As Shakti ascends the seven chakras, eventually reaching sahasrara, one’s own existence cannot control this force. Shakti is able to confront evil energies bound within the chakras, as by nature it is an active power. This action can be described as an object bursting through a brick wall. Although the wall was once stable, the object is more powerful. Shakti is the object, and all insecurities, fears, and negative emotions serve as the wall that is destroyed. The entire body produces the force at which this assault on negativity is conducted.
Kundalini Yoga is based on this very theory. It is believed that Shakti can demolish weaknesses in the mooladhara, threats in the swadhisthana, selfish desires in the manipura, and the furthered self in anahata. Yogic teachings stress the act of surpassing the four primary humanistic characteristics, which are further explained in the table below.
Human Instinct | Innate Characteristics | Location |
Maithuna | The urge for sex | Mooladhara |
Bhaya | Self doubt and insecurities | Swadhisthana |
Ahara | Unlimited desires | Manipura |
Nidra | Detachment | Anahata |
As humans, we tend to delve inward to our own being when the outside world becomes over-stimulating. The physical self utilizes nidra, or the yogic sleep to rest. Our minds need rest as much as our bodies, and sleep can be looked at as a protective mechanism to prevent our senses from feeling overwhelmed.
Kundalini Shakti navigates its way through the chakras and shatters innate instincts, a task that can be difficult. Although it may be possible for self awareness alone to cure our negative human tendencies, many of us have never attempted to do so. It is natural for a living being to gravitate toward pleasantries, or darshan, while avoiding the negativity within.
Kundalini Yoga may be a stepping stone to achieving a level of realization; we are not perfect, we are human. Even if we cannot reach perfection, balance is an attainable goal. The resting phase should be geared toward the elimination of negative tendencies, rather than frivolous daydreams that will never benefit the soul.