Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00066)

In a message dated 12/3/98 9:54:08 PM, Jerry S wrote:

>I practiced Kundalini Yoga for many years before
>I came into Theosophy and discovered that it was dangerous.

Are you joking, or do you really believe it is dangerous--based on what
theosophy says about it?  Have you also read Gopi Krishna on that subject?
Apparently, he actually proved its dangers (at least to him) by explaining how
its practices caused his own suffering.   See: _An Interview with Gopi
Krishna_ at:
<A HREF="http://www.renature.com/KRF/articles_reviews/interviews/gopi_krishna1
a.html">http://www.renature.com/KRF/articles_reviews/interviews/gopi_krishna1a
.html</A>

I suppose it's all a matter of how deeply one gets into it, for how long
practiced, and what knowledge one has of its dangers--so as to avoid them.
HPB could have meant that such practices, without sufficient training and
knowledge, is dangerous.  But, I don't think she spelled out the dangers other
than saying that such "psychic practices" could create a "hole" in ones
astral--which, in the long run, perhaps, could have serious side effects on
our physical bodies, nerves or brain functions.  Also, the raising of
kundalini or other such psychic practices could be the reason why many psychic
practitioners, including Blavatsky herself, perhaps, seem to die young or
suffer from serious mental and physical diseases that could very well be
attributed to damage to one's astral body.

I have experienced kundalini beginning to "rise" at the culmination of certain
stages of my early meditative practices relating to Patanjali's Rajah Yoga
methods.  However, my body responded with certain intuitive (or instinctive)
"danger" signals that caused me to restrain from following it to its ultimate
"awakening".  I had the same experience with similar, spontaneously-arising
out-of-body experiences which I similarly supressed.  Later, after studying
further, and on the questioning and advice of highly advanced Yogis, I
realized that my reaction was caused by my "inner Master's" knowledge that I
was not prepared for such "life draining activities and would suffer if it
continued.  As a result, I followed the rest of Patanjali's, as well as the
practices outlined in _The Voice of the Silence_, and eventually arrived at
the "awakened" or Samadhi state without taking the, so called, "dangerous"
Kundalini route--and with no physical or mental problems along the way.
(Actually, I may have been prepared, since, some years before, I had
experienced the Kundalini light during an "after death experience", and when
it re-occurred in deep meditation, I was quite familiar with it.)  Apparently,
in those circumstances, the path Kundalini takes is not through the biological
system, but rather, it bypasses the astral and physical body and mind and
passes directly through the Buddhi nature (field) which offers no
resistance--and, consequently, no astral or physical body damaging "Heat".

Patanjali, also gave admonition to his disciples, that once one has reached
the plateau of attainment of the Siddhis, one should not pursue them.  I
assume that warning was because, as HPB also advised, one could become stuck
in the astral--a "danger" that might prevent one from attaining any further
spiritual growth--which was the primary reason for such Rajah Yoga practices,
and the aim of most theosophical teachings.

Of course, this wouldn't apply to everyone, and is the reason why a
supervising Yogi guru is advised for most students entering into any
meditative practices that take one through the lower astral planes.  For some
more advanced souls, however, WQJ, and his commentaries on the Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali as well as his articles on the "Culture of Concentration", along
with HPB's warnings, might be sufficient.

LHM