Forms of Yoga Aligned with Chakras

[ameyAtmA]

Thanks for a 'reflective' post.

The upward breath of gratitude (Bhakti) to the divine in all action, applies good karma to the heart.

Yes, this is what I mean by the “blurr” but you put it very well. Real bhakti and nishkAm karma go hand in hand, hence nishkAm-karma (actions without expectations) and ahaituki bhakti (devotion without motive), feed back into each other.

Interesting sum, yet numerous things can go wrong:
Overly devoted (Bhakti), and a lack of roots in the lower chakras (Kundalini, Hatha, Pranayama, Kriya), leads to imbalance.

Even if devotion is to the Source (your CPU) and trying to follow instructions of Source? Do you mean life-imbalance? or imbalance of mind-body-AtmA ? (A vairAgi does not care for an active social life, and prefers solitude).

Kirya Yoga is like going for counseling or confession with the CPU; if we're meditating properly, and all aligned, we should hear the CPU, and it will explain what bits we're meant to be dealing with internally...

The CPU is my revered Beloved Gurudev, and He instructed me to "DhyAna DhyAna DhyAna" (meditate) like in Bhagavad Geeta Chapter 6.

PrANAyAm I admit I do not do any explicit prANAyAm but a lot of natural deep breaths. (It is mentioned in passing in BG chapter 4 as one of many kinds of yajna). That plus rest of BG (2,4,9,12,14,15,18) covers Kriya

Hatha Yoga I did HaTha exercises for a very short time when I was younger.

Krishna declares devotion to him will lead to enlightenment, which in understanding we all have to individually become all reflective; that there is no negativity in the shadows, that we can attain light in all perspectives as Krishna (All Reflective), Buddha (Discernment), Lao Tzu (Ancient Master), Yeshua (Salvation), etc, all became One.

I really like the word you have used for Shri KRshNa - "All-Reflective". He is my All-Transcendental All-Reflective Kaleidoscope of All-kalAs.

pitAhamasya jagato mAtA dhAtA pitAmahah: | vedyaM pavitram OmkAra Rk sAm yajus eva cha || gatir-bhartA prabhUh: sAkshI niwAsah: sharaNam suRhut | prabhavah: pralayah: sthAnaM nidhAnaM beejamavyayaM || - Bhagavad Geeta 9.17 and 9.18 speaks of the CPU (Brahman').

Shri BhagavAn said: I am the Father, Mother, Grandsire, supporter, Ved, the Om sound, All-Knowledge, the Way, Destination, Nurturer, Protector, Lord / God (PrabhU), Witness, Shelter, Shade, Dearmost selfless Friend with no expectations, Life-source, sink-dissolution, into which all beings dissolve (laya), imperishable reason of existence.

KRshNa, Yeshua and Buddha have all touched my life.


I have been reflecting on your words :

Krishna declares devotion to him will lead to enlightenment, which in understanding we all have to individually become all reflective; that there is no negativity in the shadows, that we can attain light in all perspectives

reflective
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of reflective
: causing light, sound, or heat to move away : reflecting light, sound, or heat - (absence of darkness)
: relating to or caused by light that reflects off a surface
: thinking carefully about something : : thoughtful'
: showing concern for the needs or feelings of other people :considerate
reflecting ideals of a group

Collins English
If you are reflective, you are thinking deeply about something.
If something is reflective of a particular situation or attitude, it is typical of that situation or attitude, or is a consequence of it.
meditative; thoughtful
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈpensive
characterized by quiet thought or contemplation

Princeton's WordNet
brooding, broody, contemplative, meditative, musing, pensive, pondering, reflective, ruminative(adj)
deeply or seriously thoughtful
devoted to matters of the mind

 

[wizanda]

Hatha Yoga

Many people do Yoga as if it means stretching, it is to maintain Core strength; as in any fitness activity, it is always stated if we have a strong core, everything is stronger.

If we look at it in terms of energy, we have the Kundalini chakra producing hormones; yet for that to circulate we need to exercise it around our bodies.

PrANAyAm

Deep breaths down to our diaphragm are useful; yet only when we recognize the maths...

Like in Om Namah Shivaya is the elements.

Everything is energy, and it structuring is all maths; so eating, drinking, breathing are all Prana, taking it in ceremony is Yama (to be glorious in it being Maya, and our knowledge of it).

