TheChakras

AMONOGRAPH BY C.W.Leadbeater withtencolourillustrations THETHEOSOPHICALPUBLISHINGHOUSE Adyar,Madras600020,India Wheaton,Ill.,USA;London,England FirstEdition1927

PUBLISHER'SNOTE INpreparingthiseditionforpublication,afewexplanatoryfootnoteshavebeenaddedanda fewsentenceshavebeenomittedwhichwererelevantonlyatthetimeoftheoriginal publication.Exceptforminoreditorialcorrections,thebookappearsinthesameformaswhen itwasfirstpublishedin1927. PREFACETOTHEFIRSTEDITION WHENamanbeginstodevelophissenses,sothathemayseealittlemorethaneverybody sees,anewandmostfascinatingworldopensbeforehim,andthechakrasareamongthe firstobjectsinthatworldtoattracthisattention.Hisfellowmenpresentthemselvesundera freshaspect;heperceivesmuchwithregardtothemwhichwaspreviouslyhiddenfromhis eyes,andheisthereforeabletounderstand,toappreciateand(whennecessary)tohelp themmuchbetterthanhecouldbefore.Theirthoughtsandfeelingsareexpressedclearly beforehiseyesincolourandform;thestageoftheirdevelopment,theconditionoftheirhealth becomeobviousfactsinsteadofmeremattersofinference.Thebrilliantcolouringandthe rapidandincessantmovementofthechakrasbringthemimmediatelyunderhisobservation, andhenaturallywantstoknowwhattheyareandwhattheymean.Itistheobjectofthisbook toprovideananswertothosequestionsandtogivetothosewhohavenotyetmadeany attempttounfoldtheirdormantfacultiessomeideaofatleastthisonesmallsectionofwhatis seenbytheirmorefortunatebrethren. Inordertoclearawayinevitablepreliminarymisconceptions,letitbedefinitelyunderstood thatthereisnothingfancifulorunnaturalaboutthesightwhichenablessomementoperceive morethanothers.Itissimplyanextensionoffacultieswithwhichweareallfamiliar,andto acquireitistomakeoneselfsensitivetovibrationsmorerapidthanthosetowhichour physicalsensesarenormallytrainedtorespond.Thesefacultieswillcometoeveryoneindue courseofevolution,butsomeofushavetakenspecialtroubletodevelopthemnowin advanceoftherest,atthecostofmanyyearsofharderworkthanmostpeoplewouldcareto undertake. Iknowthattherearestillmanymenintheworldwhoaresofarbehindthetimesastodeny theexistenceofsuchpowers,justastherearestillvillagerswhohaveneverseenarailway train.Ihaveneithertimenorspacetoarguewithsuchinvincibleignorance;Icanonlyrefer enquirerstomybookonClairvoyance,*ortoscoresofbooksbyotherauthorsonthesame subject.Thewholecasehasbeenprovedhundredsoftimes,andnoonewhoiscapableof weighingthevalueofevidencecananylongerbeindoubt. Muchhasbeenwrittenaboutthechakras,butitischieflyinSanskritorinsomeoftheIndian vernaculars.ItisonlyquiterecentlythatanyaccountofthemhasappearedinEnglish.I mentionedthemmyselfinTheInnerLife*about1910,andsincethenSirJohnWoodroffe's magnificentworkTheSerpentPower*hasbeenissued,andsomeoftheotherIndianbooks havebeentranslated.ThesymbolicaldrawingsofthemwhichareusedbytheIndianyogis

werereproducedinTheSerpentPower,butsofarasIamawaretheillustrationswhichIgive inthisbookarethefirstattempttorepresentthemastheyactuallyappeartothosewhocan seethem.Indeed,itischieflyinordertoputbeforethepublicthisfineseriesofdrawingsby myfriendtheRev.EdwardWarnerthatIwritethisbook,andIwishtoexpressmydeep indebtednesstohimforallthetimeandtroublethathehasdevotedtothem.Ihavealsoto thankmyindefatigablecollaborator,ProfessorErnestWood,forthecollectionandcollationof allthevaluableinformationastotheIndianviewsonoursubjectwhichiscontainedin ChapterV. Beingmuchoccupiedwithotherwork,itwasmyintentionmerelytocollectandreprintas accompanyingletterpresstotheillustrationsthevariousarticleswhichIhadlongagowritten onthesubject;butasIlookedoverthemcertainquestionssuggestedthemselvesandalittle investigationputmeinpossessionofadditionalfacts,whichIhavedulyincorporated.An interestingpointisthatboththevitalityglobuleandthekundaliniringwereobservedbyDr. AnnieBesantandcataloguedashypermetaprotoelementsaslongagoas1895,thoughwe didnotthenfollowthemfarenoughtodiscovertheirrelationtooneanotherandtheimportant partthattheyplayintheeconomyofhumanlife. C.W.L.

Contents
CHAPTER1 THEFORCECENTRES TheMeaningoftheWord.PreliminaryExplanations.TheEthericDouble.TheCentres.The FormsoftheVortices.TheIllustrations.TheRootChakra.TheSpleenChakra.TheNavel Chakra.TheHeartChakra.TheThroatChakra.TheBrowChakra.TheCrownChakra.Other AccountsoftheCentres. PAGE..........6 CHAPTER2 THEFORCES ThePrimaryorLifeForce.TheSerpentFire.TheThreeSpinalChannels.TheMarriageofthe Forces.TheSympatheticSystem.TheCentresintheSpine.Vitality.TheVitalityGlobule.The SupplyofGlobules.PsychicForces. PAGE..........17 CHAPTER3 THEABSORPTIONOFVITALITY TheGlobule.TheVioletBlueRay.TheYellowRay:TheGreenRay.TheRoseRay.The OrangeRedRay.TheFivePranaVayus.VitalityandHealth.TheFateoftheEmptyAtoms. VitalityandMagnetism. PAGE..........32 CHAPTER4 THEDEVELOPMENTOFTHECHAKRAS TheFunctionsoftheAwakenedCentres.TheAstralCentres.AstralSenses.TheArousingof Kundalini.TheAwakeningoftheEthericChakras.CasualClairvoyance.TheDangerof PrematureAwakening.TheSpontaneousAwakeningofKundalini.PersonalExperience.The EthericWeb.TheEffectsofAlcoholandDrugs.TheEffectofTobacco.TheOpeningofthe Doors. PAGE..........41

CHAPTER5 THELAYAYOGA TheHinduBooks.TheIndianListofChakras.TheFiguresoftheChakras.TheHeartChakra. ThePetalsandLetters.TheMandalas.TheYantras.TheAnimals.TheDivinities.TheBody Meditation.TheKnots.TheSecondaryHeartLotus.EffectsofMeditationintheHeart. Kundalini.TheAwakeningofKundalini.TheAscentofKundalini.TheGoalofKundalini. Conclusion. PAGE..........52

CHAPTER1
THEFORCECENTRES THEMEANINGOFTHEWORD THEwordChakraisSanskrit,andsignifiesawheel.Itisalsousedinvarioussubsidiary, derivativeandsymbolicalsenses,justasisitsEnglishequivalent;aswemightspeakofthe wheeloffate,sodoestheBuddhistspeakofthewheeloflifeanddeath;andhedescribes thatfirstgreatsermoninwhichtheLordBuddhapropoundedhisdoctrineasthe DhammachakkappavattanaSutta(chakkabeingthePaliequivalentfortheSanskritchakra) whichProfessorRhysDavidspoeticallyrendersas"tosetrollingtheroyalchariotwheelofa universalempireoftruthandrighteousness".Thatisexactlythespiritofthemeaningwhich theexpressionconveystotheBuddhistdevotee,thoughtheliteraltranslationofthebare wordsis"theturningofthewheeloftheLaw".Thespecialuseofthewordchakrawithwhich weareatthemomentconcernedisitsapplicationtoaseriesofwheellikevorticeswhichexist inthesurfaceoftheethericdoubleofman. PRELIMINARYEXPLANATIONS AsthishookmayprobablyfallintothehandsofsomewhoarenotfamiliarwithTheosophical terminologyitmaybewelltoinserthereafewwordsofpreliminaryexplanation. Inordinarysuperficialconversationamansometimesmentionshissoulimplyingthatthe bodythroughwhichhespeaksistherealman,andthatthisthingcalledthesoulisa possessionorappanageofthatbodyasortofcaptiveballoonfloatingoverhim,andinsome vaguesortofwayattachedtohim.Thisisaloose,inaccurateandmisleadingstatement;the exactoppositeisthetruth.Manisasoulandownsabodyseveralbodiesinfact;forbesides thevisiblevehiclebymeansofwhichhetransactshisbusinesswithhislowerworld,hehas otherswhicharenotvisibletoordinarysight,bymeansofwhichhedealswiththeemotional andmentalworlds.Withthose,however,wearenotforthemomentconcerned. Inthecourseofthelastcenturyenormousadvanceshavebeenmadeinourknowledgeofthe minutedetailsofthephysicalbody;studentsofmedicinearenowfamiliarwithitsbewildering complexities,andhaveatleastageneralideaofthewayinwhichitsamazinglyintricate machineryworks.

THEETHERICDOUBLE Naturally,however,theyhavehadtoconfinetheirattentiontothatpartofthebodywhichis denseenoughtobevisibletotheeye,andmostofthemareprobablyunawareofthe

existenceofthattypeofmatter,stillphysicalthoughinvisible,towhichinTheosophywegive thenameofetheric.1Thisinvisiblepartofthephysicalbodyisofgreatimportancetous,forit isthevehiclethroughwhichflowthestreamsofvitalitywhichkeepthebodyalive,andwithout itasabridgetoconveyundulationsofthoughtandfeelingfromtheastraltothevisibledenser physicalmatter,theego2couldmakenouseofthecellsofhisbrain.Itisclearlyvisibletothe clairvoyantasamassoffaintlyluminousvioletgreymist,interpenetratingthedenserpartof thebody,andextendingveryslightlybeyondit. Thelifeofthephysicalbodyisoneofperpetualchange,andinorderthatitshallliveitneeds constantlytobesuppliedfromthreedistinctsources.Itmusthavefoodforitsdigestion,airfor itsbreathing,andvitalityinthreeformsforitsabsorption.Thisvitalityisessentiallyaforce,but whenclothedwithmatteritappearstousasthoughitwereahighlyrefinedchemicalelement. Itexistsuponallplanes,butourbusinessforthemomentistoconsideritsmanifestationin thephysicalworld. Inordertounderstandthat,wemustknowsomethingoftheconstitutionandarrangementof thisethericpartofourbodies.Ihavewrittenonthissubjectmanyyearsagoinvarious volumes,andColonelA.E.Powellhasrecentlygatheredtogetheralltheinformation heretoforepublishedandissueditinaconvenientforminabookcalledTheEthericDouble.

THECENTRES Thechakrasorforcecentresarepointsofconnectionatwhich energyflowsfromonevehicleorbodyofamantoanother. Anyonewhopossessesaslightdegreeofclairvoyancemay easilyseethemintheethericdouble,wheretheyshow themselvesassaucerlikedepressionsorvorticesinitssurface. Whenquiteundevelopedtheyappearassmallcirclesabouttwo inchesindiameter,glowingdullyintheordinaryman;butwhen awakenedandvivifiedtheyareseenasblazing,coruscating whirlpools,muchincreasedinsize,andresemblingminiature suns.Wesometimesspeakofthemasroughlycorrespondingto certainphysicalorgans;inrealitytheyshowthemselvesatthe surfaceoftheethericdouble,whichprojectsslightlybeyondthe outlineofthedensebody.Ifweimagineourselvestobelooking straightdownintothebellofafloweroftheconvolvulustype,we shallgetsomeideaofthegeneralappearanceofachakra.The stalkoftheflowerineachspringsfromapointinthespine,so anotherviewmightshowthespineasacentralstem(seeillustrationatleft),fromwhich flowersshootforthatintervals,showingtheopeningoftheirbellsatthesurfaceoftheetheric body.
1 Nottobeconfusedwith"aether"whichsomeconsidertobethemediumforelectromagneticwaves.(Ed.) 2 Individuality,nottobeconfusedwiththeuseoftheterminpsychology.(Ed.)

Thesevencentreswithwhichweareatpresent concernedareindicatedintheaccompanyingillustration (Fig.1).TableIgivestheirEnglishandSanskritnames (seebelow). Allthesewheelsareperpetuallyrotating,andintothehub oropenmouthofeachaforcefromthehigherworldis alwaysflowingamanifestationofthelifestreamissuing fromtheSecondAspectoftheSolarLogoswhichwe calltheprimaryforce.Thatforceissevenfoldinitsnature, andallitsformsoperateineachofthesecentres, althoughoneofthemineachcaseusuallypredominates overtheothers.Withoutthisinrushofenergythephysical bodycouldnotexist.Thereforethecentresarein operationineveryone,althoughintheundeveloped persontheyareusuallyincomparativelysluggishmotion, justformingthenecessaryvortexfortheforce,andno more.Inamoreevolvedmantheymaybeglowingand pulsatingwithlivinglight,sothatanenormouslygreater amountofenergypassesthroughthem,withtheresult thatthereareadditionalfacultiesandpossibilitiesopentotheman.

THEFORMOFTHEVORTICES ENGLISHNAME RootorBasicChakra SpleenorSplenicChakra NavelorUmbilicalChakra HeartorCardiacChakra ThroatorLaryngealChakra BroworFrontalChakra CrownorCoronalChakra SANSKRITNAME Muladhara
3

SITUATION Baseofspine Overthespleen

Atthenavel,overthesolarplexus

Manipura Anahata Vishuddha Anja Sahasrara Table1

Overtheheart Atthefrontofthethroat Betweentheeyebrows Onthetopofthehead

Thisdivineenergywhichpoursintoeachcentrefromwithoutsetsupatrightanglestoitself
3 ThespleenchakraisnotindicatedintheIndianbooks;itsplaceistakenbyacentrecalledthe Svadhishthana,situatedintheneighbourhoodofthegenerativeorgans,towhichthesamesixpetalsare assigned.Fromourpointofviewthearousingofsuchacentrewouldberegardedasamisfortune,asthere areseriousdangersconnectedwithit.IntheEgyptianschemeofdevelopmentelaborateprecautionswere takentopreventanysuchawakening.(SeeTheHiddenLifeiiiFreemasonry.)

(thatistosay,inthesurfaceoftheethericdouble)secondaryforcesinundulatorycircular motion,justasbarmagnetthrustintoaninductioncoilproducesacurrentofelectricitywhich flowsroundthecoilatrightanglestotheaxisordirectionofthemagnet.Theprimaryforce itself,havingenteredthevortex,radiatesfromitagainatrightangles,butinstraightlines,as thoughthecentreofthevortexwerethehubofawheel,andtheradiationsoftheprimary forceitsspokes.Bymeansofthesespokestheforceseemstobindtheastralandetheric bodiestogetherasthoughwithgrapplinghooks.Thenumberofthesespokesdiffersinthe differentforcecentres,anddeterminesthenumberofwavesorpetalswhicheachofthem exhibits.BecauseofthisthesecentreshaveoftenbeenpoeticallydescribedinOrientalbooks asresemblingflowers. Eachofthesecondaryforceswhichsweeproundthesaucerlikedepressionhasitsown characteristicwavelength,justashaslightofacertaincolour;butinsteadofmovingina straightlineaslightdoes,itmovesalongrelativelylargeundulationsofvarioussizes,eachof whichissomemultipleofthesmallerwavelengthswithinit.Thenumberofundulationsis determinedbythenumberofspokesinthewheel,andthesecondaryforceweavesitself underandovertheradiatingcurrentsoftheprimaryforce,justasbasketworkmightbe wovenroundthespokesofacarriagewheel.Thewavelengthsareinfinitesimal,andprobably thousandsofthemareincludedwithinoneoftheundulations.Astheforcesrushroundinthe vortex,theseoscillationsofdifferentsizes,crossingoneanotherinthisbasketworkfashion, producetheflowerlikeformtowhichIhavereferred.Itis,perhaps,stillmorelikethe appearanceofcertainsaucersorshallowvasesofwavyiridescentglass,suchasaremadein Venice.Alloftheseundulationsorpetalshavethatshimmeringpavonineeffect,likemother ofpearl,yeteachofthemhasusuallyitsownpredominantcolour,aswillbeseenfromour illustrations.ThisnacreoussilveryaspectislikenedinSanskritworkstothegleamof moonlightonwater. THEILLUSTRATIONS Theseillustrationsofoursshowthechakrasasseenbyclairvoyantsightinafairlyevolved andintelligentperson,whohasalreadybroughtthemtosomeextentintoworkingorder.Of courseourcoloursarenotsufficientlyluminousnoearthlycolourscouldbe;butatleastthe drawingswillgivesomeideaoftheactualappearanceofthesewheelsoflight.Itwillbe understoodfromwhathasalreadybeensaidthatthecentresvaryinsizeandinbrightnessin differentpeople,andthateveninthesamepersonsomeofthemmaybemuchmore developedthantherest.Theyaredrawnaboutlifesize,exceptfortheSahasraraorcrown chakra,whichwehavefounditnecessarytomagnifyinordertoshowitsamazingwealthof detail.Inthecaseofamanwhoexcelsgreatlyinthequalitieswhichexpressthemselves throughacertaincentre,thatcentrewillbenotonlymuchenlargedbutalsoespecially radiant,throwingoutbrilliantgoldenrays.AnexampleofthatmaybeseeninMadame Blavatsky'sprecipitationoftheauraofMr.StaintonMoses,whichisnowkeptinacabinetin thearchivesoftheSocietyatAdyar.Itisreproduced,thoughveryimperfectly,onpage364of VolumeIofColonelOlcott'sOldDiaryLeaves.

Thesechakrasnaturallydivideintothreegroups,thelower,themiddleandthehigher;they mightbecalledrespectivelythephysiological,thepersonalandthespiritual. Thefirstandsecondchakras,havingbutfewspokesorpetals,areprincipallyconcernedwith receivingintothebodytwoforceswhichcomeintoitatthatphysicallevelonebeingthe serpentfirefromtheearthandtheotherthevitalityfromthesun.Thecentresofthemiddle group,numbered3,4and5,areengagedwiththeforceswhichreachmanthroughhis personalitythroughthelowerastralinthecaseofcentre3,thehigherastralincentre4,and fromthelowermindincentre5.Allthesecentresseemtofeedcertaingangliainthebody. Centres6and7standapartfromtherest,beingconnectedwiththepituitarybodyandthe pinealglandrespectively,andcomingintoactiononlywhenacertainamountofspiritual developmenthastakenplace. Ihavehearditsuggestedthateachofthedifferentpetalsoftheseforcecentresrepresentsa moralquality,andthatthedevelopmentofthatqualitybringsthecentreintoactivity.For example,inTheDhyanabinduUpanishadthepetalsoftheheartchakraareassociatedwith devotion,laziness,anger,charityandsimilarqualities.Ihavenotyetmetwithanyfactswhich definitelyconfirmthis,anditisnoteasytoseeexactlyhowitcanbe,becausetheappearance isproducedbycertainreadilyrecognizableforces,andthepetalsinanyparticularcentreare eitheractiveornotactiveaccordingastheseforceshaveorhavenotbeenaroused,andtheir unfoldmentseemstohavenomoredirectconnectionwithmoralitythanhastheenlargement ofthebiceps.Ihavecertainlymetwithpersonsinwhomsomeofthecentreswereinfull activity,thoughthemoraladvancementwasbynomeansexceptionallyhigh,whereasinother personsofhighspiritualityandthenoblestpossiblemoralitythecentreswerescarcelyyet vitalizedatall;sothattheredoesnotseemtobeanynecessaryconnectionbetweenthetwo developments. Thereare,however,certainfactsobservablewhichmaybethebasisofthisrathercurious idea.Althoughthelikenesstopetalsiscausedbythesameforcesflowingroundandround thecentre,alternatelyoverandunderthevariousspokes,thosespokesdifferincharacter, becausetheinrushingforceissubdividedintoitscomponentpartsorqualities,andtherefore eachspokeradiatesaspecializedinfluenceofitsown,eventhoughthevariationsbeslight. Thesecondaryforce,inpassingeachspoke,istosomeextentmodifiedbyitsinfluence,and thereforechangesalittleinitshue.Someoftheseshadesofcolourmayindicateaformof theforcewhichishelpfultothegrowthofsomemoralquality,andwhenthatqualityis strengtheneditscorrespondingvibrationwillbemorepronounced.Thusthedeepeningor weakeningofthetintmightbetakentobetokenthepossessionofmoreorlessofthat attribute.

THEROOTCHAKRA Thefirstcentre,thebasic,atthebaseofthespine,hasaprimary forcewhichradiatesoutinfourspokes,andthereforearrangesits undulationssoastogivetheeffectofitsbeingdividedinto quadrants,alternatelyredandorangeinhue,withhollows betweenthem.Thismakesitseemasthoughmarkedwiththesign ofthecross,andforthatreasonthecrossisoftenusedto symbolizethiscentre,andsometimesaflamingcrossistakento indicatetheserpentfirewhichresidesinit.Whenactingwithany vigourthischakraisfieryorangeredincolour,corresponding closelywiththetypeofvitalitywhichissentdowntoitfromthe spleniccentre.Indeed,itwillbenoticedthatinthecaseofevery oneofthechakrasasimilarcorrespondencewiththecolourofitsvitalitymaybeseen. THESPLEENCHAKRA Thesecondcentre,thesplenic,atthespleen,isdevotedtothe specialization,subdivisionanddispersionofthevitalitywhich comestousfromthesun.Thatvitalityispouredoutagainfromit insixhorizontalstreams,theseventhvarietybeingdrawnintothe hubofthewheel.Thiscentrethereforehassixpetalsor undulations,allofdifferentcolours,andisspeciallyradiant, glowingandsunlike.Eachofthesixdivisionsofthewheelshows predominantlythecolourofoneoftheformsofthevitalforce red,orange,yellow,green,blueandviolet. THENAVELCHAKRA Thethirdcentre,theumbilical,atthenavelorsolarplexus, receivesaprimaryforcewithtenradiations,soitvibratesinsuch amannerastodivideitselfintotenundulationsorpetals.Itisvery closelyassociatedwithfeelingsandemotionsofvariouskinds.Its predominantcolourisacuriousblendingofseveralshadesofred, thoughthereisalsoagreatdealofgreeninit.Thedivisionsare alternatelychieflyredandchieflygreen.

