Kundalini Research Network KRN

The Kundalini Research Network is an international group of health care professionals, researchers, scholars and individuals interested in the transformative power of Consciousness, known in the Yogic tradition as Kundalini. The Kundalini Research Network is dedicated to exploring and supporting this remarkable facet of our humanity.Kundalini Research Network KRN Events
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KRN EVENTS

Consciousness Expanding:

Kundalini Transformation Now

KRN 2012 Conference June 15-17,

at the Himalayan Institute, Honesdale, PA
Kundalini is the power of infinite Consciousness to transcend and know all that is beyond the limits of the ordinary mind, conditioned and bound as it is by ego awareness. This transcendent, transformative power of Consciousness can stir and awaken in individuals who also impact the groups they are a part of. In this conference we will explore evidence of individual and group awakening through traditional and non-traditional means. We will also examine research on yogic and meditative disciplines and what the research is demonstrating about the physical impact of Kundalini inspired processes on the mind and body. We will delve into clinical issues that arise as intensely transformative processes associated with Kundalini awakening challenge the capacities of the mind and body to withstand and integrate experiences of Kundalini awakening.Many different spiritual traditions have evolved ways of understanding the power of infinite Consciousness to reveal the boundless domain of loving, compassionate, all-embracing unity and how it transforms the ordinary mind and body. We will have presentations reflecting different traditional approaches to this one boundless power of transformation and grace.The list of speakers and their presentations will be available in January and updated as additional presenters are included.KRN conferences are renowned for their intimate atmosphere which allows for in-depth discussions and experiential learning. We look forward to welcoming you to our June 2012 conference.To register for the Kundalini Research Network Conference and for accommodations please contact the Himalayan Institute by clicking on their name on the right or calling them directly. Directions to the Himalayan Institute can be found on the right.The Himalayan InstituteHonesdale, PA800-822-4547TO SEE PAST CONFERENCE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

Himalayan

Institute

The Art of Joyful Living

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Contact Us

CONTACT US
KRNc/o Lawrence Edwards, Ph.D.P.O. Box 541166Cincinnati, OH 45254Email: info_thesoulsjourney.com

Members

Lawrence Edwards Ph.D.

Charles Whitfield M.D.

Barbara H. Whitfield RT CMT

Dorothy Walters Ph.D

Teri Degler MA

Judith Miller Ph.D

Russell D. Park Ph.D.

Jyoti (Jeneane Prevatt Ph.D.)

BOARD MEMBERS
WHO WE ARESince its founding in 1990, KRN has welcomed interested individuals from around the world. We are not restricted to any religious tradition or spiritual discipline. The common thread is an interest in ancient streams of traditional wisdom, as well as in the flow of scientific information pertinent to Kundalini phenomena. KRN is dedicated to expanding and deepening this pool of knowledge and making it accessible to all.The Kundalini process and spiritual transformation are often misunderstood and even pathologized. Therefore, a primary goal of KRN is to bring accurate information and research findings related to Kundalini processes to health care professionals, researchers, and individuals experiencing such processes. KRN is dedicated to making these awesome and complex processes more understandable and more widely recognized.

Call For Papers

CALL FOR PAPERS
KRN CALL FOR PAPERS:The Kundalini Research Network occasionally solicits papers or articles on a variety of subjects related to the scientific and practical study of Kundalini and related phenomena.We will place the purpose, criteria, deadline and submission guidelines for all Calls For Papers on this page.Below we have listed the objectives of the Kundalini Research Network and the general purpose and role that our research plays in conferences.Objectives of the Kundalini Research Network. To establish a network of scientists, professionals and individuals interested in Kundalini research. To contact, establish and expand linkages with other groups and individuals who share an interest in Kundalini research. To share and exchange information by means of a newsletter and by annual meetings or conferences. To encourage and collaborate in Kundalini research and resulting publications. To disseminate information on Kundalini to health care professionals and to people experiencing this process.ConferencesThe Kundalini Research Network meets to present new findings, review and plan research projects, collaborate on articles and meet others interested in Kundalini research. Educational lectures and participatory workshops are presented offering traditional, cross-cultural, modern and clinical perspectives. If you would like to submit a proposal for presentation at a future symposium, please contact us.

