (Bhajan, 2003/2007, p. v) We naturally try to protect our family and friends from danger. Similarly, most people will struggle to defend their homes and land against destruction, whether the threat comes from enemies or natural disasters such as fire or 23 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

flooding . . . We take the existence of clean air the formation of power relationships in which and water, the continued growth of crops and human beings are exploited. Inherent value, availability of raw materials, for granted. We humanness, is reserved for certain classes, races, know that these resources are finite, but because for the male-sex; their power-over others is thus we only think of our own demands, we behave legitimized. (pp. 4-6) as if they are not. Our limited and self-centered attitudes fulfill neither the needs of the time, nor “The Age of Aquarius is coming our way. the potential of which we are capable (Macy & Emptiness, insanity, and pain shall be everybody’s Brown, 1998/2011, p. xv). affair. They shall come to you. As insane as they are, if you do not take away their pain, and instead you The un-consciousness that the Dalai Lama refers sit in judgment, you are wrong people.” (Bhajan, to above – our “limited and self-centered attitudes” 1998, p. 3). One of Yogi Bhajan’s oft-repeated and a lack of a sense of global responsibility – can aphorisms is “It’s not the life you live, but the courage be partially attributed to the structures of power that you bring to it”. He recognized the power that that have developed during the Piscean Age. fear and insecurity have to paralyze us – sending Director, writer, actress, activist and teacher Lib us into states of denial, depression, alienation. In Spry (1994) writes, “While most of us can and do this age of information overload, widespread and exercise some choice in our lives, we are all part constant stress, lack of time, increased social and of power relationships that allow dominating and personal demands, how do we maintain our spiritual exploitative structures to maintain the status quo. center? How do we maintain mental, emotional Often people are so alienated from their reality that and physical flexibility and stamina? How can we they are unable or unwilling to recognize what power seamlessly integrate the spiritual aspect of our life they have or where they stand in the hierarchy” (p. with the material and technological? 173). Spry (1994) continues her examination of And, most critically, how do we understand this concept of “power-over” by quoting from the deeply the interconnectedness of all things, and book Dreaming the Dark by Starhawk (1988), the act consciously and courageously from that deep California-based feminist, political theorist, peace understanding? The Dalai Lama warns us, “In activist, psychologist, and witch: our present state of affairs, the very survival of humankind depends on people developing concern For though we are told . . . that rape is an issue for the whole of humanity, not just their own separate from nuclear war, that a woman’s struggle for equal pay is not related to a black community or nation. The reality of our situation teenager’s struggle to find a job or to the struggle impels us to act and think more clearly. Narrow- to prevent the export of a nuclear reactor to a mindedness and self-centered thinking may have site on a web of earthquake faults near active served us well in the past, but today will only lead volcanoes in the Philippines, all these realities to disaster.” (Macy & Brown, 1998/2011, p. xvi) are shaped by the consciousness that shapes Kundalini Yoga is an antidote to the our power relationships. Those relationships in “estrangement” consciousness that has shaped turn shape our economic and social systems; our our power relationships, limited our thinking and technology; our science; our religions; our views creativity, put us at odds with our fellow humans of women and men; our views of races and and the very air we breathe, water we drink, and cultures that differ from our own; our sexuality; the earth on which we depend for our existence. our Gods and our wars. They are presently shaping the destruction of the world. I call The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit jugit, which this consciousness “estrangement” because its means “to join together,” or “to unite.” Yoga is essence is that we do not see ourselves as part of the union of our individual consciousness with the world. We are strangers to nature, to other the Infinite Consciousness, and a yogi is a person human beings, to parts of ourselves. We see the who surrenders and merges the unit self with the world as made up of separate, isolated nonliving Supreme Self (Bhajan, 2007, p. 14). Through the parts that have no inherent value . . . [This] allows practices that will be described below, a Kundalini 24 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