THEHEARTCHAKRA Thefourthcentre,thecardiac,attheheart,isofaglowinggolden colour,andeachofitsquadrantsisdividedintothreeparts,which givesittwelveundulations,becauseitsprimaryforcemakesforit twelvespokes. THETHROATCHAKRA Thefifthcentre,thelaryngeal,atthe throat,hassixteenspokes,andthereforesixteenapparent divisions.Thereisagooddealofblueinit,butitsgeneraleffect issilveryandgleaming,withakindofsuggestionasofmoonlight uponripplingwater.Blueandgreenpredominatealternatelyinits sections. THEBROWCHAKRA Thesixthcentre,thefrontal(PlateIX),betweentheeyebrows,hastheappearanceofbeing dividedintohalves,onechieflyrosecoloured,thoughwithagreatdealofyellowaboutit,and theotherpredominantlyakindofpurplishblue,againcloselyagreeingwiththecoloursofthe specialtypesofvitalitythatvivifyit.Perhapsitisforthisreasonthatthiscentreismentioned inIndianbooksashavingonlytwopetals,thoughifwearetocountundulationsofthesame characterasthoseofthepreviouscentresweshallfindthateachhalfissubdividedintoforty eightofthese,makingninetysixinall,becauseitsprimaryforce hasthatnumberofradiations. Thissuddenleapform16to96spokes,andagaintheevenmore startlingvariationfrom96to972betweenthisandthenext chakra,showusthatwearenowdealingwithcentresofan altogetherdifferentorderfromthosewhichwehavehithertobeen considering.Wedonotyetknowallthefactorswhichdetermine thenumberofspokesinachakra,butitisalreadyevidentthat theyrepresentshadesofvariationintheprimaryforce.Beforewe cansaymuchmorethanthis,hundredsofobservationsand comparisonsmustbemademade,repeatedandverifiedoverandoveragain.Butmeantime thismuchisclearthatwhiletheneedofthepersonalitycanbesatisfiedbyalimitednumber oftypesofforce,whenwecometothehigherandmorepermanentprinciplesofmanwe encounteracomplexity,amultiplicity,whichdemandsforitsexpressionavastlygreater selectionofmodificationsoftheenergy.

THECROWNCHAKRA Theseventhcentre,thecoronal,atthetopofthehead,iswhen stirredintofullactivitythemostresplendentofall,fullof indescribablechromatic,effectsandvibratingwithalmost inconceivablerapidity.Itseemstocontainallsortsofprismatic hues,butisonthewholepredominantlyviolet.Itisdescribedin Indianbooksasthousandpetalled,andreallythisisnotveryfar fromthetruth,thenumberoftheradiationsofitsprimaryforcein theoutercirclebeingninehundredandsixty.Everylineofthiswill beseenfaithfullyreproducedinourfrontispiece,thoughitishardly possibletogivetheeffectoftheseparatepetals.Inadditiontothis ithasafeaturewhichispossessedbynoneoftheotherchakrasasortofsubsidiarycentral whirlpoolofgleamingwhiteflushedwithgoldinitsheartaminoractivitywhichhastwelve undulationsofitsown. Thischakraisusuallythelasttobeawakened.Inthebeginningitisthesamesizeasthe others,butasthemanprogressesonthePathofspiritualadvancementitincreasessteadily untilitcoversalmostthewholetopofthehead.Anotherpeculiarityattendsitsdevelopment.It isatfirstadepressionintheethericbody,asarealltheother,becausethroughit,asthrough them,thedivineforceflowsinfromwithout;butwhenthemanrealizeshispositionasaking ofthedivinelight,dispensinglargessetoallaroundhim,thischakrareversesitself,turningas itwereinsideout;itisnolongerachannelofreceptionbutofradiation,nolongera depressionbutaprominence,standingoutfromtheheadasadome,averitablecrownof glory. InOrientalpicturesandstatuesofthedeitiesorgreatmenthis prominenceisoftenshown.InFig.2itappearsontheheadofa statueoftheLordBuddhaatBorobudurinJava.Thisisthe conventionalmethodofrepresentingit,andinthisformitistobe foundupontheheadsofthousandsofimagesoftheLordBuddhaall overtheEasternworld.InmanycasesitwillbeseenthatthetwotiersoftheSahasrara chakraarecopiedthelargerdomeof960petalsfirst,andthenthesmallerdomeof12rising outofthatinturn.TheheadontherightisthatofBrahmafromtheHokkedoofTodaiji,at NarainJapan(datingfromA.D.749);anditwillbeseenthatthestatueiswearingahead dressfashionedtorepresentthischakra,thoughinaformsomewhatdifferentfromthelast, showingthecoronetofflamesshootingupfromit. ItappearsalsointheChristiansymbology,inthecrownswornbythefourandtwentyelders whoareforevercastingthemdownbeforethethroneofGod.Inthehighlydevelopedman thiscoronalchakrapoursoutsplendourandglorywhichmakesforhimaveritablecrown;and themeaningofthatpassageofScriptureisthatallthathehasgained,allthemagnificent karmathathemakes,allthewondrousspiritualforcethathegeneratesallthathecasts perpetuallyatthefeetoftheLocostobeusedinhiswork.So,overandoveragain,canhe

continuetocastdownhisgoldencrown,becauseitcontinuallyreformsastheforcewellsup fromwithinhim. OTHERACCOUNTSOFTHECENTRES ThesesevenforcecentresarefrequentlydescribedinSanskritliterature,insomeoftheminor Upanishads,inthePuranasandinTantricworks.TheyareusedtodaybymanyIndianyogis. AfriendacquaintedwiththeinnerlifeofIndiaassuresmethatheknowsofoneschoolinthat countrywhichmakesfreeuseofthechakrasaschoolwhichnumbersasitspupilsabout sixteenthousandpeoplescatteredoveralargearea.Thereismuchinterestinginformation availableonthesubjectfromHindusources,whichwewilltrytosummarizewithcommentsin alaterchapter. ItappearsalsothatcertainEuropeanmysticswereacquaintedwith thechakras.EvidenceofthisoccursinabookentitledTheosophia PracticabythewellknownGermanmysticJohannGeorgGichtel,a pupilofJacobBoehme,whoprobablybelongedtothesecretsociety oftheRosicrucians.ItisfromthisworkofGichtel'sthatourPlateIII isreproducedbythekindpermissionofthepublishers.Thisbook wasoriginallyissuedintheyear1696,thoughintheeditionof1736it issaidthatthepictures,ofwhichthevolumeismainlyadescription, wereprintedonlysometenyearsafterthedeathoftheauthor,which tookplacein1710.Thebookmustbedistinguishedfromacollection ofGichtel'scorrespondenceputforthunderthesametitle TheosophiaPractica;thepresentvolumeisnotintheformofletters, butconsistsofsixchaptersdealingwiththesubjectofthatmystic regenerationwhichwassuchanimportanttenetoftheRosicrucians. TheillustrationwhichwegiveherehasbeenphotographedfromtheFrenchtranslationofthe TheosophiaPractica,publishedin1897intheBibliothequeRosicrucienne(No.4)bythe BibliothequeChacornac,Paris. Gichtel,whowasbornin1638,atRatisboninBavaria,studiedtheologyandlawandpractised asanadvocate;butafterwards,becomingconsciousofaspiritualworldwithin,gaveupall worldlyinterestsandbecamethefounderofamysticalChristianmovement.Beingopposedto theignorantorthodoxyofhistime,hedrewdownuponhimselfthehatredofthosewhomhe hadattacked,andabout1670hewasconsequentlybanished,andhispropertyconfiscated. HefinallyfoundrefugeinHolland,wherehelivedfortheremainingfortyyearsofhislife. HeevidentlyconsideredthefiguresprintedinhisTheosophiaPracticaasbeingofasecret nature;apparentlytheywerekeptwithinthesmallcircleofhisdisciplesforquiteanumberof years.Theywere,hesays,theresultofaninnerilluminationpresumablyofwhatinour moderntimesweshouldcallclairvoyantfaculties.Onthetitlepageofhisbookhesaysthatit is,"Ashortexpositionofthethreeprinciplesofthethreeworldsinman,representedinclear

pictures,showinghowandwheretheyhavetheirrespectiveCentresintheinnerman; accordingtowhattheauthorhasfoundinhimselfindivinecontemplation,andwhathehas felt,tastedandperceived". Likemostmysticsofhisday,however,Gichtellackstheexactitudewhichshouldcharacterize trueoccultismandmysticism;inhisdescriptionofthefiguresheallowshimselflengthy, thoughoftentimesquiteinterestingdigressionsonthedifficultiesandproblemsofthespiritual life.Asanexpositionofhisillustrations,however,hisbookisnotasuccess.Perhapshedid notdaretosaytoomuch;orhemayhavewishedtoinducehisreaderstolearntoseefor themselvesthatofwhichhewaswriting.Itseemslikelythatbythetrulyspirituallifewhichhe ledhehaddevelopedsufficientclairvoyancetoseethesechakras,butthathewasunaware oftheirtruecharacteranduse,sothatinhisattemptstoexplaintheirmeaning,heattachedto themthecurrentsymbolismofthemysticschooltowhichliebelonged. Heisheredealing,aswillbeseen,withthenaturalearthlymaninastateofdarkness,sohe hasperhapssomeexcuseforbeingalittlepessimisticabouthischakras.Heletsthefirstand secondpasswithoutcomment(possiblyknowingthattheyarechieflyconcernedwith physiologicalprocesses),butlabelsthesolarplexusasthehomeofangerasindeeditis.He seestheheartcentreasfilledwithselflove,thethroatwithenvyandavarice;andthehigher centresoftheheadradiatenothingbetterthanpride. Healsoassignsplanetstothechakras,givingtheMoontothebasic,Mercurytothesplenic, Venustotheumbilical,theSuntotheheart(thoughitwillbenotedthatasnakeiscoiled roundit),Marstothelaryngeal,Jupitertothefrontal,andSaturntothecoronal.Heinformsus furtherthatfireresidesintheheart,waterintheliver,earthinthelungs,andairinthebladder. Itisnoteworthythathedrawsaspiral,startingfromthesnakeroundtheheartandpassing throughallthecentresinturn;butthereseemsnoverydefinitereasonfortheorderinwhich thislinetouchesthem.Thesymbolismoftherunningdogisnotexplained,soweareleftat libertytointerpretitaswewill. TheauthorgivesuslateranillustrationofthemanregeneratedbytheChrist,whohasentirely crushedtheserpent,buthasreplacedtheSunbytheSacredHeart,drippinggoremost gruesomely. Theinterestofthepicturetous,however,isnotintheauthor'sinterpretations,butinthefact thatitshowsbeyondthepossibilityofmistakethatatleastsomeofthemysticsofthe seventeenthcenturyknewoftheexistenceandpositionofthesevencentresinthehuman body. Furtherevidenceofearlyknowledgeabouttheseforcecentresexistsintheritualsof Freemasonry,thesalientpointsofwhichcomedowntousfromtimeimmemorial;the monumentsshowthatthesepointswereknownandpractisedinancientEgypt,andtheyhave beenhandeddownfaithfullytothepresentday.Masonsfindthemamongtheirsecrets,and byutilizingthemactuallystimulatecertainofthesecentresfortheoccasionandthepurpose

oftheirwork,thoughtheygenerallyknowlittleornothingofwhatishappeningbeyondthe rangeofnormalsight.Obviouslyexplanationsareimpossiblehere,butIhavementionedas muchofthematterasispermissibleinTheHiddenLifeinFreemasonry.

CHAPTER2
THEFORCES THEPRIMARYORLIFEFORCE THEDeitysendsforthfromHimselfvariousformsofenergy;theremaywellbehundredsof whichweknownothing;butsomefewofthemhavebeenobserved.Eachofthoseseenhas itsappropriatemanifestationateverylevelwhichourstudentshaveyetreached;butforthe momentletusthinkofthemastheyshowthemselvesinthephysicalworld.Oneofthem exhibitsitselfaselectricity,anotherastheserpentfire,anotherasvitality,andyetanotheras thelifeforce,whichisquiteadifferentthingfromvitality,aswillpresentlybeseen. Patientandlongcontinuedeffortisneededbythestudentwhowouldtracetheseforcesto theiroriginandrelatethemtooneanother.AtthetimewhenIcollectedintothebookThe HiddenSideofThingstheanswerstoquestionswhichhadbeenaskedduringpreviousyears attheroofmeetingsatAdyar,Iknewofthemanifestationonthephysicalplaneofthelife force,ofkundaliniandofvitality,butnotyetoftheirrelationtotheThreeOutpourings,sothatI describedthemasentirelydifferentandseparatefromthem.Furtherresearchhasenabled metofillthegap,andIamgladnowtohavetheopportunityofcorrectingthemisstatement whichIthenmade. Therearethreeprincipalforcesflowingthroughthechakras,andwemayconsiderthemas representativeofthethreeaspectsoftheLogos.Theenergywhichwefindrushingintothe belllikemouthofthechakra,andsettingupinrelationtoitselfasecondarycircularforce,is oneoftheexpressionsoftheSecondOutpouring,fromtheSecondAspectoftheLogosthat streamoflifewhichissentoutbyhimintothematteralreadyvitalizedbytheactionofthe ThirdAspectoftheLogosintheFirstOutpouring.Itisthiswhichissymbolizedwhenitissaid inChristianteachingthattheChristisincarnateof(thatis,takesformfrom)theHolyGhost andtheVirginMary. ThatSecondOutpouringhaslongagosubdivideditselftoanalmostinfinitedegree;notonly hasitsubdivideditself,butithasalsodifferentiateditselfthatistosay,itseemstohave doneso.Inrealitythisisalmostcertainlyonlythemayaorillusionthroughwhichweseeitin action.Itcomesthroughcountlessmillionsofchannels,showingitselfoneveryplaneand subplaneofoursystem,andyetfundamentallyitisoneandthesameforce,innowayfora momenttobeconfusedwiththatFirstOutpouringwhichlongagomanufacturedthechemical elementsfromwhichthisSecondOutpouringtakesthematerialofwhichitsvehiclesatall levelsarebuilt.Itappearsasthoughsomeofitsmanifestationswerelowerordenser, becauseitisemployingloweranddensermatter;onthebuddhiclevelweseeitdisplaying itselfastheChristprinciple,graduallyexpandingandunfoldingitselfimperceptiblywithinthe souloftheman;intheastralandmentalbodiesweperceivethatvariouslayersofmatterare vivifiedbyit,sothatwenotedifferentexhibitionsofitappearinginthehigherpartoftheastral intheguiseofanobleemotion,andinthelowerpartoftheverysamevehicleasamererush

oflifeforceenergizingthematterofthatbody. Wefinditinitslowestembodimentdrawingrounditselfaveilofethericmatter,andrushing fromtheastralbodyintotheflowerlikebellsofthesechakrasonthesurfaceoftheetheric partofthephysicalbody.Hereitmeetsanotherforcewellingupfromtheinteriorofthehuman bodythemysteriouspowercalledkundaliniortheserpentfire. THESERPENTFIRE Thisforceisthephysicalplanemanifestationofanotherofthemanifoldaspectsofthepower oftheLogos,belongingtotheFirstOutpouring,whichcomesfromtheThirdAspect.Itexists onallplanesofwhichweknowanything;butitistheexpressionofitinethericmatterwith whichwehavetodoatpresent.Itisnotconvertibleintoeithertheprimaryforcealready mentionedortheforceofvitalitywhichcomesfromthesun,anditdoesnotseemtobe affectedinanywaybyanyotherformsofphysicalenergy.Ihaveseenasmuchasamillion andaquartervoltsofelectricityputintoahumanbody,sothatwhenthemanheldouthisarm towardsthewall,hugeflamesrushedoutfromhisfingers,yethefeltnothingunusual,nor wouldhebeintheleastburntunderthesecircumstancesunlessheactuallytouchedsome externalobject;buteventhisenormousdisplayofpowerhadnoeffectwhateveruponthe serpentfire. Wehaveknownformanyyearsthatthereisdeepdownintheearthwhatmaybedescribed asalaboratoryoftheThirdLogos.Onattemptingtoinvestigatetheconditionsatthecentreof theearthwefindthereavastglobeofsuchtremendousforcethatwecannotapproachit.We cantouchonlyitsouterlayers;butindoingeventhatitbecomesevidentthattheyare,in sympatheticrelationwiththelayersofkundaliniinthehumanbody.Intothatcentretheforce oftheThirdLogosmusthavepouredagesago,butitisworkingtherestill.ThereHeis engagedinthegradualdevelopmentofnewchemicalelements,whichshowincreasing complexityofform,andmoreandmoreenergeticinternallifeoractivity. StudentsofchemistryarefamiliarwiththePeriodicTableoriginatedbytheRussianchemist Mendeleffinthelatterpartofthelastcentury,inwhichtheknownchemicalelementsare arrangedintheorderoftheiratomicweights,beginningwiththelightest,hydrogen,whichhas anatomicweight1,andendingwiththeheaviestatpresentknown,uranium,whichhasa relativeweightof238.5.Inourowninvestigationsintothesematterswefoundthatthese atomicweightswerealmostexactlyproportionaltothenumberofultimateatomsineach element;wehaverecordedthesenumbersinOccultChemistry,andalsotheformand compositionofeachelement. Inmostcasestheformswhichwefoundwhentheelementswereexaminedwithethericsight indicateasdoesthePeriodicTablealsothattheelementshavebeendevelopedincyclic order,thattheydonotlieonastraightline,butonanascendingspiral.Wehavebeentold thattheelementshydrogen,oxygenandnitrogen(whichconstituteapproximatelyhalfthe crustofourglobeandnearlyallitsatmosphere)belongatthesametimetoanotherand

greatersolarsystem,butweunderstandthattherestoftheelementshavebeendevelopedby theLogosofoursystem.Heiscarryingonhisspiralbeyonduranium,underconditionsof temperatureandpressurewhicharequiteinconceivabletous.Andgradually,asnew elementsareformed,theyarepushedoutwardsandupwardstowardsthesurfaceofthe earth. TheforceofkundaliniinourbodiescomesfromthatlaboratoryoftheHolyGhostdeepdown intheearth.Itbelongstothatterrificglowingfireoftheunderworld.Thatfireisinstriking contrasttothefireofvitalitywhichcomesfromthesun,whichwillpresentlybeexplained.The latterbelongstoairandlightandthegreatopenspaces;butthefirewhichcomesfrombelow ismuchmorematerial,likethefireofredhotiron,ofglowingmetal.Thereisaratherterrible sidetothistremendousforce;itgivestheimpressionofdescendingdeeperanddeeperinto matter,ofmovingslowlybutirresistiblyonwards,withrelentlesscertainty. Theserpentfireisnotthatportionoftheenergy oftheThirdLogoswithwhichHeisengagedin buildingdenseranddenserchemicalelements.It ismoreofthenatureofafurtherdevelopmentof thatforcewhichisinthelivingcentreofsuch elementsasradium.Itispartoftheactionofthe lifeoftheThirdLogosafterithasreachedits lowestimmersionandisoncemoreascending towardstheheightsfromwhichitcame.Wehave longunderstoodthatthesecondlifewave,from theSecondLogos,descendsintomatterthrough thefirst,secondandthirdelementalkingdoms, downtothemineral,andthenascendsagain throughthevegetableandanimaltothehuman kingdom,whereitmeetsthedownwardreaching poweroftheFirstLogos.ThisissuggestedinFig. 3,inwhichtheovalindicatingthatSecond Outpouringcomesdownontheleftside,reaches itsdensestpointatthebottomofthediagram, andthenrisesagaininthecurveontheright handsideofthefigure. WenowfindthattheforceoftheThirdLogosalsorisesagainaftertouchingitslowestpoint, sowemustimaginethattheverticallineinthecentreofthefigurereturnsuponitspath. KundaliniisthepowerofthatOutpouringonitspathofreturn,anditworksinthebodiesof evolvingcreaturesinintimatecontactwiththeprimaryforcealreadymentioned,thetwoacting togethertobringthecreaturetothepointwhereitcanreceivetheOutpouringoftheFirst Logos,andbecomeanego,ahumanbeing,andstillcarryonthevehiclesevenafterthat.We thusdrawGod'smightypowerfromtheearthbeneathaswellasfromheavenabove;weare childrenoftheearthaswellasofthesun.Thesetwomeetinus,andworktogetherforour evolution.Wecannothaveonewithouttheother,butifoneisgreatlyinexcessthereare

seriousdangers.Hencetheriskofanydevelopmentofthedeeperlayersoftheserpentfire beforethelifeinthemanispureandrefined. Wehearmuchofthisstrangefireandofthedangerofprematurelyarousingit;andmuchof whatwehearisundoubtedlytrue.Thereisindeedmostseriousperilinawakeningthehigher aspectsofthisfuriousenergyinamanbeforehehasgainedthestrengthtocontrolit,before hehasacquiredthepurityoflifeandthoughtwhichalonecanmakeitsafeforhimtounleash potencysotremendous.Butkundaliniplaysamuchlargerpartindailylifethanmostofus havehithertosupposed;thereisafarlowerandgentlermanifestationsofitwhichisalready awakewithinusall,whichisnotonlyinnocuousbutbeneficent,whichisdoingitsappointed workdayandnightwhileweareentirelyunconsciousofitspresenceandactivity.Wehaveof coursepreviouslynoticedthisforceasitflowsalongthenerves,callingitsimplynervefluid, andnotrecognizingitforwhatitreallyis.Theendeavourtoanalyseitandtotraceitbackto hissourceshowsusthatitentersthehumanbodyattherootchakra. Likeallotherforces,kundaliniisitselfinvisible;butinthehumanbodyitclothesitselfina curiousnestofhollowconcentricspheresofastralandethericmatter,onewithinanother,like theballsinaChinesepuzzle.Thereappeartobesevensuchconcentricspheresresting withintherootchakra,inandaroundthelastrealcellorhollowofthespineclosetothe coccyx;butonlyintheoutermostofthesespheresistheforceactiveintheordinaryman.In theothersitis"sleeping",asissaidinsomeoftheOrientalbooks;anditisonlywhenthe manattemptstoarousetheenergylatentinthoseinnerlayersthatthedangerousphenomena ofthefirebegintoshowthemselves.Theharmlessfireoftheouterskinoftheballflowsup thespinalcolumn,using(sofarasinvestigationshavegoneuptothepresent)thethreelines ofSushumna,IdaandPingalasimultaneously. THETHREESPINALCHANNELS Ofthesethreecurrentswhichflowinandaroundthespinalcordofeveryhumanbeing MadameBlavatskywritesasfollowsinTheSecretDoctrine: TheTransHimalayanschoollocatesSushumna,thechiefseatof thesethreeNadis,inthecentraltubeofthespinalcord.Idaand PingalaaresimplythesharpsandflatsofthatFaofhumannature, which,whenstruckinaproperway,awakensthesentriesoneither side,thespiritualManasandthephysicalKama,andsubduesthe lowerthroughthehigher. ItisthepureAkashathatpassesupSushumna;itstwoaspectsflow inIdaandPingala.Thesearethreevitalairs,andaresymbolizedby theBrahmanicalthread.TheyareruledbytheWill.WillandDesire arethehigherandloweraspectsofoneandthesamething.Hencethe importanceofthepurityofthecanalsFromthesethreea circulationissetup,andfromthecentralcanalpassesintothe wholebody.

