Selections...
Chapter 1
Muladhara Chakra
Foundation Root Center
• Muladhara, the energy of compression, is the creative force underlying the material world, pulling particles together like building blocks to manifest the earth element.
• At the molecular level this energy is the strong integrative power that holds each individual atom together; the nuclear core of the material world.
• At the universal level it is the gravitational pull that holds individual stars and planets together, and creates what we experience as the gravity of the earth--- that pull that keeps us on the ground.
• At the physiological level it is the force that empowers cells to gather nutrients for growth, as in children’s bodies where an abundance of this energy is required. Hormones and neuro-peptides produced by the sex glands reflect this energy and distribute it throughout the body.
• At the psychological level thoughts stimulated are around the self, possessions, survival, and acquisition.
ELEMENT
Earth = The earth element is the primary force in material creation. The energy/power of gravitation, (energy that draws in upon itself, pulling in towards the center), it is a strong binding power that holds together the physical components of the universe. We could say that it is the force that holds the energy in patterns which give us the impression of physical matter. On the large planetary scale we know this force exists as gravity, a strong power that keeps the earth intact. This dynamic force is always influencing us on the outside, but it also affects us on an internal level. Just as we take gravity for granted, we often overlook the importance of this integrative power upon our physical beings. On the microcosmic scale, this same energy keeps each atom in our bodies intact and gives each cell its integrity, each organ its individuality; it gives us our individuality, keeping our bodies from melting into the ground beneath us. Once we lose that force we do in fact dissolve back into the earth. The Sanskrit name of this elemental force is Prithivi. ....
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
The TESTICLES or OVARIES are the endocrine glands directly influenced by this energy. Looking at how this energy works, it is interesting to note that these glands have a gravitational condensing power so great that they take the essential elements of your being and pack them into a molecular structure much too small to be seen by the naked eye. The essence of your physical and psychological self are all here, within the sperm or the egg --- the macrocosm within the microcosm. The testicles and ovaries also fabricate hormones, which can be considered as chemical messengers. There are male and female hormones. The male hormone, testosterone, travels through the body toward specific targets; once there, it somehow communicates the function of gravity or pull-in power to the cells in need so that they can draw in the nutrients needed to grow. It gives each cell the power to attract. Some variations of this hormone begin surveying the body at puberty and guide the sexual development of the individual. Another aspect or version of this substance plays a large part in the utilization of protein by various body cells, including the gathering and condensing of these proteins to make hair and other solid components. Testosterone is responsible for the male primary sex features, such as growth of the genitals, and secondary features such as hair growth all over the body, especially at the pubis, face and armpits; muscle development; and enlargement of the larynx causing the voice to deepen. It stimulates the growth of....
ORGANS OF PERCEPTION AND ACTION
In the Samkhya system of yoga our perceptions and actions have all been categorized so that we may better understand ourselves and how we function. In Sanskrit, the “organs of perception” are called jnanendriyas; we know them as hearing, seeing, touching, tasting, and smelling. The “organs of action” are called karmendriyas, and these we experience as our feet, hands, anus, genitals and larynx. There is one of each connected to each of the chakras.
JNANENDRIYA
The jnanendriya that functions with the energy of the first chakra is the sense perception of smell. As a sense, smell pulls in molecules of a certain substance and either attracts or repels us, depending on whether we are smelling a rose or a skunk. Either way it is primal and has a strong impact.
With the sense of smell, it has been established that we can notice the scent of a rose if there is only one molecule of its aroma entering our nose. With dogs and other animals, the sensitivity of the nose can be amazing, but because of our environment and the modern living conditions of humans, we no longer pay much attention to this sense.
Another function of this sense as seen from the yogic side, is that it also absorbs a form of energy from the air. This energy, called prana in India, while the Chinese refer to it as chi, is taken in through an elaborate group of nerves stemming from the olfactory bulb, (Fig. 1d). I will elaborate on the details
because it is a very important point. We need to understand how our intake of prana works and utilize it in the right way; this will help us to grasp why breathing through the nose is important. It can also help to explain why there are breathing techniques that have very specific methods of inhaling through one nostril and exhaling through the other. These techniques are based on a deep understanding of the different energy currents that run through each nostril. Or one could say more appropriately that when the inflow of air is through one nostril it has a charging effect on one aspect of the nervous system, and when inhaling through the other, a different part of the nervous system is influenced.3 One other point to mention here is the biofeedback loop that is completed when we exhale through the nose. Just as the olfactory receptors pick up smell and prana from the air we take in, they also take in the scents from the air that is coming out of the lungs. This information gives an indication of what is brewing down in there, allowing for biological adjustments to be made. Perhaps the lungs are full of mucous that needs to be eliminated for instance...
