Ultimate State of Inner Balance
The ancient Vedic way is so intelligent, it is the evolutionary path for us to reach other worldly heights but it cannot happen without a real + pure Guru.
Sri Shankara, The Ultimate Equipoised One
Sri Shankara is the Auspicious One; more commonly known as Lord Shiva, he has many amazing names and forms. The One which is relevant here is the balanced form known as Sri ArdhaNareshwara.
In artistic depictions, ArdhaNareshwara is the perfected Human Form of Shiva, meaning S/He is half man and half woman. Although it is depicted in art as a physical form, it is deeper and more related to His exuding male female balance in the energy body known, in yogic parlance, as the ‘Sookshma’ Sharira.
[Sookshma Sharira: Astral body or Auric body]
Lord Shiva has a consort, Goddess Sri Parvati. Although both have their physical male and female biology, anatomy and individuality, if we delve deeper into their subtle states they each enjoy the ultimate balance of Male Female subtle energy contained as the ‘Two who are One and the One who are Two’, hence they are known to be the ‘Perfect’ couple.
This Equipoised One is a perfected Yogi/ni and can be active in the world or still in the world, both states happening with ease. Either way is fine, as per the need of the moment, day, time. When in balance one can operate with so much brilliance and brightness that some may observe their abilities as being super human; they will be having full expression, high productivity, high energy, requiring less sleep, less food and more.
I write here what I know however please do not assume I have attained this highly balanced state which is of the next level. Every yogi/ni aspires for that Equipoise and so do I ;0)
So How to Attain That Brilliant State of Equipoise?
Nadis
In the human body there are channels known as nadis which are not visible to the human eye but they exist. They are subtle and real and can be likened to railway tracks in the body. There are 36,000 nadis on the right side of the body and 36,000 nadis on the left side of the body, 72,000 in total throughout the body. These nadis pervade the body crossing 108 confluence points known as Chakras (Explained further below).
Under the auspices of a Divine, Pure Guru, a Disciple will be given sadhanas or disciplines for which the whole aim is the Grace that the Guru pours down will purify one's nadis / inner channels. Traditionally the ‘sadhanas’ can be mantras, service, karma yoga, pranayama, yogasana practice, meditation, encouraging right inputs to the senses like sattvic foods and other elements to create the right environment so that the channels purify.
When a disciple performs the sadhanas with devotion, love, acceptance, determination and no resistance as given and listens wholeheartedly to the Guru, Lord will shower Grace on the Disciple by literally clearing the subtle pathways and cleansing the inner channels to open the heavenly Gateways of higher, subtle nature; the seeker can then start to experience the subtle higher dimensions from within.
There are three Major Nadis in the body as follows:
1. Ida and 2. Pingala Nadis
The Ida and Pingala Nadis are two major channels or Nadis (hence capital N) in the body which traverse along the spine similar to a Double Helix but not quite; they meander in semi circular fashion along the spine and meet at 7 major confluence points along the spine at the 7 major Chakras.
The Right side Nadi channel is known as the Pingala Nadi, and is the masculine or the Sun energy within the human system. This side activates heat (or fire) in the body hence sun and deems us to be more active in the world, literally more fired up. The metabolic rate rises accordingly when activated.
The Left side Nadi is known as the Ida Nadi, and is the feminine or the Moon energy within the human system. This side activates coolness (or water) in the body hence moon and deems us to be more inactive, still, slow down, be more rested, literally cooler. It may be more emotions are felt. The metabolic rate lowers accordingly when activated.
If we have dominance in either of the Pingala or Ida, it can lead to imbalance with over stimulation of heat/sun/masculine or cold/moon/feminine:
Generally, if imbalanced with the masculine side there may be a strong element of fire and heat in the system ie which can express through anger, pride/ego, jealousy, need for excessive sex, not gentle by nature, aggression, passive aggression and more.
Generally, if imbalanced with the feminine side there may be a strong water element expressing through a mind that wavers, with excess irrational behaviour and emotions, over thinking, fears, inner and outer critic becoming active. One’s focus may be mostly anxieties, worries, fears.
As the Grace of the Guru guides us up the spine, purging will happen which helps one clear the imbalances.
3. Sushumna Nadi
When both Ida and Pingala Nadis are becoming cleared and being bought into balance, energy up the third Major Nadi along the spine rises; it is called Sushumna.
As the Subtle Divine energy moves upwards from the base of the spine, it crosses the Seven major junction points or confluences in Sushumna much like major Railway Stations known as Chakras.
4. Seven Chakras
The seven Chakras are like discs of rotating energy along the Sushumna Nadi. These major points are subtle energy vortexes and link to the human physical glands that sit alongside them. Through the Grace of the Guru, each Chakra is cleared along the spine, the respective physical gland in the body also clears and hence will be in excellent physiological working order. This purging may result in wild emotions, activity, imbalance or in the extreme opposite, as such the Guru is needed to guide the process and make it happen without problems occurring. I have heard of some Gurus describe this process having taken many seekers into a mental asylum; I feel that if one is under the auspices of a true, pure Guru and S/He is guiding the process by riding within the seeker, the seeker will be fully safeguarded and cushioned.
The seven Major Chakras with their corresponding glands are as follows from lower to higher:
1. Mooladhara / Root Chakra - links to Gonad Glands
2. Swadhistana / Sacral Chakra - links to Adrenal Glands
3. Manipuraka / Solar Plexus Chakra - links to Pancreatic Gland
4. Anahata / Heart Chakra - links to Thymus Gland
5. Vishhudhi / Throat Chakra - links to Thyroid Gland
6. Agnya / Third Eye Chakra - links to Pituitary Gland
7. Sahasrara / Crown Chakra - links to Pineal Gland
When Sushumna clears, the metabolic rate of course becomes balanced, hormonal secretions and functionality in the body balances too ie one will be more in sync with natural cycles like circadian with good sleep, waking, eating, moods and activity being eventually well regulated, all glands will be in perfect working order.