IdaandPingalaplayalongthecurvedwallofthecordinwhichis Sushumna.Theyaresemimaterial,positiveandnegative,sunand moon,andstartintoactionthefreeandspiritualcurrentof Sushumna.Theyhavedistinctpathsoftheirown,otherwisetheywould radiatealloverthebody. InTheHiddenLifeinFreemasonryIreferredtoacertainMasonicuseoftheseforcesas follows: ItispartoftheplanofFreemasonrytostimulatetheactivityof theseforcesinthehumanbody,inorderthatevolutionmaybe quickened.ThestimulationisappliedatthemomentwhenR.W.M. creates,receivesandconstitutes;intheFirstDegreeitaffectsthe Idaorfeminineaspectoftheforce,thusmakingiteasierforthe candidatetocontrolpassionandemotion;intheSecondDegreeitis thePingalaormasculineaspectwhichisstrengthened,inorderto facilitatethecontrolofmind;butintheThirdDegree,itisthe centralenergyitself,theSushumna,whichisaroused,thereby openingthewayfortheinfluenceofthepurespiritfromonhigh.It isbypassingupthroughthischanneloftheSushumnathatayogi leaveshisphysicalbodyatwillinsuchamannerthathecanretain fullconsciousnessonhigherplanes,andbringbackintohisphysical brainaclearmemoryofhisexperiences.Thelittlefiguresbelow givearoughindicationofthewayinwhichtheseforcesflowthrough thehumanbody;inamantheIdastartsfromthebaseofthespine justontheleftoftheSushumnaandthePingalaontheright(beit understoodthatImeantherightandleftoftheman,notthe spectator);butinawomanthesepositionsarereversed.Thelines endinthemedullaoblongata. ThespineiscalledinIndiatheBrahmadanda,thestickofBrahma;andthedrawinggivenin Fig.4(d)showsthatitisalsotheoriginalofthecaduceusofMercury,thetwosnakesofwhich symbolizethekundaliniorserpentfirewhichispresentlytobesetinmotionalongthose channels,whilethewingstypifythepowerofconsciousflightthroughhigherplaneswhichthe developmentofthatfireconfers.Fig.4(a)showsthestimulatedIdaaftertheinitiationintothe FirstDegree;thislineiscrimsonincolour.ToitisaddedatthePassingtheyellowlineofthe Pingala,depictedinFig.4(b);whileattheRaisingtheseriesiscompletedbythedeepblue streamoftheSushumna,illustratedbyFig.4(c).

Thekundaliniwhichnormallyflowsuptheseisspecializedduringthisupwardpassage,and thatintwoways.Thereisinitacuriousminglingofpositiveandnegativequalitieswhich mightalmostbedescribedasmaleandfemale.Onthewholethereisagreatpreponderance ofthefeminineaspect,whichisperhapsthereasonwhyintheIndianbooksthisforceis alwaysspokenofas"she",alsoperhapswhyacertain"chamberintheheart"wherekundalini iscentredinsomeformsofyogaisdescribedinTheVoiceoftheSilenceasthehomeofthe World'sMother.Butwhenthisserpentfireissuesfromitshomeintherootchakraandrises upthethreechannelswhichwehavementioneditisnoteworthythatthesectionrising throughthechannelPingalaisalmostwhollymasculine,whereasthatrisingthroughthe channelIdaisalmostwhollyfeminine.ThelargestreampassinguptheSushumnaseemsto retainitsoriginalproportions. Theseconddifferentiationwhichtakesplaceduringthepassageofthisforceupthespineis thatitbecomesintenselyimpregnatedwiththepersonalityoftheman.Itseemstoenteratthe bottomasaverygeneralforceandtoissueforthatthetopasdefinitelythisparticularman's nervefluidcarryingwithittheimpressofhisspecialqualitiesandidiosyncrasies,which manifestthemselvesinthevibrationsofthosespinecentreswhichmaybeconsideredasthe rootsfromwhichspringthestemsofthesurfacechakras. THEMARRIAGEOFTHEFORCES Thoughthemouthoftheflowerlikebellofthechakraisonthesurfaceoftheethericbody,the stemofthetrumpetlikeblossomalwaysspringsfromacentreinthespinalcord.Itisalmost alwaystothesecentresinthespine,andnottothesuperficialmanifestationsofthem,thatthe Hinduhooksreferwhentheyspeakofthechakras.Ineachcaseanethericstem,usually curvingdownwards,connectsthisrootinthespinewiththeexternalchakra.(seeBrow Chakraillustration)Asthestemsofallthechakrasthusstartfromthespinalcord,thisforce naturallyflowsdownthosestemsintotheflowerbells;whereitmeetstheincomingstreamof thedivinelife,andthepressuresetupbythatencountercausestheradiationofthemingled forceshorizontallyalongthespokesofthechakra. Thesurfacesofthestreamsoftheprimaryforceandthekundalinigrindtogetheratthispoint, astheyrevolveinoppositedirectionsandconsiderablepressureiscaused.Thishasbeen symbolizedasthe"marriage"ofthedivinelife,whichisvividlymale,tothekundalini,whichis alwaysconsideredasdistinctivelyfeminine,andthecompoundenergywhichresultsiswhatis commonlycalledthepersonalmagnetismoftheman;itthenvivifiestheplexuseswhichare seenintheneighbourhoodofseveralofthechakras;itflowsalongallthenervesofthebody, andisprincipallyresponsibleforkeepingupitstemperature.Itsweepsalongwithitthevitality whichhasbeenabsorbedandspecializedbythespleenchakra. Whenthetwoforcescombineasmentionedabovethereisacertaininterlockingofsomeof therespectivemolecules.Theprimaryforceseemscapableofoccupyingseveraldifferent kindsofethericform;thatwhichitmostcommonlyadoptsisanoctahedron,madeoffour

atoms4arrangedinasquare,withonecentralatomconstantlyvibratingupanddownthrough themiddleofthequadrilateralandatrightanglestoit.Italsosometimesusesanexceedingly activelittlemoleculeconsistingofthreeatoms.Thekundaliniusuallyclothesitselfinaflatring ofsevenatoms,whilethevitalityglobule,whichalsoconsistsofsevenatoms,arrangesthem onaplannotunlikethatoftheprimaryforce,exceptthatitformsahexagoninsteadofa square.Fig.5mayhelpthereadertoimagethesearrangements.

AandBareformsadoptedbytheprimaryforce,Cisthattakenbythevitalityglobule,andD thatofthekundalini.EshowstheeffectofthecombinationofAandD;FthatofBandD.In A,BandCthecentralatomisallthetimeinrapidvibrationatrightanglestothesurfaceof thepaper,springingupfromittoaheightgreaterthanthediameterofthedisc,andthen sinkingbelowthepapertoanequaldistance,butrepeatingthisshuttlelikemotionseveral timesinasecond.(OfcourseitwillbeunderstoodthatIspeakrelativelyandnotliterally;in realitythespherewhichcurdiscrepresentsissotinyastobeinvisibletothemostpowerful microscope;butinproportiontothatsizeitsvibrationisasIdescribe.)InDtheonlymotionis asteadyprocessionroundandroundthecircle,butthereisanimmenseamountoflatent energytherewhichmanifestsitselfassoonasthecombinationstakeplacewhichwehave endeavouredtoillustrateinEandF.ThetwopositiveatomsinAandBcontinuewhenthus combinedtheirpreviousviolentactivitiesinfact,theirvigourisgreatlyintensified;whilethe atomsinD,thoughtheystillmovealongthesamecircularpathway,acceleratetheirspeedso enormouslythattheyceasetobevisibleasseparateatomsandappearasaglowingring. ThefirstfourmoleculesdepictedabovebelongtothetypetowhichinOccultChemistryDr. BesantgivesthenameofHypermetaprotoelementalmatter.Indeed,theymaybeidentical withsomeofthosewhichshedrewforthatbook.ButEandF,beingcompounds,mustbe takenasworkinguponthenextsubplane,whichshecallsthesuperetheric,andsowouldbe classifiedasmetaprotomatter.TypeBisfarcommonerthantypeA,anditnaturallyfollows thatinthenervefluidwhichisthefinalresultoftheconfluencewefindmanymoreexamples ofFandE.Thisnervefluidisthereforeastreamofvariouselements,containingspecimens ofeachoneofthetypesshowninFig.4simpleandcompound,marriedandsingle, bachelors,oldmaidsandconjugalcouples,allrushingonwardtogether. Themarvellouslyenergeticupwardanddownwardmovementofthecentralatominthe combinationsEandFgivesthemaquiteunusualshapewithintheirmagneticfieldsasshown
4 Theterm"atom"usedhereandthroughouttheremainderofthebookrefersnottoachemicalatombuttothe basictypeofmatterinthehighestsubplaneofeachplaneofnature.Similarly,"molecule"referstoa groupingofsuchatomsinawaysimilartothatbywhichchemicalatomsformchemicalmolecules.(Ed.)

inFig.6. Theupperhalfofthisseemstometobeararemarkableresemblanceto thelingawhichisfrequentlytobeseeninfrontofthetemplesofShivain India.Iamtoldthatthelingaisanemblemofcreativepower,andthat Indiandevoteesregarditasextendingdownwardsintotheearthtojustthe sameextentasitrisesaboveit.Ihavewonderedwhethertheancient Hindusknewofthisespeciallyactivemolecule,andoftheimmense importanceofthepartitplaysinthesupportofhumanandanimallife;and whethertheycarvedtheirsymbolinstoneasarecordoftheiroccult knowledge. THESYMPATHETICSYSTEM Anatomistsdescribetwonervoussystemsin thehumanbodythecerebrospinalandthe sympathetic.Thecerebrospinalbeginswith thebrain,continuesdownthespinalcord, andramifiestoallpartsofthebodythrough thegangliafromwhichnervesissuebetween everytwosuccessivevertebrae.The sympatheticsystemconsistsoftwocords whichrunalmostthewholelengthofthe spine,situatedalittleforwardofitsaxis,and totherightandleftrespectively.Fromthe gangliaofthesetwocords,whicharenot quiteasnumerousasthoseofthespinal cord,sympatheticnervesproceedtoform thenetworksystemscalledtheplexuses, fromwhichinturn,asfromrelaystations, emergesmallerterminalgangliaandnerves. Thesetwosystemsare,however,interrelated inagreatvarietyofwaysbysomany connectingnervesthatonemustnotthinkof themastwodistinctneuralorganizations.In additionwehaveathirdgroupcalledthe vagusnerves,whichariseinthemedulla oblongata,anddescendindependentlyfar intothebody,minglingconstantlywiththe nervesandplexusesoftheothersystems. Thespinalcord,theleftsympatheticcord, andtheleftvagusnerveareallshowninthe sideillustration.Itexhibitsthenervous

connectionsbetweenthespinalandsympatheticganglia,andthechannelsbywhichthelatter giveforthnervestoformtheprincipalplexusesofthesympatheticsystem.Itwillbenotedthat thereisatendencyfortheplexusestodroopfromthegangliainwhichtheyhavetheirorigin, sothat,forexample,thecoeliacorsolarplexusdependslargelyuponthegreatsplanchnic nerve,showninourplateasrisingfromthefifththoracicsympatheticganglion,whichinturn isconnectedwiththefourththoracicspinalganglion.Thisisalmostonalevelwiththeheart horizontally,butthenervedescendsandjoinsthesmallerandthesmallestsplanchnicnerves, whichmergefromlowerthoracicganglia,andthesepassthroughthediaphragmandgoto thesolarplexus.Therearealsootherconnectionsbetweenthatplexusandthecords,shown inthePlatetosomeextent,buttoocomplicatedtodescribe.Theprincipalnervesleadingto thecardiacplexusbenddownwardsinasimilarmanner.Inthecaseofthepharyngealplexus thereisbutaslightdroop,andthecarotidplexusevenrisesupwardfromtheinternalcarotid nerve,comingfromthesuperiorcervicalsympatheticganglion. THECENTRESINTHESPINE Thereisasomewhatsimilardroopintheethericstemwhichconnectstheflowersorchakras onthesurfaceoftheethericdoublewiththeircorrespondingcentresinthespine,whichare situatedapproximatelyinthepositionsshowninredontheaboveillustration,anddetailedin TableII.Theradiatingspokesofthechakrassupplyforcetothesesympatheticplexusesto assistthemintheirrelaywork;inthepresentstateofourknowledgeitseemstomerashto identify,thechakraswiththeplexuses,assomewritersappeartohavedone. Thehypogastricorpelvicplexusesarenodoubtconnectedinsomewaywiththe Svadhisthanachakrasituatednearthegenerativeorgans,whichismentionedinIndianbooks butnotusedinourschemeofdevelopment.Theplexusesgroupedtogetherinthisregionare probablylargelysubordinatetothesolarplexusinallmattersofconsciousactivity,asboth theyandthesplenicplexusareconnectedverycloselywithitbynumerousnerves. NameofChakra Root Spleen Navel Heart Throat Brow Positionon Surface Baseofspine Overthespleen Overthenavel Overtheheart Atthethroat Onthebrow Approx.Position Sympathetic ofSpinalChakra Plexus 4thsacral 1stlumbar 8 thoracic 8thcervical 3rdcervical 1stcervical Table2
th

ChiefSubsidiary Plexues
Hepatic,pyloric, gastric,mesenteric, etc. Pulmonary,coronary, etc.

Coccygeal Splenic CoeliacorSolar Cardiac Pharyngeal Cartoid

Cavernous& cephalicganglia generally

Thecrownchakraisnotconnectedwithanyofthesympatheticplexusesofthephysicalbody, butisassociatedwiththepinealglandandthepituitarybody,asweshallseeinChapterIV.It isrelatedalsotothedevelopmentofthebraeandspinalsystemofnerves. OntheoriginandrelationsofthesympatheticandcerebrospinalsystemsDr.AnnieBesant writesasfollowsinAStudyinConsciousness: Letusseehowthebuildingofthenervoussystem,byvibratory impulsesfromtheastral,beginsandiscarriedon.Wefindaminute groupofnervecellsandtinyprocessesconnectingthem.Thisis formedbytheactionofacentrewhichhaspreviouslyappearedinthe astralbodyanaggregationofastralmatterarrangedtoforma centreforreceivingandrespondingtoimpulsesfromoutside.From thatastralcentrevibrationspassintotheethericbody,causing littleethericwhirlpoolswhichdrawintothemselvesparticlesof denserphysicalmatter,formingatlastanervecell,andgroupsof nervecells.Thesephysicalcentres,receivingvibrationsfromthe outerworld,sendimpulsesbacktotheastralcentres,increasing theirvibrations;thusthephysicalandtheastralcentresactand reactoneachother,andeachbecomesmorecomplicatedandmore effective.Aswepassuptheanimalkingdom,wefindthephysical nervoussystemconstantlyimproving,andbecomingamoreandmore dominantactorinthebody,andthisfirstformedsystembecomes,in thevertebrates,thesympatheticsystem,controllingandenergising thevitalorganstheheart,thelungs,thedigestivetract;beside itslowlydevelopsthecerebrospinalsystem,closelyconnectedinits lowerworkingswiththesympathetic,andbecominggraduallymoreand moredominant,whileitalsobecomesinitsmostimportant developmentthenormalorganfortheexpressionofthe"waking consciousness".Thiscerebrospinalsystemisbuiltupbyimpulses originatinginthemental,notintheastralplane,andisonly indirectlyrelatedtotheastralthroughthesympatheticsystem, builtupfromtheastral. VITALITY Weallknowthefeelingofcheerfulnessandwellbeingwhichsunlightbringstous,butonly studentsofoccultismarefullyawareofthereasonsforthatsensation.Justasthesunfloods hissystemwithlightandheat,sodoesheperpetuallypouroutintoitanotherforceasyet unsuspectedbymodernscienceaforcetowhichhasbeengiventhename"vitality".Thisis radiatedonalllevels,andmanifestsitselfineachrealmphysical,emotional,mentalandthe restbutwearespeciallyconcernedforthemomentwithitsappearanceinthelowest,where itenterssomeofthephysicalatoms,immenselyincreasestheiractivity,andmakesthem animatedandglowing. Wemustnotconfusethisforcewithelectricity,thoughitinsomewaysresemblesit,forits

actiondiffersinmanywaysfromthatofeitherelectricity,lightorheat.Anyofthevariantsof thislatterforcecauseoscillationoftheatomasawholeanoscillationthesizeofwhichis enormousascomparedwiththatoftheatom;butthisotherforcewhichwecallvitalitycomes totheatomnotfromwithout,butfromwithin. THEVITALITYGLOBULE Theatomisitselfnothingbutthemanifestationofaforce;theSolar Deitywillsacertainshapewhichwecallanultimatephysicalatom(Fig. 7),andbythateffortofHiswillsomefourteenthousandmillion "bubblesinKoilon"areheldinthatparticularform.Itisnecessaryto emphasizethefactthatthecohesionofthebubblesinthatformis entirelydependentuponthateffortofwill,sothatifthatwerefora singleinstantwithdrawn,thebubblesmustfallapartagain,andthe wholephysicalrealmwouldsimplyceasetoexistinfarlessthanthe periodofaflashoflightning.Sotrueisitthattheworldisnothingbutillusion,evenfromthis pointofview,tosaynothingofthefactthatthebubblesofwhichtheatomisbuiltare themselvesonlyholesinKoilon,thetrueaetherofspace. SoitisthewillforceoftheSolarDeitycontinuallyexercisedwhichholdstheatomtogetheras such;andwhenwetrytoexaminetheactionofthatforceweseethatitdoesnotcomeinto theatomfromoutside,butwellsupwithinitwhichmeansthatitentersitfromhigher dimensions.Thesameistruewithregardtothisotherforcewhichwecallvitality;itentersthe atomfromwithinalongwiththeforcethatholdsthatatomtogether,insteadofactinguponit entirelyfromwithout,asdothoseothervarietiesofforcewhichwecalllight,heatorelectricity. Whenvitalitywellsupthuswithinanatomitendowsitwithanadditionallife,andgivesita powerofattractionsothatitimmediatelydrawsrounditsixotheratomswhichitarrangesina definiteform,thusmakingasubatomicorhypermetaprotoelement,asIhavealready explained.Butthiselementdiffersfromallotherswhichhavesofarbeenobserved,inthatthe forcewhichcreatesitandholdsittogethercomesfromtheFirstAspectoftheSolarDeity insteadoffromtheThird. Theseglobulesareconspicuousaboveallotherswhichmaybeseenfloatinginthe atmosphere,onaccountoftheirbrillianceandextremeactivitytheintenselyvividlifewhich theyshow.TheseareprobablythefierylivessooftenmentionedbyMadameBlavatsky,as, forexample,inTheSecretDoctrine,Vol.I,p.306,whereshewrites: ...Wearetaughtthateveryphysiologicalchange,nay,life itself,orrathertheobjectivephenomenaoflife,producedby certainconditionsandchangesinthetissuesofthebody,which allowandforcelifetoactinthatbodythatallthisisdueto thoseunseen"Creators"and"Destroyers",whicharecalled,insucha looseandgeneralway,microbes.Itmightbesupposedthatthese FieryLivesandthemicrobesofScienceareidentical.Thisisnot

true.TheFieryLivesaretheseventhandhighestsubdivisionofthe planeofmatter,andcorrespondintheindividualwiththeOneLife oftheUniverse,thoughonlyonthatplaneofmatter. Whiletheforcethatvivifiestheseglobulesisquitedifferentfromlight,itneverthelessseems todependuponlightforitspowerofmanifestation.Inbrilliantsunshinethisvitalityis constantlywellingupafresh,andtheglobulesaregeneratedwithgreatrapidityandin incrediblenumbers,butincloudyweatherthereisagreatdiminutioninthenumberof globulesformed,andduringthenight,sofaraswehavebeenabletosee,theoperationis entirelysuspended.Inthenight,therefore,wemaybesaidtobelivinguponthestock manufacturedinthecourseofpreviousdays,andthoughitappearspracticallyimpossiblethat itshouldeverbeentirelyexhausted,thatstockevidentlydoesrunlowwhenthereisalong successionofcloudydays.Theglobule,oncecharged,remainsasasubatomicelement,and isnotsubjecttoanychangeorlossofforceunlessanduntilitisabsorbedbysomeliving creature. THESUPPLYOFGLOBULES Vitality,likelightandheat,ispouringforthfromthesuncontinually,butobstaclesfrequently arisetopreventthefullsupplyfromreachingtheearth.Inthewintryandmelancholyclimes miscalledthetemperate,ittoooftenhappensthatfordaystogethertheskyiscoveredbya funeralpallofheavycloud,andthisaffectsvitalityjustasitdoeslight;itdoesnotaltogether hinderitspassage,butsensiblydiminishesitsamount.Thereforeindullanddarkweather vitalityrunslow,andoveralllivingcreaturestherecomesaninstinctiveyearningforsunlight. Whenvitalizedatomsarethusmoresparselyscattered,themaninrudehealthincreaseshis powerofabsorption,depletesalargerarea,andsokeepshisstrengthatthenormallevel;but invalidsandmenofsmallnerveforce,whocannotdothis,oftensufferseverely,andfind themselvesgrowingweakerandmoreirritablewithoutknowingwhy.Forsimilarreasons vitalityisatalowerebbinthewinterthaninthesummer,foreveniftheshortwinterdaybe sunny,whichisrare,wehavestilltofacethelonganddrearywinternight,duringwhichwe mustexistuponsuchvitalityasthedayhasstoredinouratmosphere.Ontheotherhandthe longsummerday,whenbrightandcloudless,chargestheatmospheresothoroughlywith vitalitythatitsshortnightmakesbutlittledifference. Fromthestudyofthisquestionofvitality,theoccultistcannotfailtorecognizethat,quiteapart fromtemperature,sunlightisoneofthemostimportantfactorsintheattainmentand preservationofperfecthealthafactorfortheabsenceofwhichnothingelsecanentirely compensate.Sincethisvitalityispouredforthnotonlyuponthephysicalworldbutuponall othersaswell,itisevidentthat,wheninotherrespectssatisfactoryconditionsarepresent, emotion,intellectandspiritualitywillbeattheirbestunderclearskiesandwiththe inestimableaidofthesunlight.

