During the early years of my life, I had been a person who was go-getter, full of spark, never believed in spirituality, energy or the Universe. As years passed, I became more mature and witnessed the circles of both successes & failures, I realized what I had been doing was not giving me contentment; I was restless, confused, in the state of abandonment and with a feeling of unworthiness…I guess, all of us feel like this at least once in our life time. Many let go of this thought; whereas, few start exploring the idea or reason behind it.
So, I chose to be the part of later league and started exploring numerous options to find what would make me feel complete. As on this journey of finding the purpose of my life, I was sure that there is some force beyond my understanding that is driving me to this path. Hence, in quest of finding peace with the restlessness and the answers to my questions, I started reading and meeting people practicing spirituality…
I started exploring the science of energy which is said to be the driving force of life. Interestingly, I was amused to see how each theory of energy is backed by the evidences of science, spirituality, and mythology.
In spirituality, the God and its formations (all living beings) are “one” means since god has given birth to all the living being; hence they possess all traits of the god within them. Scientifically, the universe is the creator (supreme energy) and all creations (living beings) possess the same energy as the creator. “Vigyan Bhairav Tantra”a form of yoga and tantra in Kashmiri Shaivism said to be taught by Shiva to Parvati, believes in the philosophy of monism that states we are not separate from God, and we are not separate from each other. There is only God. Looking ourselves separate from God is a myth.
“Rab bande di jaat hai eko, jive kapde di jaat hai Ruu...
Kapde de vich ruu hai lukya, jive vich bande de TUU…”
This sufi verse by “Bulleh Shah” is apt to cite this concept…which means the god (creator/ Universe) and the being (creation) are one as the cloth and the cotton are one. As you find cotton in the cloth, similarly you will find god in its creation.
This series of articles is intended to answer all the questions that may come in an individual’s mind while on their journey as to how spiritualism and energy affect them during their lifecycle. It is going to uplift the life force within you with amalgamated evidences from scientific, spiritual and mythology.
The Journey
The journey to find the supreme starts from finding your own self. We all know about our physical body and its formation. It is created by atoms, cells, muscles, bones, organs, limbs, vascular system nervous system and so forth so on.
However, your physical body is not the only body we have. Whether we’re studying Vedic scriptures or quantum physics, we learn that everything is energy, that has own vibrational frequency. From the most basic atoms that create our cells, organs, bones, muscles, and bodily systems to the most expansive planet in the solar system, everything is made up of energy.
In Taittiriya Upanishad of Hindu mythology it is stated:
Aum brahmavidapnoti param.h . tadesha.abhyukta . satyam j~nanamanantam brahma . yo veda nihitam guhayam parame vyoman.h . so.ashnute sarvan.h kaman saha . brahmana vipashchiteti ..
~TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD—2.1.2
Om. He who knows Brahman attains the Supreme.
“He who knows Brahman which is Reality, Knowledge and Infinity, hidden in the cave of the heart and in the highest akasha-he, being one with the omniscient Brahma, enjoys simultaneously all desires.”
The term Brahman is used for the “the reality, “knowledge” and “Infinity”, that is hidden in the cave of the one’s own heart, i.e. the presence Brahman can be realized in the innermost recesses of the seeker’s own personality.
1.1. Creation of Universe and Human
As we know the five fundamental elements namely space, air, fire, earth and water constitute the entire universe. If god is considered as formless aspect, these elements are the embodiment of the God’s formless energy.
Tasmaadvaa etasmaadaatmana aakaashah sambhuutaha . Aakaashaadvaayuhu . Vayoragnihi . Agneraapaha . Adbhyah pruthivii . Pruthivyaa oshadhyaha . Oshadhiibhyo annam . Annaatpurushaha
~TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD—2.1.3
It was the energy (Atman) which existed first which is the ultimate truth. From the energy (Atman)/ truth was born Space, without Space nothing could have been created. From Space comes Air. Air possess two attributes the touch & the sound which comes from the space. From Air comes Fire which has three attributes namely sight, touch of air and sound of the space. Fire generates Water that also has taste along with sight, touch and sound. From Water comes the Earth, which is derived from water having all five properties smell, taste, sight, touch, and sound. From Earth with its all five attributes comes herbs and food. Food is transformed into seed which also include human seed the semen and the ovum which upon union give rise to conception of human.
1.2 Energy
Energy is always present in matter, in all the processes of nature, as different forms. Energy can be defined as the flow of primary particles within matter, in different directions. The absolute consciousness creates space and causes a minute compression and expansion in this space (this reminds me of big bang theory). This causes the first wave of energy, the first manipulation of matter and the first particle of nature. The particles combine with each other in different proportions, to produce other elements of nature.
Any smallest or biggest task in the universe is accomplished by the utilization of energy, which is defined as capacity to do the work. Scientifically, we classify energy into two forms static (potential) and dynamic (kinetic) energy. During the movement, the energy is utilized, whereas during rest, the energy is stored, as mass itself. Hence both are interlinked with each other. In spirituality or mythological, the potential energy is depicted as Shiva and Kinetic is Shakthi. Both are forms of the same consciousness, as Ardhanareeshwara.
