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By
Michele Avanti, CAP
The
Kundalini Yoga workshop opened up my sight again. I sat in the presence of a man
who permeated the room with a blessed humble love. I realized I missed this and
though during the experience it took quite the discipline to hold that
cross-legged posture, (let’s face it I had my moments when I wanted to cry out
in pain or leave the room), I felt joy rise in my heart as I decided to return
to the home of peace. I
want to share some of this with you because the real secret of Kundalini Yoga is
love. Deep inside each of us, lying silent as the coiled cobra, is the Goddess
of Creation – Kundalini. Through the three pillars (meditation, mantra and
sound vibration) of this ancient yogic practice, she will rise along the spine,
warming you, embracing you and opening you to the wonder of who you really are
– divine. At
a very young age I heard about Kundalini. I asked my spiritual master about it
and he said there was some danger in activating this without the proper teacher.
He said now was not the time for me to engage this but rather there would be a
teacher at some point in my future. “Be patient, wait.” I
forgot about it for years at a time, then someone would speak Kundalini and I
would remember his words: “Be patient, wait.” Now
the opportunity opened for me. And the teacher was a Swami. I have to admit that
when I hear someone call himself a Swami, I back up a few paces. My spiritual
upbringing taught me titles are unimportant – they frequently signify
attachment and ego and seldom indicate spiritual mastery. However, my friends
spoke highly of this man and my guidance said go meet him. So I did. I
first met him in a Vedic Astrology (The astrology of India emphasizes Moon
Signs) session during which I received the Darshan. This is the look of love
from a master teacher that spiritually ignites your heart and through which on
the inner planes you receive an initiation. For two days I walked in this love.
I felt it embrace me. I am not a follower by nature and I do not suggest anyone
follow or worship anyone so do not take this improperly. It does not say follow.
Rather it says learn. Here is someone from whom you can learn. Though
I had the Darshan, I still did not know what I would learn from this man from
India. I would love to learn Vedic Astrology from such a master but he lives in
India and I have a life here. Little did I know that what he would teach me
would be Kundalini Yoga. At
the workshop, Swamigi (I will call him. It a respectful way to address a swami)
said he would teach Kundalini as it has been taught from master to student in
India for the last seven thousand years. He began by helping us find the most
comfortable way to sit in a lotus or semi-lotus posture. Then
he taught the mudra (pronounced mood-ra) or hand position for attaining
knowledge. This is done with each hand by touching the thumb to the index finger
while letting the other fingers gently extend. Naturally I put a death hold
between my thumbs and index fingers. The in-tune Swami noted for everyone;
“Your hands should be relaxed. All postures are relaxed, never forced.”
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