Kundalini The Evolutionary Energy in Man
Coiled like a snake at the base of the spine, kundalini is the spiritual force that lies dormant in every human being. Once awakened, often through meditation and yoga practices, it rises up the spine and finds expression in the form of spiritual knowledge, mystical vision, psychic powers, and ultimately, enlightenment. This is the classic first-person account of Gopi Krishna, an ordinary Indian householder who, at the age of thirty-four, after years of unsupervised meditation, suddenly experienced the awakening of kundalini during his morning practice. The story of this transformative experience, and the author’s struggle to find balance amid a variety of powerful physiological and psychic side effects, forms the core of the book. His detailed descriptions of his dramatic inner experiences and symptoms such as mood swings, eating disorders, and agonizing sensations of heat—and of how, with the help of his wife, he finally stabilized at a higher level of consciousness—make this one of the most valuable classics of spiritual awakening available.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Genesis of the Secret Teachings
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.
4 Stars Fascinating biography but dangerous practice
A facinating biography takes readers to the rare psychological experience one encountered with spiritual work and meditation.
However, the road to an enlightened consciousness should not be that risky, in odds of losing the health, sanity, even life. At the end, the author’s attainment cannot be ascertained what it really was besides a psychological phenomenon. It does not sound like that he had achieved the buddhahood. I like the evolutionary theory the author tries to propose.
There are dangers in meditation if you do it assertively and not do it quite right. The fire releases in an abrupt and unregulated manner can cause life and delirium and madness.
2 Stars Unique but difficult work of literature
In reference to the other 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 classic, and 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.
James Hillman’s occasional commentaries were of little help also and were just as wordy, vague and confusing in trying to translate and explain the author’s psychological and physical processes.
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.
5 Stars Like Being There
Very well written. I read the first 25 pages in about 3 days and finished
the entire book 2 days latter.
3 Stars Another book for the curious west
These kind of experiences are quite possible although rare during the awakening of kundalini. However, it is highly improbable that this occurs in the author’s chosen method of practise(In fact, this experience is possible in certain practises which are not heard of by most Hindus too).
A nice piece of fiction for a Hindu. The westerners curious about Eastern occultism will find this very interesting reading.
I have read some interpretations and comments on this novel and find it even more interesting.
In general, English translations of Sanskrit/Hindu works are pathetic. Added to that are several prejudices: rational, scientific approach, fruedian interpretations, psychoanalysis, or how it can/has been achieved in western mysticism etc. All this to a subject which is explicity stated to be incomprehensible to the senses in their normal state and by people who have made little attempt to practise it or even worse try to understand it with open mind. And I hate it the most when Hindu practises are presented vaguely as some Eastern mysticism.