yogi acquires wisdom that comes from the Moving into the Aquarian Age – Creating a experience of the interconnectedness of all life. Life-Sustaining Society The depth of this experience is a true knowing – gian – which opens us to a consciousness of unity Macy & Brown (1998) see the Great Turning and gives us the power and discipline to act from as “happening simultaneously in three areas or that truth. Yogi Bhajan (2007) states, “Just because dimensions that are mutually reinforcing. These you know about or believe something is true, does are: 1) actions to slow the damage to Earth and its not mean you can act on it. But if you discover a beings; 2) analysis of structural causes and creation truth and act on the path of that truth, and if you of structural alternatives; and 3) a fundamental can find bliss, success, and fulfillment in yourself shift in worldview and values” (p. 17). According as a result, then no power on Earth can make you to Macy, the last area – the shift in worldview and veer from that truth or do wrong” (p. 14). values – is the foundation for the actions, analysis The work of activist, teacher and author Joanna and creation occurring in the first two areas. This Macy parallels and compliments Yogi Bhajan’s shift flows from a confluence of our collective teachings in both philosophy and praxis. In the awareness and anguish, scientific breakthroughs Preface to Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy provided by quantum theory, astrophysics and and Molly Young Brown (1998/2011), Macy and general living systems theory, and ancestral Brown write, “With wars igniting around the teachings. (p. 21) globe, the forests falling, the hungry and homeless The transformative ancestral teachings of on our streets, the poisons in our food, water, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation as taught by Yogi air, and breast milk, and the extinction of whole Bhajan provide the framework for the necessary species and cultures, it grows harder to take hope internal paradigm shift that in turn shifts our in our common journey. We are tempted to shut worldview and values --- from “me” to “we”; from down, narrowing our sites to our own and our intellectual knowledge to a new relationship to family’s short-term survival. In the face of all the intuition, emotion and instinct; from confusion bad news, the challenge of creating a sustainable to clarity; from isolation to connection; from fear civilization can seem absurdly unrealistic” (p. and insecurity to conscious, courageous action. 6). Yet Macy goes on to state, “it is germinating Through specific movements, postures, breath now, that sustainable society on which the future work, hand positions, optical focus, sounds, mental depends” (p 6). What Yogi Bhajan characterized focus and relaxation, this ancient practice helps to as “the transition to the Aquarian Age”, Macy calls bring all the systems of the body into balance and the “Great Turning”. Macy’s defines the age that alters the frequency of the mind and the state of we are moving from as “a self-destructive industrial the brain. growth society” – Bhajan’s and astrologer’s Piscean Starhawk (1987) remarks that we have been Age. Synchronistic with the concept of the so shaped by the power-over paradigm “that the Aquarian Age, Macy defines the epochal shift that insides of our minds resemble the battle field is now in process as movement towards “a life- and the jail” (p. 9). This individual anguish of the sustaining society” (p. 6). Bhajan, Macy & Brown, mind is the collective anguish that Macy refers to, the Dalai Lama, Spry and Starhawk all concur and it is through the transformation of individual that a shift in consciousness that must take place consciousness that we change the collective to make a life-sustaining society a reality. Yogi consciousness. Imagine for a moment that in every Bhajan felt compelled to openly teach Kundalini school across the globe, students, teachers, and Yoga & Meditation at this particular time in history administrators begin each day with a practice of because it is a powerful, concise technology for long, deep breathing. As the children close their transforming consciousness. eyes and focus on their breath, the teacher reminds them that there are children all over the world breathing this same air – that this air is in fact breathing life into all creatures on the planet. As the 25 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

