Kundalini Sakti — Chinmaya Deha

Yesterday morning an Andhra youth came here with his wife. It seems he has come here after visiting the whole of the Himalayan region.

Yesterday morning an Andhra youth came here with his wife. It seems he has come here after visiting the whole of the Himalayan region. In the afternoon at 3 o’clock he approached Bhagavan and said, “Swami, is the manifestation of Kundalini Sakti (a form of yogic power) possible only for those who follow the yogic path of acquiring sakti (power) or is it possible also for those who follow the path of devotion (bhakti) or love (prem)?”

Bhagavan: “Who does not have Kundalini Sakti? When the real nature of that Sakti is known, it is called Akhandakara Vritti (Plenary consciousness) or Aham Sphurana (effulgence of ‘I’, ‘I’). Kundalini Sakti is there for all people whatever path they follow. It is only a difference in name.”

Questioner: “It is said that that sakti manifests itself in five phases, ten phases, hundred phases and a thousand phases. Which is true — five or ten or a hundred or a thousand?”

Bhagavan: “Sakti has only one phase. If it is said to manifest itself in several phases, it is only a way of speaking. The Sakti is only one.”

Questioner: “To realise the Self, some say you must concentrate your mind on the anahatam (the 4th of the mystical chakras [plexuses] of the body); some say on the sahasraram (a mystical plexus in the brain with a thousand petals); and some say on the muladharam (a mystical plexus about the organs of generation). Which is the most important?”

Bhagavan: “All are important. Self (Atman) is everywhere in the body. Some say you should see it in the muladharam; some say in the anahatam and some say in the sahasraram. It is the same whichever it is. But, for all of them, the place of birth and of dissolution is anahatam only.”

Questioner: “Can a Jnani help not only those who follow his path but also others who follow other paths?”

Bhagavan: “Undoubtedly. He can help people whatever path they choose to follow. It is something like this. Suppose there is a hill. There will be very many paths to climb it. If he were to ask people to climb by the way he came, some may like it and some may not. If people who do not like it are asked to climb by that path, and by that path only, they will not be able to come up. Hence a Jnani helps people following any particular path whatever it may be. People

who are midway may not know about the merits and demerits of other paths, but one who has climbed the summit and sits there observing others coming up is able to see all the paths. He will therefore be able to tell people who are coming up to move a little to this side or that or to avoid a pitfall. The goal is the same for all, you see.”

The young man was not satisfied with the replies given by Bhagavan and again began asking questions about Kundalini Sakti and how it arises. Bhagavan appeared unconcerned about those questions but when they were asked repeatedly, said, “What do I know about those paths? Please ask those who know them well.” Giving up the topic, the young man took up the topic of spiritual bodies (chinmaya dehas) by saying, “My Guru gave a darshan in chinmaya rupam (form) on such and such a day, spoke to me of this and that,” and started speaking about the miracles performed by his deceased Guru. Bhagavan did not speak but kept quiet for some time. At last the young man said, “Is it a fact that Lord Krishna is still with his chinmaya deha (spiritual body)?”

Bhagavan replied with patience: “Does chinmaya deha mean the human body? Chinmaya means Chit-prakasa, i.e. lustre of the spirit. That light is always existent:

AhmaTma gufakez svRÉUtazyiSwt>,

Ahmaidí mXy< c ÉUtanamNt @v c. Arjuna, I am the Self seated in the heart of all beings. I am the beginning and middle and also the end of all beings.

Gita, X: 20

“Does that mean that He is in the hearts of all beings with this material body? It means He is in the hearts of all beings in the shape Aham Sphurana (effulgence of ‘I’, ‘I’). That effulgence of the Self is known as Chit-prakasa or Chinmaya.”

Questioner: “Is the same thing said of other Mahapurushas (great personages) or is it that Lord Krishna’s body becomes Chinmayam and remains like that?”

Bhagavan: “Oh! You think that that body becomes Chinmayam and sits somewhere. The whole world is Chinmayam. That being so is it that one body alone has become Chinmayam? Visions (sakshatkaras) are also like this. People say that they descend from somewhere with a body. That which is omnipresent you leave or ignore and talk of karam and sakshatkaram.”

Questioner: “My Guru stated that a great personage who would reform the whole world will be born. Can you tell me when he will be born?”

Bhagavan did not reply but kept quiet. A devotee who was close by said to the young man, “Sir, you are not able to realise the greatness of the Mahapurusha that is sitting opposite to you; so what is the sense in asking him himself when a Mahapurusha will be born? You are not able to understand even that much. If you have so many doubts, could you not have asked your Guru himself? Enough of this here. You may go to your Guru who is in Chinmaya body and ask him.”

The young man thereupon quietened down and gave up further questioning.