What Are the Chakras?
What Are the Chakras? The Sanskrit word chakra means “wheel” or “vortex,” and refers to the subtle gateways that allow universal energy to flow through our being. Each one represents a specific energetic frequency, from gross matter to spirit. As expressions of different levels of consciousness, they can be seen as stations on the spiritual […]
Yoni—Sacred Source
Yoni & Lingam Sacred Symbols of the Feminine and Masculine The word yoni means “holder,” “vagina,” “source,” or “womb.” According to Tantra Yoga, the yoni is the origin of life, the source of the Universe. It is associated with prakriti (the Universal Substance). In Hinduism, the yoni is a symbol of Shakti (the creative force […]
Yoga: Union with the Divine
Yoga Union with the Divine What Is Yoga? Attuning to the Seer Within A Tool to Reveal the Self The Sanskrit root yuj means to “yoke,” “bind,” or “join together.” It also indicates “union” or “Oneness.” At the deepest spiritual level, yoga allows us to reveal the Self, the True Essence of our Being. Ultimately, …
Yin and Yang—The Twofold Character of the Universe
Yin and Yang The Polar Energies In yoga, the word hatha is symbolically translated as ha (Sun) and tha (Moon). In this way, Hatha Yoga can be understood as the path of union between the solar and lunar energies within us. Similarly, in Taoism, yang is solar, masculine energy and yin is lunar, feminine energy…
Vak—The Eternal Word
Vak The Four Levels of the Word “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” –John 1:1, The Bible Vak or vac means “speech” and refers to the Eternal Word. In Eastern metaphysics, the creation of the Universe is often described in connection with the unfolding …
The Upayas
The Upayas The Means to Reveal Our Ultimate Nature In Kashmir Shaivism, upaya refers to the means to reveal our Ultimate Nature, Shiva Consciousness. The upayas unify the fettered soul with the Supreme. Shaivism asserts that there are three upayas (ways) that lead to this state: 1. Shambhavopaya or Icchopaya—The Means of Shiva Shambhavopaya is…
The Types of Kundalini Shakti
Three Types of Kundalini Shakti In Tantra Yoga, kundalini shakti is divided into three types according to the three fundamental levels of consciousness and existence—Shiva (absolute consciousness), Shakti (universal energy), and nara (the limited human being identified with his/her personality). The three corresponding aspects of kundalini are known as para kundalini, chit kundalini, and prana…
The Three Main Nadis
The Three Main Nadis Ida, Pingala, and Sushumna Nadis Convey the Life Force The Hatha Yoga tradition says that there are about 72,000 nadis (subtle channels of prana [energy]) that convey the life force in a human being. Ida, pingala, and sushumna are known to be the three principal nadis. The ending point of the…
The Three Kinds of Karma
The Three Kinds of Karma The Law of Cause and Effect The Three Kinds of Karma Karma means action, operating through the Law of Cause and Effect. It refers to the destiny that people make for themselves through their actions. According to the yoga tradition, there are three kinds of karma: prarabdha (that which is…
The Three Gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas
The Three Gunas Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas The Gunas—The Fundamental Qualities of Nature Guna means attribute, quality, strand. This word has many connotations, but the most common usage belongs to the vocabulary of the yoga and Samkhya traditions, where it refers to the well-known triad of forces—sattva, rajas, and tamas—that are thought to be the…