children experience their breath, they experience consciousness. Attaining this level of awareness, their connection with all living creatures, and the s/he “cannot be lied to or cheated or politically importance of having clean, fresh air to breathe. swayed”. In other words, s/he is able to see As this practice is reinforced each day, the children rhetoric and actions of fear, greed and separation move from individual consciousness to a collective for what they are. Second – Bhajan refers to the consciousness that is the foundation for action that importance of practicing a “total discipline”. The serves a life-sustaining society. elements of the Kundalini practice described below work together in a very specific way to awaken Fundamental Elements of Kundalini Yoga & the kundalini in a controlled and safe manner. Meditation practice as taught by Yogi Bhajan Kundalini Yoga & Meditation, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, follows a specific framework and is a Kundalini Yoga encompasses an entire discrete set of techniques that are to be practiced philosophy and a life-sustaining way of being in without alteration. the world. Kundalini Yoga is a Raj (royal) path that incorporates ethical precepts called yamasand , Pranayam (postures), pranayam(breathing techniques), pratyahar(controlling the thought waves in the When a baby is born, we eagerly listen for that mind), dharana(concentration), dhyana(meditation), first breath – the first inspiration. As the breath and ultimately (liberation, or complete breathes us, we live, and with our last exhalation, absorption in Spirit) (Khalsa, 1996, p. 176). The we expire. Yogis claim that breath is not just the practices of Pranayam, Kriya (which includes transporter of oxygen and carbon dioxide, but the ), Meditationand Mantra (which include carrier of prana – the subtle life force that rides on pratyahar, dharanaand dhyana) are all essential to the breath. As the oxygen feeds our cells, so prana Kundalini Yoga. Kundalini, literally translated as feeds our subtle life energy, and opens us to the “the curl of the lock of hair of the beloved”, is realms of emotions, thoughts, intuition. According our creative potential – the flow of energy and to Yogi Bhajan (2007) “Pranayamis the science of consciousness which exists within each one of us breath, controlling the movement of prana through (p. 48). In the West, the concept of kundalini has the use of breathing techniques” (p. 91). not always been understood, resulting in Kundalini There are many pranayam techniques in Yoga sometimes being called “dangerous.” When Kundalini Yoga, and learning to breathe fully and asked about this, Yogi Bhajan explained: completely without excess tension is one of the most important and fundamental elements of the It is just an energy. Kundalini is a latent energy practice. “Stress causes poor breathing – shallow, that can be used for total consciousness. The only erratic, upper-chest breathing with a faster breath dangerous thing is the person whose kundalini is rate, which leads to chronic tension and weak raised properly. That person is totally conscious. nerves” (p. 91). Poor breathing then creates more He cannot be lied to or cheated or politically stress, which puts us in a feedback loop that can swayed. The kundalini is essential. As long as lead to emotional imbalance, physical illness, and/ you practice a total discipline or a complete and balanced kriya, there is no difficulty. In Kundalini or mental instability. Yoga, you will notice that every meditation In the practice of long deep breathing, as we and kriya has some form of mantra in it. This sit quietly with a lengthened spine, eyes closed and ensures the channelization of the energy (White, focused in between the eyebrows and slightly up at Ed., 1990, p. 144). the “3rd eye point”, relaxed jaw and shoulders, we focus our concentration on listening to and feeling In the context of this paper, two points are the inflow and the outflow of breath through the particularly important in the above quote. First nose. As we inhale, we allow the belly to expand – through the proper raising of the kundalini, the and the ribcage to expand in all directions, and let practitioner reaches a higher level of awareness/ our lungs fills all the way to the top of the sternum. 26 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

On the exhale, we allow the air to drain out as the One of the signature asanas in Kundalini Yoga belly comes back to a resting place, and we focus is Sat Kriya. Sat Kriya is one of the few exercises on letting that last little bit of air out of the lungs. that is considered a complete kriya unto itself. This simple practice alone can produce profound The practice of Sat Kriya begins by sitting with benefits: a lengthened spine, ideally in Rock Pose – sitting • Relaxes and calms, due to influence on on the shins, knees together, heels under the “sit parasympathetic nervous system bones” (ischialtuberosities). The arms are straight • Increases the flow of prana overhead, with the hands clasped, fingers interlaced, • Reduces and prevents the build-up of toxins and index fingers together and pointing