Customer Reviews

Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man

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In reference to the two-star review, I thought I was the only one who found this book difficult to get through. I was left wondering why this is a must-read kundalini book, with the exception of the few passages that describe the author's tormenting experiences to highlight the dangers of such a powerful evolutionary process.

I have been in the throes of an involuntary kundalini progression for a number of years now, although not on the same level of trauma as the author experienced, so I do have a very good understanding at this point in my process of the mechanics involved in such an awakening.

And I do understand that the author experienced this during a time when so very little was known about kundalini, so in this respect it is an important piece of literature, and I do honor and revere his wisdom and experience. However, I found the text to be occasionally superfluous, tedious and extremely redundant. As I neared the end of the book I couldn't help wonder in how many different ways the author could describe the same thing: an unknown, powerful, intelligent, conscious force making its way up his nervous system and vital organs to stimulate and awaken his system with accompanying symptoms of sleeplessness, change in appetite, and increased consciousness and constant awareness of a golden glow painting his vision.

The most helpful books about kundalini that I've found so far are "Farther Shores" by Dr. Yvonne Kason, and "Energy Work" by Robert Bruce. Even though Mr. Bruce's book contains only a small section on kundalini, it is exact in its description and process. He also describes in other areas of the book the body's energy channels and centers that play a part in the workings of the kundalini energy. I have used his techniques to restore balance to my system and to ease the progression of the unpredictable energy surges so I will undergo fewer problems.

This was a great work done by a great man. It tells the story of the horror and delight a yogi went through when he accidently tapped the powers of the serpent. Kundalini dwells within all of us and this book forwarns all who wish to awaken it. This book is Gopi's account of the changes which took place inside of him self and the complex bioelectric changes which must occur for Kundalini awakening.

Although this is a great account of Kundalini awakening, it is not a book of exercises or practices. It is more of a warning of the pain one will go through if not prepared for the "Evolutionary Energy". Gopi has written many other books which deal with meditation, exercises, preparation, and the like.

Even if you wish to find books which teach how to awaken the Kundalini through practice, this is still a must have. It tells of the different effects the Kundalini awakening will have on your body and also and added comentary from a respect psychologist.

While in Canada in the 70's I had the good fortune to come across books written by Pandit Gopi Krishna. I also had the opportunity later to meet and talk with this Indian writer. After going through nearly all of the books he wrote during the last 25 years of his life, I am certain that his unusual insights into the biology of the brain and the physical roots of mysticism will form the basis for a brand new direction for both science and religion. The man was far ahead of his time. When the mystery of the brain and its still hidden potentials are gradually unfurled, Gopi Krishna's books will, I am certain, be the inspiration for a new generation of unbiased investigators, who are certain to shed new light on the mystery contained within all of us. Should be required reading in schools!

This is an amazing spiritual biography, it deserves the status and immortality of St. Theresa's and other saints. Amazingly, to me, Gopi Krishna found so little spiritual help and guidance in India, when there were many avatars contemporary with him, like Meher Baba and Ramana Maharshi. Yet, it is instructive how hard it was for him to find information and help, even in India, where this sort of transformational experience is explicitly cultivated by literally millions! One hopes that his 12 years of agony and torture are not the norm for those who awaken the Kundalini too forcefully or prematurely. Yet, Nietzsche's own breakdown after his own Kundalini awakening offers further caution to the forceful awakening of Kundalini. Clearly, some kind of yogic physical practice is essential to moderate this transformation, like Chi Gung or Hatha Yoga, or even Gardening!

Everyone who thinks shamanic illness / an awakening kundalini / Spiritual Emergence is all fun, light, and rainbows ought to give this book a pre-shaktipat gander, written by a man brave enough to suffer through and go public with his own version. If the rather quaint, New Ageish attempts to explain the phenomenon in scientific-sounding terms get on your nerves, bear in mind that he had no better concepts with which to work. Thank God that he wasn't a citizen of the U.S., where he'd be given a diagnosis and medicated senseless.

A very honest trip through kundalini awakening, the author has avoided to tell us precisely what happened exactly before that very day, but you have a very clear understanding of the process.
Carefull attention is required, nothing forced like for Gopi, however his experience show us there will be a lot of awaken people in the future.
Be wise don't overdo it, awakening comes with a change in the brain and spinal apparel, consciousness has to shine within your body,needs a good and stable mind and body . Do read Osho rasjneesh books too, as meditation is learning to die going through the process of dying brings real life within you.

As the author very frankly admits, awakening the Kundalini when one has no idea of what one is doing leads to all kinds of problems as explained in this book. This personal experience of Gopi Krishna should warn everyone that this is no game. Kundalini is a terrific energy lying within the "body" (not just the physical one) that sustains one's body at different levels (physical, emotional, spiritual). Did you ever wondered what happens when one tries to unleash the energy contained in atoms ? Kundalini is similar, in that awakening this energy source leads to chain reactions like nuclear power. Kundalini will have effects on all aspects of your life. If you do not know the purpose of awakening the Kundalini, then it means you are not ready to play that game. If you know what you are doing (i.e. are already spiritually awake and know that the end in itself is not to obtain anything) then it's not a problem, and in that case Kundalini will awaken by itself even without you being aware of it.

Still, if you want to play with chakras and Kundalini, then be prepared as this book gives you an example of what may happen.

I met Gopi Krishna in 1977 while visiting Kashmir. After describing my own Kundalini experience, we talked about sex & sublimation, diet, the stress of working, travel, handling illness, and exercise. Was it a defining moment? I'm not sure I believe in a single defining moment that clears up the confusion of a lifetime. Most of my defining moments have actually taken a while to sink in - before I was able to use them as catalysts for change. In this case, I listened as Gopi Krishna rattled off a list of the "dos and don'ts" of living with Kundalini.

