In the Yogic tradition, mind is divided into four aspects โ ๐โ๐๐ก๐ก๐, ๐๐ข๐๐โ๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ and ๐โ๐๐๐๐๐๐, or ๐๐๐. Further, the vehicle that contains the mind, our body, is also characterized into 5 dimensions, or sheaths. Proceeding inward from the physical body, next comes the ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ body. This is the energy level, home to our life forces which manifest physically as breaths.
The nature of mind is energetic, thus itโs found in the Pranic layer. This is where ego makes its home and it moves through the body along a super highway of ethereal nerves called ๐ก๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐, which act as energy conduits, before releasing through nine doorways to go out and experience the world. Control of the Nadis enables control of the ego, the total mind and the senses.
Within the meridians of Self, three channels are most important. These are the ๐ฆ๐๐ป and ๐ ๐ผ๐ผ๐ป channels corresponding to the right and left nostril, and the ๐ฆ๐๐๐ต๐๐บ๐ป๐ฎ which correlates with the spine. The Yogin, through a process called ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐, activate and modulate the fluctuations of the prana, the life force. When the Sun Channel is active fire is produced and appetites, for food and other worldly enjoyments, increase. Conversely, the Moon Channel cools and relaxes the appetites. Creating a balance between these two channels with equal force allows the life force to be released into Sushumna allowing ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ถ to move upwards.
There are two distinct fires to be aware of in the Sun Channel. There is the physical digestive fire and there is an ethereal fire of mind that allows the digestion of ideas for comprehension. When there is a good control over the physical digestion, the Sun Channel can be used to ignite the fire of mind. A problem arises when people who are unfamiliar with Yogic practices stimulate the Sun Channel too much in so far as it is the physical appetites that tend to increase and consequently receive the focus, leaving the mental fire weakened.
The Nadis meet at a central ethereal plexus called a ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ. When the average person, unfamiliar with the yogic neuro-physiology, directly engages in chakra meditation, there is a very real risk of over-exciting the nerve plexus in the area of focus. For instance, without precise knowledge of the workings of the ๐ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ, located at the perineum, there is the tendency to merely inflame the nerves and intensify the downward motion of the prana. This results in mania, sexual or otherwise. Without proper guidance, the novice practitioner is overwhelmed with desires and becomes severely attached to worldly things. This kind of distortion can happen at any of the lower chakras.
Another example is concentration on the ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฎ, the seat of fire, located above the navel. Focusing here, as during the ๐๐ช๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ต๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฐ ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ช๐ต๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ, may on the one hand create a great heat which may keep one warm and healthy during Tibetan winters. On the other hand, without the proper insight and guidance, an overwhelming desire for food can arise and the practitioner may find themselves falling into gluttony and only increase the grip of ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐บ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ.
When Kundalini is inspired or otherwise actively aroused before the mind has been brought under control, the likelihood is that She will tend to rather self-identify with the physical limitations and create further obstacles in oneโs evolution.
