To: K-list
Recieved: 2000/04/19 18:12
Subject: [K-list] Origins of Kundalini Yoga
From: Harsha
On 2000/04/19 18:12, Harsha posted thus to the K-list:
MHortlingATnospamaol.com wrote:
Kundalin Yoga is not at all the monopoly of any specific group or
tradition -
even if the 3HO organization like to market themselves as *the* Kundalini
Yoga.
In fact, I've read books by 3HO people that tend to indicate that the
authors
didn't really know what they were writing about:)
No, there are numerous traditions and lineages of kundalini-yoga around
the
world, most of them of course originating in India and some of them going
much further back in history than Sikhism. Kashmir Shaivism for instance,
is
a good example of a tradition that can be traced to the pre-vedic,
dravidian
culture and is possibly older than 5000 years !
Most of the tantric traditions in fact incorporate Kundalini-Yoga and are
based on the Shiva/Shakti polarity of life. Among the more contemporary
Kundalini-Yogis, some of the essential ones meriting investigation are of
course Gopi Krishna, Muktananda (who is an exponent of Kashmir Shaivism
basically), Swami Satyananda Saraswati to name but a few. Even Paramahansa
Ramakrishna was a Kundalini-Yogi although the orthodoxy of his time didn't
really want that aspect of their patron saint to be made too public.
Anarchist tantrics are dangerous!!
Anyway, I don't essentially want to bash Yogi Bhajan's group or teaching,
but to me, it doesn't really feel correct the way they seem to appropriate
one of the oldest and deepest traditions of human spirituality and making
it
their trademark.
On the other hand, it's probably just another of Ma's little jokes :)
Regards,
Michael
Well stated Michael. You are clearly very knowledgeable about the subject
matter.
Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikhs was a beautiful and God-intoxicated
saint lived who about 500 years ago. However, Tantra and Kundalini Yoga
traditions can be historically documented to go back several thousand years.
Some scholars claim at least 5000 years.
One of the 24 Jain Tirthankara's (Perfected and Omniscient Sage in Jainism)
who lived around around 3000 years ago is always shown with several serpents
acting as umbrellas and giving shade to his head. Similarly, the Hindu Deity
Shiva is usually shown with a Serpent around his neck.
Harsha
DISCLAIMER!
Home | Archive Index | Search the archives | Subscribe
K. List FAQ | Kundalini FAQs | Signs and Symptoms | Awakening Experiences | K. list Polls | Member Essays | Meditations | List Topics | Art Gallery | Cybrary | Sitemap | Email the moderators.
symbol.