What is Kundalini
Shakti?

Features of a
Kundalini Rising

Kinds of Kundalini
Risings

Supporting Kundalini
Process

Facts and
Misconceptions

According to Traditional Kundalini Science, the theoretical foundation of PKYC, Kundalini Shakti is the Divine Within,
the Light of all Lights, the inner spiritual director who can provide constant awareness of the One. In her ascent to Oneness experience at Bindu, there are six routes (nadis) through which she can arise, and there are various levels in these routes at which Kundalini Shakti might stay in the course of her efforts to attain her ultimate goal, returning to her Source in Oneness, which is the Great Illumination beyond phenomena at Bindu.

The kind of rising a person has depends on their individual nature and the circumstances occurring in the subtle body at the time of the Kundalini release. Correct spiritual practice can affect the quality of a rising, as can factors such as lifestyle behaviors and the interference of subtle influences. The kind of risings people have, along with the pattern of past karmas they carry, determine the types of experiences they go through. Non-ordinary experiences can occur at any level, or very few may manifest. It is the effect of the rising on vayu (energy) dynamics in the subtle body that creates the experienced phenomena reported by people with a Kundalini rising.

To prevent or remedy a blocked rising and to assure spiritual development, careful effort is required to make the individual's container (body, energy, mind, discernment) strong and pure so Kundalini Shakti can function comfortably and spiritual growth can be attained. Therefore, the great spiritual traditions provide methods that serve to unblock or divert incomplete risings to make them stable and allow them to proceed to spiritual results.

The following categories provide a framework for discussing the major stages of spiritual development as described through the format of Kundalini process according to Traditional Kundalini Science:

No Rising. Kundalini Shakti remains unreleased, contained in Muladhara chakra, the Root energy center subtly corresponding to the perineum at the base of the spine. This is the state of an ordinary person, one with no release or rising and no vayu dynamic in Muladhara.

Kundalini Stirring. Kundalini Shakti is shaken within Muladhara due to stimulation of the vayus (energies). The vayus in Muladhara spin, but Kundalini Shakti maintains her place at the mouth of Susumna nadi and does not uncoil her grip from around its base, and so she is not released or arisen. The experiencer may shake, weep, dance, run, jerk, laugh, cry out, or have glossalalia or other remarkable phenomena. This may inspire or motivate the experiencer to repeat the behavior that was the catalyst for the stirring.

Kundalini Arousal. Kundalini Shakti uncoils within Muladhara chakra and withdraws from the opening to Susumna nadi due to stimulation of the vayus, but the pranic vitality is too weak and the mind too unfocused to support an actual release from the Root center, and the mind is not sufficiently spiritually focused. After an arousal, there is no rising, and Kundalini Shakti stays uncoiled at the Root center, unaware of and unrelated to her Source, for she is no longer facing upward through Susumna to see her Goal. She does not recoil her grip around the base of Susumna nadi, and she resides ungrounded and disturbed. If there is no training to remain focused on virtue, she may be distracted by negative downward pulls and enter the dark substrata chakras below Muladhara, there to become engaged in nefarious traits and behaviors.

Kundalini Release. Kundalini Shakti uncoils, withdraws from the opening to Susumna, and, having enough energy and focus in the subtle system, is able to exit Muladhara chakra. This can take place when the pranic system is sufficiently vital and clear and when specific conditions, including intense mental and emotional focus, created by spiritual practice or life shock, are present. Kundalini Shakti can then enter one of the six available nadis and elevate to whatever level she is able to reach at that time. The nadi she enters depends on the conditions in the individual at the moment of the Kundalini release.

Partial Rising. Kundalini Shakti breaks the cap of Swayambhu linga and goes through the whirlwind above it, rising through Susumna nadi and elevating to the level of Anahata chakra, the Heart center, under the cap of Bana linga. Such a rising is unstable, meaning that Kundalini Shakti does not stay at the Heart level but goes up and down intermittently within Susumna, with her base camp at Muladhara, the Root center. This causes mild to moderate fluctuating experiences until she is able to elevate higher in Susumna. When finally at Makara point in upper Ajna chakra, the Brow center, Kundalini Shakti determines the culminating Upper Process route she will take for her ascent to Bindu.

Deflected Rising. Kundalini Shakti, deflected from entering Susumna, can enter either Vajra nadi or Saraswati nadi, whereupon she rises immediately up to Sahasrara, the Thousand petaled lotus and opens brain centers there, only to swiftly descend back to Muladhara, which becomes her base camp. From there, she intermittently goes up and down within the nadi she has entered. Saraswati nadi has three granthis (knots) that must be opened, and Vajra nadi has five bands in women and two bands in men that must be aligned. Due to brain center activation, talents and remarkable experiences might result from deflected risings, but there may be some strain also, as Kundalini Shakti cannot reach the pinnacle (Bindu) from either of these cul-de-sac nadis and so becomes frustrated in her efforts to unite with the One. Such a rising must be diverted into a culminating nadi, usually Susumna, and then must be elevated from there to Makara point in Upper Ajna chakra, from where the rising can continue to procede upward through an Upper Process nadi and finally reach Bindu.

Intermediate Rising. Kundalini Shakti rises through Susumna nadi, breaks the cap of Bana linga at the Heart center, and elevates to the level of Vishuddha chakra, the Throat center, or to Lower Ajna chakra, the Brow center. These are stable risings, as Kundalini Shakti remains steadily positioned at the level she has attained and from there attempts to ascend and break the cap of Itara linga in Ajna chakra so she can reach Makara point. Practical talents may be bestowed on people with these risings, but over harvesting them may dissipate and strain the subtle system, delaying spiritual progress. At Makara point, Kundalini Shakti can select an Upper Process route for her ascent to Bindu.

