Matsya Yoga · Knowledge
The chakras in Kundalini yoga
The chakras are gateways to the soul
Introduction
Looking within
When we look within, what do we see? A blend of our passions and dreams, as well as the quiet voices of the divine beyond us.
Sometimes we discover things there that seem almost to have a life of their own—things that speak to us, to our inner voices and our worlds of experience. Horizons, landscapes, and people open up before us.
Shiva Samhita
The Shiva Samhita (Chapter 2, Verse 1) states:
In this body, the spine, Mount Meru, is surrounded by seven islands. There are rivers, seas, mountains, and landscapes, as well as the rulers of those landscapes.
There are seers and sages, just as there are stars and planets. There are also sacred pilgrimage sites and shrines, as well as the guardian deities of these shrines.
The agents of creation and destruction, the sun and the moon, also move within it. Ether, air, water, and earth are also there.
This is a vision of our inner landscapes. The seven islands are those clear places from which we can enter these inner worlds. Let us discover these places and the powers associated with them—for they also hold our hidden potential.
Foundations
What the chakras are
Foundations
The Chakras—History and Forms
Historically speaking, where do the chakras come from?
In which texts were they first mentioned?
What is their original meaning? Are they real, or just a figment of the imagination?
You'll learn all about this and more in this article.
Foundations
The Reality of the Chakras
What's really true about the chakras, and what does "really" actually mean?
So what do the chakras mean to us, and how can we use them, recognize them, and deepen our understanding of them?
How did we arrive at our modern understanding of the chakras?
Foundations
The Trinity of the Chakras
In yoga, the Trinity is the essence of the chakras. Ultimately, it is about the journey of consciousness through its triune nature.
The chakras are the map for this journey along three large islands. The three forces are precisely those islands on this map.
Seven chakras
The seven chakras one by one
Chakra 1
The Root Chakra – Muladhara
Here you'll find insights and perspectives on the root chakra.
The Muladhara Chakra is the place where the fundamental life force resides. It is also the place that marks your connection to life and where you can accept life’s limitations.
Here, life and death are intimately intertwined.
Chakra 2
The Sacral Chakra – Svadhistana
Here you'll find insights and perspectives on the sacral chakra.
Here, the world of dreams simmers in the gentle moonlight that caresses the waves of your inner ocean.
Whoever gains mastery over their dreams gains freedom from their inner enemies. In this way, the soul can find a path in life.
Chakra 3
The Navel Chakra – Manipura
Here you’ll find insights and perspectives on the navel chakra.
Manipura is the source of personal power, control over base instincts, and the ability to focus the mind on a goal. It is the pinnacle of Kriya Shakti.
Manipura also represents the darkening of the sky by thoughts and, thus, the final obstacle before great freedom.
Chakra 4
The Heart Chakra – Anahata
Here you'll find insights and perspectives on the heart chakra.
Anahata is the sound without a beginning and therefore without an end. That which has no cause cannot be taken away and cannot be attained by any means in this world.
The heart is warm and always will be. Here, the soul reigns between heaven and earth.
Chakra 5
The Throat Chakra – Vishuddha
Here you'll find insights and perspectives on the throat chakra.
Vishuddha is the vast sky above you. Here you taste the nectar of your cosmic self.
Vishuddha can be attained once the individual mind has been purified by the fire of meditation and practice. As long as thoughts darken the sky, the stars cannot shine.
Chakra 6
The Third Eye Chakra – Ājna
Here you'll find insights and perspectives on the third eye chakra.
Ajna is the gateway to the ecstasy of the cosmos. Here, all opposites are one. It is the state of meditative absorption, Dhyana.
Where what is longed for and what is experienced become one, the union with one's true self takes place.
Chakra 7
The Crown Chakra – Sahasrara
Here you'll gain insights and visions into the crown chakra.
Just as the Muladhara Chakra is the gateway to birth, so is the Sahasrara Chakra the gateway to death. It is the gateway to the formless.
That which has no form is the foundation of all things. Everything flows into it, and everything emerges from it. It is the very womb of the world.
Book and workshop
Discover more about the chakras
A journey through the chakras is a journey to yourself.
In this book, we also explore the roots of Kundalini Yoga and yogic anatomy, and we discover the secrets of the koshas, prana, and the Trinity of the Goddess.
These profound practices, visions and insights into yogic anatomy and chakras will inspire and enrich any yoga practice.
Blog
More articles will be posted weekly 😉
We'll be posting new articles every week on the individual chakras, the koshas, and topics in yogic philosophy. Stop by or send us an email so I can add you to our newsletter mailing list.
Here you'll find you inspiration and news about us and our studio in the Wachau.
Stop by and get inspired!
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