up. The in the lungs by encouraging the clearing of eyes are closed and focused at the 3rd eye point the alveoli (in between the eyebrows and slightly up). As the • Stimulates endorphins practitioner chants the word Sat (truth), she pulls • Brings the brain to a new level of alertness the belly button in and up, like squeezing a sponge. • Pumps the cerebrospinal fluid to the brain, As she chants the word Nam (name/identity), she giving greater energy releases the belly button. As a beginning practice, • Cleanses the blood this is done for 3 minutes, followed by 6 minutes • Regulates the body’s pH, which affects the of rest. A more advanced yogi can build up to a ability to handle stressful situations practice of 31 minutes of Sat Kriya. • Activates and clears the nerve channels As an exercise, Sat Kriya stimulates the digestive • Aids in speeding up emotional and physical system and strengthens the parasympathetic healing (p. 92). response. The meditative aspect of Sat Kriya occurs Pranayam functions as a mechanism to increase with the recitation and focus on the mantra “Sat our physical health and control our mind and Nam”, which is considered a bijor seed mantra that emotions. Each breath is a reminder that Something establishes a quality of neutrality in the body-mind. beyond ourselves breathes in us, and serves as a The connection to energy flow is perhaps the most reaffirmation of the Divine presence in all (Khalsa, profound effect of Sat Kriya. To understand this 1996, p. 20). connection, one must first understand the yogic concept of . In his book Kundalini Yoga Kriya Meditation (2006), Dr. David Shannanhoff-Khalsa states: “A kriya in yoga is a sequence of postures, breath and sound that are integrated together Ages ago, yogis devised a practical and systematic to allow the manifestation of a particular state” view of consciousness that involves eight (Bhajan, 2007, p. 100).Kriya means action - not discrete levels. Each level is related to what yogis just random action, but action that is free of call chakras, repositories or centers of psychic blocks, leading to a completion of the seed of the energy, and an individual’s consciousness is then determined and affected by the amount of energy action. Over the course of Yogi Bhajan’s 36-year and activity in these eight centers. Each teaching career, he taught hundreds of different or center is both symbolic for and instrumental sets of yoga exercises, or kriyas, each set with a in determining the mode of behavior, personality specific sequence, and all claiming to have a unique structure, and level of awareness. . . The intensity therapeutic value (Shannonoff-Khalsa, 2006, p. 2). of activity in any one chakra imparts an effect Some of the most common kriyas include “Basic that reflects a world perspective, understanding Spinal Energizer Series”, “Kriya for Elevation”, of cause and effect, and source of motivation “Magnetic Field & Heart Center”, “Pituitary Gland and desire that is unique to each center. (p. 31) Series”, “Stress Set for Adrenals & Kidneys”. Within a kriya, each asana (posture) serves as an The first 3 chakras, the “lower triangle”, relate exercise, a meditation, a connection to energy flow, to survival/security, reproduction/ creativity, and and a tool for self-diagnosis (Bhajan, 2007, p. 100). ego/will. Because the lower triangle forms the basis 27 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

for our basic survival in the world, Shannanhoff- means and for human beings to become pawns to Khalsa remarks that “much of society’s ills are dictators, government experiments and corporate the result of an imbalance in the first three manipulation. Naomi Klein’s (2007) The Shock chakras” (2006, p. 31). Sat Kriya works specifically Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism is a brilliant on balancing the energies of the lower triangle and heartbreaking chronicle of the intellectual through mixing of the prana and the apana at the origins of economic theories propounded by navel center, generating a heat in the system which Milton Friedman and the University of Chicago opens the nadis(channels for prana – comparable Economics Department, the implementation of to meridians in the acupuncture system) to the which have caused death and suffering around the upward flow of energy. A regular practice of Sat globe. In a Kundalini Yoga practice, the mind is Kriya is said to help reduce phobias and transcend disciplined so that it can serve the heart and soul – fears and emotional disarray, and channel creative not the individual ego. energy (Bhajan, 2007, p. 113). To be a spiritual warrior, one must deal with and Through the practice of kriya, we put ourselves move beyond fear, denial, and other self-limiting under specific short-term pressure (i.e., holding patterns in the mind. The breath practice of the arms