| Chakras. Simple explanation. |
| Tuesday, 29 November 2011 | |
As a yoga practitioner I bet you have heard of the word “chakra”. For example, I have heard that it can be opened, harmonized and even cleansed (which I question really). Even though various masters have already written texts and books on this subject, I decided to share my vision of chakras from a perspective of a lay, not yet enlightened being, in a very simple down to earth way. Every week I will write a short piece on each chakra, so do not get discouraged by this rather long preface =) To start with we need to define the word “prana”. “Prana” in Indian philosophy or “chi” in Chinese tradition is the vital energy that lies behind the movement in our entire world. It makes our hearts beat; it makes the planets turn and the rivers flow. It permeates the entire universe and it flows through the energy channels that are penetrating our very bodies. Western science discovered a network of intricate electric circuits in human body that is comparable to the meridian lines in Chinese medicine. These lines in Indian tradition are called “nadis” and they are the passageways for the vital energy to travel within us. Alongside our spine, the core of our being runs the main “shushumna nadi”; on both sides of it run two other main “ida and pingala nadis”. All three of them originate at the base of our spine and end at the top of the skull, crossing each other at 7 spots at the central channel causing energy wind to whirl at these intersections. These very whirlpools are called “chakras”, or wheels as translated from Sanskrit. They are colorful balls of light, which are related with different aspects of our being, motivations and choices in life, our level of spiritual development. Just like in the pyramid of Maslow, the bottom chakras are related to our basic needs connected to material existence while upper ones have got to do with spiritual and higher planes of realizing our full potential; they are about being ever present and aware in a union with our true Self. When the channels are obscured by blocks which develop throughout our life, the energy cannot run properly and the whirls of energy become weak and dull. Various Eastern practices are designed to remove these obstacles so that energy may rise up to the top “chakra” in full power making all of them shine out bright. I believe that babies have got this pretty much under control, you can even see their fontanel pulsating of this energy and notice their pure, innocent and open beings shine through their eyes. As we mature and pick up behavioral patterns from our instant environment, as we soak in the ideas and views on the world and ourselves, we grow more disconnected from our true selves and create various blocks in the body. Those are oh-so-easy to experience at a yoga class as there we start dealing with them – it can be painful on physical, emotional and mental levels. We all know it, don’t we? All spiritual traditions say that first was energy. Remember in the Bible, “First was the word”. Word = sound = vibration = energy. And energy had certain structure around which matter has formed. The same way organs and very complex nervous and endocrine systems were formed around our energy lines and chakras. It is quite an exciting journey to learn how our physical, energetic and mental planes are interconnected causing us have emotions and behave and think in certain ways. I hope you will enjoy my posts on chakras that will follow. Next time it will be about Muladhara or “root” chakra. Be happy, healthy and strong! |