Siddha Yoga: 3 methods– Shaktipat, Meditation, Self-Awakening

TheKundaliniYoga.Org
Happiness is our nature. It is not wrong to desire it. What is wrong is seeking it outside when it is inside - Ramana Maharshi

Siddha yoga: 3 methods of awakening – Shaktipat, Meditation, Self-Awakening

	Related Pages
	What is Kundalini? (The Cosmic Shakti)
	Kundalini - Frequently Asked Questions
	Symptoms of Kundalini awakening
	Siddha Yoga: Most effective and simplest of all yogas
	Qualities of Shaktipat Guru, Why Shaktipat Diksha?
	4 Stages of Siddha Yogi - Initial stage to Bliss state (Nirvana or Sat-Chit-Ananda)
	Videos on Shaktipat Diksha & Meditation
	Real life: Divine Experiences after awakening

Kundalini is activated by three ways that leads a person on the path of Siddha yoga

1) Spiritual practice or
2) Spiritual transfer of energy (Shaktipat - Grace of the Master or Guru).
3) Self-Awakening

The important difference between Siddha Yoga or Kundalini Yoga and other Yoga paths is that while followers of other approaches have to make strenuous efforts under the careful direction of appropriate Gurus in order to achieve Self-Realization, followers of Siddha Yoga, once initiated, do not need to undertake such arduous efforts.

That does not mean the efforts stop. In fact this is the point where the true spiritual progress of the sadhak (yogi) starts. This is considered as the second birth - on the path of siddha yoga. The ultimate realization (The Divine Awareness or Nirvana or Mukti or Moksha or salvation or The Bliss, Sat-Chit-Ananda, Chaitanya, Supreme Awareness, Supreme Consciousness or Super-Soul) comes ONLY after consistent efforts (Meditation, Naam, Seva and following of gyan yoga) over several decades (I would say more than one life for an average sadhak (devotee.)

The only difference is the Kundalini on the path of Siddha yoga will take care of cleaning of the subtle body of the sadhak (yogi) which otherwise requires tremendous amount of efforts in all other paths. Therefore, Kundalini (in siddha yoga) should be considered as a tool (say an airplane) to attain the ultimate goal (the destination - The Divine Awareness or The Bliss)

The bottom line: Kundalini awakening is a starting point of the process that culminates into self-realization (Nirvana or Mukti) after consistent efforts of several life. In absence of consistent and sincere efforts (primarily the meditation) the Kundalini of the siddha yogi would go back to the dormant state (fortunately the awakening the next tiem can be easier.)

Sri Ramana Maharshi says: God and Guru are in truth not different. Like the prey that has fallen into the jaws of a tiger cannot escape, those who have come under the glance of the Guru’s grace will be saved and will never be forsaken, yet one should follow without fail the path shown by the Guru.

Sri Ramana Maharshi is absolutely correct in both the aspects – 1) The Guru (or the God) saves. 2) And he saves ONLY if you give the Guru the freedom (meditation, naam, seva and spiritual readings) to work within you.

So, as said by Sri Ramana Maharshi, even the God and Guru are both helpless without your action. What is the action? It the opening the yogis mind to the grace of the God and continue to progress on the yoga path by removing the doubts from the mind consistently using the tool of Gyan yoga.

1) Spiritual practice:

In absence of a Siddha Guru (Spiritual Master) Kundalini awakening can be achieved by regular meditation and careful efforts. Kundalini awakening is a process that may take days, months or years. In this option, all depends on the spiritual level of an individual, their past Karma impresions and consistency of efforts. In this approach Kundalini herself is your Guru and the only thing you needs to do is to continue to practice meditation until Kundalini is awakened (and thereafter when sadhak enters the domain of the God or The Divine or The Chaitanya.)

2) Shaktipat - Transfer of cosmic energy - Lighting of a candle

In this approach a Siddha Guru (Spiritual Master) through his grace and through the sheer power of his will awakens the Kundalini of his disciple. This is referred as Shakti pat (or Śaktipāta - Sanskrit word, from sakti (psychic energy) and pāta (to fall) refers in Hinduism to conferring of spiritual "energy" upon one person by another.) Shaktipat can be transmitted with a sacred word or mantra, or by a look, thought/will or touch - the last usually to the ajna chakra or third eye of the recipient. It is considered an act of grace from the Guru to deserving disciple. This transfer of energy itself initiates the awakening of kundalini.

3) Self-Awakening of Kundalini:

This happens very rarely, but sometimes sadhak's Kundalini is awakened on its own. Actually this is result of the progress made by the sadhak in their previous life. The sadhak starts from the point where they left in the previous life. Here is one real life example of self-Awakening

------------

The true spiritual progress starts only after the moment the Kundalini is awakened. Our efforts SHOULD stop at this point and the mother Kundalini becomes our Guru and will take care of our progress from this point on. Sadhak (or practitioner) still needs to continue the practice of daily meditation to enjoy the bliss.

When Kundalini awakens she can initiate several actions (Symptoms of Kundalini Awakening) in the Sadhak. Our ONLY job is to let the things happen (body movements, sound, asanas, pranayama and many other things are possible).

SIDDHA MEDITATION

Sit comfortably with your eyes closed. (Upright and relaxed, cross-legged, on the floor or mat. If you choose to sit on a chair, place your feet a little apart from each other, without shoes or sox. Rest your hands palms open and upward on your lap or on knees. Upright does NOT mean strained position, but should be a relaxed and still upright position)
Keep the body completely relaxed.
You can do Mantra (Naam jaap) if it will help.
Most important thing is to observe your breathe. This helps focus the mind. (At the same time one should remember that the objective of the meditation is NOT to focus the mind. Mind has traveled ages and ages with your SELF (soul or atma) and it can not be calmed down by meditation of few minutes.)
When you start, inhale rapidly and exhale slowly seven or eight times and then relax body completely. Thereafter, breathe normally.
Our role is to just observe the involuntary breathing. Do not interfere.
Don’t feel someone is looking at you…Just let the things happen …Whatever it may be. Most likely no kriyas (involuntary actions) will happen for yogis in the initial stages - this is because of the thickness or gravity of the samskaras or karma impressions from our past lives)
Open your eyes only when you feel to do so.
Continue to do this siddha meditation few minutes, preferably every day.

Most important aspect yogis should keep in mind: This is not a process of few days or months, but this is a travel of several decades (if you are lucky) and probably more than one life. On your way you WILL be graced by a Siddha Guru when the intensity of your meditation reaches to the level where the Chaitanya or the Divine (in the form of a Siddha Guru) WILL be compelled to grace you with a Shaktipat.

This is how the law of the God or the Divine works: When the fruit is ripe it MUST fall from the tree, in the hands of the divine, it can not continue to hang on to the tree of the life that is full of DESIRES, WANTS and MATERIAL ATTACHMENTS.

Do not believe in the people or websites that tell you Kundalini can be awakened within days and months (by self meditation in absence of shaktipat from a Siddha Guru). I agree, it is fully possible to awaken kundalini in few days. But that is ONLY because of yogi’s efforts from the past lives and NOT because of meditation of few months in this life.

watch Kundalini awakening videos
read more at Kundalini FAQ