Post by Pathfinder on Jan 26, 2023 7:37:06 GMT
Energy Channels (Nadis)
Chakras are the seven points of energy in our body from which the energy
flows. Nadis are the channels connecting those chakras and through which
energy travels within your subtle body.
Within the human body, there is a subtle and perfect network of 72,000
Nādīs that distribute this life force throughout the whole body. On the
physical level, the Nādīs correspond to the nervous system, but their
influence extends beyond this to the astral and spiritual planes of our
existence. If all the Nādīs are functioning correctly, then we are healthy and
generally feel happy. But nearly every one of us has some physical or
psychic problem, which means that some of the Nādīs are not working
properly and need to be balanced.
PRĀNA is the conscious energy, which means that the Nādīs also transmit
consciousness. By means of the Nādīs, one can see and hear things at a
great distance and move in other levels of consciousness. There are
numerous reports from people who were clinically dead and then came back
to life again. They nearly all described how they traveled along a tunnel
with light radiating at the end. This tunnel is the Nādī through which life
escapes from the body.
We can also have such “tunnel experiences” in dreams and on astral
journeys. With these, we are not really outside the body but in an altered
state of consciousness. The Nādīs make it possible for us to take mental
journeys of discovery throughout the entire Universe. With their help, our
consciousness is able to go to any place we would like without the body
having to move at all.
There are three important Nādīs - IDĀ, PINGALĀ, and SUSHUMNĀ.
IDĀ arises on the left side of the body and represents the moon principle
PINGALĀ begins on the right aspect of the body and symbolizes the sun
principle.
SUSHUMNĀ runs through the central channel of the spinal cord and
represents the consciousness.
On the physical level, PINGALĀ has its counterpart in the Parasympathetic
Nervous System, IDĀ in the Sympathetic Nervous System, and
SUSHUMNĀ in the Central Nervous System.
The moon symbolizes the mind with its changeable feelings, whereas the
sun represents the intellect. Just as our emotions and thoughts change
constantly, the moon is also constantly changing its form. The intellect,
however, is a stable and constant principle like the sun. Only when harmony
and balance prevail between the moon system and sun system are we
healthy and capable of developing further mentally and spiritually.
We are able to activate and harmonize the Nādīs through the breath. When
we breathe through the left nostril in Prānāyāma, we activate the Idā Nādī.
The Idā Nādī cools, quietens and refreshes body and mind like the silvery
light of the moon. Pingalā Nādī, however, which is influenced by breathing
through the right nostril has a warming and activating influence, in the same
way as the sunshine warms the earth and stimulates the growth of
vegetation.
Idā and Pingalā begin in the brain at approximately the level of the Pituitary
Gland. Idā has an effect on the right side of the brain whilst Pingalā
influences the left hemisphere. To maintain balance both Nādīs run in a
snake-like course from one side of the body to the other. At the points
where they cross, they also meet with the central Nādī, Sushumnā. At those
places where the power and radiance of the sun and moon meet, together
with the strengthening effect of the Sushumnā, very powerful energy
centres called CHAKRAS form.
The first crossing of the Nādīs at the top of the spinal column forms the
Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi Chakra) and the last crossing at the base of the
vertebral column forms the Root Centre (Mūlādhāra Chakra). Here the Idā
Nādī flows on the left side of the body and the Pingalā Nādī on the right
side, and it is precisely here that our dormant consciousness lies hidden.
At several places along the spinal column the Nādīs form a type of knot
(GRANTHI), each of which constitutes a critical point in our spiritual
development. When these knots are “untied” the energy located within them
is activated, and the hidden powers (SIDDHIS) are given to us as healing
powers, the seeing of past and future, the seeing of auras, and other
supernatural abilities.
Other terms for Idā, Pingalā and Sushumnā, are GANGĀ, YAMUNĀ, and
SARASVATĪ. These are the names of the three holiest rivers in India.
Gangā and Yamunā flow on the surface, but Sarasvatī flows underground. It
rises to the surface only once every twelve years. This event happens in
conjunction with a particular planetary constellation and is known as the
KUMBHA MELĀ. This great spiritual festival of India held at the
confluence of these three rivers (Sangam) is attended by millions of people
who come to attain liberation from their Karmas and the cycle of rebirth by
bathing in the sacred waters. But for the Yogi the three main Nādīs are the
“divine rivers” and the Āgyā Chakra (the eyebrow center) where this Nādīs
meet is the holy place of pilgrimage where the Yogi attains liberation.
Just as the mysterious river, Sarasvatī, only rarely appears, the Sushumnā
Nādī is only active for certain short periods of time (for example, at dawn
and dusk). When the three most important Nādīs unite only one stream of
consciousness flows – the spiritual energy of the Sushumnā Nādī. The
energy also flows through this Nādī in deep meditation and in Samādhī. For
as long as the Sushumnā is inactive we are plagued by constantly changing
CHITTA VRITTIS – thoughts, emotions, worries, etc. But once the
Sushumnā begins to flow the waves of the mind come to rest and we
“bathe” in the bliss of divine consciousness.