KRN Bookstore

KRN BOOK STORE
Below are books that KRN members have written or to which they have been contributors. The content of the books reflect a broad range of research, experiences and interpretations of various forms of Kundalini Energy that our members have found significant and important. They relate to us in human, experiential terms what many mystics over the centuries have shared.

Spiritual Awakenings

Marrow of Flame

You May Not Be Mentally Ill

The Divine Feminine Fire

Direct Connection

The Natural Soul

Unmasking The Rose

The Soul's Journey

Kundalini Rising

The Power of Humility

The Fiery Muse

KRN Interactive Blog

KRN INTERACTIVE BLOG
The KRN Interactive Blog is an online forum that contains the latest articles, research and questions about Kundalini.You can comment on posts by clicking COMMENTS.Please bookmark the KRN Interactive Blog so that you can stay up-to-date with the latest thougths on Kundalini by KRN members.Click anywhere on this page to go to the KRN Interactive Blog.

Member Article Links

Article 1

Article 2

Article 3

Article 1

Kundalini Primer: Humility, Bypasses and Science
Defining HumilityOur reward for working through ego inflation (a "head trip" rather than an authentic "heart experience") and spiritual bypass (When we try to bypass or ignore the "lower" to get to the "higher levels" of consciousness) is recognizing and using the power of humility: the solid foundation of an authentically spiritual, healthy and whole human being. We can begin to define humility as having openness and willingness to learning more about our relationship with our self, others, and God. Humility is not about groveling or being a doormat. Instead, it is a powerful attitude and state of mind that, when we are in the pain of conflict, opens us to more choices and peaceful resolutions. Humility assists our ordinary ego-centered unawareness into a more expansive, alive and conscious awareness where we can live in and as our natural Soul. Having humility levels the occasional bumps in our Kundalini process. With humility we are willing to continue learning throughout our lives. In its openness we are free not only to avoid any of the pitfalls of ego inflation, but we are also free to experience a connection with our Higher Self and Higher Power. In this state of humility, a kind of second innocence, we can more easily witness our life as a heartfelt experience. Spiritual BypassSome experience a degree of ego inflation. Others become grandiose and may get stuck. A way out is to work on ourselves over time psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. To believe we can be instantly healed through a religious or spiritual experience only -- is to attempt what we call a spiritual bypass. We try to bypass or ignore the lower to get to the higher levels of consciousness. Eventually, however, our false self will likely pull us back until we work through our particular unfinished business. Other names for spiritual bypass are high level denial and premature transcendence. It is seen in any number of situations, from being prematurely born again to having a spiritual awakening and focusing only on the Light, or focusing on psychic ability as a major part of our identity, to becoming a guru or teacher who exploits their students. The consequences of taking a spiritual bypass are often active co-dependence or conflict, including : 1) denial of the richness of our inner life; 2) trying to control our self or others; 3) all-or-none thinking and behaving; 4) feelings of fear, shame and confusion; 5) high tolerance for inappropriate behavior; 6) frustration; 7) addiction, compulsion, relapse; and 8) unnecessary pain and suffering. If we live from our ego or false self, we may find it impossible to quiet down our inner life during meditation or any attempt at centering. We can only experientially quiet down and connect with God, each other and ourselves by developing our True Self-- living as our natural Soul. Ego inflation and spiritual bypass are more cognitive intellectual experiences, or head trips. Being our True Self and connecting spiritually with God is more of a deeply emotional heart experience. The Contribution of NeuroscienceRecently some scientists have found that the anatomical location of these heart or mystical experiences is the limbic system of the brain. Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg from U. Penn. Medical School used functional imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET scans) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPEC7) to show that experiential spirituality lies in the limbic system of the brain. The limbic system is where we feel positive emotions and our positive relationships with others. Newberg thus studied Tibetan Buddhists who practiced Kundalini Yoga meditation and had been meditating for many years. They were advanced in their own practice. Newberg showed that when these meditators achieve a state of mystical union, followed by a profound sense of calm, that the activities of those parts of the neocortical brain were functionally cut off from the rest of the brain. At the same time, both the limbic hippocampus and amygdala were more active. . Newbergs subjects meditated on a spiritual symbol or a positive emotion. Some focused on the feeling of forgiveness. He found that the area activated by these positive feelings increases their parasympathetic activity, producing relaxation, followed by a profound sense of serenity. There are no words used in this experience, only a sense of positive or joyful feelings. Newberg suggests that experiential spirituality reflects limbic questions about love, community, positive emotions, and the feeling of being one with the universe. He has also reported that for meditating nuns, while in prayer, their sense of God becomes physiologically real, and the meditating Buddhists caught a glimpse of what for them was an absolute reality. Religious and New Age theology usually activate the brains neocortex where we think in words. If we are thinking about our spiritual process we may also be in our neocortex where we can become confused and even create closed loop thinking by trying to analyze what is happening to us. When a similar Kundalini process becomes overwhelming and perhaps interferes with our normal life, which sometimes happens, I found that not reading any spiritual literature for a while and not trying to analyze where I am in it helps to calm down the uncomfortable or overwhelming aspects of the process. I almost never recommend prescription medication for my clients who are undergoing a Kundalini process, even though many physicians believe it will help. Psychiatrists and neurologists wrongly diagnose an upheaval in this process as psychosis, depression, mania, or bipolar. They commonly misprescribe psychiatric drugs such as neuroleptics, or anti-anxiety agents and anti-depressants, which are toxic and hard to stop. Any upheavals along the Kundalini process that can be alleviated by using non-drug modalities should be used first. Try increasing or decreasing meditation, increasing or decreasing energy type massages. Acupuncture and psychotherapy focusing on the release of painful emotion may be all that is needed. Spending time in nature may also help. Eliminate television viewing or reading anything with highly emotional content. Nutrition should be of concern because we are what we eat. Fast food or any processed food should be eliminated. In 12-Step programs humility is part of the solution. They are aware that people might try a humility bypass as well and find false humility which does not work. 12 Step fellowships believe that true humility is obtained by hitting a bottom, getting honest, and working the 12-steps and/ or counseling.Click the link below to learn more about "Kundalini 101" from Barbara Whitfield from a chapter from her book, "Spiritual Awakenings"http://krnweb.blogspot.com/2011/06/kundalini-101-energy-and-how-it-works.htmlCharles Whitfield, MD, Barbara Harris Whitfield, RT, CMT,Jyoti (Jeneane Prevatt, PhD), Russell Park, Ph.D-----------------------------------------------References:Greyson B and Harris (Whitfield) B: Clinical Approaches to the NDEr. Journal of Near-Death Studies 6, no. (fall 87) 41-50.Newberg A, Iversen J, The Neural Basis of the Complex Mental Task of Meditation: Neurotransmitter and Neurochemical Considerations, Medical Hypothesis 8 (2003): 282-91.Vaillant G (2008). Spiritual Evolution: A Scientific Defense of Faith. Broadway Books New York, NYWhitfield, C.L., (2003). The Truth about Depression: Choices for healing. Deerfield Beach, FL: HCI.; Whitfield, C., The Truth about Mental Illness, op.cit.Whitfield, C.L. (1987). Healing the Child Within: Discovery & recovery for adult children of dysfunctional families. Health Communications, Deerfield Beach, FL; Whitfield, C.L. (1990). A Gift to Myself: A personal workbook and guide to Healing the Child Within. Health Communications, Deerfield Beach, FL.; Whitfield, C.L. (1993). Boundaries and Relationships: Knowing, Protecting and Enjoying the Self. Health Communications, Deerfield Beach, FL. Whitfield, CL., (1993). Boundaries and Relationships. Op. cit, Whitfield CL, (2004). The Truth about Mental Illness: Choices for healing. Deerfield Beach, FL HCI.;Whitfield et al, The Power of Humility, op.cit.; Whitfield, B., Spiritual Awakenings, op.cit.;Whitfield, B., The Natural Soul, op.cit.; Whitfield C.L, et. al. The Power of Humility