PSYCHICFORCES Thethreeforcesalreadymentionedtheprimary,thevitalityandtheKundaliniarenot directlyconnectedwithman'smentalandemotionallife,butonlywithhisbodilywellbeing. Buttherearealsoforcesenteringthechakraswhichmaybedescribedaspsychicand spiritual.Thefirsttwocentresexhibitnoneofthese,butthenavelchakraandtheothers higherinthebodyareportsofentryforforceswhichaffecthumanconsciousness. InanarticleonThoughtCentresinthebookTheInnerLife,Iexplainedthatmassesof thoughtareverydefinitethings,occupyingaplaceinspace.Thoughtsonthesamesubject andofthesamecharactertendtoaggregate;thereforeformanysubjectsthereisathought centre,adefinitespaceintheatmosphere,andotherthoughtsaboutthesamematterare attractedtosuchacentre,andgotoincreaseitssizeandinfluence.Athinkermayinthisway contributetoacentre,butheinturnmaybeinfluencedbyit;andthisisoneofthereasons whypeoplethinkindroves,likesheep.Itismucheasierforamanoflazymentalitytoaccept areadymadethoughtfromsomeoneelsethantogothroughthementallabourofconsidering thevariousaspectsofasubjectandarrivingatadecisionforhimself. Thisistrueonthementalplanewithregardtothought;and,withappropriatemodifications,it istrueontheastralplanewithregardtofeeling.Thoughtflieslikelightningthroughthesubtle matterofthementalplane,sothethoughtofthewholeworldonacertainsubjectmayeasily gathertogetherinonespot,andyetbeaccessibleandattractivetoeverythinkeronthat subject.Astralmatter,thoughsofarfinerthanphysical,isyetdenserthanthatofthemental plane;thegreatcloudsof"emotionforms"whicharegeneratedintheastralworldbystrong feelingsdonotallflytooneworldcentre,buttheydocoalescewithotherformsofthesame natureintheirownneighbourhood,sothatenormousandverypowerful"blocks"offeelingare floatingaboutalmosteverywhere,andamanmayreadilycomeintocontactwiththemandbe influencedbythem. Theconnectionofthismatterwithourpresentsubjectliesinthefactthatwhensuchinfluence isexerciseditisthroughthemediumofoneorotherofthechakras.ToillustratewhatImean, letmetaketheexampleofamanwhoisfilledwithfear.ThosewhohavereadthebookMan VisibleandInvisiblewillrememberthattheconditionoftheastralbodyofsuchamanis showninPlateXIV.Thevibrationsradiatedbyanastralbodyinthatstatewillatonceattract anyfearcloudsthathappentobeinthevicinity;ifthemancanquicklyrecoverhimselfand masterhisfear,thecloudswillrollbacksullenly,butifthefearremainsorincreasestheywill dischargetheiraccumulatedenergythroughhisumbilicalchakra,andhisfearmaybecome madpanicinwhichhealtogetherlosescontrolofhimself,andmayrushblindlyintoanykind ofdanger.Inthesamewayonewholoseshistemperattractscloudsofanger,andrenders himselfliabletoaninrushoffeelingwhichwillchangehisindignationintomaniacalfurya conditioninwhichhemightcommitmurderbyanirresistibleimpulse,almostwithoutknowing it.Similarlyamanwhoyieldstodepressionmaybesweptintoaterriblestateofpermanent melancholia;oronewhoallowshimselftobeobsessedbyanimaldesiresmaybecomeforthe timeamonsteroflustandsensuality,andmayunderthatinfluencecommitcrimesthe thoughtofwhichwillhorrifyhimwhenherecovershisreason.

Allsuchundesirablecurrentsreachthemanthroughthenavelchakra.Fortunatelythereare otherandhigherpossibilities;forexampletherearecloudsofaffectionandofdevotion,and hewhofeelsthesenobleemotionsmayreceivethroughhisheartchakraawonderful enhancementofthem,suchasisdepictedinManVisibleandInvisibleinPlatesXIandXII. Thekindofemotionwhichaffectsthenavelchakrainthemannerbeforementionedis indicatedinDr.Besant'sAStudyinConsciousness,whereshedividestheemotionsintotwo classes,thoseofloveandthoseofhate.Allthoseonthesideofhateworkinthenavelchakra butthoseonthesideofloveoperateintheheart.Shewrites: Wehaveseenthatdesirehastwomainexpressions:desiretoattract, inordertopossess,oragaintocomeintocontactwith,anyobject whichhaspreviouslyaffordedpleasure;desiretorepel,inorderto drivefaraway,ortoavoidcontactwith,anyobjectwhichhas previouslyinflictedpain.Wehaveseenthatattractionandrepulsion arethetwoformsofdesire,swayingtheSelf. Emotion,beingdesireinfusedwithintellect,inevitablyshowsthe samedivisionintotwo.Theemotionwhichisofthenatureof attraction,attractingobjectstoeachotherbypleasure,the integratingenergyintheuniverse,iscalledlove.Theemotionwhich isofthenatureofrepulsion,drivingobjectsapartfromeachother bypain,thedisintegratingenergyintheuniverse,iscalledhate. Thesearethetwostemsfromtherootofdesire,andallthebranches oftheemotionsmaybetracedbacktooneofthesetwain. Hencetheidentityofthecharacteristicsofdesireandemotions; loveseekstodrawtoitselftheattractiveobject,ortogoafter it,inordertounitewithit,topossess,ortobepossessedbyit. Itbindsbypleasure,byhappiness,asdesirebinds.Itstiesare indeedmorelasting,morecomplicated,arecomposedofmorenumerous andmoredelicatethreadsinterwovenintogreatercomplexity,butthe essenceofdesireattraction,thebindingoftwoobjectstogether,is theessenceofemotionattraction,oflove.Andsoalsodoeshate seektodrivefromitselftherepellentobjectortofleefromit,in ordertobeapartfromit,torepulse,orberepulsedbyit.It separatesbypain,byunhappiness.Andthustheessenceofdesire repulsion,thedrivingapartoftwoobjects,istheessenceof emotion/repulsion,ofhate.Loveandhatearetheelaboratedand thoughtinfusedformsofthesimpledesirestopossessandtoshun. Lateron,Dr.Besantexplainsthateachoftheetwogreatemotionssubdividesintothreeparts, accordingasthemanwhohasitfeelsstrongorweak. Lovelookingdownwardsisbenevolence;lovelookingupwardsisreverence;andtheseare theseveralcommoncharacteristicsoflovefromsuperiorstoinferiors,andfrominferiorsto superiorsuniversally.Thenormalrelationsbetweenhusbandandwife,andthosebetween brothersandsisters,affordusthefieldforstudyingthemanifestationoflovebetweenequals.

Weseeloveshowingitselfasmutualtendernessandmutualtrustfulness,asconsideration, respect,anddesiretoplease,asquickinsightintoandendeavourtofulfilthewishesofthe other,asmagnanimity,forbearance.Theelementspresentintheloveemotionsofsuperiorto inferiorarefoundhere,butmutualityisimpressedonallofthem.Sowemaysaythatthe commoncharacteristicsoflovebetweenequalsisdesireformutualhelp. Thuswehavebenevolence,desireformutualhelp,andreverenceasthethreemaindivisions oftheloveemotion,andundertheseallloveemotionsmaybeclassified.Forallhuman relationsaresummedupunderthethreeclasses:therelationsofsuperiorstoinferiors,of equalstoequals,ofinferiorstosuperiors. Shethenexplainsthehateemotionsinthesameway: Hatelookingdownwardsisscorn,andlookingupwardsisfear. Similarly,hatebetweenequalswillshowitselfinanger, combativeness,disrespect,violence,aggressiveness,jealousy, insolence,etc.alltheemotionswhichrepelmanfrommanwhenthey standasrivals,facetoface,nothandinhand.Thecommon characteristicofhatebetweenequalswillthusbemutualinjury.And threemaincharacteristicsofthehateemotionarescorn,desirefor mutualinjury,andfear. Loveischaracterisedinallitsmanifestationsbysympathy,self sacrifice,thedesiretogive;theseareitsessentialfactors, whetherasbenevolence,asdesireformutualhelp,asreverence.For allthesedirectlyserveattraction,bringaboutunion,areofthe verynatureoflove.Henceloveisofthespirit;forsympathyisthe feelingforanotherasonewouldfeelforoneself;selfsacrificeis therecognitionoftheclaimoftheother,asoneself;givingisthe conditionofspirituallife.Thusloveisseentobelongtospirit, tothelifesideoftheuniverse. Hate,ontheotherhand,ischaracterisedinallitsmanifestations byantipathy,selfaggrandisement,thedesiretotake;theseareits essentialfactors,whetherasscorn,desireformutualinjury,or fear.Allthesedirectlyserverepulsion,drivingoneapartfrom another.Hence,hateisofmatter,emphasisesmanifoldnessand differences,isessentiallyseparateness,belongstotheformsideof theuniverse.

CHAPTER3
THEABSORPTIONOFVITALITY THEGLOBULE THEvitalityglobulethough inconceivablyminute,issobrilliant thatitisoftenseenevenbythose whoarenotintheordinarysense clairvoyant.Manyaman,lookingout towardsthedistanthorizon, especiallyoverthesea,willnoticeagainsttheskyanumberofthetiniestpossiblepointsof lightdashingaboutinalldirectionswithamazingrapidity.Thesearethevitalityglobules,each consistingofsevenphysicalatoms,asshowninFig.5CtheFieryLives,speckscharged withthatforcewhichtheHinduscallprana.Itisoftenexceedinglydifficulttobecertainofthe exactshadeofmeaningattachedtotheseSanskritterms,becausetheIndianmethodof approachingthesestudiesissodifferentfromourown;butIthinkwemaysafelytakeprana astheequivalenttoourvitality. Whenthisglobuleisflashingaboutintheatmosphere,brilliantasitis, itisalmostcolourless,andshineswithawhiteorslightlygoldenlight. Butassoonasitisdrawnintothevortexoftheforcecentreatthe spleenitisdecomposedandbreaksupintostreamsofdifferent colours,thoughitdoesnotfollowexactlyourdivisionofthespectrum. Asitscomponentatomsarewhirledroundthevortex,eachofthesix spokesseizesupononeofthem,sothatalltheatomschargedwith yellowflowalongone,andallthosechargedwithgreenalonganother, andsoon,whiletheseventhdisappearsthroughthecentreofthe vortexthroughthehubofthewheel,asitwere.Theseraysthenpass offindifferentdirections,eachtodoitsspecialworkinthevitalization ofthebody.Theillustrationatrightgivesadiagrammatic representationofthesepathsofthedispersedprana. AsIhavesaid,thecoloursofthedivisionsofpranaarenotexactlythosewhichweordinarily useinthesolarspectrum,butratherresemblethearrangementofcolourswhichweseeon higherlevelsinthecausal,mentalandastralbodies.Whatwecallindigoisdividedbetween thevioletrayandtheblueray,sothatwefindonlytwodivisionsthereinsteadofthree;buton theotherhandwhatweusuallycallredisdividedintotworoseredanddarkred.Thesix radiantsarethereforeviolet,blue,green,yellow,orange,anddarkred;whiletheseventhor roseredatom(moreproperlythefirst,sincethisistheoriginalatominwhichtheforcefirst appeared)passesdownthroughthecentreofthevortex.Vitalityisthusclearlysevenfoldinits constitution,butitflowsthroughthebodyinfivemainstreams,ashasbeenstatedinsomeof theIndianbook,forafterissuingfromthespleniccentretheblueandthevioletjoinintoone ray,andsodotheorangeandthedarkred.

THEVIOLETBLUERAY (1)Thevioletbluerayflashesupwardstothethroat,whereitseemstodivideitself,thelight blueremainingtocoursethroughandquickenthethroatcentre,whilethedarkblueandviolet passonintothebrain.Thedarkblueexpendsitselfinthelowerandcentralpartsofthebrain, whilethevioletfloodstheupperpart,andappearstogivespecialvigourtotheforcecentreat thetopofthehead,diffusingitselfchieflythroughtheninehundredandsixtypetalsofthe outerpartofthatcentre. THEYELLOWRAY (2) Theyellowrayisdirectedtotheheart,butafterdoingitsworktherepartofitalso passesontothebrainandpermeatesit,directingitselfprincipallytothetwelvepetalledflower inthemidstofthehighestforcecentre. THEGREENRAY (3) Thegreenrayfloodstheabdomen,andwhalecentringespeciallyinthesolarplexus, evidentlyvivifiestheliver,kidneysandintestines,andthedigestiveapparatusgenerally. THEROSERAY (4) Therosecolouredrayrunsalloverthebodyalongthenerves,andisclearlythelifeof thenervoussystem.Thisisthespecializedvitalitywhichonemanmayreadilypourinto anotherinwhomitisdeficient.Ifthenervesarenotfullysuppliedwiththisrosylightthey becomesensitiveandintenselyirritable,sothatthepatientfindsitalmostimpossibleto remaininoneposition,andyetgainsbutlittleeasewhenhemovestoanother.Theleast noiseortouchisagonytohim,andheisinaconditionofacutemisery.Thefloodingofhis nerveswithspecializedpranabysomehealthypersonbringsinstantrelief,andafeelingof healingandpeacedescendsuponhim.Amaninrobusthealthusuallyabsorbsand specializessomuchmoreofthisvitalitythanisactuallyneededbyhisownbodythatheis constantlyradiatingatorrentofrosecolouredatoms,andsounconsciouslypoursstrength uponhisweakerfellowswithoutlosinganythinghimself;orbyaneffortofhiswillhecan gathertogetherthissuperfluousenergyandaimitintentionallyatonewhomhewishesto help. Thephysicalbodyhasacertainblindinstinctiveconsciousnessofitsown,whichwe sometimescallthephysicalelemental.Itcorrespondsinthephysicalworldtothedesire elementaloftheastralbody;andthisconsciousnessseeksalwaystoprotectitsbodyfrom danger,ortoprocureforitwhatevermaybenecessary.Thisisentirelyapartfromthe consciousnessofthemanhimself,anditworksequallywellduringtheabsenceoftheego fromthephysicalbodyduringsleep.Allourinstinctivemovementsareduetoit,anditis

throughitsactivitythattheworkingofthesympatheticsystemiscarriedonceaselessly withoutanythoughtorknowledgeonourpart. Whilewearewhatwecallawake,thisphysicalelementalisperpetuallyoccupiedinself defence;heisinaconditionofconstantvigilance,andhekeepsthenervesandmuscles alwaystense.Duringthenightoratanytimewhenwesleepheletsthenervesandmuscles relax,anddevoteshimselfspeciallytotheassimilationofvitalityandtherecuperationofthe physicalbody.Heworksatthismostsuccessfullyduringtheearlypartofthenight,because thenthereisplentyofvitality,whereasimmediatelybeforethedawnthevitalitywhichhas beenleftbehindbythesunlightisalmostcompletelyexhausted.Thisisthereasonforthe feelingoflimpnessanddeadnessassociatedwiththesmallhoursofthemorning;thisisalso thereasonwhysickmensofrequentlydieatthatparticulartime.Thesameideaisembodied intheoldproverbwhichsaysthatanhour'ssleepbeforemidnightisworthtwoafterit.The workofthisphysicalelementalaccountsforthestrongrecuperativeinfluenceofsleep,which isoftenobservableevenwhenitisameremomentarynap. Thisvitalityisindeedthefoodoftheethericdouble,andisjustasnecessarytoitasis materialsustenancetothegrosserpartofthephysicalbody.Hencewhenthespleniccentre isunableforanyreason(asthroughsickness,fatigueorextremeoldage)topreparevitality forthenourishmentofthecellsofthebody,thisphysicalelementalendeavourstodrawinfor hisownusevitalitywhichhasalreadybeenpreparedinthebodiesofothers;andthusit happensthatweoftenfindourselvesweakandexhaustedaftersittingforawhilewitha personwhoisdepletedofvitality,becausehehasdrawntherosecolouredatomsawayfrom usbysuctionbeforewewereabletoextracttheirenergy. Thevegetablekingdomalsoabsorbsthisvitality,butseemsinmostcasestouseonlyasmall partofit.Manytreesdrawfromitalmostexactlythesameconstituentsasdoesthehigher partofman'sethericbody,theresultbeingthatwhentheyhaveusedwhattheyrequire,the atomswhichtheyrejectarepreciselythosechargedwiththerosecolouredlightwhichis neededforthecellsofman'sphysicalbody.Thisisspeciallythecasewithsuchtreesasthe pineandtheeucalyptus;andconsequentlytheveryneighbourhoodofthesetreesgives healthandstrengthtothosewhoaresufferingfromlackofthispartofthevitalprinciple thosewhomwecallnervouspeople.Theyarenervousbecausethecellsoftheirbodiesare hungry,andthenervousnesscanonlybeallayedbyfeedingthem;andoftenthereadiestway todothatisthustosupplythemfromwithoutwiththespecialkindofvitalitywhichtheyneed. THEORANGEREDRAY (5) Theorangeredrayflowstothebaseofthespineandthencetothegenerativeorgans, withwhichonepartofitsfunctionsiscloselyconnected.Thisrayappearstoincludenotonly theorangeandthedarkerreds,butalsoacertainamountofdarkpurple,asthoughthe spectrumbentroundinacircleandthecoloursbeganoveragainataloweroctave.