up for a period of time, as in Sat Kriya) pranayama slows down the mind and strengthens to build up our internal systems and mental and and opens the heart center, which is where we psychic strength so that we can withstand the can physically hold fear. Kriya strengthens and pressures we face in our day-to-day lives. balances the endocrine system and the nervous system so that we can slow down, relax and still Meditation the body for meditation. Other important elements of pranayama, kriya, and meditation practice are In the rich and vast body of work that is Yogi (specific eye focus), (specific positions Bhajan’s legacy, perhaps the most important and or movements of the fingers and hands), and fundamental to moving beyond limiting and bhandas(“locks” or pressure applied in different self-centered attitudes into the experience of parts of the body to move energy). Meditation is interconnectedness are his teachings on the mind. ideally practiced after one has performed a kriya He challenged students to have “an intelligent and/or pranayama. confrontation with your own experience” (Bhajan, Through meditation, we learn to build and hold 1998, p. 3). Yogi Bhajan characterized the mind as an our awareness. We learn to observe the aspects essential faculty that is faster than time and space. It of the mind: the negative mind (our protective can be the agent of our destruction, leading us into mind that lets us know what could go wrong in delusional, manipulative, unintentional behaviors, or, a situation); the positive mind (our “cheerleader” conversely, it can be so beneficial that we can create mind, which sees opportunity); the neutral mind miracles (p. 3). One of his oft-quoted aphorisms (the mind that yogis work to cultivate, which can is that the mind makes a wonderful servant, but a take information from the other two aspects of the horrible master. He emphasized that mastering the mind and make decisions that align with the Soul). use and command of the mind is the gateway to Paradoxically, we use the mind to move beyond living peacefully, truthfully, and prosperously. self-limiting patterns of the mind. Yogi Bhajan A Kundalini yogi works to master the mind by (1998) taught: first understanding what the mind is and is not. In Western culture, we put a premium on intellectual This is the key to training the mind. Use the activity. “S/he has a brilliant mind” is considered mind to project to and stay at a point beyond one of the highest compliments one could receive. the mind’s own nature. When your mind stays Particularly in an academic setting, we begin to with the self-illumined soul within you, then all think that we ARE our minds. But when we operate pains and suffering disappear and your presence radiates and works. If you try to train your from the mind alone, leaving behind the heart and mind by confronting your ego and desires, it soul, it becomes easy for the ends to justify the 28 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

only causes pain. Train the mind by directing to salvation through the concentration of the it to confront your unlimited soul. The mind mind (p. 67). will be elevated, and you will be elevated. That consistent projection and training is called a The power of mantra is explained in both permanent state of bliss. . . It only takes one physical and metaphysical terms, as it operates clear mind that acts beyond its intrigues to seed simultaneously on both levels. As musician and the world with truth (pp. 56-57). yoga teacher Mata Mandir Singh explains in “Aquarian Times” (August/September 2008): The mind determines our attitudes, emotions and actions. Yogi Bhajan taught that we have In yogic terminology there are two kinds of 1,000 thoughts in the wink of an eye – the sounds in the Universe, Ahadand Anahadsounds. mind is constantly in motion, and functions on Ahadsounds are sounds created by something contrast, automatically categorizing input. Another striking something else. If I pluck the “A” interesting point he stressed about the mind is that string of my guitar, it will vibrate 440 times per it is just as material as the body, only subtler. Just second, creating a vibration in the surrounding as water exists in degrees of subtlety (ice, liquid, air that transfers that exact vibratory rate into the vapor), you can think of the mind as vapor, feelings surrounding environment. That is an Ahadsound. as liquid, and neurons and connections as ice. He The wind blowing through the trees, the breath describes the mind as simultaneously a structure, striking the vocal chords and mouth – these are Ahadsounds. Ahadsound vibration must travel a process and an energy that we can observe and through matter, because these sound vibrations change. We can affect the mind with gross things are transmitted through the movement of like food, powerful things like