Article 2

Kundalini Primer: The Process
The ProcessExtreme transformation (sometimes called the lightning stroke) can occur to anyone at anytime and under any circumstance. The amount of prior preparation is no guarantee that the gift will be granted. Some have little or no preparation, and fall quickly into the sea of bliss. Others practice dutifully for years and never experience the deep inner rapture.Who will undergo this process is not predictable. Those who seemingly should arrive may never attain the goal of immediate realization. Others apparently less deserving may quickly ascend to the top of the mountain.No one gets a free ride. The opening may be brilliant, transcendent even. But there will be times of balancing and integration, periods of pain and despair, as one attempts to deal with these unfamiliar energies now infusing ones system, one day mounting into bliss, the next plunging into some kind of pain.One may never ever know why this transfiguring event occurred that so totally turned ones life around. One theory is that such awakenings are related to ones past life development as for example (in my case) likely a tantric practitioner. (I consider all delicate energy work to be tantric in nature)One must listen carefully to ones own inner guru, who seems to be a combination of teacher, counselor, friend, and Beloved Within. The guru is very patient--it will stay with you until the process is complete or at least stabilized. In fact, it will remain with you forever, for it is an aspect of your own higher self, ready to guide and protect you during this entire life cycle.This experience is not purely spiritual (something divorced from the material realm and the sensate body.) It is something that is felt deeply inside, like any sensation or emotion. It often carries a distinct erotic flavor, though it is definitely not merely sexual arousal or response. (The inner response is unique to each person, some of whom may experience the energies as heat or cold or electricity, rather than bliss per se.)The experience changes constantly, in texture, tone, magnitude and frequency. It is like listening to a piece of music again and again--every single occasion carries a different valence.Tone and texture change over time--becoming less intense, more subdued, less volatile, more stable. And--even when the energies are so settled that they are felt merely as subtle waves of light moving through the system, these too are beautiful and can leave one sighing with pleasure.It is extremely difficult to describe this journey, or to share any part of it, with those who have not traveled a similar path. What does one do when ones body suddenly fills with rapture from simple movement or hearing a special musical phrase? Who can you tell in a world that seems to function on some other wave length, or in some other orbit? One asks, inevitably, Am I the only one? Are there others like me?One must adjust to the constantly unexpected. How do you react when--suddenly--you experience in your own body what another person is feeling (somatically) at the moment? What does it mean that you can--unexpectedly--feel in a palpable way the sweet energies emanating from a painting or an ancient vase? This is all part of the actual expansion of consciousness that so many describe.You will benefit greatly from a friend or spiritual buddy with whom to share your experiences, particularly if you cannot find a suitable therapist or guide. This need--to tell ones story to a sympathetic listener--is one of the greatest of all desires expressed by those undergoing deep transformation.You can expect to be very, very lonely on this path, especially if you are committed to the Direct Path as opposed to one mediated by a guru or a specific teaching. The reward is that you will thereby make your own discoveries as you go, rather than having them imposed or interpreted by an outside agent. Outside agents are tricky. Some are untrustworthy, others simply limited by the restrictions arising from their own personal experience or tradition. Buddha told us to be a light unto ourselves, to lay down our own path. This way may be more difficult, but in so doing we honor both ourselves and the guide from within. As you progress, your practice will become ever more subtle, ever more delicate. Where at the beginning, you might have done hatha yoga in a typical way, now you may find that even a slight movement of fingers or eyes may produce delightful sensations of hands or arms or elsewhere, as if your inner lover were with you and leading you into these new levels of response. Ultimately, the sensations may disappear entirely, but often there is then an unexpected return of the divine within.To complete your journey, you will need to find a way to give back, so that others may benefit from your experience. (This is the stage of the heros journey that Joseph Campbell calls bringing the treasure back home.) What this becomes will depend on your own experience. For me, language was the key. For several years I have presented a blog titled Kundalinisplendor, Poems and Reflections on the Spiritual Journey. (www.kundalinisplendor.blogspot.com) Through this blog (and other sources) I often hear from those who are themselves experiencing deep spiritual transformation, often with no guide whatsoever or even without a trusted friend to share with. I try to offer these aspirants encouragement and support, along with suggestions for resources such as books and relevant websites or authentic teachers. However, mostly I just listen attentively to their stories and answer any questions within my scope of knowledge, and these correspondents are often quite grateful just to be in contact with someone who has made this arduous journey and survived.Dorothy Walters, Ph.D