ColorsofPranas LightBlue Yellow DarkBlue Green Rose Violet OrangeRed(with anotherred)

ChakrasEntered Throat Heart Brow Navel Spleen Crown Root

ColorsgiveninS.D. Blue Yellow IndigoorDarkBlue Green Red Violet

Principles Represented Atma(auricenvelope) Buddhi HigherManas

KamaManas(lowermind)

KamaRupa EthericDouble

Table3 Inthenormalmanthisrayenergizesthedesiresoftheflesh,andalsoseemstoenterthe bloodandhelptokeepuptheheatofthebody;butifamanpersistentlyrefusestoyieldtohis lowernature,thisraycanbylonganddeterminedeffortbedeflectedupwardstothebrain, whereallthreeofitsconstituentsundergoaremarkablemodification.Theorangeisraised intopureyellow,andproducesadecidedintensificationofthepowersoftheintellect;thedark redbecomescrimson,andgreatlyincreasesthequalityofunselfishaffection;whilethedark purpleistransmutedintoalovelypaleviolet,andquickensthespiritualpartofman'snature. Themanwhoachievesthistransmutationwillfindthatsensualdesiresnolongertroublehim, andwhenitbecomesnecessaryforhimtoarousethehigherlayersoftheserpentfirehewill befreefromthemostseriousofthedangersofthatprocess.Whenamanhasfinally completedthischange,thisorangeredraypassesstraightintothecentreatthebaseofthe spine,andfromthatrunsupwardsalongthehollowofthevertebralcolumn,andsotothe brain. Thereseemstobeacertaincorrespondence(Table3)betweenthecoloursofthestreamsof pranaflowtotheseveralchakrasandthecoloursassignedbyMadameBlavatskytothe principlesofmaninherdiagraminTheSecretDoctrine,Vol.V,p.454,Fifth(Adyar)Edition. THEFIVEPRANAVAYUS IntheHindubooksthereisfrequentreferencetothefiveprincipalVayusorpranas.The GherandaSamhitagivestheirpositionsbrieflyasfollows: Thepranamovesalwaysintheheart;theapanainthesphereofthe anus;thesamanaintheregionofthenavel;theudanainthethroat; andthevyanapervadesthewholebody.5 Numerousotherbooksgivethesamedescription,andsaynomoreabouttheirfunctions,but
5 Op.cit.,vv.612.SacredBooksoftheHindusSeries.Trans.SrisChandraVidyarnava.

someaddalittlemoreinformation,asfollows: Theaircalledvyanacarriestheessentialpartinallthenerves. Food,assoonasitiseaten,issplitintotwobythatair.Having enteredneartheanusitseparatesthesolidandliquidportions; havingplacedthewateroverthefire,andthesolidoverthewater, thepranaitself,standingunderthefire,inflamesitslowly.The fire,inflamedbytheair,separatessubstancefromthewaste.The vyanaairmakestheessencegoallover,andthewaste,forced throughthetwelvegateways,isejectedfromthebody.6 Thefiveairsasthusdescribedseemtoagreefairlywellwiththefivedivisionsofvitalitywhich wehaveobserved,asshowninTable4. PranaVayu&Affected Region Prana;Heart Apana;Anus Samana;Navel Udana;Throat Vyana;TheEntireBody RayofVitality Yellow OrangeRed Green VioletBlue Rose Table4 ChakraChieflyAffected Cardiac Basic Umbilical Laryngeal Splenic

VITALITYANDHEALTH Theflowofvitalityinthesevariouscurrentsregulatesthehealthofthepartsofthebodywith whichtheyareconcerned.Ifapersonissufferingfromaweakdigestion,itmanifestsitselfat oncetoanypersonpossessingethericsight,becauseeithertheflowandactionofthegreen streamissluggishoritsamountissmallerinproportionthanitshouldbe.Wheretheyellow currentisfullandstrong,itindicates,ormoreproperlyproduces,strengthandregularityinthe actionoftheheart.Flowingroundthatcentre,italsointerpenetratesthebloodwhichisdriven throughit,andissentalongwithitalloverthebody.Yetthereisenoughofitlefttoextendinto thebrainalso,andthepowerofhighphilosophicalandmetaphysicalthoughtappearsto dependtoagreatextentuponthevolumeandactivityofthisyellowstream,andthe correspondingawakeningofthetwelvepetalledflowerinthemiddleoftheforcecentreatthe topofthehead. Thoughtandemotionofahighspiritualtypeseemtodependlargelyuponthevioletray, whereasthepowerofordinarythoughtisstimulatedbytheactionofthebluemingledwith partoftheyellow.Insomeformsofidiocytheflowofvitalitytothebrain,bothyellowandblue violet,isalmostentirelyinhibited.Unusualactivityorvolumeinthelightbluewhichis apportionedtothethroatcentreisaccompaniedbythehealthandstrengthofthephysical
6 GarudaPurana,XV,103.SacredBooksoftheHindusSeries.Trans.Wood.

organsinthatpartofthebody.Itgivesstrengthandelasticitytothevocalcords,sothat specialbrillianceandactivityarenoticeableinthecaseofapublicspeakeroragreatsinger. Weaknessordiseaseinanypartofthebodyisaccompaniedbyadeficiencyintheflowof vitalitytothatpart. THEFATEOFTHEEMPTYATOMS Asthedifferentstreamsofatomsdotheirwork,thechargeofvitalityiswithdrawnfromthem, preciselyasanelectricalchargemightbe.Theatomsbearingtherosecolouredraygrow graduallypalerastheyaresweptalongthenerves,andareeventuallythrownoutfromthe bodythroughtheporesmakingthuswhatwascalledinManVisibleandInvisiblethehealth aura.Bythetimethattheyleavethebodymostofthemhavelosttherosecolouredlight,so thatthegeneralappearanceoftheemanationisbluishwhite.Thatpartoftheyellowray whichisabsorbedintothebloodandcarriedroundwithitlosesitsdistinctivecolourinjustthe sameway. Theatoms,whenthusemptiedoftheirchargeofvitality,eitherenterintosomeofthe combinationswhichareconstantlybeingmadeinthebody,orpassoutofitthroughthe pores,orthroughtheordinarychannels.Theemptiedatomsofthegreenray,whichis connectedchieflywithdigestiveprocesses,seemtoformpartoftheordinarywastematerial ofthebody,andtopassoutalongwithit,andthatisalsothefateoftheatomsofthered orangerayinthecaseoftheordinaryman.Theatomsbelongingtothebluerays,whichare usedinconnectionwiththethroatcentre,generallyleavethebodyintheexhalationsofthe breath;andthosewhichcomposethedarkblueandvioletraysusuallypassoutfromthe centreatthetopofthehead. Whenthestudenthaslearnttodeflecttheorangeredrayssothattheyalsomoveupthrough thespine,theemptyatomsofboththeseandthevioletbluerayspouroutfromthetopofthe headinafierycascadewhich,aswehavealreadyseeninFig.2,isfrequentlyimagedasa flameinancientstatuesoftheLordBuddhaandothergreatsaints.Theseatomsarethus usedagainasphysicalvehiclesforsomeofthegloriousandbeneficentforceswhichhighly evolvedmenradiatefromthatcrownchakra. Whenemptyofthevitalforcetheatomsareoncemorepreciselylikeanyotheratoms,except thattheyhaveevolvedsomewhatthroughtheusethathasbeenmadeofthem.Thebody absorbssuchofthemasitneeds,sothattheyformpartofthevariouscombinationswhich areconstantlybeingmade,whileotherswhicharenotrequiredforsuchpurposesarecastout throughanychannelthathappenstobeconvenient. Theflowofvitalityintoorthroughanycentre,orevenitsintensification,mustnotbeconfused withtheentirelydifferentdevelopmentofthecentrewhichisbroughtaboutbytheawakening ofthehigherlevelsoftheserpentfireatalaterstageinman'sevolution,withwhichweshall dealinthenextchapter.Wealldrawinvitalityandspecializeit,butmanyofusdonotutilizeit tothefull,becauseinvariouswaysourlivesarenotaspureandhealthyandreasonableas

theyshouldbe.Onewhocoarsenshisbodybytheuseofmeat,alcoholortobaccocannever employhisvitalitytothefullinthesamewayascanamanofpurerliving.Aparticular individualofimpurelifemaybe,andoftenis,strongerinthephysicalbodythancertainother menwhoarepurer;thatisamatteroftheirrespectivekarma;butotherthingsbeingequal,the manofpurelifehasanimmenseadvantage. Allthecoloursofthisorderofvitalityareetheric,yetitwillbeseenthattheiractionpresents certaincorrespondenceswiththesignificationattachedtosimilarhuesintheastralbody. Clearly,rightthoughtandrightfeelingreactuponthephysicalbodyandincreaseitspowerto assimilatethevitalitywhichisnecessaryforitswellbeing.ItisreportedthattheLordBuddha oncesaidthatthefirststepontheroadtoNirvanaisperfectphysicalhealth;andassuredly thewaytoattainthatistofollowtheNobleEightfoldPathwhichhehasindicated."Seekye firsttheKingdomofGodandhisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou" yes,evenphysicalhealthaswell. VITALITYANDMAGNETISM Thevitalitycoursingalongthenervesmustnotbeconfusedwithwhatweusuallycallthe magnetismofthemanhisownnervefluid,specializedwithinthespine,andcomposedof theprimarylifeforceintermingledwiththekundalini.Itisthisfluidwhichkeepsupthe constantcirculationofethericmatteralongthenerves,correspondingtothecirculationof bloodthroughthearteriesandveins;andasoxygenisconveyedbythebloodtoallpartsof thebody,sovitalityisconveyedalongthenervesbythisethericcurrent.Theparticlesofthe ethericpartofman'sbodyareconstantlychanging,justasarethoseofthedenserpart;along withthefoodwhichweeatandtheairwhichwebreathewetakeinethericmatter,andthisis assimilatedbytheethericpartofthebody.Ethericmatterisconstantlybeingthrownofffrom thepores,justasisgaseousmatter,sothatwhentwopersonsareclosetogethereach necessarilyabsorbsmuchofthephysicalemanationsoftheother. Whenonepersonmesmerizesanother,theoperatorbyaneffortofwillgatherstogethera greatdealofthismagnetismandthrowsitintothesubject,pushingbackhisvictim'snerve fluid,andfillingitsplacewithhisown.Asthebrainisthecentreofthisnervouscirculation, thisbringsthatpartofthesubject'sbodywhichisaffectedunderthecontrolofthe manipulator'sbraininsteadofthevictim'sandsothelatterfeelswhatthemesmeristwishes himtofeel.Iftherecipient'sbrainbeemptiedofhisownmagnetismandfilledwiththatofthe performer,theformercanthinkandactonlyasthelatterwillsthatheshouldthinkandact;he isforthetimeentirelydominated. Evenwhenthemagnetizeristryingtocure,andispouringstrengthintotheman,heinevitably givesalongwiththevitalitymuchofhisownemanations.Itisobviousthatanydiseasewhich themesmerizerhappenstohavemayreadilybeconveyedtothesubjectinthisway;and anotherevenmoreimportantconsiderationisthat,thoughhishealthmaybeperfectfromthe medicalpointofview,therearementalandmoraldiseasesaswellasphysical,andthat,as astralandmentalmatterarethrownintothesubjectbythemesmeristalongwiththephysical

current,thesealsoarefrequentlytransferred. Nevertheless,amanwhoispureinthoughtandfilledwiththeearnestdesiretohelphis fellowsmayoftendomuchbymesmerismtorelievesuffering,ifhewilltakethetroubleto studythissubjectofthecurrentswhichenterthebodythroughthechakrasandflowalongthe nerves.Whatisitthatthemesmeristpoursintohissubject?Itmaybeeitherthenerveether orthevitality,orboth.Supposingapatienttobeseriouslyweakenedorexhausted,sothathe haslostthepowertospecializethelifefluidforhimself,themesmeristmayrenewhisstock bypouringsomeofhisownuponthequiveringnerves,andsoproducearapidrecovery.The processisanalogoustowhatisoftendoneinthecaseoffood.Whenapersonreachesa certainstageofweaknessthestomachlosesthepowertodigest,andsothebodyisnot properlynourished,andthefeeblenessistherebyincreased.Theremedyadoptedinthat caseistopresenttothestomachfoodalreadypartiallydigestedbymeansofpepsinorother similarpreparations;thiscanprobablybeassimilated,andthusstrengthisgained.Justso,a manwhoisunabletospecializeforhimselfmaystillabsorbwhathasbeenalreadyprepared byanother,andsogainstrengthtomakeanefforttoresumethenormalactionoftheetheric organs.Inmanycasesofdebilitythatisallthatisneeded. Thereareotherinstancesinwhichcongestionofsomekindhastakenplace,thevitalfluid hasnotcirculatedproperly,andthenerveauraissluggishandunhealthy.Thentheobvious courseofproceedingistoreplaceitbyhealthynerveetherfromwithout;butthereareseveral waysinwhichthismaybedone.Somemagnetizerssimplyemploybruteforce,andsteadily pourinresistlessfloodsoftheirownetherinthehopeofwashingawaythatwhichneeds removal.Successmaybeattainedalongtheselines,thoughwiththeexpenditureofagood dealmoreenergythanisnecessary.Amorescientificmethodisthatwhichgoestowork somewhatmorequietly,andfirstwithdrawsthecongestedordiseasedmatter,andthen replacesitbyhealthiernerveether,thusgraduallystimulatingthesluggishcurrentintoactivity. Ifthepatienthasaheadache,forexample,therewillalmostcertainlybeacongestionof noxiousetheraboutsomepartofhisbrain,andthefirststepistodrawthataway. Howisthistobemanaged?Justinthesamewayastheoutpouringofstrengthismanaged byanexerciseofthewill.Wemustnotforgetthatthesefinersubdivisionsofmatterarereadily mouldedoraffectedbytheactionofthehumanwill.Themesmeristmaymakepasses,but theyareatthemostnothingbutthepointingofhisguninacertaindirection,whilehiswillis thepowderthatmovestheballandproducestheresult,thefluidbeingtheshotsentout.A mesmerizerwhounderstandshisbusinesscanmanageaswellwithoutpassesifhewishes;I haveknownonewhoneveremployedthem,butsimplylookedathissubject.Theonlyuseof thehandistoconcentratethefluid,andperhapstohelptheimaginationoftheoperator;forto willstronglyhemustbelievefirmly,andtheactionnodoubtmakesiteasierforhimtorealize whatheisdoing. Justasamanmaypouroutmagnetismbyaneffortofwill,somayhedrawitawaybyan effortofwill;andinthiscasealsohemayoftenuseagestureofthehandstohelphim.In dealingwiththeheadache,hewouldprobablylayhishandsupontheforeheadofthepatient, andthinkofthemasspongessteadilydrawingoutthedeleteriousmagnetismfromthebrain.

Thatheisactuallyproducingtheresultofwhichhethinks,hewillbeverylikelysoonto discover,forunlesshetakesprecautionstocastoffthebadmagnetismwhichheisabsorbing, hewilleitherhimselffeeltheheadacheorbegintosufferfromapaininthearmandhandwith whichtheoperationisbeingperformed.Heisactuallydrawingintohimselfdiseasedmatter, anditisnecessaryforhiscomfortandwellbeingthatheshoulddisposeofitbeforeitobtains apermanentlodgmentinhisbody. Heshouldthereforeadoptsomedefiniteplantogetridofit,andthesimplestisjusttothrowit away,toshakeitfromthehandsasonewouldshakewater.Althoughhedoesnotseeit,the matterwhichhehaswithdrawnisphysical,andwecandealwithitbyphysicalmeans.Itis thereforenecessarythatheshouldnotneglecttheseprecautions,andthatheshouldnot forgettowashhishandscarefullyaftercuringaheadacheoranymaladyofthatnature.Then, afterhehasremovedthecauseoftheevil,heproceedstopouringoodstronghealthy magnetismtotakeitsplace,andtoprotectthepatientagainstthereturnofthedisease.One canseethatinthecaseofanynervousaffectionthismethodwouldhavemanifold advantages.Inmostofsuchcaseswhatiswrongisanirregularityofthefluidswhichcourse alongthenerves;eithertheyarecongested,ortheyaresluggishintheirflow,orontheother handtheymaybetoorapid;theymaybedeficientinquantity,orpoorinquality.Ifwe administerdrugsofanysort,atthebestwecanactonlyuponthephysicalnerve,andthrough ittosomelimitedextentuponthefluidssurroundingit;whereasmesmerismactsdirectlyupon thefluidsthemselves,andsogoesstraighttotherootoftheevil.

CHAPTER4
THEDEVELOPMENTOFTHECHAKRAS THEFUNCTIONSOFTHEAWAKENEDCENTRES BESIDESkeepingalivethephysicalvehicle,theforcecentreshaveanotherfunction,which comesintoplayonlywhentheyareawakenedintofullactivity.Eachoftheethericcentres correspondstoanastralcentre,thoughastheastralcentreisavortexinfourdimensionsit hasanextensioninadirectionquitedifferentfromtheetheric,andconsequentlyisbyno meansalwayscoterminouswithit,thoughsomepartisalwayscoincident.Theethericvortex isalwaysonthesurfaceoftheethericbody,buttheastralcentreisfrequentlyquiteinthe interiorofthatvehicle. Thefunctionofeachoftheethericcentreswhenfullyarousedistobringdownintophysical consciousnesswhatevermaybethequalityinherentintheastralcentrewhichcorrespondsto it;so,beforecataloguingtheresultstobeobtainedbyarousingtheethericcentresinto activity,itmaybewelltoconsiderwhatisdonebyeachoftheastralcentres,althoughthese latterarealreadyinfullactivityinallculturedpeopleoflaterraces.Whateffect,then,hasthe quickeningofeachoftheseastralcentresproducedintheastralbody? THEASTRALCENTRES Thefirstofthesecentres,ashasalreadybeenexplained,isthehomeoftheserpentfire.This forceexistsonallplanesandbyitsactivitytherestofthecentresarearoused.Wemustthink oftheastralbodyashavingbeenoriginallyanalmostinertmass,withnothingbutthevaguest consciousness,withnodefinitepowerofdoinganything,andnoclearknowledgeoftheworld whichsurroundedit.Thefirstthingthathappened,then,wastheawakeningofthatforcein themanattheastrallevel.Whenawakeneditmovedontothesecondcentre,corresponding tothephysicalspleen,andthroughitvitalizedthewholeastralbodyenablingthepersonto travelconsciously,thoughwithonlyavagueconceptionasyetofwhatlieencounteredonhis journeys. Thenitmovedontothethird,thatcorrespondingtothenavel,andvivifiedit,thereby awakeningintheastralbodythepoweroffeelingasensitivenesstoallsortsofinfluences, thoughwithoutasyetanythinglikethedefinitecomprehensionthatcomesfromseeingor hearing. Thefourthcentre,whenawakened,endowedthemanwiththepowertocomprehendand sympathizewiththevibrationsofotherastralentities,sothathecouldinstinctivelyunderstand somethingoftheirfeelings. Theawakeningofthefifth,thatcorrespondingtothethroat,gavehimthepowerofhearingon theastralplane;thatistosay,itcausedthedevelopmentofthatsensewhichintheastral worldproducesonourconsciousnesstheeffectwhichonthephysicalplanewecallhearing.

Thedevelopmentofthesixth,thatcorrespondingtothecentrebetweentheeyebrows,ina similarmannerproducedastralsightthepowertoperceivedefinitelytheshapeandnatureof astralobjects,insteadofvaguelysensingtheirpresence. Thearousingoftheseventh,thatcorrespondingtothetopofthehead,roundedoffand completedforhimtheastrallife,andendowedhimwiththeperfectionofitsfaculties. Withregardtothiscentreacertain differenceseemstoexist, accordingtothetypetowhichmen belong.Formanyofustheastral vorticescorrespondingtothesixth andseventhofthesecentresboth convergeuponthepituitarybody, andforthosepeoplethepituitary body(Fig.8)ispracticallytheonly directlinkbetweenthephysicaland thehigherplanes.Anothertypeof people,however,whilestill attachingthesixthcentretothe pituitarybody,bendorslantthe seventhuntilitsvortexcoincideswiththeatrophiedorgancalledthepinealgland(Fig.8), whichisbypeopleofthattypevivifiedandmadeintoalineofcommunicationdirectlywiththe lowermental,withoutapparentlypassingthroughtheintermediateastralplaneintheordinary way.ItwasforthistypethatMadameBlavatskywaswritingwhenshelaidsuchemphasis upontheawakeningofthatorgan.Dr.Besantalsomentionsthisfactthatthestartingpointof developmentbeginsatdifferentlevelswithdifferentpersons,inthefollowingpassagefromA StudyinConsciousness: Thebuildingofthecentresandthegradualorganizationoftheminto wheels,canbebegunfromanyvehicle,andwillbebeguninany individualfromthatvehiclewhichrepresentsthespecialtypeof temperamenttowhichhebelongs.Accordingasamanbelongstoone typicaltemperamentoranother,sowillbetheplaceofthegreatest activityinthebuildingupofallthevehicles,inthegradual makingofthemintoeffectiveinstrumentsofconsciousnesstobe expressedonthephysicalplane.Thiscentreofactivitymaybein thephysical,astral,lower,orhighermentalbody.Inanyofthese, orevenhigherstill,accordingtothetemperamentaltype,this centrewillbefoundintheprinciplewhichmarksoutthe temperamentaltype,andfromthatitworks"upwards"or"downwards", shapingthevehiclessoastomakethemsuitablefortheexpression ofthattemperament.7

7 Op.cit.,p.252.

ASTRALSENSES Thusthesecentrestosomeextenttaketheplaceofsenseorgansfortheastralbody;yet withoutproperqualificationthatexpressionwouldbedecidedlymisleading,foritmustnever beforgottenthatthough,inordertomakeourselvesintelligible,weconstantlyhavetospeak ofastralseeingorastralhearing,allthatwereallymeanbythoseexpressionsisthefacultyof respondingtosuchvibrationsasconveytotheman'sconsciousness,whenheisfunctioning inhisastralbody,informationofthesamecharacterasthatconveyedtohimbyhiseyesand earswhileheisinthephysicalbody. Butintheentirelydifferentastralconditionsspecializedorgansarenotnecessaryforthe attainmentofthisresult.Thereismatterineverypartoftheastralbodywhichiscapableof suchresponse,andconsequentlythemanfunctioninginthatvehicleseesequallywellthe objectsbehindhim,abovehim,andbeneathhim,withoutneedingtoturnhishead.The centres,therefore,cannotbedescribedasorgansintheordinarysenseoftheword,sinceitis notthroughthemthatthemanseesorhears,ashedoesherethroughtheeyesandears.Yet itisupontheirvivificationthatthepowerofexercisingtheseastralsensesdepends,eachof themasitisdevelopedgivingtothewholeastralbodythepowerofresponsetoanewsetof vibrations. Asalltheparticlesoftheastralbodyareconstantlyflowingandswirlingaboutlikethoseof boilingwater,alloftheminturnpassthrougheachofthecentresorvortices,sothateach centreinitsturnevokesinalltheparticlesofthebodythepowerofreceptivitytoacertainset ofvibrations,andsoalltheastralsensesareequallyactiveinallpartsofthebody.Buteven whentheseastralsensesarefullyawakeneditbynomeansfollowsthatthemanwillbeable tobringthroughintohisphysicalbodyanyconsciousnessoftheiraction. THEAROUSINGOFKUNDALINI Whileallthisastralawakeningwastakingplace,then,themaninhisphysicalconsciousness knewnothingwhateverofit.Theonlywayinwhichthedensebodycanbebroughttoshare alltheseadvantagesisbyrepeatingthatprocessofawakeningwiththeethericcentres.That maybeachievedinvariousways,accordingtotheschoolofyogawhichthestudentis practising. SevenschoolsofyogaarerecognizedinIndia:1.RajaYoga;2.KarmaYoga;3.JnanaYoga; 4.HathaYoga;5.LayaYoga;6.BhaktiYoga;7.MantraYoga.Ihavegivensomeaccountof theminthesecondeditionofTheMastersandthePath,andProfessorWoodhasdescribed themfullyinhisbookRajaYoga;theOccultTrainingoftheHindus.Theyallrecognizethe existenceandtheimportanceofthechakras,andeachhasitsownmethodofdeveloping them.TheplanoftheRajaYogiistomeditateuponeachinturnandbringthemintoactivity bysheerforceofwillaschemewhichhasmuchtorecommendit.Theschoolwhichpays mostattentiontothemisthatofLayaYoga,anditssystemistoarousethehigher potentialitiesoftheserpentfire,andforceitthroughthecentresonebyone.

