What the cakras are and how they are connected with the qualities of the mind and its tendencies (vrttis): a brief portrait of all seven cakras — their elements, symbols, glands and influence on a person.
This course explains to the spiritual seeker what the phenomenon known as the cakras is and what its essence is, giving a general characterization and a detailed description of them: which qualities of the mind and which tendencies (vrttis) are connected with them. Existing practices will be offered that make it possible to influence the cakras in the safest and most effective way.
What are the A center of psychic energy in the body; seven major ones lie along the spine.?
The cakras are energy centers of our body that, in the ordinary state, we cannot perceive with our sense organs. Ancient mystics described the cakras as vortices of vital force spinning at tremendous speed. They were pictured as lotus flowers: the cup of the flower and the petals around it. And different flowers (different cakras) have different numbers of petals.
Long ago our ancestors began to notice that when we feel emotions, a release of psychic energy occurs, and depending on the quality of the emotion (subtler or cruder), this release takes place in different centers of our body. The subtler the emotion, the higher the center. The study of these centers developed into the science of the cakras — cakra vidyá — which rests on an understanding of the inner structure of our body. This science is taught by great spiritual masters; yet, with a calm mind and much time given to spiritual practice, one can grasp this science directly.
It is nevertheless important to understand that when the subtle sphere is influenced, changes take place in every area of a person's life, so working with the cakras is the most effective and powerful spiritual practice. But for it to be effective, the guidance of a competent teacher is needed. If a spiritual seeker is fully ready, takes spiritual practice seriously and has practiced for a long time, spiritual teachers will gladly teach them cakra meditation.
This course will look at methods of strengthening the cakras that are simple and accessible to everyone.
There are seven cakras. Below we will look briefly at each of them in turn.
Múládhára cakra
- Main characteristic: earth
- Animal symbol: a black elephant (unbridled, unpredictable power, uncontrolled instincts)
- Factor: solid
- Glands: the sex glands (testes and ovaries)
It controls the basis of life; it is the root center. All the vital force, the energy of life, is concentrated in this cakra. The múládhára cakra has four petals and controls the solid factor (dhara). Control over this cakra gives stability, steadiness and good health.
This cakra is also responsible for mobility and for the condition of the legs. The main signs of a strong and pure múládhára cakra: the person seems to glow, and a pleasant fragrance comes from them.
Svádhiśt́hána cakra
- Main characteristic: the flow of water
- Animal symbol: a crocodile (absence of compassion, only the instincts of self-preservation and survival)
- Factor: liquid
- Glands: the sex glands (testes and ovaries, as with the múládhára cakra)
It controls the water factor (varuna). A person with a developed svádhiśt́hána cakra is like water: dynamic, flowing like water, flowing around obstacles. Such a person has no attachments (they flow around them), becomes free of conflict and begins to understand deeply the psychology, feelings and emotions of other people.
Along with the development of the svádhiśt́hána cakra, taste develops in the broad sense of the word: in food, music, art and so on. The person acquires a special charm, an allure; a special beauty shows itself in them.
Mańipura cakra
- Main characteristic: fire
- Animal symbol: a goat (a taste for risk and adventure)
- Factor: luminous
- Glands: the pancreas, the adrenal glands
In this energy center arise the longing for and attachment to the objects of the external world. A developed mańipura cakra gives a person an inner "fire": fearlessness appears, a desire to move; the body becomes resilient, supple, full of energy. Laziness disappears and dynamism arises.
The mańipura cakra is responsible for good, sharp eyesight, clear eyes, a "burning" gaze. The leaders of this world are people with a developed mańipura cakra.
Anáhata cakra
- Main characteristic: air
- Animal symbol: a gazelle (lightness, fickleness, timidity)
- Factor: aerial
- Glands: the thymus gland
It controls and coordinates the vital force (prána). It contains a special "organ" called the "pránendriya," which makes it possible to perceive the subtle vibrations of the world. This shows itself in a person sensing the energy of places, feeling what someone is thinking, knowing their thoughts, perceiving everything subtle that is beyond the reach of eyes and ears.
A developed anáhata cakra lets a person transmit their emotions into the world. Such a person has a highly developed charisma, knows how to inspire, can communicate effectively with other people and understand them. The anáhata cakra also gives a carefree quality (not irresponsibility) and lightness of mind; that is, in the hardest situations the person stays calm and soars above circumstances, inspiring everyone around with their goodness.
Vishuddha cakra
- Main characteristic: energy, ether
- Animal symbol: a white elephant (powerful, positive, creative energy, positive motivation)
- Factor: ethereal
- Glands: the thyroid and parathyroid glands
It controls the ethereal factor — the boundary between the material and the abstract. In this cakra lie all the supernatural powers that every person has in potential.
As the vishuddha cakra develops, an extraordinary charisma and eloquence appear. The person develops a clear and precise intellect and a good memory.
All the finest virtues of human nature are rooted in the vishuddha cakra.
Ájiṋá cakra
- Main characteristic: the unity of macrocosm and microcosm
- Animal symbol: none
- Factor: mind
- Glands: the pituitary
It controls the mind and lies beyond physical nature. Here the potential for omniscience is stored.
The universe is made of matter, and this matter is identical to the matter of which a human being is made.
In the same way, the mind and consciousness of a human being are identical to the mind and consciousness of the universe.
Developing the ájiṋá cakra helps one realize oneself as the universal Consciousness. In the end, the person comes to know everything that is happening at any point in the universe.
Sahasrára cakra
- Main characteristic: pure consciousness
- Animal symbol: none
- Factor: consciousness
- Glands: the pineal gland
This is the center of pure consciousness, in which there is no longer any difference between macrocosm and microcosm.
All the power and energy that exist in the macrocosm are present in the microcosm as well.
"Sahasrára" means "the center with a thousand petals." All the properties of the mind are controlled by this center, and can indirectly be suspended or switched off by it as well.
In the following articles we will talk about each cakra separately and look at how to influence them in the safest and most effective way.