Article 3

Kundalini Primer: What is Kundalini and Kundalini Awakening?
What is Kundalini?Kundalini is a term from the yogic tradition for the power of the Divine. It is Kundalini who creates the universe and knows Its Self as Creator. Kundalini has been called the face of God. Just as we recognize someone by his or her face we recognize the Divine by Its power of Consciousness, Kundalini. It is Kundalini that clothes the formless in form, that gives the Absolute a face to adore, a presence to inspire, traditions to revere and a body of wisdom to serve and guide. She is the esoteric goal of all yogas, the awakened mind of the thatagatas and the transcendent vision of saints and sages. By knowing Her, all is known and life becomes suffused with ananda - sublime joy. The source of that joy is our very own Self, forever present, nearer than our breath, waiting in Stillness to be revealed. Drown the ordinary ego-mind in Stillness if you truly want to know the Knower.The Eastern traditions revere Kundalini as a Goddess, the Great Mother who gives birth to all that is. She is seen as taking on limitations, contracting and condensing to form the material world. She is the essential energy, more fundamental than nuclear power, that is the basis of who we are and all that we experience. When our limited mind is infused with Her transcendent power of Consciousness we know directly the truth of our unity with the Divine and all Its creation. Every spiritual tradition has its name for Kundalini - Holy Spirit, Grace, Shekhinah, Anima, Chi, Bodhicitta- and every saint and mystic has known Her blessing. Seekers on all paths need Her grace to succeed on their journeys. For this reason shamans, yogis, monks, priests, nuns and aspirants of all types approach Her as suppliants. Being the Great Mother, the Great Lover, Shes willing to take whatever shape and bare whatever name Her children wish to use as they bow to Her.Kundalini is often used to refer to the power of the Divine present in each person. She has two aspects. One maintains the entire existence of our body, mind and spirit. The other aspect, considered dormant, is the power of Consciousness to know the Divine in Its infinitude as Self. This potential power, innate to all of us, can propel our awareness from the paltry limitations of individual existence, with all its wants and needs and deficiencies, to Unity Consciousness - the sublime awareness of our Divine Self, infinite and all-encompassing. Symbolized by a coiled serpent asleep in the center of earthbound consciousness, this aspect of Kundalini awaits the great awakening, the most profoundly important event in the long life of the soul, a life that extends over countless cycles of physical birth and death.What is Kundalini awakening?Shaktipat, the Sanskrit term for Kundalini awakening, means descent of grace. It is an act of grace, an act of the Divine that releases the dormant potential power of the Absolute residing within us. God blesses God so that God may know God. Your true Self blesses you so that you may know your Self.Kundalini awakening may occur in a ritual designed specifically for such a transmittal of power, as in some initiation ceremonies or as baptism was once meant to be. The person conducting the initiation and the ritual or practices must have the power to invoke such an awakening for it to be genuine. Unfortunately there are many, many more impostors than there are genuine conduits for the power of Grace.Awakening can also occur through various yogic practices and disciplines developed over thousands of years specifically for preparing the mind and body for this vast influx of power and aiding in the arousal of Kundalini. Prayer, devotional practices, chanting, selflessly serving others, meditation, mantras, ritual dance, drumming and many other sacred endeavors can awaken Divine Consciousness, Kundalini.Spontaneous awakening of Kundalini can be precipitated by near death experiences, traumatic experiences, pain, deep sorrow, prolonged periods of one-pointed concentration, or even in dreams through the initiation given by a wise being. Its even possible for one to have been initiated in a past life and have the signs of awakened Kundalini continue in this life without any recollection of the past-life Shaktipat.Though Kundalini awakening is the greatest prize on the spiritual quest, the blessed soul receiving this grace is on its way to the realization of the highest, the awakening and its attendant process of renewal is not without peril. When the dormant or potential aspect of the Kundalini arises, Her single intent is the transformation of individual consciousness with its vehicles - mind and body - into fully expanded Consciousness of the Divine. That process of transformation and purification is marked by both beatific sublime experiences of the Divine, as well as by dark nights of the soul, by physical, emotional and mental states of ecstasy as well as periods of purgation and distress. Kundalini awakening can create experiences that mimic psychiatric and somatic disorders. As you study this field you will find many accounts of misdiagnosis and mistreatment of what is essentially a Divinely inspired process. The Souls Journey: Guidance from the Divine Within focuses on the