Thatarousingneedsadeterminedandalongcontinuedeffortofthewill,fortobringthatfirst chakraintofullactivityispreciselytoawakentheinnerlayersoftheserpentfire.Whenonce thatisaroused,itisbyitstremendousforcethattheothercentresarevivified.Itseffectonthe otherethericwheelsistobringintothephysicalconsciousnessthepowerswhichwere arousedbythedevelopmentoftheircorrespondingastralchakras. THEAWAKENINGOFTHEETHERICCHAKRAS Whenthesecondoftheethericcentres,thatatthespleen,isawakened,themanisenabled torememberhisvagueastraljourneys,thoughsometimesonlyverypartially.Theeffectofa slightandaccidentalstimulationofthiscentreisoftentoproducehalfremembranceofa blissfulsensationofflyingthroughtheair. Whenthethirdcentre,thatatthenavel,comesintoactivity,themanbeginsinthephysical bodytobeconsciousofallkindsofastralinfluences,vaguelyfeelingthatsomeofthemare friendlyandothershostile,orthatsomeplacesarepleasantandothersunpleasant,withoutin theleastknowingwhy. Stimulationofthefourth,thatattheheart,makesthemaninstinctivelyawareofthejoysand sorrowsofothers,andsometimesevencauseshimtoreproduceinhimselfbysympathytheir physicalachesandpains. Thearousingofthefifth,thatatthethroat,enableshimtohearvoices,whichsometimes makeallkindsofsuggestionstohim.Alsosometimeshehearsmusic,orotherlesspleasant sounds.Whenitisfullyworkingitmakesthemanclairaudientasfarastheethericandastral planesareconcerned. Whenthesixth,betweentheeyebrows,becomesvivified,themanbeginstoseethings,to havevarioussortsofwakingvisions,sometimesofplaces,sometimesofpeople.Initsearlier development,whenitisonlyjustbeginningtobeawakened,itoftenmeansnothingmorethan halfseeinglandscapesandcloudsofcolour.Thefullarousingofthisbringsabout clairvoyance. Thecentrebetweentheeyebrowsisconnectedwithsightinyetanotherway.Itisthroughit thatthepowerofmagnificationofminutephysicalobjectsisexercised.Atinyflexibletubeof ethericmatterisprojectedfromthecentreofit,resemblingamicroscopicsnakewith somethinglikeaneyeattheendofit.Thisisthespecialorganusedinthatformof clairvoyance,andtheeyeattheendofitcanbeexpandedorcontracted,theeffectbeingto changethepowerofmagnificationaccordingtothesizeoftheobjectwhichisbeing examined.Thisiswhatismeantinancientbookswhenmentionismadeofthecapacityto makeoneselflargeorsmallatwill.Toexamineanatomonedevelopsanorganofvision commensurateinsizewiththeatom.Thislittlesnakeprojectingfromthecentreofthe foreheadwassymbolizedupontheheaddressofthePharaohofEgypt,whoasthechief

priestofhiscountrywassupposedtopossessthisamongmanyotheroccultpowers. Whentheseventhcentreisquickened,themanisablebypassingthroughittoleavehisbody infullconsciousness,andalsotoreturntoitwithouttheusualbreak,sothathis consciousnesswillbecontinuousthroughnightandday.Whenthefirehasbeenpassed throughallthesecentresinacertainorder(whichvariesfordifferenttypesofpeople)the consciousnessbecomescontinuousuptotheentryintotheheavenworldattheendofthelife ontheastralplane,nodifferencebeingmadebyeitherthetemporaryseparationfromthe physicalbodyduringsleeporthepermanentdivisionatdeath. CASUALCLAIRVOYANCE Beforethisisdone,however,themanmayhavemanyglimpsesoftheastralworld,for speciallystrongvibrationsmayatanytimegalvanizeoneorotherofthechakrasinto temporaryactivity,withoutarousingtheserpentfireatall;oritmayhappenthatthefiremay bepartiallyroused,andinthiswayalsospasmodicclairvoyancemaybeproducedforthe time.Forthisfireexists,aswehavesaid,insevenlayersorsevendegreesofforce,andit oftenhappensthatamanwhoexertshiswillintheefforttoarouseitmaysucceedinaffecting onelayeronly,andsowhenhethinksthathehasdonetheworkhemayfinditineffective, andmayhavetodoitalloveragainmanytimes,digginggraduallydeeperanddeeper,until notonlythesurfaceisstirredbuttheveryheartofthefireisinfullactivity. THEDANGEROFPREMATUREAWAKENING Thisfierypower,asitiscalledinTheVoiceoftheSilence,isinverytruthlikeliquidfireasit rushesthroughthebodywhenithasbeenarousedbythewill;andthecoursethroughwhich itoughttomoveisspirallikethecoilsofaserpent.Initsawakenedstateitmaybecalledthe World'sMotherinanothersensethanthatalreadymentioned,becausethroughitourvarious vehiclesmaybevivified,sothatthehigherworldsmayopenbeforeusinsuccession. Fortheordinarypersonitliesatthebaseofthespineunawakened,anditsverypresence unsuspected,duringthewholeofhislife;anditisindeedfarbettertoallowitthustoremain dormantuntilthemanhasmadedefinitemoraldevelopment,untilhiswillisstrongenoughto controlitandhisthoughtspureenoughtoenablehimtofaceitsawakeningwithoutinjury.No oneshouldexperimentwithitwithoutdefiniteinstructionfromateacherwhothoroughly understandsthesubject,forthedangersconnectedwithitareveryrealandterriblyserious. Someofthemarepurelyphysical.Itsuncontrolledmovementoftenproducesintensephysical pain,anditmayreadilyteartissuesandevendestroyphysicallife.This,however,istheleast oftheevilsofwhichitiscapable,foritmaydopermanentinjurytovehicleshigherthanthe physical. Oneverycommoneffectofrousingitprematurelyisthatitrushesdownwardsinthebody insteadofupwards,andthusexcitesthemostundesirablepassionsexcitesthemand

intensifiestheireffectstosuchadegreethatitbecomesimpossibleforthemantoresistthem, becauseaforcehasbeenbroughtintoplayinwhosepresenceheisashelplessasa swimmerbeforethejawsofashark.Suchmenbecomesatyrs,monstersofdepravity, becausetheyareinthegraspofaforcewhichisoutofallproportiontotheordinaryhuman powerofresistance.Theymayprobablygaincertainsupernormalpowers,butthesewillbe suchaswillbringthemintotouchwithalowerorderofevolutionwithwhichhumanityis intendedtoholdnocommerce,andtoescapefromitsawfulthralldommaytakethemmore thanoneincarnation. Iamnotinanywayexaggeratingthehorrorofthisthing,asapersontowhomitwasalla matterofhearsaymightunwittinglydo.Ihavemyselfbeenconsultedbypeopleuponwhom thisawfulfatehasalreadycome,andIhaveseenwithmyowneyeswhathappenedtothem. Thereisaschoolofblackmagicwhichpurposelyutilizesthispowerforsuchpurposes,in orderthatthroughitmaybevivifiedacertainlowerforcecentrewhichisneverusedinthat waybythefollowersoftheGoodLaw.Somewritersdenytheexistenceofsuchacentre;but BrahmanasofSouthernIndiaassuremethattherearecertainyogiswhoteachtheirpupilsto useitthoughofcoursenotnecessarilywithevilintent.Still,theriskistoogreattobeworth takingwhenonecanachievethesameresultsinasaferway. Evenapartfromthisgreatestofitsdangers,theprematureunfoldmentofthehigheraspects ofkundalinihasmanyotherunpleasantpossibilities.Itintensifieseverythingintheman's nature,anditreachesthelowerandevilqualitiesmorereadilythanthegood.Inthemental body,forexample,ambitionisveryquicklyaroused,andsoonswellstoanincredibly inordinatedegree.Itwouldbelikelytobringwithitagreatintensificationofthepowerof intellect,butatthesametimeitwouldproduceabnormalandsatanicpride,suchasisquite inconceivabletotheordinaryman.Itisnotwiseforamantothinkthatheispreparedtocope withanyforcethatmayarisewithinhisbody;thisisnoordinaryenergy,butsomething resistless.Assuredlynouninstructedmanshouldevertrytoawakenit,andifsuchanone findsthatithasbeenarousedbyaccidentheshouldatonceconsultsomeonewhofully understandsthesematters. Iamspeciallyrefrainingfromanyexplanationastohowthisarousingistobedone,nordoI mentiontheorderinwhichtheforce(whenaroused)shouldbepassedthroughthesevarious centres,forthatshouldbynomeansbeattemptedexceptattheexpresssuggestionofa Master,whowillwatchoverHispupilsduringthevariousstagesoftheexperiment. Ishouldlikemostsolemnlytowarnallstudentsagainstmakinganyeffortwhateverinthe directionofawakeningthesetremendousforces,exceptundersuchqualifiedtuition,forIhave myselfseenmanycasesoftheterribleeffectswhichfollowfromignorantandilladvised meddlingwiththeseveryseriousmatters.Theforceisatremendousreality,oneofthegreat basicfactsofnature,andmostemphaticallyitisnotathingwithwhichtoplay,notamatterto belightlytakeninhand,fortoexperimentwithitwithoutunderstandingitisfarmore dangerousthanitwouldbeforachildtoplaywithnitroglycerine.AsisverytrulysaidinThe HathayogaPradipika:"Itgivesliberationtoyogisandbondagetofools"(III,107.).

Inmatterssuchasthese,studentssooftenseemtothinkthatsomespecialexceptiontothe lawsofnaturewillbemadeintheircase,thatsomespecialinterventionofprovidencewill savethemfromtheconsequencesoftheirfolly.Assuredlynothingofthatsortwillhappen, andthemanwhowantonlyprovokesanexplosionisquitelikelytobecomeitsfirstvictim.It wouldsavemuchtroubleanddisappointmentifstudentscouldbeinducedtounderstandthat inallmattersconnectedwithoccultismwemeanjustexactlyandliterallywhatwesay,and thatitisapplicableineverycasewithoutexception.Forthereisnosuchthingasfavouritism intheworkingofthegreatlawsoftheuniverse. Everybodywantstotryallpossibleexperiments;everybodyisconvincedthatheisquiteready forthehighestpossibleteachingandforanysortofdevelopment,andnooneiswillingto workpatientlyalongattheimprovementofcharacter,andtodevotehistimeandhisenergies todoingsomethingusefulfortheworkofTheSociety,waitingforalltheseotherthingsuntila Mastershallannouncethatheisreadyforthem.AsIhavealreadysaidintheprevious chapterinanotherconnection,theoldaphorismstillremainstrue:"SeekyefirsttheKingdom ofGodandHisrighteousness,andallthesethingsshallbeaddeduntoyou." THESPONTANEOUSAWAKENINGOFKUNDALINI Therearesomecasesinwhichtheinnerlayersofthisfireawakenspontaneously,sothata dullglowisfelt;itmayevenbegintomoveofitself,thoughthisisrare.Whenthishappens,it maycausegreatpain,as,sincethepassagesarenotpreparedforit,itwouldhavetoclearits waybyactuallyburningupagreatdealofethericdrossaprocessthatcannotbutengender suffering.Whenitthusawakesofitselforisaccidentallyaroused,itusuallytriestopassup theinteriorofthespine,followingthecoursealreadytakenbyitslowestandgentlest manifestation.Ifitbepossible,thewillshouldbesetinmotiontoarrestitsupwardmovement, butifthatprovestobeimpossible(asismostlikely)noalarmneedbefelt.Itwillprobably flashoutthroughtheheadandescapeintothesurroundingatmosphere,anditislikelythatno harmwillresultbeyondaslightweakening.Nothingworsethanatemporarylossof consciousnessneedbeapprehended.Thereallyappallingdangersareconnectednotwithits upwardrush,butwiththepossibilityofitsturningdownwardsandinwards. Itsprincipalfunctioninconnectionwithoccultdevelopmentisthat,bybeingsentthroughthe forcecentresintheethericbody,asabovedescribed,itquickensthesechakrasandmakes themmorefullyavailableasgatesofconnectionbetweenthephysicalandastralbodies.Itis saidinTheVoiceoftheSilencethatwhentheserpentfirereachesthecentrebetweenthe eyebrowsandfullyvivifiesit,itconfersthepowerofhearingthevoiceoftheMasterwhich meansinthiscasethevoiceoftheegoorhigherself.Thereasonforthisstatementisthat whenthepituitarybodyisbroughtintoworkingorderitformsaperfectlinkwiththeastral vehicle,sothatthroughitallcommunicationsfromwithincanbereceived. Itisnotonlythischakra;allthehigherforcecentreshavepresentlytobeawakened,andeach mustbemaderesponsivetoallkindsofinfluencesfromthevariousastralsubplanes.This developmentwillcometoallinduecourse,butmostpeoplecannotgainitduringthepresent

incarnation,ifitisthefirstinwhichtheyhavebeguntotakethesemattersseriouslyinhand. SomeIndiansmightsucceedindoingso,astheirbodiesarebyhereditymoreadaptablethan mostothers;butitisreallyforthemajoritytheworkofalaterRoundaltogether.Theconquest oftheserpentfirehastoberepeatedineachincarnation,sincethevehiclesareneweach time,butafterithasbeenoncethoroughlyachievedtheserepetitionswillbeaneasymatter.It mustberememberedthatitsactionvarieswithdifferenttypesofpeople;some,forexample, wouldseethehigherselfratherthanhearitsvoice.Again,thisconnectionwiththehigherhas manystages;forthepersonalityitmeanstheinfluenceoftheego,butfortheegohimselfit meansthepoweroftheMonad,andfortheMonadinturnitmeanstobecomeaconscious expressionoftheLogos. PERSONALEXPERIENCE ItmaybeofuseifImentionmyownexperienceinthismatter.Intheearlierpartofmy residenceinIndiafortytwoyearsagoImadenoefforttorousethefirenotindeedknowing verymuchaboutit,andhavingtheopinionthat,inordertodoanythingwithit,itwas necessarytobebornwithaspeciallypsychicbody,whichIdidnotpossess.Butonedayone oftheMastersmadeasuggestiontomewithregardtoacertainkindofmeditationwhich wouldevokethisforce.NaturallyIatonceputthesuggestionintopractice,andincourseof timewassuccessful.Ihavenodoubt,however,thatHewatchedtheexperiment,andwould havecheckedmeifithadbecomedangerous.IamtoldthatthereareIndianasceticswho teachthistotheirpupils,ofcoursekeepingthemundercarefulsupervisionduringthe process.ButIdonotmyselfknowofanysuch,norshouldIhaveconfidenceinthemunless theywerespeciallyrecommendedbysomeonewhomIknewtobepossessedofreal knowledge. PeopleoftenaskmewhatIadvisethemtodowithregardtothearousingofthisforce.I advisethemtodoexactlywhatImyselfdid.Irecommendthemtothrowthemselvesinto TheosophicalworkandwaituntiltheyreceiveadefinitecommandfromsomeMasterwhowill undertaketosuperintendtheirpsychicdevelopment,continuinginthemeantimeallthe ordinaryexercisesofmeditationthatareknowntothem.Theyshouldnotcareintheleast whethersuchdevelopmentcomesinthisincarnationorinthenext,butshouldregardthe matterfromthepointofviewoftheegoandnotofthepersonality,feelingabsolutelycertain thattheMastersarealwayswatchingforthosewhomTheycanhelp,thatitisentirely impossibleforanyonetobeoverlooked,andthatTheywillunquestionablygiveTheir directionswhenTheythinkthattherighttimehascome. Ihaveneverheardthatthereisanysortofagelimitwithregardtothedevelopment,andIdo notseethatageshouldmakeanydifference,solongasonehasperfecthealth;butthehealth isanecessity,foronlyastrongbodycanendurethestrain,whichismuchmoreseriousthan anyonewhohasnotmadetheattemptcanpossiblyimagine. Theforcewhenarousedmustbeverystrictlycontrolled,anditmustbemovedthroughthe centresinanorderwhichdiffersforpeopleofdifferenttypes.Themovementalso,tobe

effective,mustbemadeinaparticularway,whichtheMasterwillexplainwhenthetime comes. THEETHERICWEB Ihavesaidthattheastralandethericcentresareinveryclosecorrespondence;butbetween them,andinterpenetratingtheminamannernotreadilydescribable,isasheathorwebof closelywoventexture,asheathcomposedofasinglelayerofphysicalatomsmuch compressedandpermeatedbyaspecialformofvitalforce.Thedivinelifewhichnormally descendsfromtheastralbodytothephysicalissoattunedastopassthroughthiswith perfectease,butitisanabsolutebarriertoallotherforcesallwhichcannotusetheatomic matterofboththeplanes.Thiswebistheprotectionprovidedbynaturetopreventa prematureopeningupofcommunicationbetweentheplanesadevelopmentwhichcould leadtonothingbutinjury. Itisthiswhichundernormalconditionspreventsclearrecollectionofwhathashappened duringsleep,anditisthisalsowhichcausesthemomentaryunconsciousnesswhichalways occursatdeath.Butforthismercifulprovisiontheordinaryman,whoknowsnothingaboutall thesethingsandisentirelyunpreparedtomeetthem,couldatanymomentbebroughtbyany astralentityundertheinfluenceofforcestocopewithwhichwouldbeentirelybeyondhis strength.Hewouldbeliabletoconstantobsessionbyanybeingontheastralplanewho desiredtoseizeuponhisvehicles. Itwillthereforebereadilyunderstoodthatanyinjurytothiswebisaseriousdisaster.There areseveralwaysinwhichinjurymaycome,anditbehovesustouseourbestendeavoursto guardagainstit.Itmaycomeeitherbyaccidentorbycontinuedmalpractice.Anygreatshock totheastralbody,suchforexampleasasuddenterriblefright,mayrendapartthisdelicate organismand,asitiscommonlyexpressed,drivethemanmad.(Ofcoursethereareother waysinwhichfearmaycauseinsanity,butthisisone.)Atremendousoutburstofangermay alsoproducethesameeffect.Indeeditmayfollowuponanyexceedinglystrongemotionofan evilcharacterwhichproducesakindofexplosionintheastralbody. THEEFFECTSOFALCOHOLANDDRUGS Themalpracticeswhichmaymoregraduallyinjurethisprotectivewebareoftwoclassesuse ofalcoholornarcoticdrugs,andthedeliberateendeavourtothrowopenthedoorswhich naturehaskeptclosed,bymeansofsuchaprocessasisdescribedinspiritualisticparlance assittingfordevelopment.Certaindrugsanddrinksnotablyalcoholandallthenarcotics, includingtobaccocontainmatterwhichonbreakingupvolatilizes,andsomeofitpasses fromthephysicalplanetotheastral.(Eventeaandcoffeecontainthismatter,butinquantities soinfinitesimalthatitisusuallyonlyafterlongcontinuedabuseofthemthattheeffect manifestsitself.)

