Chpater 6 Research on Kundalini

Contemplative prayer brings us face to face with the “false self” in several ways.  The initial act of consent to letting go of our surface “I” with its programs, associations, commentaries, etc., in itself drives a fatal wedge into the false self.  As we rest in prayer, we begin to discover that our identity is deeper than just the surface of our psychological awareness.  The level of deep rest accessed during the prayer periods loosens up the hard-pan around the emotional weeds stores in the unconscious, of which the body seems to be the warehouse.  The psyche begins to evacuate spontaneously the undigested emotional material of the lifetime, opening up a new space for self-knowledge, freedom of choice, and the discovery of the divine presence within.  As a consequence, a growing trust in God, a bonding with the Divine Therapist, enables us to endure the process.

Fr. Thomas Keating: Invitation to Love

The difficulty with the explanations I found in Christian literature on this inner spiritual transformation was that it did not provide sufficient details on the symptoms associated with this inner healing process, nor did it provide helpful instruction on how to proceed except with the prayer practice itself.  Also, I found that in the more orthodox Christian circles, this process was looked upon with a great deal of suspicion and fear.  As a result, there was a great deal of reluctance on my part to even begin to engage in a conversation about it with the counterparts of my own faith.  But also, I had some reluctance to talk about this very personal subject with those who might construe that I was losing it, or being afflicted with some evil spirit.  This reluctance was not lessened as I discovered that the most helpful language and archetypal images were most found outside of my own Christian Faith tradition.  

The book “Kundalini, Psychosis or Transcendence” by Lee Sannella M.D. was my first discovery; a free book on the internet that provided a scientific explanation and history on Kundalini Rising.  I next discovered on the internet an introductory course on Kundalini Yoga.  This course introduced me to some of the language associated with this Eastern Spirituality along with the underlining purpose of doing these physical exercises.  It was through this course that I came to an intellectual understanding of the phenomena that I was experiencing.  Also, it was from this course that I discovered that one's body should be in sufficient shape to handle  the increase of energy flow if this process was to continue in the most beneficial way. So I joined a yoga class in January of 2006 to begin the necessary exercises. 

The yoga instructor was great in explaining from her perspective what was happening, and to provide me with the necessary exercises and activities that would not only balance this transformation process but to provide some grounding so that it would proceed in an orderly manner.

Many other books were discovered and read on the subject, but very few from a Christian perspective, except for one.  This was one called “Kundalini Energy and Christian Spirituality” written  by Phillip St. Romain.  This book was written by a person whose experience was very similar to mine. His book detailed his own experience with kundalini, provided an explanation of the Eastern understanding of kundalini rising, and expressed his views as it related to his Christian faith practice.  Phillip, who later confirmed my own experience of kundalini rising, provided, through his book, an excellent guide to help me at this time with my own understanding of this experience from a Christian perspective. 
     

I would like to turn now to some of the more common symptoms of Kundalini Rising  This was the first subject that drew my interest as I began my exploration on this subject.  I was surprised at the amount of information that was available on the internet.  The symptoms were broken down into several categories. 

Behavioral changes

Increase in spiritual practice of meditation and focus on spiritual issues 

Increased enjoyment of beauty and nature

Increase desire for a quieter, simpler, more balanced lifestyle

Improved dietary observations

Increased need for rest, relaxation, silence

Increased need for uplifting physical activity and purposeful altruistic work

Sleep and sexual activity pattern changes 

Disinterest in formerly enjoyed worldly activities
Diminished interest in personal achievement, goals, success
Enhanced interest in living in the present moment
Greater joy in just being; not as concerned about time/value

External Physical Phenomena

Automatic gesturing of the arms, hands and spontaneous posturing 

Deep automatic breathing or retention of breath 

Feeling buoyant and full of energy

Involuntary weeping or laughing 

Head and facial movements, tongue rolling back, eyes closing or rotating 

Decrease or increase need for sleep

Involuntary jerks, spasms, shaking, contractions of the body

Insomnia and early morning waking

Exhaustion 

Internal Physical Sensations

Enhanced sensory acuity and sensitivity

Increased energy

A floating, blissful sensation

Inner sensory experience (sounds, lights) 

Energy currents in the spine and sensations of energy in the body 

Throbbing at the pelvic and lower abdomen area 

Electric tingling through our the body in the nerves, spine and brain

A sensation of something throbbing inside or crawling on the skin 

Feeling disoriented, bodiless 

Digestive system changes, appetite swings 

Changes in sexual desire, sexual sensations 

Increased body heat, hot flashes, cold flashes or localized sensations

Loss of body awareness 

Energy swings, nervous energy, lethargy

Migratory body pains, localized temporary numbness, burning 

Light sensitivity 

Eyes burning, visual difficulties 

Emotional Conditions

Spontaneous waves of bliss, joy, contentment, compassion 

Devotional focus, spiritual yearning 

Increased centeredness and objectivity

Increased capacity for love and forgiveness 

Increased sensitivity to others’ feelings, altruism 

Increased feelings of unity with creation 

Decreased materialism and greed 

Loss of fear of death 

Emotional balance in perturbed conditions 

Increased feelings of detachment, desire for different life 

Spontaneous surfacing of repressed unconscious issues 

Fear of being influenced by unknown factors, fear of going crazy 

Awareness of mortality
An enhanced sense of acceptance of others  
An enhanced appreciation of nature, creation

Mental Factors

Improved concentration and mental flexibility

The mind becomes inward and vacant, emptyness

Temporary confusion caused by loss and absence of self-definition

Difficulty concentrating on tasks, scattered thoughts, mental dulling
Mind easily overloaded
Enhanced Intuitive knowing  

Paranormal Phenomena

Prophetic visions 

Precognition, telepathy, clairvoyance, psycho-kinetic experiences 

Increased synchronicity

Past experiences of life recalled 

Ability to see auras 

Feeling able to influence another’s mind or know the contents of their mind 

Visions of non-material entities 

Out of body or near death experiences

Creative inspirations

Sense of receiving inner instructions 

Communion with nature and animals

Spiritual Experiences

Experience of deep unitive and expansive consciousness, sense of oneness 

Profound feelings of connection with a spiritual source 

Expanded comprehension of reality 

Illumination experiences, holy trances

Sacred visions 

Feeling the presence of a saint or God

Visions of light and floating in light

Visions of glowing geometric shapes and lights

Sacred audition, tasting sacred nectar, feeling sacred touch 

Insightful comprehension of scripture

Prophetic revelations of new spiritual wisdom and understanding

Deep intuitive knowledge of self and others

Inspired creativity

Increased experience of unusual synchronistic events

Spontaneously going into deep meditative experiences at regular times or when inspired