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Gateways To Higher Consciousness
Red Wheel/Weiser Books 2004 ISBN #1-57863-300-1
The Kundalini Book of Living and Dying is exactly what it states - a book about kundalini energy, and self realization. But it is also the life story of Ravindra Kumar, his personal experience with this great tool of the divine, and the insight that he carries with him. We can relate to Dr. Kumar, we can see bits of ourselves in him, and through his experiences we see the magic of kundalini come alive. Kundalini is the famous coiled serpent energy that resides at the bottom of our spines. It is the energy of spirit, and once activated allows us the grace of "knowing" life through visions and out of body experiences. Dr. Kumar equates the awakening of kundalini to the process of being "born again" - of experiencing the death of the ego and the birth of a spiritual awakening. As Dr. Kumar talks about his "death" (the experience of his kundalini awakening), he also references his life. As a child, he had no interest in material things. He did well in school, and he did well in sports, but he accepted that as part of life, and was not impressed by it. He talks of feeling apart from life, apart from those around him, and of feeling very alone at times. Having obtained a degree in mathematics, Dr. Kumar proceeded to take several different teaching positions, often outside of his native India, and away from his family. His time away from work was spent in meditation, long walks, exercise and yoga. It was through these experiences that he brought himself to the gateway of kundalini opening, and experienced the physical effects of that opening in a very sudden and explosive manner. Eventually, Dr. Kumar lost his interest in teaching mathematics and followed the path of spirit. Along the way he documents some interesting experiences, such as connecting with his father, who was deceased, on more than one occasion. Dr. Kumar lists some of the out of body experiences that can be connected with kundalini, amongst which are: dreams of flying that feel real; dreams of visiting deceased loved ones; dreams from which you awaken in the middle of the night, but cannot open your eyes, move your body or speak (I think many of us have experienced this one!). Dr. Kumar also discusses phenomenon such as near death experiences (from which the subject generally returns to life not only changed, but aware that they had the choice to leave the physical plane or finish out a given lifetime), and accidental death and suicide - which has the consequence of returning to learn the lessons that we need to learn, and repeating the pain that we are going through, in another lifetime. In other words - those who choose to commit suicide are prolonging their pain and suffering. When we open kundalini energy, it moves up the seven chakras, from the base of the spine to the top of our heads, opening each chakra in turn. Of interest to me was the sound that we experience with the opening of each individual chakra. Dr. Kumar lists them as: root chakra (thunder), sacral chakra (roaring of sea or lion), navel chakra (running water or tinkling bells), heart chakra (buzzing of bees), throat chakra (single note of a flute), third eye (humming sound or thousand violins), crown chakra (music of woodwinds). Along the way we hear personal stories from Dr. Kumar's life, as well as case histories from other sources. We learn about the different levels of consciousness, and the different planes of existence. We learn about transformation, and about individuation (the very purpose of each lifetime, to bring each person together as a whole). We learn about the different methods that we can use to bring about transformation and individuation, including the three branches of yoga: Karma (selfless action), Inana (the path of knowledge), and Bhakti (the path of devotion). We also learn to walk the path of our dreams - to understand them, to accept them, and to work with them. The final chapter of this book presents what Dr. Kumar calls the "Integral Path" - a working model of how one can consciously move towards opening ones kundalini energy in a safe and respectful manner. It is a way of life - a manner of permanent change of both attitude and action. Through meditation, breathwork, exercise and right action, you set yourself on the path of connection with the divine. This is not a book just to be read - unless the reader has no real desire to move forward in life. It is a book to be experienced, to be worked with, to be lived. It is a book for all people, from all backgrounds, and is a true gift.
Bonnie Cehovet
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