Whenthistakesplaceinthebodyofmantheseconstituentsrushoutthroughthechakrasin theoppositedirectiontothatforwhichtheyareintended,andindoingthisrepeatedlythey seriouslyinjureandfinallydestroythedelicateweb.Thisdeteriorationordestructionmaybe broughtaboutintwodifferentways,accordingtothetypeofthepersonconcernedandtothe proportionoftheconstituentsinhisethericandastralbodies.First,therushofvolatilizing matteractuallyburnsawaytheweb,andthereforeleavesthedooropentoallsortsofirregular forcesandevilinfluences. Thesecondresultisthatthesevolatileconstituents,inflowingthrough,somehowhardenthe atom,sothatitspulsationistoalargeextentcheckedandcrippled,anditisnolonger capableofbeingvitalizedbytheparticulartypeofforcewhichweldsitintoaweb.Theresult ofthisisakindofossificationoftheweb,sothatinsteadofhavingtoomuchcomingthrough fromoneplanetotheother,wehaveverylittleofanykindcomingthrough. Wemayseetheeffectsofboththesetypesofdeteriorationinthecaseofmenwhoyield themselvestodrunkenness.Someofthosewhoareaffectedintheformerwayfallinto deliriumtremens,obsessionorinsanity;butthoseareafterallcomparativelyrare.Farmore commonisthesecondtypeofdeteriorationthecaseinwhichwehaveakindofgeneral deadeningdownoftheman'squalities,resultingingrossmaterialism,brutalityandanimalism, inthelossofallfinerfeelingsandofthepowertocontrolhimself.Henolongerfeelsany senseofresponsibility;hemaylovehiswifeandchildrenwhensober,butwhenthefitof drunkennesscomesuponhimhewillusethemoneywhichshouldhavebroughtbreadfor themtosatisfyhisownbestialcravings,theaffectionandtheresponsibilityhavingapparently entirelydisappeared. THEEFFECTOFTOBACCO Thesecondtypeofeffectisverycommonlytobeseenamongthosewhoareslavesofthe tobaccohabit.Itseffectsareobviousinthephysical,astralandmentalbodies. Itpermeatesthemanphysicallywithexceedinglyimpureparticles,causingemanationsso grosslymaterialthattheyarefrequentlyperceptibletothesenseofsmell.Astrallyitnotonly introducesinpuritybutitalsotendstodeadenmanyofthevibrations,anditisforthisreason thatitisfoundto"soothethenerves",asitiscalled.Butofcourseforoccultprogresswedo notwantthevibrationsdeadened,northeastralbodyweigheddownwithpoisonousparticles. Weneedthecapacityofansweringinstantlytoallpossiblewavelengths,andyetatthesame timewemusthaveperfectcontrol,sothatourdesiresshallbeashorsesguidedbythe intelligentmindtodrawuswherewewill,nottorunawaywithuswildly,asdoesthetobacco habit,andcarryusintosituationswhereourhighernatureknowsthatitoughtnevertobe found.Itsresultsafterdeatharealsoofthemostdistressingcharacter;itcausesasortof ossificationandparalysisoftheastralbody,sothatforalongtime(extendingtoweeksand months)themanremainshelpless,supine,scarcelyconscious,shutupasthoughinaprison, unabletocommunicatewithhisfriends,deadforthetimetoallhigherinfluences.Isitworth whileincurringallthesepenaltiesforthesakeofapettyindulgence?Foranypersonwho

reallymeanstodevelophisvehicles,toawakenhischakras,tomakeprogressalongthepath ofholiness,tobaccoisundoubtedlytobesedulouslyavoided. Allimpressionswhichpassfromoneplanetotheotherareintendedtocomeonlythroughthe atomicsubplanes,asIhavesaid;butwhenthisdeadeningprocesssetsin,itpresently infectsnotonlyotheratomicmatter,butmatterofeventhesecondandthirdsubplanes,so thattheonlycommunicationbetweentheastralandtheethericiswhensomeforceactingon thelowersubplanes(uponwhichonlyunpleasantandevilinfluencesaretobefound) happenstobestrongenoughtocompelaresponsebytheviolenceofitsvibration. THEOPENINGOFTHEDOORS Nevertheless,thoughnaturetakessuchprecautionstoguardthesecentres,shebynomeans intendsthattheyshallalwaysbekeptrigidlyclosed.Thereisaproperwayinwhichtheymay beopened.Perhapsitwouldbemorecorrecttosaythattheintentionisnotthatthedoors shouldbeopenedanywiderthantheirpresentposition,butthatthemanshouldsodevelop himselfthathecanbringagreatdealmorethroughtherecognizedchannel. Theconsciousnessoftheordinarymancannotyetusepureatomicmattereitherinthe physicalbodyorintheastral,andthereforethereisnormallynopossibilityforhimof consciouscommunicationatwillbetweenthetwoplanes.Theproperwaytoobtainthatisto purifyboththevehiclesuntiltheatomicmatterinbothisfullyvitalized,sothatall communicationsbetweenthetwomaybeabletopassbythatroad.Inthatcasetheweb retainstothefullestdegreeitspositionandactivity,andyetisnolongerabarriertothe perfectcommunication,whileitstillcontinuestofulfilitspurposeofpreventingtheclose contactbetweenlowersubplaneswhichwouldpermitallsortsofundesirableinfluencesto passthrough. Thatiswhywearealwaysadjuredtowaitfortheunfoldingofpsychicpowersuntiltheycome inthenaturalcourseofeventsasaconsequenceofthedevelopmentofcharacter,aswesee fromthestudyoftheseforcecentresthattheysurelywill.Thatisthenaturalevolution;thatis theonlyreallysafeway,forbyitthestudentobtainsallthebenefitsandavoidsallthe dangers.ThatisthePathwhichourMastershavetroddeninthepast;thatthereforeisthe Pathforustoday.

CHAPTER5
THELAYAYOGA THEHINDUBOOKS ITisnearlytwentyyearssinceIwrotethemajorpartoftheinformationaboutthechakras whichappearsintheprecedingpages,andIhadatthattimebutaveryslightacquaintance withtheextensiveliteraturewhichexistsonthesubjectintheSanskritlanguage.Sincethen, however,severalimportantworksonthechakrashavebecomeavailableinEnglish,among whichareTheSerpentPower(whichisatranslationbyArthurAvalonofTheShatchakara Nirupana),ThirtyMinorUpanishads,translatedbyK.NarayanaswamiAiyar,andTheShiva Samhita,translatedbySrisChandraVidyarnava.Theseworksdealextensivelywiththe specialsubjectofchakras,buttherearemanyotherswhichtouchuponthecentresinamore casualway.Avalon'sbookgivesusanexcellentseriesofcolouredillustrationsofallthe chakras,inthesymbolicalforminwhichtheyarealwaysdrawnbytheHinduyogis.This departmentofHinduscienceisgraduallybecomingknownintheWest;forthebenefitofmy readersIwillattempttogiveaverybriefoutlineofithere. THEINDIANLISTOFCHAKRAS ThechakrasmentionedintheseSanskritbooksarethesameasthosewhichweseetoday, exceptthatasIhavealreadysaid,theyalwayssubstitutetheirSvadhishthanacentreforthat atthespleen.Theydifferslightlyamongthemselvesastothenumberofpetals,butonthe wholetheyagreewithus,thoughforsomereasontheydonotincludethecentreatthetopof head,confiningthemselvestosixchakrasonly,andcallingthecentretheSahasraraPadma thelotusofathousandpetals.Thesmallerchakraoftwelvepetalswithinthiscrowncentre wasobservedbythem,andisdulynoted.Theyspeakoftwopetalsinsteadofninetysixinthe sixthchakra,buttheyrefernodoubttothetwodivisionsofthediscofthatcentre,mentioned inChapterI. Thediscrepanciesastothenumberofpetalsarenotimportant;forexample,TheYoga KundaliniUpanishadspeaksofsixteenpetalsintheheartchakrainsteadoftwelve,andThe DhyanabinduUpanishadandTheShandilyaUpanishadbothmentiontwelvespokesinstead ofteninthenavelchakra.Anumberofworksalsorefertoanotherchakrathatisbelowthe heart,andtoseveralcentresbetweenthebrowchakraandthecrownlotus,allasbeingof greatimportance.TheDhyanabinduUpanishadsaysthatthelotusofthehearthaseight petals,butitsdescriptionoftheuseofthatchakrainmeditationindicates(asweshallsee later)thatitisprobablyreferringtothesecondaryheartchakratowhichIhavejustreferred.In thematterofthecoloursofthepetalstherearealsosomedisagreements,aswillbeseen fromtableV,comparingsomeoftheprincipalworkswithourownlist. Itisnotsurprisingthatsuchdifferencesastheseshouldbeonrecord,forthereare unquestionablyvariantsinthechakrasofdifferentpeopleandraces,aswellasinthefaculties ofobservers.WhatwehaverecordedinChapterIistheresultofcarefulobservationonthe

partofanumberofWesternstudents,whohavetakeneveryprecautiontocomparenotes andtoverifywhattheyhaveseen. COLORSOFLOTUSPETALS OUR SHATCHAKRA SHIVASAMHITA OBSERVATIONS NIRUPANA fieryorangered glowing;sunlike
variousreds& greens

CHAKRA 1 2 3 4 5 6

GARUDA PURANA sunlike red golden moonlike red

red vermilion blue vermilion smokypurple white Table5

red vermilion golden deepred brilliantgold white

golden
blue,silvery, gleaming

yellow&purple

ThedrawingsofthechakrasmadebytheHinduyogisforthe useoftheirpupilsarealwayssymbolical,andbearno relationtotheactualappearanceofthechakra,exceptthat anattemptisusuallymadetoindicatethecolourandthe numberofpetals.Inthecentreofeachsuchdrawingwe shallfindageometricalform,aletteroftheSanskrit alphabet,ananimal,andtwodeities,onemaleandtheother female.WegiveinFig.9areproductionofthedrawingof theheartchakra,borrowedfromArthurAvalon'sThe SerpentPower.Weshallendeavourtoexplainwhatis understoodbythevarioussymbols. THEFIGURESOFTHECHAKRAS TheobjectofLayaorKundaliniYogaisthesameasthatofeveryotherformofIndianyoga,to unitethesoulwithGod;andforthispurposeitisalwaysnecessarytomakethreekindsof effortsthoseoflove,ofthoughtandofaction.Thoughinaparticularschoolofyogathewill mustbeespeciallyused(asisthecaseintheteachingofTheYogaSutras),andinanother greatloveischieflyprescribed(asintheinstructiongivenbyShriKrishnatoArjunainThe BhagavadGita),stillitisalwaysproclaimedthatattainmentsmustbemadeinallthree directions.ThusPatanjalipropoundsforthecandidateatthebeginningacourseoftapasor purificatoryeffort,svadhyayaorstudyofspiritualthings,andIshvarapranidhana,ordevotion toGodatalltimes.ShriKrishna,similarly,afterexplainingtoHispupilthatwisdomisthemost valuableinstrumentofservice,thegreatestofferingthatonecanmake,addsthatitmaybe learntonlybydevotion,enquiryandservice,concludingHisstatementwiththesignificant words:"TheWiseOnes,SeersoftheTruth,willteachyouthewisdom."InAttheFeetofthe

Master,whichisthemostmodernrenderingoftheEasternteaching,thesametriplicity appears,forthequalificationsincludediscrimination,thepracticeofgoodconduct,andthe developmentoflovetowardsGod,GuruorTeacher,andman. TounderstandthesediagramsofthechakraswhichareusedbyIndianyogis,itmustbe borneinmindthattheyareintendedtoassisttheaspirantinallthesethreelinesofprogress. Itisnecessarythatheshouldacquireknowledgeabouttheconstitutionoftheworldandof man(thatwhichwenowcallTheosophy),andthatheshoulddevelopdeepandstrong devotionthroughworshipoftheDivine,whileheisstrivingtoawakentheinnerlayersof Kundaliniandconducther(forthisforceisalwaysspokenofasagoddess)inatourthrough thechakras. Becauseallthesethreeobjectsareinview,wefindineachchakrasomesymbolswhichare concernedwithteachinganddevotionandneednotnecessarilyberegardedasconstituting anyessentialorworkingpartofthechakra.Intheservicesorcollectiveyogapracticesof theLiberalCatholicChurchwehaveaWesternexampleofthesamething.Therealsowe striveatthesametimetostimulatedevotionandtoconveyspiritualknowledge,while practisingthemagicinvolvedintherites.Wemustrememberalsothatinolddaystheyogis whowanderedaboutordweltintheforestshadlittlerecourseeventothewrittenpalmleaf booksofthosetimes,andthereforerequiredmnemonicaids,suchasmanyofthesesymbols give.Theysatattimesatthefeetoftheirgurus;andtheycouldafterwardsrememberand recapitulatetheTheosophywhichtheylearntonthoseoccasions,withtheaidofsuchnotes asareconveyedbythesedrawings. THEHEARTCHAKRA Itishardlypossibleheretoattemptacompleteexplanationofthesymbologyofallthese chakras;itwillbesufficienttogiveanindicationofwhatisprobablymeantinthecaseofthe heartorAnahatachakra,ofwhichourfigureisanillustration.Oneofthegreatestdifficultiesin ourwayisthatthereareseveralinterpretationsofmostofthesesymbols,andthattheyogis ofIndiapresentafrontofimpenetrablereticencetotheinquirer,astonewallunwillingnessto imparttheirknowledgeorthoughtstoanybutthestudentwhoputshimselfinstatupupillari withthesetpurposeofgivinghimselfutterlytotheworkofLayaYoga,determinedif necessarytospendhiswholelifeatthetaskinordertoachievesuccess. Thischakraisdescribedinvv.2227ofTheShatchakraNirupana,ofwhichthefollowingis Avalon'ssummarizedtranslation: TheHeartLotusisofthecolouroftheBandhukaflower[red],andon itstwelvepetalsarethelettersKatoTha,withtheBinduabove them,ofthecolourofvermilion.Initspericarpisthehexagonal VayuMandala,ofasmokycolour,andaboveitSuryaMandala,withthe Trikonalustrousastenmillionflashesoflightningwithinit.Above ittheVayuBija,ofasmokyhue,isseatedonablackantelope, fourarmedandcarryingthegoad(ankusha).Inhis(VayuBija's)lap

isthreeeyedIsha.LikeHamsa(Hamsabha),Histwoarmsareextended inthegesturesofgrantingboonsanddispellingfear.Inthe pericarpofthisLotus,seatedonaredlotus,istheShaktiKakini. Sheisfourarmed,andcarriesthenoose(Pasha),theskull(Kapala) andmakestheboon(Vara)andfeardispelling(Abhaya)signs.Sheis ofagoldenhue,isdressedinyellowraiment,andwearsevery varietyofjewel,andagarlandofbones.Herheartissoftenedby nectar.InthemiddleoftheTrikonaisShivaintheformofaVana Linga,withthecrescentmoonandBinduonhishead.Heisofa goldencolour.Helooksjoyouswitharushofdesire.Belowhimis theJivatmalikeHamsa.Itislikethesteadytaperingflameofa lamp. BelowthepericarpofthisLotusistheredlotusofeightpetals, withitsheadupturned.Itisinthis(red)lotusthattherearethe KalpaTree,thejewelledaltarsurmountedbyanawninganddecorated byflagsandthelike,whichistheplaceofmentalworship.8 THEPETALSANDLETTERS Thepetalsofanyoneofthese lotuses,aswehaveseen,are madebytheprimaryforces, whichradiateoutintothebody alongthespokesofthewheel. Thenumberofspokesis determinedbythenumberof powersbelongingtotheforcewhichcomesthroughaparticularchakra.Inthiscasewehave twelvepetals,andthelettersgiventotheseevidentlysymbolizeacertainsectionofthetotal creativepowerorlifeforcecominginto thebody.Thelettersmentionedhere arefromKatoTha,takenintheregular orderoftheSanskritalphabet.This alphabetisextraordinarilyscientific apparentlywehavenothinglikeitin Westernlanguagesandits49letters areusuallyarrangedinthefollowing tabularform,towhichkshaisaddedin ordertosupplyenoughlettersforthe fiftypetalsofthesixchakras. Thisalphabetisconsideredforyoga purposestoincludethesumtotalof humansounds,tobefromthepointof viewofspeechamateriallyextended
8 TheSerpentPower,byArthurAvalon,2ndedition,Text,p.64.

expressionoftheonecreativesoundorword.LikethesacredwordAum(thesoundofwhich beginsinthebackofthemouthwitha,traversesthecentrewithu,andendsuponthelipsin m)itrepresentsallcreativespeech,andthereforeasetofpowers.Theseareassignedas follows:thesixteenvowelstothethroatchakra,KatoThatotheheart,DatoPhatothenavel, BatoLatothesecond,andVatoSatothefirst.HaandKshaaregiventotheAjnachakra, andtheSahasraraLotusorcrownchakraisconsideredtoincludethealphabettakentwenty timesover. Thereisnoapparentreasonwhythelettersshouldhavebeenassignedtotheparticular chakrasmentioned,butthereisanincreasingnumberofpowersasweascendthechakras.It ispossiblethatthefoundersoftheLayasystemmayhavehadadetailedknowledgeofthese powers,andmayhaveusedtheletterstonamethemmuchasweuselettersinreferringto anglesingeometry,ortotheemanationsfromradium. Thepracticeofmeditationontheselettershasevidentlysomethingtodowithreaching"the innersoundwhichkillstheouter",touseaphrasefromTheVoiceoftheSilence.The scientificmeditationoftheHindusbeginswithconcentrationuponapicturedobjectora sound,andonlywhenthemindhasbeenfixedsteadilyuponthatdoestheyogitrytopasson torealizeitshighersignificance.ThusinmeditatinguponaMasterhefirstpicturesthe physicalform,andafterwardstriestofeeltheemotionsoftheMaster,tounderstandHis thoughts,andsoon. Inthismatterofsoundstheyogitriestopassinwardfromthesoundasknowntousand utteredbyus,totheinnerqualityandpowerofthatsound,andthusitisanaidtothepassage ofhisconsciousnessfromplanetoplane.ItmaybethoughtthatGodcreatedtheplanesby recitingthealphabetandthatourspokenwordisitslowestspiral.Inthisformofyogathe aspirantstrivesbyinnerabsorptionorlayatoreturnuponthatpathandsodrawnearertothe Divine.InLightonthePathweareexhortedtolistentothesongoflife,andtotrytocatchits hiddenorhighertones. THEMANDALAS Thehexagonalmandalaor"circle"whichoccupiesthepericarpoftheheartlotusistakenasa symboloftheelementair.Eachchakraisconsideredtobeespeciallyconnectedwithoneof theelementsearth,water,fire,air,etherandmind.Theseelementsaretoberegardedas statesofmatter,notelementsasweunderstandtheminmodernchemistry.Theyarethus equivalenttothetermssolid,liquid,fieryorgaseous,airyandetheric,andaresomewhat analogoustooursubplanesandplanesphysical,astral,mental,etc.Theseelementsare representedbycertainyantrasordiagramsofasymboliccharacter,whicharegivenas followsinTheShatchakraNirupana,andareshownwithinthepericarpsofthepictured lotuses. Sometimesinthefollowinglistorangeredisgiveninsteadofyellow,blueinsteadofsmoky, andblackinsteadofwhiteinthefifthchakra,thoughitisexplainedthatblackstandsforindigo

ordarkblue. CHAKRA 1 2 3 4 5 6 ELEMENT Earth Water Fire Air Ether Min Table6 ItmayseemcurioustotheWesternreaderthatthemindshouldbeputamongtheelements, butthatdoesnotappearsototheHindu,forthemindisregardedbyhimasbutaninstrument ofconsciousness.TheHinduhasawayoflookingatthingsfromaveryhighpointofview, oftenapparentlyfromthestandpointoftheMonad.Forexample,intheseventhchapterofthe Gita,ShriKrishnasays:"Earth,water,fire,air,ether,manas,buddhiandahamkaratheseare theeightfolddivisionsofmymanifestation(prakriti)."AlittlelateronHespeaksoftheseeight as,"mylowermanifestation". Theseelementsareassociatedwiththeideaoftheplanes,asbeforeexplained,butitdoes notseemthatthechakrasareespeciallyconnectedwiththem.Butcertainlyastheyogi meditatesupontheseelementsandtheirassociatedsymbolsineachchakrahereminds himselfoftheschemeoftheplanes.Hemayalsofindthisformofmeditationameansfor raisinghiscentreofconsciousness,throughthelevelsoftheplaneinwhichitisatthetime functioning,totheseventhorhighest,andthroughthattosomethinghigherstill. Quiteapartfromthepossibilityofgoingoutintoahigherplaneinfullconsciousness,wehave hereameansofraisingtheconsciousnesssothatitmayfeeltheinfluencesofasuperior worldandreceiveimpressionsfromabove.Theforceorinfluencesoreceivedandfeltisno doubtthe"nectar"ofwhichthebooksspeak,ofwhichwewillsaymoreinconnectionwiththe raisingoftheawakenedkundalinitothehighestcentre. THEYANTRAS InNature'sFinerForces9PanditRamaPrasadpresentsuswithathoughtfulstudyofthe reasonsforthegeometricalformsoftheseyantras.Hisexplanationsaretoolengthyfor reproductionhere,butwemayverybrieflysummarizesomeofhismainideas.Hearguesthat justasthereexistsaluminiferousether,whichisthebeareroflighttooureyes,sothereisa specialformofetherforeachoftheotherformsofsensationsmell,taste,touchandhearing.
9 Op,cit.,p.2,etseq,outofprint.