CHARACTERISTICS
There are both positive and negative characteristics born out of each energy and manifesting as psychological traits. Some may be consistent and others may change with the cycles of the month, day or even hour. As a result, we may see ourselves having both the positive and negative qualities of a particular energy. Habits created during one phase will linger through the next and sometimes create conflicting behavior. Also to consider is the fact that we are always made of a combination of forces and influences.
Some of the positive characteristics arising out of this primal energy flow are individuality, originality, uniqueness, strength, creativity and a pioneering spirit. If the energy is stuck, or not flowing with the others, it can make one’s personality tend towards dominance, egoism, bluntness of action and speech, and lack of consideration for others.
When this energy is flowing and balanced:
1. We are grounded and comfortable in our physical body. We enjoy the sensations from our muscles and feel motivated toward physical activity.
2. Our physical enjoyment extends out into the world by way of acquiring material possessions, which give us a feeling of tangible security. This energy creates desire to have a home, or build one.
3. Good survival instincts and strong personal boundaries.
4. Our self-image is good and confidence is normal to us; we feel adequate and capable. We have no problem liking ourselves and do not doubt our right to be here on earth.
5. We maintain a sense of happiness about being active and successful in what we are doing, and we are quite OK about being prosperous, which we defend if need be. We like to maintain a steady income that supports stability in our lives. Our material goals are focused and we don’t mind doing physical work to achieve what we want.
6. If some of the things we want are original but we cannot find them, we invent them. As independent beings we can create and build things from our own insights.
7. Happy to be alone, doing things solo, some of the time at least.
When the energy is too strong and out of balance:
1. May be overly materialistic; may go beyond just acquiring possessions, all the way to grabbing and stealing them.
2. Body can become tough and ...
MENTAL DIRECTION
The mental direction of this chakra is down. As the earth is down under your feet, so your physical body is down under your head. At the level of the mind we find this energy pulls into the body, and from there we move out into the material world in which the body is grounded (or should be). We see those objects in the outer world that attract us and strive to get them. A certain possessive nature evolves from this energy, but with it comes the ability to acquire the objects desired. The EGO gains much of its strength from this energy, giving the individual a solid independence that can lead one to self-centered thinking and can even develop into a degree of toughness and dominance, sometimes at the expense of others. As each cell in your body uses this energy to maintain itself, so collectively these trillions of cells add up to create a self-preservation instinct that is quite strong. Our survival as humans would not have been possible without this instinct, so it has its place. As we grow up and evolve, however, the instinct needs to be balanced out with the more socially-considerate and compassionate forces of the other chakras.
This is the center of our physical being, and it is possible for our minds to go inward to experience our existence right down into the cellular and molecular levels of our bodies. As individuals...
THE GRUNTHIS
Three main barriers are known to be inhibiting our awakening energy flow. These are like three blocks that stop our evolution and keep us living in our ordinary consciousness, passing time away in the material world, eating, sleeping and growing old. Of these three, one is directly connected to the Muladhara chakra: Brahma Grunthi. The second one, Vishnu Grunthi, is further up the spine and related to the third chakra, Manipura, while the third one, Shiva Grunthi, is related to the throat chakra, Vishuddha. Each one of these must be understood as a major resistance to our development, and subsequently we need to take action in order to pass through the barriers. The Sanskrit word grunthi literally means a knot. Seen as such, it needs to be untied, untangled. These are areas in our ethereal body where the energy has been programmed into a pattern that it is hard to get out of. Changing these patterns means breaking old habits.
BRAHMA GRUNTHI
Brahma is the power (deity) of physical creation. Because of the physical nature of matter, or due to its solidity, it takes on certain characteristics that make it resist changes in motion. In physics this is called inertia. As an example of this force, take a large boulder and try to move it; a lot of energy and effort are required. On the other hand, once it is in motion, try to stop it; this requires just as much effort. Inertia and momentum are both attributes of mass and matter. In Sanskrit they call this resistance to change tamas. It is one of three forces we need to contend with in the material world. The other two are called rajas and sattva (they will be dealt with in the appropriate chapters). Resistance is found not only in boulders but also in anything which has solid mass, including our bodies. Consequently, in the field of Hatha Yoga it becomes a force to be reckoned with since it creates a stumbling block along our spiritual path. The name of that block is Brahma Grunthi; the first main barrier. This obstacle is resistance at the very physical level. We feel it as a kind of inertia within the body, which wants to keep the body at rest. The resistance to moving is what we feel when we wake up in the morning; the body does not feel like jumping out of bed...
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