Now let’s understand the systematic law of energy conversion which equally supports the spiritual aspect of energy too…
As we all have read about the following laws of physics in our textbooks :
Law of conservation- Energy can neither be created nor be destroyed, but can only be transformed.
For example: Upon heating water, steam is generated that carries hydroelectric energy to that generates pressure to run the turbine, which runs the generator. Water's mass which had potential energy within it which upon heating got converted to kinetic energy that caused movement of turbine that further run the generator to mechanical energy to run the generator which further yielded electrical energy that is distributed to consumers. Consumers further use electrical energy in gadgets, due to varied forms of resistances it again converted into different forms such as light, heat, rotation etc.; finally, portion of the energy goes back to source, through the return path, by means of another wire of the circuit.
Similarly, everything in this universe is matter, the molecules of which store static/ potential energy or consciousness within. Now with different external force of attraction and repulsion acting on matter which is the energy/consciousness gets manipulated to different living or dead forms of life. Thus in spirituality to same concept applies and justifies Shiva becoming Shakti or Shakti transforming into Shiva.
Law of mass action - Energy can be converted into mass, and mass into energy
We all have read about theory of mass action as derived by Einstein says energy of an object equals to its mass times the speed of light; E= MC2. So if C (the speed of light) is taken as constant, Energy (the supreme power and Mass (human) become equal.
Law of reason - Energy in dynamic form always tries to go back to its own source
Now that we understand, we (mass) are energy, surge to witness or be one with our highest form, the form i.e. Energy or the supreme power, and we perform various activities chanting mantras, yajnas, tapa, and other numerous activities to attain our real, the supreme form!
1.2.1 WHAT IS KUNDALINI
The divine power, Kundalini, shines like the stem of a young lotus; like a snake, coiled round upon herself, she holds her tail in her mouth and lies resting half asleep as the base of the body.
~Yoga Kundalini Upanishad (1.82)
Kundalini, is the raw, static energy that supports all life. Often called Prana, It is associated with Parvati or Adi Shakti. The historic symbolism of Kundalini energy is the coiled serpent resting at the base of spine. Kundalini is also illustrated as two serpents coiled and resting at the base of spine. Interestingly, the serpent coupling is very much identical to the design of double helix DNA.
Pic 1 structure of DNA vs. Kundalini (Source: ijoypp.org)
The Serpent Symbolism
Kundalini is represented by the symbol serpent. As the serpent sheds it’s skin and regenerates a new being, the spirit of a serpent can be thought of as a rebirth, a transformation, and healing of the old form (be that mind, body, and spirit)
The inter-coiling of two snakes is such a common symbol in mythology that is represented most obviously in the Caduceus, which is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology. One myth suggests that Hermes saw two serpents entwined in mortal combat. He separated them with a wand and thus brought about peace between them. As a result, the wand with two serpents came to be seen as a sign of love and peace. This is related to the seemingly combatant sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems coiling up the spinal cord. Mostly the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are seen to have opposing functions, the sympathetic is for ‘flight, fight or freeze’ while the parasympathetic is for ‘relaxation, recovery and rejuvenation’. In many situations, one will dominate and subdue the other, but in some situations such as in heightened sexual arousal both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work together in harmony to hopefully create love and peace.
In hatha yoga, the two spiraling snakes are referred to as the Nadis (subtle channels) Ida and Pingala and the spinal cord contains the Sushumna Nadi. When viewed from above, the head the spiraling of these channels looks like the yin yang symbol or even the ancient swastika symbol. It is said that there are 72,000 Nadis in a human body that represent a distribution network of divine energy and therefore they are channels through which this energy flows. At a physical level, most Nadis can be identified with the nervous system and blood vessels but they go beyond this plane to the subtle body.
1.2.2. CHAKRAS
Chakra is the Sanskrit word or the wheels are the energy centres in our body. The places where the snake-like spiral nadis crossover up the trunk, is the supposed location of the main Chakras (energy centres) of the body. All living beings whether humans, animals, plants or trees — have a chakra system, a living system of energy vortexes, that exists within them.
In yogic philosophy, Chakra refers to the psycho-spiritual centres located along the length of the spine, each of which is associated with specific organs and glands, physical functions and dysfunctions, and emotional, mental, and different archetypal principle of consciousness.
Although, there are literally thousands of chakras situated throughout the subtle body, yogic philosophy normally stresses only seven of these; namely,
1. Muladhara/Root Chakra
2. Svadhishthana/Sacral Chakra:
3. Manipura/Solar Plexus Chakra
4. Anahata/Heart Chakra
5. Vishuddha/Throat Chakra
6. Ajna/Third Eye Chakra
7. Sahasrara/Crown Chakra
When all the Nadis and chakras are in balance, we manifest our true divine self. Obviously, in our world, that’s pretty rare and we always have to work to maintain their proper function. Otherwise, we’ll be experiencing more negativity, fears, anxiety and anything in between.
This series of articles is an attempt to help you to learn the basic ways as to how to balance these chankras and flow of energy for your holistic well-being.
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