Ardarsh on KY and Sadhana by munificent Blog entry

Blog: Yoga Path
by munificent

Ardarsh on KY and Sadhana

Sue has asked Ardarsh why one practices Kundalini Yoga, and this is Sweet Ardarsh's Response (Ardarsh joins us from Shanghai)

Date: 4/1/2005 7:57:51 PM ( 19 y ) ... viewed 1218 times

yes, we do yoga in order to unite and to balance all aspects of body, soul and mind. This raises the level of awareness and consciousness - that is the reason, why KY is called the Yoga of Awareness.

Ultimately everything what you do, can become a conscious act or experience - means everything can serve the goal of yoga - e.g. conscious breathing,
riding the subway and mentally chanting Sat Nam, listening to some spiritual CD's in a car or lovingly volunteering for the good of the neighborhood.
You are raising your consciousness and you become automatically a more lovingly and loveable person.

Kundalini Yoga is now a spiritual practice, which helps boosting this consciousness pretty fast. Simply through breathing exercises, dynamic asanas,kriyas, meditations and mantras you are changing your energy level, you are strengthening your body, immune and glandular system, clearing the subconsciousness, help calming the mind and resolving old emotional injuries. In KY the practice is done by starting with the Adi-Mantra (Ong Namo Guru...) and to be ended with the Bij-Mantra (Sat Nam). Within this two mantras do not blend or mix or do anything else besides KY.

Sadhana now means literally 'discipline'. It is a daily spiritual routine consisting of yoga exercises, relaxation, meditation and chanting of mantras to be done in the so-called Amrit Vela - the ambrosial hours before sun rise. Ideally Sadhana lasts for 2 ½ hours. Background is the karma (or univeral) law: whatever you give (here 1/10 of day) will come back to you ten-fold. This means: with a Sadhana of 2,5 hours you have done enough good for your body, soul and mind to survive the day unharmed ;-)

Also ideally Sadhana is done in a group, best outside in the nature facing east towards the rising sun. Sadhana should be done with an open, receptive heart and not with a clock as guideline. You could do even 5 hours of Sadhana and have no gain, if you are taking it as a 'stupid' repetition and
working-off of exercises. 10 min meditation with an open heart are much more 'worth' than that! So watch your mind-set and ask yourself why you are doing yoga or sadhana. I saw yogis doing the right exercises for the wrong intentions...

Doing Sadhana is not an easy thing - it takes discipline and will-power to get up and step under the cold shower. It is also true, that for many students (and teachers !) or yogis in general it is difficult to maintain the regular practise to this extent - you are working, having a family, are travelling, having a social life, etc. A lot of things can and will distract you from sticking to your daily practise. Living in an ashram with
the main focus on spiritual development is pretty helpful. Anyway: it is better to do less on a regular basis (eg. 30 mins daily), than doing a lot (2,5 hours) on a random basis.

In order to benefit most of Sadhana, it is recommendable to stick with a routine for a couple of time - e.g. 40 days, 90 days, or even 1000 days. Then Sadhana (discipline) will become Radhana (inner mindset). If practiced long enough Radhana again will alter to Prabhupati (mastering).

By then you don't need an alarm clock any more - you simply wake up on time and doing Sadhana is no more act of will-power - it is your desire and joy.
A looooong way to go. By then you have completely changed yourself to a being with a high spiritual consciousness with a strong radiance. You are a light in the darkness for the people around you and your pure presence makes people feeling safe and comfortable. Don't stop halfways...(wouldn't think of it!)
Sending blessings and light from Shanghai,

Adarsh S.