FORM ASquare ACrescentMoon ATriangle 2InterlacedTriangles (ahexagonalfigure) ACircle

COLOR Yellow White BrightRed Smoky White White

Thesesensesarecorrelatedwiththeelementsrepresentedbytheyantrassmellwiththe solid(square),tastewithliquid(crescent),sightwiththegaseous(triangle),touchwiththeairy (hexagon),andhearingwiththeetheric(circle).Thepropagationofsound,thePanditargues, isintheformofacircle,thatisofaradiationallaround;hencethecircleinthefifthchakra. Thepropagationoflight,hesays,isintheformofatriangle,foragivenpointinthelightwave movesalittleforwardsandalsoatrightanglestothelineofprogress,sothatwhenithas completeditsmovementithasperformedatriangle;hencethetriangleinthethirdchakra.He arguesthatthereisamovementintheetheralsointhecasesoftouch,tasteandsmell,and givesreasonsfortheformswhichwefindassociatedwiththeseintheirrespectivechakras. THEANIMALS Theantelope,onaccountofitsfleetnessoffoot,isasuitablesymbolfortheelementair,and thebijaorseedmantra(thatis,thesoundinwhichthepowergoverningthiselement manifestsitself)isgivenasYam.Thiswordissoundedasthelettery,followedbytheneutral voweln,(whichisliketheain"India"),andanasalaftersoundsimilartothatwhichfrequently occursintheFrenchlanguage.Itisthedotovertheletterwhichrepresentsthissound,andin thatdotisthedivinitytobeworshippedinthiscentrethethreeeyedIsha.Otheranimalsare theelephant,associatedwithearthonaccountofitssolidityandwithetherbecauseofits supportingpower;themakaraorcrocodileinthewaterofChakra2;andtheram(evidently regardedasafieryoraggressiveanimal)inChakra3.Forcertainpurposestheyogimay imaginehimselfasseatedontheseanimalsandexercisingthepowerwhichtheirqualities represent. THEDIVINITIES Thereisabeautifulideainsomeofthesemantras,whichwemayillustratebyreferencetothe wellknownsacredwordOm.Itissaidtoconsistoffourpartsa,u,m,andardhamatra. ThereisareferencetothisinTheVoiceoftheSilence,asfollows: AndthenthoucanstreposebetweenthewingsoftheGreatBird.Aye, sweetisrestbetweenthewingsofthatwhichisnotborn,nordies, butisAumthroughouteternalages. AndMadameBlavatskyinafootnotetothisspeaksoftheGreatBirdas: KalaHamsa,thebirdorswan.SaystheNadavinduupanishat(Rigveda) translatedbytheKumbakonamTheosophicalSociety"ThesyllableA isconsideredtobethebirdHamsa'srightwing,Uitsleft,Mits tail,andtheArdhamatra(halfmetre)issaidtobeitshead." Theyogiafterreachingthethirdsyllableinhismeditation,passesontothefourth,whichis thesilencewhichfollows.Hethinksofthedivinityinthatsilence.

Inthedifferentbooksthedeitiesassignedtothechakrasvary.ForexampleTheShatchakra NirupanaplacesBrahma,VishnuandShivainthefirst,secondandthirdchakrasrespectively, anddifferentformsofShivabeyondthem,butTheShivaSamhitaandsomeotherworks mentionGanesha(theelephantheadedsonofShiva)inthefirst,Brahmainthesecondand Vishnuinthethird.Apparentlydifferencesaremadeaccordingtothesectoftheworshipper. AlongwithIshainthepresentinstancewehaveasfemininedivinitytheShaktiKakini.Shakti meanspowerorforce.Thoughtpowerisdescribedasashaktiofthemind.Ineachofthesix chakrasthereisoneofthesefemininedivinitiesDakini,Rakini,Lakini,Kakini,Shakiniand Hakiniwhicharebysomeidentifiedwiththepowersgoverningthevariousdhatusorbodily substances.InthischakraKakiniisseatedonaredlotus.Sheisspokenofashavingfour arms(fourpowersorfunctions).Withtwoofherhandsshemakesthesamesignsofgranting boonsanddispellingfearsasareshownbyIsha;theothertwoholdanoose(asymbolwhich isanotherformoftheankhcross)andaskull(assymbol,nodoubt,oftheslainlowernature). THEBODYMEDITATION Sometimesthemeditationsusuallyprescribedforthesechakrasareassignedtothebodyas awhole,asinthefollowingextractfromTheYogatattvaUpanishad: Therearefiveelements,earth,water,fire,air,andether.Forthe bodyofthefiveelements,thereisafivefoldconcentration.From thefeettothekneesissaidtobetheregionofearth;itisfour sidedinshape,yellowincolourandhastheletterLa.Carryingthe breathwiththeletterLaalongtheregionofearth(fromthefeetto theknees)andcontemplatingBrahmawithfourfacesandofagolden colour,oneshouldperformmeditationthere.... Theregionofwaterisdeclaredtoextendfromthekneestotheanus. Thewaterissemilunarinshapeandwhiteincolour,andhasVafor itsbija(seed).CarryingupthebreathwiththeletterVaalongthe regionofwater,heshouldmeditateuponthegodNarayana,having fourarmsandacrownedhead,asbeingofthecolourofpurecrystal, asdressedinorangeclothsandasdecayless.... Fromtheanustotheheartissaidtobetheregionoffire.Fireis triangularinshape,ofredcolour,andhastheletterRa,forits bijaorseed.Raisingthebreath,maderesplendentthroughthe letterRa,alongtheregionoffire,heshouldmeditateuponRudra, whohasthreeeyes,whograntsallwishes,whoisofthecolourof themiddaysun,whoissmearedalloverwithholyashes,andwhois ofapleasedcountenance.... Fromthehearttothemiddleoftheeyebrowsissaidtobetheregion ofair.Airishexangularinshape,blackincolour,andshineswith theletterYa.Carryingthebreathalongtheregionofair,heshould meditateuponIshvara,theomniscient,aspossessingfacesonall

sides.... Fromthecentreoftheeyebrowstothetopoftheheadisdeclaredto betheregionofether;itiscircularinshape,smokyincolour,and shiningwiththeletterHa.Raisingthebreathalongtheregionof ether,heshouldmeditateuponSadashivainthefollowingmanneras producinghappiness,asoftheshapeofbindu(adrop),astheGreat Deva,ashavingtheshapeofether,asshininglikepurecrystal,as wearingtherisingcrescentmoononhishead,ashavingfivefaces, tenhandsandthreeeyes,asbeingofapleasingcountenance,as armedwithallweapons,asadornedwithallornaments,ashavingthe goddessUmainonehalfofhisbody,asreadytograntfavours,and asthecauseofallthecauses. This,tosomeextent,confirmsoursuggestionthatinsomecasestheprinciplesuponwhich weareaskedtomeditateareappliedtopartsofthebodyforpurelymnemonicpurposes,not withthedirectintentionofaffectingthoseparts. THEKNOTS Inthecentreoftheheartlotusatrikonaorinvertedtriangleisfigured.Thisisnotafeatureof allthecentres,butonlyoftheroot,heartandbrowchakras.Thereareinthesethreespecial granthisorknots,throughwhichkundalinihastobreakinthecourseofherjourney.Thefirst issometimescalledtheknotofBrahma;thesecondthatofVishnu;thethirdthatofShiva.The ideawhichthissymbolismseemstoimplyisthatthepiercingofthesechakrasinsomeway involvesaspecialchangeofstate,possiblyfromthepersonalitytothehigherselfandthence totheMonad:TheregionsoverwhichtheseAspectsmaybesaidtorule.Itcan,however,be onlyinasubordinateorsecondarymannerthatthisistrue,forwehaveobservedthatthe heartchakrareceivesimpressionsfromthehigherastral,thethroatcentrefromthemental, andsoforth.Ineachtrianglethedeityisrepresentedasalinga,orinstrumentofunion.The Jivatma(literally"livingself")pointingupwards"liketheflameofalamp"istheego, representedasasteadyflameprobablybecauseheisnotdistressedbytheaccidentsof materiallife,asisthepersonality. THESECONDARYHEARTLOTUS Thesecondsmalllotusrepresentedasjustbeneaththeheartchakraisalsoaspecialfeature ofthiscentre.ItisusedasaplaceformeditationupontheformoftheguruortheAspectof theDeitywhichespeciallyappealsorisassignedtotheworshipper.Herethedevotee imaginesanislandofgems,containingbeautifultrees,andanaltarforworship,whichis describedasfollowsinTheGherandaSamhita: Lethimcontemplatethatthereisaseaofnectarinhisheart;that inthemidstofthatseathereisanislandofpreciousstones,the verysandofwhichispulverizeddiamondsandrubies.Thatonall

sidesofitthereareKadambatrees,ladenwithsweetflowers;that, nexttothesetrees,likearampart,thereisarowofflowering trees,suchasmalati,mallika,jati,kesara,champaka,parijata,and padma,andthatthefragranceoftheseflowersisspreadallround, ineveryquarter.Inthemiddleofthisgarden,lettheyogiimagine thattherestandsabeautifulKalpatree,havingfourbranches, representingthefourVedas,andthatitisfullofflowersand fruits.Insectsarehummingthereandcuckoossinging.Beneaththat tree,lethimimaginearichplatformofpreciousgems,andonthata costlythroneinlaidwithjewels,andthatonthatthronesitshis particularDeity,astaughttohimbyhisGuru.Lethimcontemplate ontheappropriateform,ornamentsandvehicleofthatDeity.10 Theworshipperuseshisimaginationincreatingthisbeautifulscenesovividlyastobecome enwrappedinhisthoughtandtoforgettheouterworldentirelyforthetimebeing.Theprocess isnot,however,entirelyimaginative,forthisisameanstoobtainconstantcontactwiththe Master.Justastheimagesofpersonsmadebyonewhoisintheheavenworldafterdeath arefilledwithlifebytheegosofthosepersons,sotheMasterfillswithhisrealpresencethe thoughtformproducedbyhispupil.Throughthatformrealinspirationandsometimes instructionmaybegiven.AninterestingexampleofthiswaspresentedbyanoldHindu gentlemanwhowaslivingasayogiinavillageintheMadrasPresidency,whoclaimedtobe apupiloftheMasterMorya.WhenthatMasterwastravellinginSouthernIndiayearsagohe visitedthevillagewherethismanlived.Thelatterbecamehispupil,anddeclaredthathedid notlosehisMasterafterhewentaway,forheusedfrequentlytoappeartohimandinstruct himthroughacentrewithinhimself. TheHinduslaymuchstressuponthenecessityforaGuruorMaster,andtheyreverencehim greatlywhenheisfound.Theyconstantlyreiteratethestatementthathemustbetreatedas divine;TheTejobinduUpanishadsays:"Thefurthestlimitofallthoughtsistheguru."They maintainthatwereonetothinkofthegloriousqualitiesoftheDivineBeing,one'simagination wouldstillfallbelowtheperfectionsoftheMaster.WewhoknowtheMasterswellrealizethe truthofthat;theirpupilsfindinthemheightsofconsciousnesssplendidandgloriousbeyond allexpectation.ItisnotthattheyconsidertheMasterequaltoGod;butthatthatportionofthe DivinewhichtheMasterhasattainedoutshinestheirpreviousconceptionsofit. EFFECTOFMEDITATIONINTHEHEART TheShivaSamhitathusdescribesthebenefitswhicharesaidtoaccruetotheyogifrom meditationupontheheartcentre: Hegetsimmeasurableknowledge,knowsthepast,presentandfuture; hasclairaudience,clairvoyanceandcanwalkintheair,wheneverhe likes. Heseestheadepts,andthegoddessesknownasYoginis;obtainsthe
10 Op.cit.,V1,28.Trans.SrisChandraVidyarnava.

powerknownasKhechari,andconquersthecreatureswhichmoveinthe air. HewhocontemplatesdailyonthehiddenBanalingaundoubtedlyobtains thepsychicpowerscalledKhechari(movingintheair)andBhuchari (goingatwillallovertheworld).11 Itisnotnecessarytocommentuponthesepoeticdescriptionsofthevariouspowers;the studentwillreadbetweenthelines.Still,theremayalsobesomethingintheliteralmeaningof suchstatementsasthese;fortherearemanywondersinIndiathemysteriouspowersofthe firewalkers,andtheperfectlymarvelloushypnoticabilityshownbysomeconjurerswho performthefamousropetrickandsimilarfeats. KUNDALINI TheHinduYogis,forwhomthebookswhichhavecomedowntouswerewritten,werenot particularlyinterestedinthephysiologicalandanatomicalfeaturesofthebody,butwere engagedinpractisingmeditationandarousingkundaliniforthepurposeofelevatingtheir consciousnessorrisingtohigherplanes.ThismaybethereasonwhyintheSanskritworks littleornothingissaidaboutthesurfacechakras,butmuchaboutthecentresinthespineand thetransitofkundalinithroughthese. Kundaliniisdescribedasadeviorgoddessluminousaslightning,wholiesasleepintheroot chakra,coiledlikeaserpentthreeandahalftimesroundthesvayambhulingawhichisthere, andclosingtheentrancetothesushumnawithherhead.Nothingissaidastotheouterlayer oftheforcebeingactiveinallpersons,butthisfactisindicatedinthestatementthatevenas shesleepsshe"maintainsallbreathingcreatures".12AndsheisspokenofastheShabda Brahmaninhumanbodies.Shabdameanswordorsound;wehavehere,therefore,a referencetotheThirdAspectoftheLogos.Intheprocessofcreationoftheworldthissound issaidtohaveissuedinfourstages;probablyweshouldnotbefarwronginassociatingthese withourWesternconceptionsofthethreestatesofbody,soulandspirit,andafourthwhichis unionwiththeDivineorAllspirit. THEAWAKENINGOFKUNDALINI Theobjectoftheyogisistoarousethesleepingpartofthekundalini,andthencauseherto risegraduallyupthesushumnacanal.Variousmethodsareprescribedforthispurpose, includingtheuseofthewill,peculiarmodesofbreathing,mantras,andvariousposturesand movements.TheShivaSamhitadescribestenmudraswhichitdeclarestobethebestforthis purpose,mostofwhichinvolvealltheseeffortsatthesametime.Inwritingoftheeffectofone ofthesemethods,Avalondescribestheawakeningoftheinnerlayersofkundaliniasfollows:
11 Op.cit.,V1,28.Trans.SrisChandraVidyarnava. 12 Op.cit.,V1,28.Trans.SrisChandraVidyarnava.

Theheatinthebodythenbecomesverypowerful,andkundalini, feelingit,awakensfromhersleep,justasaserpentstruckbya stickhissesandstraightensitself.ThenitenterstheSushumna.13 Itissaidthatinsomecaseskundalinihasbeenawakenednotonlybythewill,butalsobyan accidentbyabloworbyphysicalpressure.IheardanexampleofthekindinCanada.A lady,whoknewnothingatallofthesematters,felldownthecellarstepsinherhouse.Shelay forsometimeunconscious,andwhensheawokeshefoundherselfclairvoyant,abletoread thethoughtspassinginotherpeople'sminds,andtoseewhatwasgoingonineveryroomin thehouse;andthisclairvoyancehasremainedapermanentpossession.Oneassumesthatin thiscaseinfallingtheladymusthavereceivedablowatthebaseofthespineexactlyinsuch apositionandofsuchanatureastoshockthekundaliniintopartialactivity;orofcourseit mayhavebeensomeothercentrethatwasthusartificiallystimulated. Sometimesthebooksrecommendmeditationuponthechakraswithoutthepriorawakeningof kundalini.ThisappearstobethecaseinthefollowingversesfromTheGarudaPurana: Muladhara,Svadhishthana,Manipuraka,Anahatam,Vishuddhiandalso Ajnaarespokenofasthesixchakras. Oneshouldmeditate,inorder,inthechakras,onGanesha,onVidhi (Brahma),onVishnu,onShiva,onJiva,onGuru,andonParabrahman, allpervading. Havingworshippedmentallyinallthechakras,withunwaveringmind, heshouldrepeattheAjapagayatriaccordingtotheinstructionsof theTeacher. HeshouldmeditateintheRandhra,withthethousandpetalledlotus inverted,upontheblessedTeacherwithintheHamsa,whoselotushand freesfromfear. Heshouldregardhisbodyasbeingwashedintheflowofnectarfrom Hisfeet.Havingworshippedinthefivefoldwayheshouldprostrate, signingHispraise. Thenheshouldmeditateonthekundaliniasmovingupwardsand downwards,asmakingatourofthesixchakras,placedinthreeanda halfcoils. Thenheshouldmeditateontheplacecalledsushumna,whichgoesout oftheRandhra;therebyhegoestothehigheststateofVishnu.14

13 Op.cit.,V1,28.Trans.SrisChandraVidyarnava. 14 Op.cit.,V1,28.Trans.SrisChandraVidyarnava.

THEASCENTOFKUNDALINI Thebookshintat,ratherthanexplain,whathappenswhenkundalinirisesupthechannel throughthesushumna.TheyrefertothespineasMerudanda,therodofMeru,"thecentral axisofcreation",presumablyofthebody.Inthat,theysay,thereisthechannelcalled sushumna,withinthatanother,calledVajrini,andwithinthatagainathirdcalledChitrini, whichis"asfineasaspider'sthread".Uponthatarethreadedthechakras,"likeknotsona bamboorod". KundalinirisesupChitrinilittlebylittleastheyogiuseshiswillinmeditation.Inoneeffortshe maynotgoveryfar,butinthenextshewillgoalittlefarther,andsoon.Whenshecomesto oneofthechakrasorlotusesshepiercesit,andtheflower,whichwasturneddownwards, nowturnsupwards.Whenthemeditationisover,thecandidateleadsKundalinibackagainby thesamepathintotheMuladhara;butinsomecasessheisbroughtbackonlyasfarasthe heartchakra,andtheresheenterswhatiscalledherchamber.15Severalofthebookssaythat kundaliniresidesinthenavelchakra;wehaveneverseenitthereinordinarypeople,butthis statementmayrefertothosewhohaverouseditbefore,andsohaveasortofdepositofthe serpentfireinthecentre. Itisexplainedthataskundalinientersandleaveseachchakrainthecourseofherascentin theabovementionedvarietyofmeditationsshewithdrawsintolatency(hencethetermlaya) thepsychologicalfunctionsofthatcentre.Ineachchakrawhichsheentersthereisagreat enhancementoflife,butasherobjectistoreachthehighestsheproceedsupwards,untilshe reachesthetopmostcentre,theSahasraralotus.Here,asthesymbologyhasit,sheenjoys theblissofunionwithherlord,Paramashiva;andasshereturnsonherpathshegivesback toeachchakraitsspecificfaculties,butmuchenhanced. Allthisdescribesaprocessofpartialtranceintowhichonewhomeditatesdeeplynecessarily passes,forinconcentratingallourattentionuponsomeloftysubjectweceaseforthetime beingtopayheedtothevarioussoundsandsightswhichsurroundandplayuponus.Avalon mentionsthatitgenerallytakesyearsfromthecommencementofthepracticetoleadthe kundaliniintotheSahasrara,thoughinexceptionalcasesitcanbedoneinashorttime.With practicecomesfacility,sothatanexpert,itissaid,canraiseandlowertheShaktiwithinan hour,thoughheisofcourseperfectlyatlibertytostayaslongashewillinthecrowncentre. Somewriterssaythataskundalinirisesinthebody,theportionbeyondwhichshegoesgrows cold.Nodoubtthisisthecaseinthosespecialpracticesinwhichayogigoesintotrancefora longperiod,butnotintheusualemploymentofthispower.InTheSecretDoctrineMadame Blavatskycitesthecaseofayogi,whowasfoundonanislandnearCalcutta,roundwhose limbstherootsoftreeshadgrown.Sheaddsthathewascutout,andintheendeavourto awakenhimsomanyoutrageswereinflictedonhisbodythathedied.Shementionsalsoa yoginearAllahabadwhoforpurposesnodoubtwellunderstoodbyhimselfremainedsitting uponastoneforfiftythreeyears.Hischelasordiscipleswashedhimintherivereverynight andthenliftedhimback,andduringthedayhisconsciousnesssometimesreturnedtothe
15 TheShivaSamhita,V,8688.

physicalworld,andhewouldthentalkandteach.16 THEGOALOFKUNDALINI TheconcludingversesoftheShatchakraNirupanabeautifullydescribetheconclusionofthe tourofkundalini,asfollows: TheDeviwhoisShuddhasattvapiercesthethreeLingas,and,having reachedallthelotuseswhichareknownastheBrahmanadilotuses, shinesthereinthefullnessofherlustre.Thereafter,inhersubtle state,lustrouslikelightningandfinelikethelotusfibre.She goestothegleamingflamelikeShiva,thesupremeBliss,andofa suddenproducestheblissofLiberation. ThebeautifulKundalidrinkstheexcellentrednectarissuingfrom ParaShiva,andreturnsfromthere,whereshinesEternaland TranscendentBlissinallitsglory,alongthepathofKula,and enterstheMuladhara.Theyogiwhohasgainedsteadinessofmind makesoffering(Tarpana)totheIshtadevataandtheDevatasinthe sixchakras,Dakiniandothers,withthatstreamofcelestialnectar whichisinthevesselofBrahmanda,theknowledgewhereofhehas gainedthroughthetraditionoftheGurus. IftheyogiwhoisdevotedtotheLotusFeetofhisGuru,withheart unperturbedandconcentratedmind,readsthiswork,whichisthe supremesourceoftheknowledgeofLiberationandisfaultless,pure andmostsecret,thenofasuretyhisminddancesattheFeetofhis Ishtadevata.17 CONCLUSION Likeourselves,theHindusholdthattheresultsofLayaYogacanbeattainedbythemethods ofallthesystemsofyoga.InthesevenschoolsofIndia,andamongthestudentsintheWest, allwhounderstandarightareaimingatthehighestgoalofhumanendeavour,atthatliberty whichishigherthanliberation,becauseitincludesnotonlyunionwithGodinhighrealms, beyondearthlymanifestation,butalsothosepowersoneachplanewhichmakethemanan AdhikariPurusha,anofficebearerorworkerintheserviceoftheDivine;intheworkoflifting thetoilingmillionsofhumanitytowardsthegloryandhappinesswhichawaitsusall. OM,AIM,KLIM,STRIM

16 TheSerpentPower. 17 TheSerpentPower.