Shaktipat
This is a subject for real Gurus. Only a real Guru can fully understand it. However, for the disciple, there are many elementary things for them to know. Otherwise, a disciple seeing differences in the results often starts comparing things falsely.
I am writing this based on experiences. It is not based on intellect, logic, speculation based on reading books etc.
Some general information
1. Chakras : (pronounced like chair not shakra). The real chakras as described in the books of Yoga are in the subtle or astral body. However, when the gross physical body was created, it made some corresponding places to the subtle body. They are the plexuses. In other words, the plexuses and the chakras are 6 different places where the astral body and the gross physical body are bound. They are 6 different centers where our consciousness is bound to the gross physical body.
2. Awakening of the Shakti is done in 2 places. a) Outer – in the gross body in the plexuses. It can be awakened in any one of the lower 5 plexuses. When the shakti is awakened this way, there tends to be more of Kriyas, loss of consciousness does not occur till much later. Here the Shakti has to clear the external desire patterns first. b) In the inner chakras. Here the source of desire, which is synonymous with the inner prana, has to be cleaned first. Sadhaks, in this case have more experiences when the go to “sleep”. In this case, Pranayama becomes very helpful in guiding the inner prana (which is our desire).
3. Prana is very often misunderstood. Rightly so, because there are different pranas. Prana has nothing to do respiration. Respiration is the result of the effects of prana. Prana that is present in the subtle body is different than the prana present in the external body. When we do pranayama, our goal is to affect the prana of the subtle body not the gross external body.
4. When the inner shakti in the subtle body is fully awakened, it starts by pulling the prana in the subtle body to the Sahastra dala. As it starts doing it, when the mooladhar in the gross physical body is cleaned (cleaned by becoming devoid of any desires), then it starts pulling the prana from the Gross physical body also! At that time, the hands and feet of the gross body starts becoming pleasantly numb.
5. Experiences do not count as spiritial growth. They are merely prevues or milestones of progress. True growth, is growth of consciousness!
6. True consciousness is very deep, it is even behind the subtle body!
7. Scriptures talk about Saakshi bhava or being a pure witness. There are 3 stages to Saakshi Bhaava.
a). Lowest form : This is where we divide our mind into 2. One part of the mind observes the other. This can be done either with emotions or with the intellect. Preferably, it is done with body. The disadvantage is, it requires constant effort, it is dry and quite painful!
b). Medium : This is where we know that our consciousness. Here we see the emotions and intellect as something foreign to us. We are established in some peace. In time we realize, any interaction that we have with the mind or intellect and we loose the peace! It becomes a constant reward and punishment battle, till we learn to stay in the inner peace. This will never be perfected, till most of the desires present in the mooladhar are fully released. The mooladhar has a stronghold on the desires. It tends to pull us away, forcefully from our inner peace and brings us out to the outer world. Once, peace is established there, there is less of an external pull and then we can remain in peace much better. Yoga can only truly begin when this is cleaned. When it is cleaned, there is reversal of consciousness. We live within and then the body, mind, intellect are all foreign to us! This is the true beginning! Sri Aurobindo called it reversal of consciousness or coming out of the psychic. Other scriptures have called it differenlty as second birth or Dvija.
c). Highest. Once the medium stage is perfect, in time, we can see the world as if we are above and everywhere and the world is below us. This is the Christ consciousness or Kutastha Chaitanya.
I will stop here for now. The topis is endless
Bhavin