Chakras are the seven points of energy in our body from which the energy
flows. Nadis are the channels connecting those chakras and through which
energy travels within your subtle body.
Within the human body, there is a subtle and perfect network of 72,000
Nādīs that distribute this life force throughout the whole body. On the
physical level, the Nādīs correspond to the nervous system, but their
influence extends beyond this to the astral and spiritual planes of our
existence. If all the Nādīs are functioning correctly, then we are healthy and
generally feel happy. But nearly every one of us has some physical or
psychic problem, which means that some of the Nādīs are not working
properly and need to be balanced.
PRĀNA is the conscious energy, which means that the Nādīs also transmit
consciousness. By means of the Nādīs, one can see and hear things at a
great distance and move in other levels of consciousness. There are
numerous reports from people who were clinically dead and then came back
to life again. They nearly all described how they traveled along a tunnel
with light radiating at the end. This tunnel is the Nādī through which life
escapes from the body.
We can also have such “tunnel experiences” in dreams and on astral
journeys. With these, we are not really outside the body but in an altered
state of consciousness. The Nādīs make it possible for us to take mental
journeys of discovery throughout the entire Universe. With their help, our
consciousness is able to go to any place we would like without the body
having to move at all.
There are three important Nādīs - IDĀ, PINGALĀ, and SUSHUMNĀ.
IDĀ arises on the left side of the body and represents the moon principle
PINGALĀ begins on the right aspect of the body and symbolizes the sun
principle.
SUSHUMNĀ runs through the central channel of the spinal cord and
represents the consciousness.
On the physical level, PINGALĀ has its counterpart in the Parasympathetic
Nervous System, IDĀ in the Sympathetic Nervous System, and
SUSHUMNĀ in the Central Nervous System.
The moon symbolizes the mind with its changeable feelings, whereas the
sun represents the intellect. Just as our emotions and thoughts change
constantly, the moon is also constantly changing its form. The intellect,
however, is a stable and constant principle like the sun. Only when harmony
and balance prevail between the moon system and sun system are we
healthy and capable of developing further mentally and spiritually.
We are able to activate and harmonize the Nādīs through the breath. When
we breathe through the left nostril in Prānāyāma, we activate the Idā Nādī.
The Idā Nādī cools, quietens and refreshes body and mind like the silvery
light of the moon. Pingalā Nādī, however, which is influenced by breathing
through the right nostril has a warming and activating influence, in the same
way as the sunshine warms the earth and stimulates the growth of
vegetation.
Idā and Pingalā begin in the brain at approximately the level of the Pituitary
Gland. Idā has an effect on the right side of the brain whilst Pingalā
influences the left hemisphere. To maintain balance both Nādīs run in a
snake-like course from one side of the body to the other. At the points
where they cross, they also meet with the central Nādī, Sushumnā. At those
places where the power and radiance of the sun and moon meet, together
with the strengthening effect of the Sushumnā, very powerful energy
centres called CHAKRAS form.
The first crossing of the Nādīs at the top of the spinal column forms the
Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi Chakra) and the last crossing at the base of the
vertebral column forms the Root Centre (Mūlādhāra Chakra). Here the Idā
Nādī flows on the left side of the body and the Pingalā Nādī on the right
side, and it is precisely here that our dormant consciousness lies hidden.
At several places along the spinal column the Nādīs form a type of knot
(GRANTHI), each of which constitutes a critical point in our spiritual
development. When these knots are “untied” the energy located within them
is activated, and the hidden powers (SIDDHIS) are given to us as healing
powers, the seeing of past and future, the seeing of auras, and other
supernatural abilities.
Other terms for Idā, Pingalā and Sushumnā, are GANGĀ, YAMUNĀ, and
SARASVATĪ. These are the names of the three holiest rivers in India.
Gangā and Yamunā flow on the surface, but Sarasvatī flows underground. It
rises to the surface only once every twelve years. This event happens in
conjunction with a particular planetary constellation and is known as the
KUMBHA MELĀ. This great spiritual festival of India held at the
confluence of these three rivers (Sangam) is attended by millions of people
who come to attain liberation from their Karmas and the cycle of rebirth by
bathing in the sacred waters. But for the Yogi the three main Nādīs are the
“divine rivers” and the Āgyā Chakra (the eyebrow center) where this Nādīs
meet is the holy place of pilgrimage where the Yogi attains liberation.
Just as the mysterious river, Sarasvatī, only rarely appears, the Sushumnā
Nādī is only active for certain short periods of time (for example, at dawn
and dusk). When the three most important Nādīs unite only one stream of
consciousness flows – the spiritual energy of the Sushumnā Nādī. The
energy also flows through this Nādī in deep meditation and in Samādhī. For
as long as the Sushumnā is inactive we are plagued by constantly changing
CHITTA VRITTIS – thoughts, emotions, worries, etc. But once the
Sushumnā begins to flow the waves of the mind come to rest and we
“bathe” in the bliss of divine consciousness.