Ajna Vishuddhi Anahata Manipura Swadhisthana Moo I adhara Chapter 7 : Chakras Chakras The invisible yet powerful core centers of consciousness, eager to receive prana in abundance The scriptures describing the chakras belong uniquely to Indian Tantra. Chakras are invisible core centers of the different planes of psychic consciousness and lie along the sushumna in the spinal column. The chakras whirl and radiate, when prana, the vibrating life force, freely flows through them, and takes on the form of a vortex of energy Before we can come to a better understanding of chakras, we need to look at the body from its subtle levels first. From time immemorial yogis and other great spiritual practitioners discovered through direct experience that the body consists of five different sheaths or divides, knows as koshas. These sheaths or divides, as previously mentioned, are seen as different dimensions of energy substances, from the subtle to the gross. Each kosha is permeated with prana. The gross visible sheat is the physical body. The four invisible sheaths, two astral and two causal in nature, are together often referred to as the subtle body. The five koshas coexist together. They protect each other against premature breakthroughs, meaning psychological or spiritual breakthroughs that are not yet desirable. In the physical body lies the visible nervous system. In the astral body, formed by the pranic and mental koshas lies the invisible system of energy channels and centers of consciousness known as nadis and chakras. This system cannot be seen through the naked eye. Chakra is often translated as wheel, which refers to a circular object or formation. The Sanskrit word chakra means more than just wheel or that which circles. A chakra is a psychic depot center, of which the most familiar ones are located along the sushumna, the principal nadi. The nadis are known to carry prana, or vital live force. Prana is • known as "ch'i" in Chinese1 it is believed that there are 72000 nadis traversing the subtle body. The principal sushumna is accompanied by two major nadis, one on the left, Ida, which is an energy channel cool and sattvic in nature and one on the right, Pingala, which is hot and rajasic in nature. They are also called the moon and sun energy channels. These nadis criss-cross the sushumna five times. At the sixth chakra2, the third eye chakra they join and joined they ascend towards the crown chakra. The whirling of the chakras in the second sheath or pranic body tapers off to the third sheath or mental body. These whirlpools of the astral body influence the physical and the causal body, thus making all the five divides counterparts. The major chakras, seven of them, whirl when prana freely flows through them, taking on the form of a vortex of energy. In the view of Yoga, great health lies in the harmonious functioning of these subtle psychic centers. Energetic bodies and creative minds are due to healthy, free-whirling chakras. These centers of consciousness are then filled with a glow that manifests in unlimited vitality and joy. However, over numerous lifetimes, these centers have become violated and their bountifulness shut off. They need to be revitalized because our moods and behavior depend on them. That is why in Tantra, purification of the chakras is practiced. The chakras are in close proximity to the physical glands, and thus influence their ability to function well. Optimal health begins with energized, free-whirling charkas, which can only whirl freely when they are detoxified from their debris of lifetimes of conditioned belief systems. If there is no free-flow of prana, there is no optimal health. In Tantra, to purify the chakra system is of paramount importance for personal and spiritual growth and their methods are cardinal for kundalini awakening. Each chakra is distinct from the other, each brings forth an energetic vibrancy level and represents aspects of mental and emotional conditioning, resulting in modes of behavior and causing diminished vibrations. When one chakra is not rotating and vibrating well, the ability of the other chakras to function well are influenced, resulting in a discordance of the whole system. In one lifetime we move through four important phases of consciousness where the chakras broadcast their respective correlations in our individual self-consciousness. The first phase is a gross phase known as the phase of ignorance, where one does not know one does not know. In the second phase, known as the phase of aspiration or the psychological phase, one does not know one knows. Then comes the spiritual phase or the phase of endeavor, where one knows one does not know, followed by the phase of illumination, where one knows one knows. The phase of illumination is a transcendental phase of self-consciousness, which is a result of having gone through the three preceding phases. When the mind is bonded with the physical or the psychological phase, consciousness dwells in the three lower chakras, located at the base of the spine, the pelvic area and the navel area respectively. Within these levels of consciousness there are no high ideals. Nor are there spiritually inclined thoughts. Man remains immersed in the survival mode, in whatever form and intensity and thus in spiritual emptiness. In fact, the first two chakras are not associated with mental or spiritual well being; they are about survival. Fate is the sum total of past karmas and is prominently stored in the lower three chakras. Mental consciousness begins in the third chakra. Only when the mind begins to bond to the higher chakras may it aspire to spiritual knowledge. Spiritual awakening begins in the heart chakra. Service to mankind and moral or idealistic thoughts develop here. Still it may come from the heart alone. True spiritual awakening may not yet have begun. This, too, may be the case for the throat chakra. One may speak about subjects relating to the Divine and one may no longer desire to dwell on worldly topics. Yet one may not have risen to spiritual awakening. As with the heart chakra, sincerity of aspiring spiritual growth may not yet be fully developed. True aspiration come from spiritual practice. Spiritual practice, such as meditation, is the key to opening the heart and throat chakras. Generous charitable service and popular spiritual talk are, by themselves, not chakra openers. There needs to be sincere and ardent practice. Only when we can attain and maintain a tranquil mind, can we begin to function from the spiritual plane. Here, too, the ego is still present and active, albeit subdued. When a full opening of the crown chakra occurs, one experiences transient moments of enlightenment. These centers of consciousness are poetically called "wheels of the royal chariot" because universal wisdom lies within and manifests on the appropriate vibrations of the wheels. The vibrations of the chakras are related to thoughts and feelings. Conditioned beliefs are responsible for sluggish vibrations. A blaze of vibrations occurs when conditioned beliefs are broken through. When we keep the chakras in good health, through the practice of asanas, pranayama and meditation, we simultaneously keep ourselves free of mental defilements. Vibrantly healthy, they function in harmony. When they are blocked from whirling freely, they cause malfunctioning of the nearby nervous system, which may cause dreadful mental problems and other harmful nerve disorders. The gross and subtle bodies are of same matter, hence the influence of the chakras upon the nerve plexuses and visa versa. Healthy and radiating chakras supply energy to the nervous centers, which in turn are closely related to the glands and generative organs. .