I have been reflecting on your words :

causing light, sound, or heat to move away

Life is about lots of carbon forms(Maya = (Yin/Yang) pushing against each other's reflections, this causes some to become diamonds.

A diamond learns to refract, so in the thousand lotus petals it becomes like a radiance of refractions.

or imbalance of mind-body-AtmA ?

• This energy from below powers our heart, and thus can drive our karma.
  
• We are what we take in.
  
• Healthy hormones need to be exercised daily.
  
• Being in a state of harmony with the Maya, produces positive sexual mathematics.

Bhakti can become imbalanced when someone practises devotion to a deity without connection to the Source, as it is often a form of self idolization.

In my opinion.

 

[Howard Is]

Practice of any form of yoga necessarily involves all chakras.
Chakras correspond physically to the major nerve plexi in the body.

The Root Chakra (Muladhara ) -sacral coccygeal plexus
The Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana) sacral plexus
The Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura) solar plexus
The Heart Chakra (Anahata). heart plexus.
The Throat Chakra (Vishudha) cervical ganglia medulla plexus.
The Third Eye Chakra (Anja) hypothalamus pituitary plexus.
The Crown Chakra (Sahasrara) cerebral cortex pineal plexus.

But you really don’t need to think about it.

Like you don’t need to think about your heart beating, your kidneys excreting or your intestines digesting.

Asana practice is ‘only stretching’ if you have received no decent instruction.
The complete instruction manual is Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.
There is almost no instruction re Hatha yoga in the Yoga Sutras.
Similarly, there is minimal instruction in the Bhagavad Gita.
In asana practice, a yogi is taking the body, emotions and mind as the object of meditation.
This is in accord with Buddha’s Satipathana Sutta - the instruction Buddha gave re meditation practice.

It is actually very simple.
Making it complicated is the way ego avoids the real work.
Complicated ideas and exciting new words will get you nowhere.

 

[wizanda]

But you really don’t need to think about it.

This is the whole point in the thread, if properly understood most of the practise of Yoga (connection to the Source) is conscious, and our external practises are missing that it aligns the chakras by the thought processes.

In my opinion.

 

[Spirit of Light]

My understanding of the Chakra system is one of our energy systems and if we use them correctly we can open the spiritual passage in the spine. Some call this Chi and other calls this Kundalinienergy centers. They invisible to the naked eye because the true energy centers lay in a different dimension we are connected to.

 

[wizanda]

Some call this Chi and other calls this Kundalinienergy centers.

Kundalini is a our sexual hormones, that regulate the rest of the bodies vitality.

Chi is also a variating of the Yin/Yang energies that make the Maya.

true energy centers lay in a different dimension we are connected to.

The bodies chakra, and the quantum dimensions interact independently; plus find them the easiest guide to enlightenment.

When we understand our bodies yoga/chakra alignment, we are in an internal state of higher understanding (Buddhi); then we can approach the dimensions as steps to the whole reality.

In my opinion.

 

[Howard Is]

The bodies chakra, and the quantum dimensions interact independently; plus find them the easiest guide to enlightenment.

When we understand our bodies yoga/chakra alignment, we are in an internal state of higher understanding (Buddhi); then we can approach the dimensions as steps to the whole reality.

That’s a bunch of fancy words which say nothing.

 

[ameyAtmA]

Namaste
Of Course, everything you have said is a natural part of Hindu Dharma teachings, and I appreciate the emphasis on the holistic approach to Brahman-VidyA, especially for people outside Hinduism, but also some within.

There is no denying the benefits of daily Asanas and prANAyAm.
It is just that we don't find everyone outwardly practicing all limbs and kinds of yoga in a 24 hour period for the whole life. Some have done the other limbs of yoga in past life or in childhood, and now automatically settled on the higher meditation (DhyAna BG chapter 6) for instance. Sometimes those connected to the Source , or following a Guru are given a part of this Yoga-shAstra to maintain focus.

Life is about lots of carbon forms(Maya = (Yin/Yang) pushing against each other's reflections, this causes some to become diamonds.
A diamond learns to refract, so in the thousand lotus petals it becomes like a radiance of refractions.

Certainly, and turning into the diamond is a process.

Bhakti can become imbalanced when someone practises devotion to a deity without connection to the Source, as it is often a form of self idolization.

