In the Yogic tradition, mind is divided into four aspects – 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑎, 𝑏𝑢𝑑𝑑ℎ𝑖, 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑠 and 𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑘𝑎𝑟𝑎, or 𝒆𝒈𝒐. Further, the vehicle that contains the mind, our body, is also characterized into 5 dimensions, or sheaths. Proceeding inward from the physical body, next comes the 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗰 body. This is the energy level, home to our life forces which manifest physically as breaths.

The nature of mind is energetic, thus it’s found in the Pranic layer. This is where ego makes its home and it moves through the body along a super highway of ethereal nerves called 𝗡𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀, which act as energy conduits, before releasing through nine doorways to go out and experience the world. Control of the Nadis enables control of the ego, the total mind and the senses.

Within the meridians of Self, three channels are most important. These are the 𝗦𝘂𝗻 and 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗻 channels corresponding to the right and left nostril, and the 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗮 which correlates with the spine. The Yogin, through a process called 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑚𝑎, activate and modulate the fluctuations of the prana, the life force. When the Sun Channel is active fire is produced and appetites, for food and other worldly enjoyments, increase. Conversely, the Moon Channel cools and relaxes the appetites. Creating a balance between these two channels with equal force allows the life force to be released into Sushumna allowing 𝗞𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶 to move upwards.

There are two distinct fires to be aware of in the Sun Channel. There is the physical digestive fire and there is an ethereal fire of mind that allows the digestion of ideas for comprehension. When there is a good control over the physical digestion, the Sun Channel can be used to ignite the fire of mind. A problem arises when people who are unfamiliar with Yogic practices stimulate the Sun Channel too much in so far as it is the physical appetites that tend to increase and consequently receive the focus, leaving the mental fire weakened.

The Nadis meet at a central ethereal plexus called a 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗮. When the average person, unfamiliar with the yogic neuro-physiology, directly engages in chakra meditation, there is a very real risk of over-exciting the nerve plexus in the area of focus. For instance, without precise knowledge of the workings of the 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗮, located at the perineum, there is the tendency to merely inflame the nerves and intensify the downward motion of the prana. This results in mania, sexual or otherwise. Without proper guidance, the novice practitioner is overwhelmed with desires and becomes severely attached to worldly things. This kind of distortion can happen at any of the lower chakras.

Another example is concentration on the 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗮, the seat of fire, located above the navel. Focusing here, as during the 𝘛𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘛𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘰 𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, may on the one hand create a great heat which may keep one warm and healthy during Tibetan winters. On the other hand, without the proper insight and guidance, an overwhelming desire for food can arise and the practitioner may find themselves falling into gluttony and only increase the grip of 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗮.

When Kundalini is inspired or otherwise actively aroused before the mind has been brought under control, the likelihood is that She will tend to rather self-identify with the physical limitations and create further obstacles in one’s evolution.

David Fox

…is a Saiva Tantrika, Gyana Yogi and founder of Uma Maheshwara Yoga & Ayurveda. David has an MA in Semiotics, lives in Japan with his family and works as a coach in L & D, devoting his time to  developing science-based tools and programs that help people reach the fullest potential of the human condition.