breath, and subtle molecular structures. Anahadliterally means the things like thought. (Bhajan, 2007, p. 121) But un-struck melody. In yogic cosmology and meditation is our most effective tool to discipline science it is said that the Universe is made of and control the mind, allowing the mind to act as sound. . . Beyond all physical phenomena and a servant to the Soul. When the Soul is in charge, matter is the primal creative sound vibration that we live to serve Spirit. began the creation. In Christianity it is called The Word. Sikhs call it the Naad. It is what scientists Mantra call “Cosmic radiation” – the constantly creative sound left over from the Big Bang. Yogis call it Anahat. Whatever one calls it, it is constantly We live in an ocean of vibration. All matter vibrating, creating, and expanding the Universe vibrates at certain frequencies. The sacred science --- infinitely, endlessly (p. 4). of mantra uses special sounds that tune us to the frequency of the Infinite. Georg Feuerstein Kundalini Yoga & Meditation utilizes some explains the etymology of the word mantra in The in English (“God and me, me and God, Yoga Tradition (1998): are One”, “I am, I Am”), but most mantras used in the practice are from the Shabd Guru contained in There is no adequate English equivalent for the the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Yogi Bhajan taught that work mantra. It is derived from the root man these particular sounds come from one common (“to think” or “be intent”), which also is found in the terms manman(“to ponder intently”), source and are therefore part of a universal code manas(“mind”), manisha(“understanding”), behind language and human communication. When manu(“wise” or “man”), mana(“zeal”), manyu the sounds are chanted with proper pronunciation, (“mood” or “mind”), mantu(“ruler”), and the correct rhythm and intention, the movement manus(“human being”). The suffix tra in mantra of the tongue in the mouth stimulates meridian suggests instrumentality. However, according points which causes chemical changes in the brain. to an esoteric explanation it stands for the word We can alter our consciousness by changing the trana, meaning “saving.” Thus, a mantra is that chemical composition of the brain fluids (Bhajan, which saves the mind from itself, or which leads 2007, p. 66-67). 29 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

When chanting mantra, we can think of Feuerstein (1998) offers: ourselves as a Cosmic stringed instrument. The vagus nerve acts as the “central tuning string”, The Indian liberation teachings – the great which activates the central channel or sushmunain of , , , and Sikhism the spine. This activates the vibration of the – clearly represent an invaluable resource for contemporary humankind. We have barely two supporting energy channels – called idaand scratched the surface of what they have to offer pingala, which reverberate through the whole us. It is obvious, however, that in order to find our system. When we begin chanting, we are creating way out of the tunnel of materialistic scientism, ahadsounds. As we continue, surrendering our we require more than knowledge, information, concentration to the sound current and the statistics, mathematical formulas, sociopolitical pulse of the correct rhythm, our central nervous programs, or technological solutions. We are in system begins to vibrate the sound. The sound need of wisdom. And what better way is there to at this point becomes anahad(unstruck) – we can rejuvenate our hearts and restore the wholeness listen as our nervous system vibrates the mantra of our being than on the wisdom of the East, without our conscious effort, and the mantra is especially the great lucid insights and realizations attuned to the frequency of the Infinite. At this of the Indian seers, sages, mystics, and holy folk? (p. xxx) point, our entire being is vibrating in concert with a pattern beyond anything we could create from The disciplined practice of Kundalini Yoga & our finite self/ego (p. 68). The mantra has acted Meditation gives us tools to create and maintain as a key that, when used properly with the correct healthy, strong, disease-resistant bodies and pronunciation, rhythm and projection, opens one meditative, resilient minds so that we can handle to the direct experience of the vastness of Being, increased stressors, multi-task, and make decisions bringing intuition, an unlimited source of inner quickly and effectively. Through meditation, we strength, joy, and relaxation. It is not surprising develop intuition and an expansive sense of self that sound current plays a crucial role in all religious – one that acknowledges our interconnectedness traditions and most social movements. It is hard to with entire web of life. Through group practice, we imagine the Civil Rights Movement in the United develop a