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The Awakening of the Yoga-Shakti in the Inner Being · Sri Aurobindo Studies

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  The chakras are subtle energy centres, not physical centres in
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  the body, although they generally correspond to various
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  physical capacities ranged along the external body.
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  They essentially act as vibrational receptors and
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  transmitters of energies. When they are closed or very
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  much shut down, the energy that would normally work through them
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  tends to be weak or missing in the manifestation of any being.
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  Evolution of consciousness and its expression in the external
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  being involves the systematic development and opening of the
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  higher subtle energy centers. Thus, animal beings tend to
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  function mostly through the energetic action of the lower
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  chakras involving sex and procreation, lower vital drives
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  such as craving, hunger, thirst, acquisition, and then power and
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  domination. As the 4th chakra opens, there
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  comes an emotional vital force that begins to operate more
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  fully in the being. 5th chakra governs expression and powers of
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  communication, 6th chakra the willpower, and 7th chakra the
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  direct connection to higher spiritual forces and energies.
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  We can observe within ourselves where we experience different
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  forces. For example, the sexual force
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  tends to be a pressure in the lower regions of the groin,
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  which is an external mapping to the subtle energy centre called
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  the mulladhar or first chakra. When we experience various sorts
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  of cravings or movements of an acquisitive nature, we may
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  experience it somewhat higher in our physical body and when we
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  are trying to exercise and develop power and domination.
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  This is generally aligned with the third chakra.
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  The body provides us a general map of which chakras are active.
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  There is a considerable body of yogic information about the
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  practices of Kundalini yoga. The concept of the first chakra
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  energy, rather than being spilt in its normal restricted
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  functions, being directed upwards through the subtle
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  energy centres, awakening each one and eventually rising to
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  join the 7th chakra at the top of the head.
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  Creating a fully awakened human individual powering all the
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  various potentialities of the being, joining him to the divine
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  consciousness above. What an individual does with the
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  energy that gets released of course is something else.
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  There are both potential dangers and potential benefits from
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  opening any of the chakras to a larger action if the individual
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  is not ready to hold direct and utilize that energy effectively.
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  And thus the practice of things such as Kundalini yoga without
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  proper guidance can lead to physical, vital, emotional and
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  mental imbalances, disharmonies, and even injuries or death.
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  While proper implementation can lead to higher stages of
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  realization and awareness. At a certain stage in the yogic
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  practice, some of these openings and developments may begin to
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  take place naturally. Human aspiration for the Divine
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  brings about an upward flow of energy.
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  While the divine response from above answers Sri Aurobindo
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  notes quote, there is a Yoga Shakti lying coiled or asleep in
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  the inner body, not active. When one does yoga, this force
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  uncoils itself and rises upward to meet the divine consciousness
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  and force that are waiting above us.
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  When this happens, when the awakened yoga Shakti arises, it
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  is often felt like a snake uncoiling and standing up
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  straight and lifting itself more and more upwards.
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  When it meets the divine consciousness above, then the
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  force of the divine consciousness canmore easily
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  descend into the body and be felt, working there to change
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  the nature. The feeling of your body and
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  eyes being drawn upwards is part of the same movement.
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  It is the inner consciousness in the body and the inner subtle
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  sight in the body that are looking and moving upward and
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  trying to meet the divine consciousness and divine seeing
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  above. End Quote Reference Srioro Vindo
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  Bases of Yoga, Chapter 5. Physical consciousness,
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  subcontinent Sleep and Dream Illness.
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  Page 92.