That appears to be the case with a few organized bhakti traditions, but I was not referring to that kind of bhakti mArga.

Also, more important, that I am not speaking for everyone either. I was only speaking from experience.

Bhakti can be defined as dvaitic or advaitic (connecting to Brahman).
In my understanding as given by Mukunda, many shlokas in the Bhagavad Geeta are speaking of dwelling in the Source and calling it bhakti . Bhakti means absorption. Being devoted to the goal, the determination of connecting to Brahman' perpetually , is also a result of reverence for the Source and Guru/Deity.

This is the bhakti that leads to jnAna (because the pre-requisite of lessening ego, motivated determination, and cultivation of many good qualities are taken care of by bhakti).
.
Adi Shankara also states strong desire for liberation (mumukshatva), vairAgya (detached dispassion for worldly self-interest), and a pure mind are pre-requisites for JnAna, [which bhakti can fulfill]. The Divine Mother Kundalini is then working in the background since She is none but the YogamAyA of Brahman', and personally takes care of the devotee.

e.g. BG 9.34 can be interpreted as dualistic or non-dualistic i.e. connecting to Brahman'.
Hinduism is mature enough to know that each individual is at a different stage of spiritual advancement at a point.
So, (with the exception of a few sampradAy), abiding in Brahman' is encouraged and worship discouraged. At the same time, there is no dogmatic shunning of a personal relationship with a form representing Brahman' (like Krishna in the Geeta - BG 12.2 or Vishwaroop), because it is this reciprocal relationship that guides and nurtures the individual to prepare for Brahman-bhAv and JnAna - with a pure, strong and spiritually mature heart.

Some people on RF think connecting with Brahman' is only possible with drugs, which is far from the truth.
It is the jivAtmA's eternal dormant connection to Brahman' that is revived when the time is right.

 

[ameyAtmA]

Deep breaths down to our diaphragm are useful; yet only when we recognize the maths...
Like in Om Namah Shivaya is the elements.

This is Shri Vidya (diciphering the syllables of a mantra).

Chanting gAyatri mantra properly, aloud, especially in the open sandhyA sky, watching the Sun go down, is invigorating and uplifting , while silent japa of Gayatri in the mind and indoors is meditative and peaceful.
When the aloud breath-mantra requires more effort and the silent meditative mantra comes naturally, the jeev falls back on the latter, but I agree that the external chant also has its place.

Everything is energy, and it structuring is all maths; so eating, drinking, breathing are all Prana, taking it in ceremony is Yama (to be glorious in it being Maya, and our knowledge of it).

Agreed. Some take it in as a yama, some take it in as devotion to Brahman'-Ishwar (gratitude etc.) (for Devi bhaktas, to PrakRuti-MAyA) anna (food) = pUrNa-Brahman'
(BG 9.27 Arjun, whatever you do, eat, offer in yad'nya, donate, austerities you perform, do it as an offering to Me)

 

[Owlmaster]

You are all amazing

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

Firstly not sure if anyone has done this previously of aligning the forms of Yoga with Chakras, and if so would be happy to look at the info...

Since couldn't find the info, and realized they do align, thus decided to add it up myself; feel free to be critical.

• Tantra Yoga - A methodology of controlling the bodies vitality. - Overal method of Yoga for Connection.
  
  
  
• Jnana Yoga - A seeking of spiritual knowledge. - Sahasrara (thousand petaled) - Crown Chakra
  
  
• Raja Yoga - The practise of mindfulness meditation. - Ajna (command) - Third-Eye Chakra
  
  
• Bhakti Yoga - Ritual devotion. - Vishuddha (especially pure) - Throat Chakra
  
  
  
• Karma Yoga - A path of mindful action (selfless service). -
  
  
  
  Anharta (unstruck) - Heart Chakra​
• Kriya Yoga - A technique of inner karma cleansing. -
  
  
  
• Pranayama Yoga - A practise of regulating the breathing. - Manipura (city of jewels) - Solar plexus Chakra
  
  
• Hatha Yoga - A way to keeping the body balanced through stretching. - Svadhishthana (one's own base) - Core Chakra
  
  
• Kundalini Yoga - a practise to awakening the sexual vitality. - Muladhara (root support) - Sexual organs Chakra

In my opinion.