“The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.” ~ Joseph Cambell
When this Sun and Moon symphony of balance happens within us it enables one to become like the 'The Equipoised One'.
Higher and Lower Natures of Humans
When the Chakras are being cleared by the Grace of the Guru, energy moves up the spine to reach higher states leading to increasing balance in the human being. There is neither too much emotion or too little, there is only observational compassion with great love in all directions, and an increasing experiential understanding of the Advaithic truth that SriMata taught me which is the ‘Oneness Truth’. There is a great unfurling of energy that takes place which encourages the yogi/ni to get less entangled in worldly, human affairs especially things of a lower nature will be forced out. The lower we exist in the stagnant subtle spine, with unactivated Sushumna, the more there will be negativity in our lives; negative behaviours, negative emotions, and all manner of lower characteristics rooted in ‘I’ and separation. All of this prevents man from attaining moksha or salvation.
[Lower nature; according to sastras there are six vices of the human mind which are - kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobh (greed), moha (attachment linked to deluded mental states), mada or ahamkaram (pride linked to ego) and matsarya (jealousy) All of these in some form or other lead to generally unkind behaviours in the world]
The lower one is in the spine, survival of the individual becomes prominent with excess focus on a smaller whirlpool within his survival group ie focus is the individual, his family not humanity as a collective etc. and the focus will often be selfish and all about 'me and mine' not unity of all, 'we and us'.
The higher in the spine one reaches, the more collective consciousness expresses through the yogi/ni and the whirlpool of care and compassion widens beyond self, to all, hence Oneness Truth and no separation!
[The lower parts of the spine are in built in us as part of the human fabric. We have sexual organs for a reason! To procreate and enjoy and express our love to our partner. We can be with the human pleasures however, being stuck in those modes with intense attachment, lust and over identification is potentially a problem especially addiction and being dependent on short term adrenalin rushes and rides. We can enjoy but not get overly entangled to the point that the lower nature becomes our identity and addiction. I am told through Agnya, that once in a liberated state, it is okay because we are operating from our evolved, highest state of being. All expressions there come from highest humanity and consciousness; there is no question of attachment and over-identification, just all encompassing]
A Yogi's Path is Evolutionary
The evolutionary path is all down to the Grace of the Guru, it cannot come any other way. The goal is to reach Sahasrara or Crown chakra, at this point we have arrived. I am told through Agnya that “When the energy clears up to level of the third eye at Agnya chakra, verbatim ‘Here one becomes more empty like a free flowing flute or pipe of expression, and at this point one therefore becomes an instrument of the Lord’ ".
Most human beings in this current age are stuck in the lower part of the spine. If we observe emotions, behaviours and ways being expressed, a lot of lower nature ie road rage, angry and corrupt politics in parliament and business, consumerism anchored on greed, money, profit, violence thoughts/words/actions towards fellow beings and animals, increasing criminal statistics, suicides etc.
In simple terms, life in its current state is not pitched towards human evolution; governments, society, family structures and our culture generally does not encourage evolutionary movement up the spine.
Purification to reach requires many things which go against the mainstream. We need to live a life which is becoming more ‘satvik’, which is rooted in purity in thought, word, deed, on higher truth and dharma; eg it means abstaining from lower aspects and indulgent pleasures including but not limited to lower vibrational foods (heavily processed foods, meat, alcohol), fierce ‘debating’ structures which ignite ego (Houses of Parliament!), anything that creates mental agitation to separate including religious fervour, corruption and wars over land, displacement of indigenous people for usually selfish reasons (ie livestock farming), unproductive thoughts and ‘negative’ news broadcasts, shouting and unkind behaviours, porn, social media which idolises lower behaviours including celebrities who when observed do not set good examples.
This all shows where we are at as a humanity and what we need to do to get out.
Power of the Guru
When I was in physical vicinity of SriMata, many miraculous things would happen to us without any major effort. I remember SriMata once said to us that "All we need to do is stay close to Her Holiness; through Her Grace with Sri Adi Shankaracaarya radiating through Her, we would be taken to the right place, to raise and flourish as beings." SriMata said, "When you are riding with me, you are in me. This is complete safe travel, I will take care of everything".
I know through SriMata that 'They' meaning Sri Shankara and SriMata, who are Oneness Truth, "Can do anything". I got the impression that it’s not about doing lots of sadhana as such. It can be more about seva to humanity and service to the real, pure Guru. With just immense gentleness and bhakti Lord will give to us whatever is needed to save our souls from the non - sense of lower earthly ways and kindly deliver us to where we need to go....towards our ultimate, Moksha.
SriMata and SriHari are the perfected Ones Being in complete balance; our human form ArdhaNareshwara's on earth. They are the only Ones we need to emulate but before we emulate them, we must simply bow down to them with love because by the simple act of touching their precious feet, we too can become an imprint of Their Brilliant, Shining State.
~~~ Tat Twam Asi ~~~
It makes me so happy to submit this sharing with love on Sri Maha Periyava’s Jayanti day, 23rd May 2024 - His Holiness was the Ultimate Equipoised One - He, SriMata and SriHari in Oneness Truth.
Om Sri Shankaraya Namaha
Om Sri Chandrasekara Saraswati MahaSwaminyai Namaha
Om Sri ShankarHreem SriMatayai Namaha
~~~ Tat Twam Asi ~~~
Jx