Kundalini and Shaktipat

Shaktipat is the bestowal of grace from an enlightened master. This grace awakens the Shakti, or the Kundalini energy that is dormant at the base of the spine. The Kundalini energy is depicted as a coiled serpent while doormant. The initiation of Shaktipat through a master encourages the Shakti to travel up through the 8 Chakras and eventually to the crown of the head. If this process is achieved, it is termed enlightenment, which is the goal of a lot pf spiritual practices.

When this is achieved, it is considered to be the union of Shiva and Shakti, two Hindu Gods, at the crown of the head. This is an experience that is sought after for years by practicing yogis and spiritual aspirants.

Shaktipat can be somewhat considered to be a shortcut in a sense, and yet the encouragement of the Shakti to travel up through the chakras is achieved through consistent practices and austerities, to purify the body and allow for this transformation. Once this has been achieved, then this person is considered to be a master, who in turn could bestow Shaktipat to other seekers.

Photo, © LACMA.

Now that is the real question. In a sense you don't know, and then again you do. To complicate things further, it hinges on your aspiration, faith and belief. Then, having been initiated, that is only the beginning. An initiation of the awakening of the Kundalini is considered a short cut of sorts, yet the rest depends on the aspirant.

At the same time, Skatipat is not a necesssity for enlightenment. After saying all of this, I will also qualify, or perhaps disqualify myself, with the notion that the only ones who can truly speak on either of these subjects with absolution are those whom are fully awakened. Am I fully awake? I don't think so, and maybe that means that I am. The spiritual journey is infused with all sorts of paradoxes, and our rudder is our own heart and intuition. Everyone decides for him or herself.

These are topics that have been written about and discussed for the millenia, and perhaps it will remain that way.

Now that I have thoroughly confused you perhaps, generally speaking, when someone receives Shaktipat, they just know it. Each experience is different, yet there is often a nice influx of blissful feelings, or another individually choreographed set of experiences tailored to that individual yogi or seeker.

It is specifically administered through a master's touch, look, words or mere presence, though that is the one aspect that is associated with it, a divine master in some way, and most express how they were quite profoundly affected in a perfect way tailored to them, in a very noticeable fashion

Once you have received Shaktipat, or simply aspire to have your Kundalini awakened, there are a number of forms of yoga, in which the experience is kindled over time. It isn't something that just happens on it's own as the aspirant just relaxes, but rather, their individual and on going participation is said to be necessary.

There is no one way, and in fact, there may be as many ways to go about this as there are people on earth. There are a number of practices which are somewhat organized into different forms of yoga, and many would say, that if you stepped back, you can see the essence in this in all paths of theology, and of course, not everyone agrees on this.

My preference, is find a path that resonates with you. I like the Buddha quote, that for me, points the way, and he was a Hindu at one time, according to the records, before blazing his own path.

Some of the forms of kindling the Kundalini include yogic practices. These include, but aren't limited to physical yoga practices, such as Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. Yoga can also serve a broader definition, as a way of life. Other ways are mind practices, such as different forms of meditation and focus, chanting, which is another form of meditation, that is often categorized into it's own. Levels of aspiration, prayer, devotional practices such as service, mindfully eating and breathing practices are some other forms of practices that aspirants use in order to awaken their Kundalini.

It is quite an auspicious concept to me, and I just love being around and remembering the whole energy surrounding these types of subjects and ways of life.