To many this might seem like a superficial conversation, not particularly useful for someone who'd just activated his Kundalini. However, I appreciated his sticking to basics and not running a lot of 'spiritual smack' on me. I had no preconceptions about our meeting; I didn't know if he'd be telling me about visions or secret powers - or just plain ole practical living. It turned out to be the latter, and over time I've been grateful because that's the kind of empirical knowledge that matters while learning to live with Kundalini.

Gopi Krishna was the first person I'd met who didn't discuss Kundalini in generalities. He stuck to practicalities. And you know why? Because he'd been there.

Does this mean there was something missing in his understanding of the spiritual aspects of Kundalini? No, it means that perhaps something's been wrong with the classification of Kundalini as a merely spiritual phenomenon. There's a more practical aspect to Kundalini; namely its healing and restorative capabilities.

In fact, Gopi Krishna was the first person to get me thinking beyond the widely varied and difficult to define spiritual aspects of Kundalini, notions such as "higher consciousness" and "enlightenment." He got me wondering what these terms really mean. Do they mean the same thing to everyone? My confusion only grew when I discussed these terms with others and watched their eyes glazing over. So I began to doubt these terms had any shared meaning. I realized that although I was unable to discuss "higher consciousness" or "enlightenment" with other people, I was able to describe the healing powers of Kundalini in clear, specific terms. In fact, Gopi Krishna called Kundalini "an upgrade mechanism." As in a mechanism for reconditioning the body. This led me to think of meditation as a scientific experiment, and Kundalini as the result of an experiment performed in the laboratory of the body. The light didn't shine immediately, but one of Gopi Krishna's statements got me to thinking about meditation as a type of scientific experiment. "For you," he said, "learning what to eat and how to live with Kundalini is crucial. Don't listen to people's opinions on spiritual matters. Learn as much as possible about your true nature, about your body. These secret functions of the body are part of a science, you know. An ancient one, but still valid."

Over time, I began to realize that meditation produces changes in the body just as scientific discoveries produce changes in the material world. These changes may be relatively minor, like the Relaxation Response, or they may be considerable, like those wrought by Kundalini Yoga meditation. But whether are the result of the Relaxation Response or of Kundalini meditation, they are definitely physiological. In my case, improving the state of my health and restoring the vigor of my body.

And then I wondered: If I could do it, if it worked for me, would it work for others, too? Was the Kundalini meditation process I used scientifically valid? Absolutely - as long as the results are consistent over a given number of subjects. To me that means activating Kundalini in a safe, reliable, and repeatable manner.

So since our 1977 meeting, that's what I've been concentrating on: the scientific aspects of meditation and the healing capabilities of Kundalini, the ancient, but still valid science Gopi Krishna spoke to me about.

I've read every book Gopi Krishna wrote. This one, however, Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man is his masterwork. At the same time, it's a memoir and a how-to book. If you want to learn about Kundalini, read it. It inspired my book about Kundalini, and it has inspired others. Gopi Krishna stands at the foundation of Kundalini literature.

My book, Deciphering the Golden Flower One Secret at a Time contains a full account of my meeting with Gopi Krishna and describes my method of scientific meditation for safe, permanent and repeatable Kundalini activation. It's a method derived from The Secret of the Golden Flower: A Chinese Book of Life, one I call Golden Flower Meditation. It's a compendium of Kundalini knowledge, from Gopi Krishna to the present, updated in December 2008 in a new book, The Backward-Flowing Method: The Secret of Life and Death.

Everyone who thinks shamanic illness / an awakening kundalini / Spiritual Emergence is all fun, light, and rainbows ought to give this book a pre-shaktipat gander, written by a man brave enough to suffer through and go public with his own version. If the rather quaint, New Ageish attempts to explain the phenomenon in scientific-sounding terms get on your nerves, bear in mind that he had no better concepts with which to work. Thank God that he wasn't a citizen of the U.S., where he'd been given a diagnosis and medicated senseless.

This is one of the few authentic kundalini experience books available.We live in a society that wants it easy and fast.Also there are so many self proclaimed experts with absolutely no genuine knowledge or experience.Those that tell you genuine change is easy are lying.Those that tell you they have a shortcut are lying.Purify thyself safe and slow.Make alot of good karma.Dont get lost in easy and instant enlightenment ideas.They are very dangerous.For geniune inner change strong things need to happen.Let the usualy unseen spiritual goverment take care of them when your nearly pure.Until then make alot of good karma.Anybody who has a geniune kundalini awakening will undergo some intensity enless the mind is already 99 percent pure through meditation prayer etc and good karma.Even then there will be some strong experiences.Never try to force a awakening.A very important book for geniune seekers./ Good vegan or vegetarian diet.Plenty of sweets and whole grains.With other healthy foods and supplements to keep the blood sugar etc healthy.Plenty of water and natural healthy liquids.Walking.Positive loving thinking.Wanting to serve suffering people and animals and life.Oiling up the body once or twice a week with or without a massage or rubdown.Probiotics and things for good digestive health.Remembering your spiritual goals and purpose.All these can help the person going through the rare genuine kundalini awakening.You might need or want something for depression and anxiety for a while.St johns wort and passion flower herbs or something else.You might need to be celibate for a while./ If you have had or know somebody with a genuine kundalini awakening.The process is divinely overseen even if the experiencer isnt aware of it or if it gets very very intense.All the experiencer needs to do is ride it out.Have Faith.