60 Spirituality Studies 10-2 Fall 2024 and possible abnormality of physical sensations indicating Kuṇḍalinī awakening. Such a disturbing array of physical symptoms could be happening spontaneously on its own or as a result of emotional trauma, intense meditation or yoga, prayers, rituals and other practices. Therefore, the notion of altered physical states is seen in many spiritual traditions as a sign of spiritual awakening. While the physical sensations of Kuṇḍalinī arousal can happen spontaneously or be induced by subconscious decisions, humans seem to have always been aware of the results of practices that deliberately trigger Kuṇḍalinī movement, even if they did not call it as such. Although, as in my case, we often practice some kind of natural spiritual protocol without understanding that we are doing so, the theme of fasting holds an important place in many spiritual traditions, even the oldest ones. Fasting, cleansing and detoxing has always been an essential step in getting closer to the divine energy – whatever any particular religious belief might call that supernatural might. Over the millennia it has become known widely recognized that ascetic practices help to develop connection and unification with God. As James Mallinson (2020, 2) explains, in India physical methods have been used for religious ends since at least 1000 BCE and hathayoga means “yoga by force”. In Gheranda Samhita (2004, 89–98), among other classical hathayoga texts, a whole chapter five is devoted to where the yogi should live, what he should eat, and at what time the yogic practice should be started. The above references support the thesis that religious traditions have long used various ascetic practices purposely to evoke spiritual experiences. Similarly, no matter the origin of the spiritual tradition, celibacy has been stressed as another method of helping to connect with the divine. I understand the sexual act as taking place for the most part in the physical and emotional chakra and connecting us to the material and emotional dimension. However, as known from tantric traditions, the sexual act performed as a specific procedure can support Kuṇḍalinī movement past the first two chakras and facilitate complete Kuṇḍalinī rising. Extreme practices of starving or even inflicting physical pain on the body are known mainly from the traditions of Ancient India, of yogis and fakirs who purposely trained their bodies to acquire ascetic power, and this way gain spiritual connection beyond the body (Mallinson 2020, 1–2). Many spiritual traditions also recognize that paying attention to breathing and employing various breathing techniques are helpful in achieving higher realms of consciousness by the practitioner. Mircea Eliade (2009, 56) discusses the importance of prāṇāyāma (the yogic practice of focusing on vital energy, prāṇa) and states that by making his respiration rhythmical and progressively slower the yogin can “penetrate” certain states of consciousness that are inaccessible in waking condition. Yoga, dance and various other physical exercises are also known for positively influencing overall well-being and enhancing the possibility of spiritual insight and connection with the higher power. Among the multitude of sources supporting this claim (Eliade 2009, 56–71), Ravindra Kumar and Jytte Kumar Larsen (2004, 209) state that yoga, as a conscious spiritual practice, was created out of accounts of people who were assuming āsanas and mudras instinctively, which resulted in experiences of higher consciousness and spiritual enlightenment. 3 The Emotional Dimension of Perception The second dimension of perception is the emotional. Since Kuṇḍalinī normally rests between the first and second chakra, the emotional aspect of our lives is of paramount importance. Raw, primal emotional reaction is a natural response to sensory or mental stimuli and emotions are not neutral, there is always a positive or negative aspect to every emotion, even if it is weak and barely felt. Our second chakra expresses emotion without the control of the mind (the third chakra). The emotions listed below could be considered the main emotions that we experience, observed on a scale from negative to positive: • suicidal, • depression, • fear, • anxiety, • emotional pain, • anger, • boredom, • contentment, • interest, • pleasure, • joy, • happiness, • bliss.
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