Chakras, Bio-psychology, & the Journey Within

Chakras, Bio-psychology, & the Journey Within

Here is the essay I submitted to Stillness Within…..

Chakras, Bio-psychology, & the Journey Within

The chakra system is the body’s unique, invisible, yet remarkably palpable, energy system. Just as the mind is invisible yet wholly present and tangible in all we do, the psychic energy centers along the spine – known as the chakras – play an equally important role in who we are and what we become. Naturally, one’s link with the chakras becomes clearer and more prescient as one engages in the practice of meditation.

In the yogic system, there are seven main chakras along the spine. The location of each chakra is the intersection of the two nadiis (nerves) and the susumna canal, which runs lengthwise within the spine. The nadiis crisscross the spine in figure-8 fashion, and the susumna canal is that long energy pipe that runs from the tail bone to the crown of the head.

The Lowest Chakra

The muladhara chakra is the lowest point where the nadiis crisscross the susumna canal. Mul(a) in Sanskrit means “root”, and adhara means “base”. So the muladhara chakra is the root or base chakra located at the bottom of the spine. The muladhara chakra houses the kulakundalinii (coiled serpentine) which remains in the base chakra until it is awakened and rises upwards, as a result of meditative practices.

So the first chakra, which controls the solid factor of the body, is the known as the muladhara chakra and the seeds of the entire human personality are embedded here: kama (physical desire), artha (psychic longing), dharma (psycho-spiritual yearning), and moksa (supreme fulfillment). This is where the journey towards spiritual realization begins. At the same time, if one fails to raise the kundalinii past this point, they will be engrossed in crude physicality. So a distinct awakening is needed. In meditation, one must strike this chakra and enable the sleeping divinity (kulakundalinii) to rise up from this nadir point.

2nd & 3rd Chakras

The second chakra is located at the midpoint between the tailbone and the naval, which is essentially the supra-pubis region, i.e. the second point where the two nadiis cross the susumna canal. This chakra is known as the svadhisthana chakra. The Sanskrit prefix sva means “own” or “self”, and adhisthana means “abode”, “place”, or “seat”. Some of the psychic tendencies or vrttis associated with this chakra are indulgence, confidence (lack of), and cruelty. The second chakra also controls the liquid portion of the body.

The third chakra is known as the manipura chakra. This is located along the spine at the height of the navel point. So once again, the two nadiis cross the susumna at that spot, and that is the manipura chakra. This is the hottest part of the body and generates much of the crude energy that fuels the body’s movement, exertion, and output. Some of the tendencies of mind associated with the manipura chakra are shyness, envy, melancholia, and infatuation etc. The third chakra also controls the luminous factor of the body.

Link Between Chakras & Vrttis

One of the very interesting and unique aspects of the chakra system is that the chakras are closely linked with the glandular system and their secretions. As we balance the chakras through our yoga poses and spiritual practices, that has a beneficial effect on the glands. As noted, the chakras are also directly related with our tendencies of mind, or psychic propensities, known as vrttis in Samskrta. That means as we balance, purify, and gain control over various chakra points, then the mind gains the upper hand on those vrttis, as opposed to succumbing to them.

Side by side, there are four basic propensities that we humans share with animals: food (ahara), sleep (nidra), procreation (maethuna), and fear (bhaya). When the chakras are balanced – which is primarily a psycho-spiritual endeavor, though yoga asanas also play a significant role – the mind will be in greater control of those four basic propensities (vrttis). Then one will not be prone to excess sleep and overeating etc, i.e. one will not be a slave to those desires. The antithesis is when one’s entire existence is wholly consumed by those potentially degrading propensities.

Degradation of materialism

Sadly, today’s pseudo-culture of materialism grossly appeals to those debased desires. Pop culture and corporations feast on the degradation of humanity; that is how they get their profits to soar, i.e. to appeal to the most primordial human desires. Seekers and aspirants must work to buck this trend, and ultimately establish new norms based on a sympathetic and compassionate view of humanity that inculcates greater moral and spiritual values. The point here is that certain vrttis are needed for our basic survival, but they are not the goal of life nor should they consume us. That will only lead to degeneration and disease. So the aim of the spiritual aspirant is to keep those lower chakras balanced and stable – as that will have a very beneficial effect on the physical body – and the mind should be goaded and channelized towards the upper chakras, and ultimately the crown chakra.

Emerging Field of Bio-Psychology

As the awakened kulakundalinii rises up the susumnal canal and passes through various chakras, the aspirant achieves different states of realization, culminating in the complete psycho-spiritual oneness with the Supreme. That is known as mukti (liberation) or moksa (salvation). Along the way, the human personality becomes completely sentient and refined. This transformation opens the gateway to the new and growing field of bio-psychology. This is the notion that our human personality is keenly linked with the various vrttis of the human mind. In total, there are fifty vrttis, and each propensity (vrtti) is associated with one of the seven chakras. Naturally, as one purifies and harnesses the tendencies of those chakras, one can fully transform their mental arena. This is an entirely new and developing aspect of human understanding that will one day fully supersede the old paradigms of human psychology that utterly overlook spirituality.

Conclusion

So the chakra system is an integral aspect of human life. We have not come onto this earth to merely sleep, eat, drink, and procreate. According to the yogis, humans are mind-oriented beings, and we must harness all baser desires and fully channelize our energies and thoughts toward the higher realms. Meditation and a working knowledge of the chakra system are essential towards this goal.