group consciousness that helps us work States without the spirituals that were sung at every together collectively. The practice of Kundalini Yoga gathering, during marches and demonstrations, and & Meditation does not promote self-improvement, in the jail cells. but gifts us with the wisdom of self-acceptance – reminding us that our True Identity is Spirit. Living Conclusion from a place of Truth gives us increased capacity to make conscious choices in our words and actions “The time has come not to search for God, but to be that uplift ourselves and others, communicating God” (Bhajan, 2007, p. 8). intuitively, consciously, gracefully, and fearlessly. As we experience Spirit within ourselves, we create In this time of the “Great Turning”, or the capacity to see Spirit in all, and stand as spiritual “shift from the Piscean to the Aquarian Age”, warriors in the Aquarian Age. enormous, radical and swift internal and external change is occurring. Many people are suffering from an inability to handle a constant overload REFERENCES of information and the increased demands on Bhajan, Y. (2003/2007). The Aquarian Teacher: KRI their time from many different directions, and international teacher training in Kundalini Yoga as taught institutions and ways of being that have served by Yogi Bhajan, level I instructor textbook. Espanola, as the dominant paradigms are falling away. At NM: Kundalini Research Institute. this point in our evolution, we don’t need more Bhajan, Y., with Khalsa, G.S. (1998). The Mind: information – we need a more subtle and refined its projections and multiple facets. Espanola, NM: wisdom that comes through direct experience. 30 Repertório, Salvador, nº 18, p.21-31, 2012.1

Kundalini Research Institute. 4 A kriya in yoga is a sequence of postures, breath Feuerstein, G. (1998). The Yoga Tradition: its history, and sound that are integrated together to allow literature, philosophy and practice. Prescott, AZ: Hohm the manifestation of a particular state (Bhajan, Press. 2007, p. 100). Macy, M. & Brown, M. (1998/2011).Coming Back 5 KartaPurhk, from Gurbani(the language of the To Life.Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society of the Sikh faith), translates as “the Doer Publishers. of Everything”, and is from Japji Sahib, one of Khalsa, S.P.K. (1996). Kundalini Yoga: the flow the daily recitations of devout Sikhs. Japji Sahib of eternal power. New York & Canada: Penguin is the opening of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, Putnam, Inc. which is the principal Sikh scripture. Kundalini Khalsa, S.P.K &Khalsa, S.K.K. (Ed.) (1979).The Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan incorporates Man Called The Siri Singh Sahib. Los Angeles, CA: mantrasfrom the sound current of the Siri Guru Sikh . Granth Sahib. Yogi Bhajan described this sound Khalsa, S.R.K., (2002). About Yogi Bhajan.Aquarian current as the Shabd Guru – special sounds that Times. Volume 2, Number 1. (p. 69). act as a teacher to cut away the ego and merge Klein, N. (2007). The Shock Doctrine: the rise of disaster with Truth. capitalism. New York: Metropolitan Books. 6 (1469-1539) was the first of ten Shannahoff-Khalsa, D. (2006). Kundalini Yoga Sikh Gurus in physical form. Guru Nanak’s Meditation: techniques specific for psychiatric disorders, teachings shaped the ethics and principles of couples therapy, and personal growth. New York & the Sikh faith. London: W.W. Norton & Company. 7 In Kundalini Yoga & Meditation as taught by Singh, M. (2008). The unstruck melody: Yogi Bhajan, “God” is used as an acronym for understanding the science of Naad Yoga. Aquarian the Generating, Organizing, and Destroying/ Times.Volume 7, Number 3. (pp. 4-5). Delivering force in the universe. Therefore, Spry, Lib (1994).Structures of Power.In M. the term is universal and not specific to or Schutzman& J. Cohen-Cruz, (Ed).Playing Boal: dismissive of any particular religion, spiritual theatre, therapy, activism. (pp. 171-184). London, path, or absence thereof. New York & Canada: Routledge Press. 8 See footnote #5. White, J. (Ed.) (1990). Kundalini, Evloution and 9 See footnote #5. Enlightenment, Exploring the Myths and Misconceptions. Paragon House. (p. 144). Quoted in Khalsa, S.P.K. (1996).Kundalini Yoga: the flow of eternal power. New York & Canada: Penguin Putnam, Inc. (p. 50).

FOOTNOTES

1 Prana refers to the sub-atomic life-force energy that rides on the breath. 2 Mantra is the creative projection of the mind through sound (Bhajan, 2007 , p. 66). 3 OngNamo, Guru DevNamo is the “tune-in” mantra that is used to begin every Kundalini Yoga & Meditation class as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Ong means the Creation as manifest in the physical realm, Namomeans “to bow”, Guru is that which brings us from darkness to light, and Devmeans transparent/non-physical (Khalsa, 1996, p. 205). 31