Cakras

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Dada krpamayananda

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Dec 5, 2005, 3:44:51 AM12/5/05

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Cakras:

Within the human being is a subtler layer of being wherein important mental functions first express before reaching the physical level. These feelings are conveyed from the mind and expressed through the body through the medium of the “cakras”.

The word cakra literally means, “wheel” (as in Dharma Cakra or the Wheel of Dharma in Buddhism) or “centre”. The cakras are situated inside the spinal column in a subtle nerve channel called the sushumna. Cakras are not physical centres. They cannot be seen by physical instruments. In states of deep meditation the subtle forms, colours and sounds of the cakras are revealed to the profoundly concentrated meditator.

There are 7 major cakras located along the cerebro-spinal column. Each of the five lower cakras is related to a fundamental factor: solid, liquid, luminous, aerial and ethereal. The sixth cakra at the region between the eyebrows is the seat of mind The 7th cakra at the crown of the head is said to be the spiritual nucleus of the human being from where the highest spiritual realizations are expressed. Any imbalance in a cakra is a prelude to some physical disorder.

Tantra meditation gives much importance to the control and purification of the cakras. These techniques are learned in the higher meditation lessons of Tantra.

As cakras are psychic centres, clustered around each of them like petals of a lotus are many sub-glands each of which expresses a certain propensity of mind. According to Yogic science, the human mind can express up to 50 major propensities. These are expressed through the cakras. That is why through the control of the cakras we can control thoughts and feelings even before they express in the physical level.

Asanas also affect the cakras indirectly. As asanas are primarily massaging the endocrine glands, they have an indirect effect on the cakras. The endocrine glands can be said to be the physical counterpart of the subtler cakra system.

Generally the higher cakras express subtler mental propensities (love, tolerance, wisdom, service, etc.), while the lower cakras express cruder mental propensities (anger, fear, hatred, etc.)

The cakras in order from down to up are: