In Siddha Maha-Yoga, surrendering does not mean losing
Man’s biggest mystery is life itself. For a few minutes let us close our eyes and visualize any physical element, say a gas like helium. In our visualization, let us bring this helium so near to our vision that we can see its atoms. Now I ask myself, "What do I see in the space between two atoms?" As a physical scientist, I would say "Nothing", or "Space".
Now, let’s go inside an individual atom. I “see” electrons, protons and neutrons and I am curious, "Supposing, electrons, protons and neutrons of all atoms of the Universe were to dissociate, what would remain?" The answer this time could be "Energy". I ask further, "Is this energy electricity, heat, magnetism, light, etc.?" Impossible, since there remains no material support for such energies. So what is this energy? Yogis call this energy as “Maha-Prana”.One need not be a Yogi to realize that all manifestations must be different and highly complex transmutations of the same, all-pervading “Maha-Prana”. When working as an animating Shakti in vegetables, animals and humans, it is simply known as Prana-Shakti.
Looking at the overall harmony and precision in Nature, it would not be un-scientific to conclude that Prana is not only Force but also Intelligence, which logically must exist in all sentient and insentient creation.
This Maha Prana-Shakti, while manifesting this Universe as animate and inanimate forms, set for herself two fundamental Laws, viz. 1) The Law of Cause and Effect. (Every cause has an effect or a network of effects and every effect has a cause or a network of causes); and 2) All Manifest Creation must finally return to its un-manifest state;
The process of bringing the soul to birth (as human or as any other animal) is also brought about by this self intelligent energy known as "Prana-Shakti". Friends, take yourselves to the time when you were in your mother’s womb. Did you ask for two eyes and two ears? Or for one nose and one mouth? Or for two hands and two legs? So, it is that very Intelligent Force viz. Prana Shakti that decided and caused not only your body but also the mind to take a particular form and constitution. It even caused the first heartbeat and the first breath and will continue to be the cause of your breathing till death.
Once the task of animation is complete (i.e. at the time of birth), the “Prana-Shakti” as a manifesting intelligent Force becomes dormant or inactive as this Shakti has finished Her work of giving body and mind to a soul. From here onwards, Prana within the creature functions predominantly through the mind and physical senses, while being subject to the Law of Cause and Effect (better known as Karma). This soul has thus to “live out” or “pay for” or “enjoy” the fruits of some or all of the past Karma in the current life-span.
This Dormant Prana-Shakti is known as Kundalini. Creatures with a dormant Prana-Shakti live their lives according to the tendencies of the mind (Samskaras), which in turn have roots in ones karmic past.
The ordinary creature mistakenly identifies sense pleasure with happiness and in the process creates more “karma” which serves as cause for endless transmigration of the soul from one body to another, i.e. the inexorable cycle of life and death. A thinking human soon realizes the uselessness of trying to satisfy the senses and tries to see beyond this. Thus begins one's spiritual journey.
Put simply, actions of previous births become the cause-bank for different persons having different constitution (swabhava). This constitution is mapped in our inner or Pranic Body in which the Chakras are the energy plexuses which in turn are pre-set for that person according to the karmic past or in-born tendencies of the mind, if one would like to refer to it.
Most Yoga Practices directly or indirectly aim at balancing these energy Chakras willfully. However, as every individual is constitutionally different, it is difficult to select suitable practices, leading to puzzlement.
Coming back to Prana-Shakti, if, after having completed her task of creation (birth), had this “Kundalini” not become dormant, she would have commenced the process of reverting to Her un-manifest state. In that process, having to work her way through the physical and astral body as also the mind of that person, she must correct the Chakra pre-sets, since the aberrations represent obstacles in her ascent.
The awakened Shakti thus effects these corrections by means of causing various corrective Kriyas, thus bypassing the need to actually live out the karma.
Such corrective Kriyas could be physical, mental or even emotional in nature depending upon the karmic requirements or the Chakra imbalance of the individual. Some of these could even be imperceptible as when corrections are taking place concerning some hidden health disorder. As the practitioner’s mind does not exert any will for these Kriyas, Siddha Maha Yoga could thus be seen as “auto-customized”.
Although Hatha Yoga and Mantra Yoga present ways to awaken this Kundalini, these methods would be arduous, hazardous and could lead the practitioner to be finally confronted by the stubborn ego, the sense of “I-ness”, which prevents merger of consciousness with knowledge and bliss.
In Siddha MahaYoga, the Sadhaka’s dormant Shakti is awakened by the grace of the Guru at the time of Initiation. Hence, during daily Siddha Yoga Sadhana, all one has to do is to sit relaxed and simply surrender one’s will to the awakened Kundalini Shakti and be a calm witness as this Prana Shakti works out various corrective Kriyas.
The preparatory practice for Siddha Maha Yoga consists of learning to hand over the mind, at least for a few minutes everyday, to this Mother Prana Shakti manifesting in all of us as breath.
The Siddha Maha Yoga aspirant could thus make a start as outlined below:
1. Sit in any easy posture. Close the eyes calmly and with devotion.
2. Let the mind observe the automatic breath and the current through the backbone.
3. Let your Prana-Shakti do this Sadhana.
If done regularly, this preparatory practice will result in many positive changes such as improved concentration, removal of bad habits and eligibility for Kundalini awakening.
In due course it will also kindle one’s wish to obtain the Grace and Initiation from the right Guide on this path. If such grace is showered, from then on, during daily Sadhana, the awakened Prana Shakti, will cause appropriate corrective Kriyas and over time will remove all the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual imbalances within the aspirant.
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