What's a "chakras"?

 

[wizanda]

What's a "chakras"?

A Chakra is an energy point in our consciousness.

In my opinion.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

A Chakra is an energy point in our consciousness.

Right, so a religious thingy that can't be properly defined in such a way that it can be demonstrated to actually exist (or even make sense).
Kind of like a "soul" or something.

 

[wizanda]

Right, so a religious thingy that can't be properly defined in such a way that it can be demonstrated to actually exist (or even make sense).
Kind of like a "soul" or something.

The thread had done so well at staying intellectual.

Our reality is inside a giant computer system, everything is mathematics; Yoga means to connect to the CPU, and Chakras are a part of our conscious connection to our body.

Soul is an advance AI evolving melody system, that exists at a quantum level.

There are multiple mathematical energy points in the conscious system of our body, we know it from biology, energy, etc.

Please study the subject, before saying something highly advanced is stupid.

In my opinion.

 

[sojourner]

I definitely agree with this, especially with the more esoteric forms. You can't read a book and get it right on those. But yeah, I remember learning about chakras but there was never really much emphasis placed on them. The only time I ran into folks who spoke much about chakras were from new age hippies (along with moonbeams, hugs and unicorns).

Peruvian Shamanism works somewhat with chakras, but mostly with what are called "centers of exchange." Core Shamanism, such as introduced by Michael Harner is a more "new age" form of Shamanism, and does make use of chakras. Peruvian Shamans are anything but "new age hippies."

 

[PearlSeeker]

But you really don’t need to think about it.

This is the whole point in the thread, if properly understood most of the practise of Yoga (connection to the Source) is conscious, and our external practises are missing that it aligns the chakras by the thought processes.

Do you really need to concentrate on a point on the body to become more loving and compassionate?

Chakras correspond just to different but interconnected areas of human life. All have their place. It's good to know the areas and balance them but you don't have to know how it works to use it - just like using the toilet flush.

 

[wizanda]

Do you really need to concentrate on a point on the body to become more loving and compassionate?

If we understand in Karma and Kriya Yoga, we need right action, and a clear consciousness to then understand empathetically.

It's good to know the areas and balance them but you don't have to know how it works to use it

If we have a race car, and we understand its mechanism, it runs better.

In my opinion.

 

[PearlSeeker]

If we have a race car, and we understand its mechanism, it runs better.

Yes, maybe. But despite this driving skills are more essential for a driver. What about natural functions like walking? If a baby is learning to crawl and to walk you wouldn't give it a lesson about anatomy, kinetic and potential energy etc., wouldn't you?

How then can knowledge about chakras contribute to learning love and wisdom for example?

 

[wizanda]

How then can knowledge about chakras contribute to learning love and wisdom for example?

Our heart chakra is where we love from, and our mind chakras are where we study wisdom.

By dealing with our karma, and learning why things happen through mindfulness; we then have fruit to share, otherwise most people don't give unconditionally.

What about natural functions like walking? If a baby is learning to crawl and to walk you wouldn't give it a lesson about anatomy, kinetic and potential energy etc., wouldn't you?

We can naturally learn to walk; yet when we learn that if we extend our toes as we run, we can run twice as fast, thus learning the techniques can make the process optimized.

Understanding that Kundalini yoga is our hormones that regulates our vitality, and by learning to maintain all energies in our bodies, we can then be in a state of harmonized balance.

It is like with the racing car, if we do not know to put in advanced racing oil, the engine breaks; this is the problem with many people who do not practise all forms of yoga.

In my opinion.

 

[PearlSeeker]

Our heart chakra is where we love from, and our mind chakras are where we study wisdom.

By dealing with our karma, and learning why things happen through mindfulness; we then have fruit to share, otherwise most people don't give unconditionally.

We can naturally learn to walk; yet when we learn that if we extend our toes as we run, we can run twice as fast, thus learning the techniques can make the process optimized.

Understanding that Kundalini yoga is our hormones that regulates our vitality, and by learning to maintain all energies in our bodies, we can then be in a state of harmonized balance.

It is like with the racing car, if we do not know to put in advanced racing oil, the engine breaks; this is the problem with many people who do not practise all forms of yoga.

In my opinion.

I know where those energies reside but what is the benefit of knowing this?

I agree about balance.