Faux Full Rising. Kundalini Shakti elevates through Susumna nadi and pierces the cap of Itara linga in Upper Ajna chakra but stays at Introspector point, which is below Makara point, entering Upper Sankhini nadi rather than proceding upward. This is an esoteric rising that yields special powers worldly leaders can utilize to control their domains or take over new realms. It is non-culminating.

Full Rising. Kundalini Shakti elevates through Susumna nadi, breaking through the cap of Itara linga and reaching Makara point in Upper Ajna chakra. From this entry point to the upper nadi regions and culminating process, she is able to select an Upper Process route of her choice to go through Sahasrara lotus and Brahma Randhra while yet remaining beneath Bindu, the pinnacle. At this level, Kundalini Shakti is in Upper Process, where spiritual life truly begins as the aspirant is blessed, purged, purified, educated, and strengthened inwardly with their sincere cooperative support of Upper process.

Upper Process. Kundalini Shakti is able to use the vayus to renovate her container in the restoration project between Makara and Bindu. This phase involves the strengthening, repairing, and detoxifying of the entire subtle body (which includes the energy, mind, and discernment levels of the person), all managed from Sahasrara itself. The Sahasrara system, with its many brain centers correlated to the chakra petals, is also refurbished, improving brain function and endorphin production. This phase can take some time and may be physically and emotionally uncomfortable as the unconscious (with its karmic vasanas (drives) and samskaras (mental impressions)) is unloaded and the entire subtle body system is improved. It can be made easier through skilled spiritual guidance and by the individual's supporting the process with spiritual practices, perspective, understanding, lifestyle, and devoted spiritual dedication.
Upper Process routes include: Upper Vajra nadi process, which initiates a chakra by chakra purge and purification orchestrated from the brain center petals of Sahasrara; Upper Chitrini nadi process, which can cause spontaneous body, hand, and breath movement patterns from Brahma Randhra; Upper Brahma nadi process, which offers increased awareness and now-ness perspective through the Stopping Stations or Guru Triangle routes; Hrit process, which gives the holiness and beatitude qualities of the Sacred Heart and yields Bindu experience even before eliminating all the karmic residue (samskaras and vasanas).

Complete Process. Kundalini Shakti elevates through the five steps of Brahma Randhra (which is the blossom of Chitrini nadi at the top of Sahasrara, the Thousand petaled lotus) and enters the spiritual nuptial chamber of Visarga at the tip of Brahma nadi, merging with Pure Consciousness at Bindu (which is experienced at the end of Brahma nadi. This Pinnacle experience is the culmination of a rising but not the final stage of spiritual development. It can be without vasanas and samskaras or with, if the subtle body purging has yet to be finished.
Complete risings occur after Kundalini Shakti enters Upper Brahma nadi, often via Upper Vajra and/or Upper Chitrini nadis. They may also begin with a rare initial rising through Lakshmi, Chitrini, or Brahma nadi. Once Bindu has been reached, Kundalini Shakti returns to Bindu repeatedly from her chosen temporary base camp location in Upper Brahma nadi until, though the aspirant's regular spiritual practice, she becomes proficient at reaching Bindu to enjoy Oneness experience, which is beyond all phenomena. At Bindu, she selects her next base camp.

Kaula Marga Vajra Re-diversion Process. Having had a Vajra nadi rising diverted at Muladhara to Susumna nadi up to Vishuddha chakra, the Kundalini Shakti of a spiritual vowed marriage partner re-diverts to Vajra nadi at Vishuddha's Amrita point and elevates, touching Makara and ascending directly to Bindu via Brahma Randhra, yielding profound ecstasy and brain center capacity. Unloading then happens. This uncommon process is the way of noble rulers.

Plateau Experience. Kundalini Shakti becomes proficient at quickly and volitionally returning to the experience of Oneness at Bindu, staying there for a long time, and being able to return to external functioning efficiently before her next elevation to Bindu experience. She now resides at her long-term base camp, such as Muladhara, Hrit, or Makara, and commutes from there to Bindu. She visits Bindu often and for extended periods, having the sleepless sleep or dying without death experience beyond all phenomena. The practitioner is transformed by Consciousness through Oneness experience, and prepares for being undistracted by any residual karmic material so Kundalini Shakti can be in the experience of Oneness at the moment of her departure from the physical form, thereby providing Liberation, the eternal union of the soul with the One. The three stages of Plateau experience are: Shuddha beha, which purifies the physical system, Pranava beha, which improves brain function, and Jnana beha, which refines higher intelligence. Plateau experience is the goal of all spiritual paths and can result in the individual becoming a realized saint, sage, or adept. Many levels of advancement are available to advanced holy ones who are capable of Plateau experience. The realized ones are each unique, and each retains some essence of their own temperament and conditioning. Those with a special body of knowledge may be invited by the One to serve humanity as adepts. These maintain some presence on the celestial plane rather than fully merging into Pure Consciousness at the time of their liberation.

The specialty of PKYC is to assist the qualified sincere spiritual seeker to reach Makara point in Upper Ajna chakra and then to support the seeker to culmination with deepening proficiency of Oneness experience at Bindu. After Makara, Kundalini Shakti determines which Upper Route process she will take and then strives in that way toward realization, sponsored by the dedicated cooperation and correct support of the individual aspirant. During this phase, PKYC also provides individualized spiritual education, support, guidance, and recommendations so the seeker can more skillfully and devotedly help Kundalini Shakti make good progress as the individual progresses through Full process to Bindu and then becomes more proficient in Oneness Experience in Complete process. Hopefully, this will culminate in deepened spiritual advancement with Plateau experience, which can yield Liberation if the holy one is able to be in Bindu experience at the time of death.