many dimensions of transformation wrought by the grace of Kundalini. She works on all levels of human experience; nothing remains untouched by Kundalini! When I did my doctoral research examining the changes wrought by Kundalini I found 169 types covering virtually all of human functioning. If you have experienced Kundalini awakening or youre seeking it, be prepared for a cosmic makeover!The awakened Kundalini can stir up everything from latent diseases of the body to emotional or psychological disturbances. Some people feel like chaos has descended upon them, not grace, as Kundalini renovates body, mind and relationships. Symptoms of Kundalini arousal include: sweating, trembling, sensations of heat and cold, rushes of energy through the body or up and down the spine, fear, anxiety, weight loss or gain, food cravings, dissociation, visions, out-of-body experiences, body movements and hatha yoga postures happening spontaneously during meditation, retention of breath and other changes in breathing patterns, mantras and sounds arising from within, distortions of time and space, profound stillness and peace, healings, habits or addictions dropping away, inspired creativity, and states of boundless ecstasy and love arising for no apparent reason. This is just a partial list of what may be experienced. These signs of Kundalini process may be confused with or misdiagnosed as anxiety disorders, psychotic disorders, dissociative disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and other diseases. While initial experiences may focus on physical, emotional and mental purification and transformation, shifts in values, attitudes and behaviors will also occur and have a major impact on relationships. Changes in appetites for food and sex along with attitude and value changes are the most stressful areas of transformation for relationships.Kundalini opens the doors of perception to vast realms of Consciousness. Your meditation may include visions, lights, colors, sounds, journeys to archetypal realms, and infinite expanses of utter stillness throbbing with an absolute fullness of Being. Tears of joy may stream down your face as love beyond measure courses through your body. The Kundalinis gifts are incomparable. After receiving them no one is ever the same.Support is essential for anyone experiencing Kundalini awakening and evolution. Finding skilled and knowledgeable individuals who can assist and guide without pathologizing or taking advantage of the vulnerable state one is in can be difficult. Out of desperation and ignorance people give up their power and discrimination to teachers or practitioners who create dependence, demand loyalty or secrecy or otherwise compromise the autonomy and integrity of the seeker. The guru market is worse than the used car market, be wary! There are few bad intentioned individuals, but ignorance can be nearly as harmful. If youre seeking support ask whomever youre approaching for help - potential teachers, counselors, psychotherapists, health professionals - about their experience and knowledge of dealing with spiritual experiences, Kundalini and the dynamics of spiritual transformation. If you dont like their answers, move on. Ive listed resources and organizations for people to contact for possible help, but they dont come with a blanket recommendation. It is critical that you carefully check out anybody you are considering giving the privilege of entering into your sacred process. It is also critical to remember that you can always expel them if you feel your boundaries, integrity or autonomy are being violated or if you become aware of them doing that to another person.There are many approaches to working with Kundalini. My experience is based on a loving, devotional path of reverence for the Infinite within everyone and everything. My guru and teachers worshipped the Kundalini and received Her full blessings. If you want to draw near to some one, what better way than through love? Do you think this wouldnt be true of the Divine? However, there are teachers who speak of attacking the Kundalini, forcing Her to do their bidding, prodding Her into action and other aggressive approaches. Theyre also more likely to focus on negative effects of Kundalini awakening, wrong rising of Kundalini and directing the Kundalini by will or force. I believe this attempt to assert control is part of the outmoded patriarchal paradigm in which male gods and male priests sought to overthrow the Divine Feminine. Some yogic paths have a very strong patriarchal bias, denouncing women, viewing them as dangerous to one on the spiritual path and treating Kundalini as dangerous and in need of subjugation. Given that kind of hostile way of treating Kundalini, is there any wonder that difficulties ensue? Instead, seek to understand, appreciate and be in harmony with Her through study, self-discipline, meditation and devotion. She is the power of your own Divinity come to take you home. Who has greater intelligence and knowledge than Her? Its hubris to think we know better and She should follow our will! What will we have is a gift, a tiny spark of Her Divine Will. Lets use it to keep in step with Her dance as best we can! Lawrence Edwards, Ph.D

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