Introduction to blog 4 – Shakti

Blog four is about the third section/component of Om Divine Grace Yoga. Blog one is the introduction and overview to this yogic pathway. I have written about the topic of Shakti in my previous books. This blog provides a revised version of that material with commentary and guidance. It is designed to enable practical use by a spiritual practitioner interested in this pathway. Of course anything here can be approached as just reading matter of interest.

The contentious issue regarding Shakti is:  are you ready for a female God!  Historically, Shakti Yoga is approached via a Guru for initiation and guidance.  In our modern world this might not be feasible or practical, given the nature of this dark era (Kali Yuga). It may not be possible to get a guru who can assist you in this area.

It is necessary now to offer this spiritual pathway and process as an option for any practitioner, desiring to connect with Shakti for spiritual progress. Guidance also comes from the Inner Guru, which can be accessed to get “initiation” and awakening. This Shakti component is an important requirement for this Om Divine Grace Yoga  pathway, and can be understood with right guidance. I have written information and instruction on this topic Also as a result of receiving the Divine Guidance from within, (the inner guru), and other instruction,  there will be appropriate additional clarity. (This guidance can also be accessed via surrender to ones chosen Deity). Good intent and practice is required for good results.

Shakti information

Shakti is the third sectiont/component of Om Divine Grace Yoga, and is also considered to be the universal energy or Goddess energy – the creation force of the divine being.

In this sense the masculine aspect of divine being is seen as a transcendental power which is beyond form and shape & the female aspect is seen as the external creation. When practitioners worship the Shakti or Goddess form they can worship the divine being as the world, the universe, or creation.

Some schools of thought and philosophy accept only one monotheistic divinity. Those with an interest in Kundalini and Shakti view the female aspects as either continuous with the male transcendent consciousness, or as coexisting.  Religious belief is of course to be recognised in this dimension. In the Vedanta philosophy, there is only one unified Divine Being and creation is sometimes called Maya. Maya represents as an illusory universe. This is in the sense of illusion as being something to be transcended, or even avoided, in order to realise that Divine Consciousness and Ultimate  Truth, (as per Vedanta philosophy). In this case only the transcendental locus has truth. Vedanta means, “the end part of the Vedas”, and was developed after a swing away from ritualistic practice in ancient Indian times.

For those who are devotees of the Goddess, manifested Shakti is the way of liberation or achievement of higher consciousness. It involves partaking of all that the world offers, even though the final goal is liberation and freedom from birth and death, (or rebirth). Such practitioners are called Shaktas – the worshippers of Shakti or the Goddess. The path is also the Tantric path because the Tantric path is simply spirituality with full acceptance of the world and ones place in it as a human being. As a Tantric practitioner the whole gamut of desires, needs, & goal focused activities etc., is seen as needing to be both understood as well as transcended. Kundalini is involved in both the Tantric focus as well as the practices of a Siddha, or “perfected yogi”, because a Siddha will have ability, control, and knowledge regarding the Kundalini, the nature of desire and involvement in the world, and the way through, ( using the world), to a higher spirituality. See blog 5 for information regarding Siddhas.

Whatever practice chosen, the reality for most is that the road of spiritual practice can be a lengthy one, with a lot of repetition, endeavour and discipline. It may be possible to get to one’s goal of connection with God, (or Goddess),  in one hit as in becoming “born-again”, and then move on from this life into a permanent spiritual space, such as that one called Heaven.  For others it may take many revolving lifetimes of practice to truly achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Either way simply believing one is in enlightened, or in touch completely with one’s highest Divinity, may not be an actual reality. Some of those professing such perfection seem to have not been able to overcome or manage some basic common human frailties. The way of the Tantric practitioner or the worshipper of the Goddess energy, is to accept the human nature and work with it, not against it, until it there is true proof of purification, where the practitioner sits in a natural spiritual state of bliss and knowledge. (Not a “perfect human” however). This state is one of embodiment in Sat Chit Ananda, (Existence, Knowledge, Bliss). Sat, Chit. Ananda has been discussed in previous books and will be discussed again later.

There are libraries of literature about Kundalini and Shakti, & there are many gurus/teachers of this field. Any search including using Internet, will generate enough information to keep an interested person busy for years!

It’s God and Goddess in amalgamation for me. Thus I do not subscribe to the patriarchal religious precepts which came from our patriarchal history. Time has moved on and society seems to be moving on from a God, who is some guy with a beard sitting up in the clouds. The Goddess, and her energy or Shakti, is quite prominent in Hindu systems, but historically also did not take centre stage. There is more widespread leaning to Shakti devotion with regard to Tantric Buddhism, primarily from Tibet. We are comprised of male and female elements or personalities and this ratio does vary. Hormones may drive us as humans, but do they affect our religious preferences? I don’t know of any scientific research on this topic. Either way, when one is in touch with one’s inner guru, then it will all come clear, and the dilemmas regarding what to do with our spiritual or religious practice will evaporate.

Shakti  v  other spiritual pathways

There is the pathway of knowledge known as Gyana Yoga. This in its purest form entails holding a philosophy that “I am Cosmic Consciousness”. (In individualized form). My essence is then the same as the essence of the Divine. I just have to let go of the covering of Maya, or my ego based identification. Follow this approach then through the teachings of Vedanta.

There are however variations of Vedanta that are not pure monism, nor seemingly allied to Gnosticism. Then it is all Divine still, but the philosophy diverges to say that I am an individual always, and will only be separate from my God or Deity – not absorbed. Separate, in other words, for eternity. This is when there is worship of a separate Deity, a Krishna, a Jesus, or Buddha. (Although the Buddha taught differently, many worship him as their Deity and are on the path of devotion).

Then we have other yogas.  “Kingly” or Raja Yoga, is based on doing a lot of mediation and getting to Samadhi, the divine self-realized meditation goal and state. It’s a bit similar to what the Buddhist meditators are seeking, especially in the Westernized versions of practice. The differences are deep & internal philosophy based, but I have found that my meditation experience is much the same, whatever group I am sitting in.

Next we have Kundalini Yoga which is allied to the Siddha, or the “perfected guru” pathway, which in turn is allied to Shakti, (Goddess Energy), elements. Siddhi means essentially “powers”, referring to a variety of powers that can be attained through advanced yogic meditation practice. Shakti also means power, but it is the essential nature of the female form or aspect of the Divine. Complicated, especially as I present a simplified view, possibly seen as “flawed” by some adherents of specific practices!  My apologies for those who know the in-depth true story!  Or those who disagree significantly! The idea of kundalini yoga is that it takes the Shakti energy and places it in the body as segments of differentiated energy. It’s all Shakti, but comes in different expressions, just as the Goddess appears as Tara Devi, Durga, Saraswati etc.

The segments of differentiated energy forma are in chakra such as the brow, heart navel etc. Thus kundalini works up and down in the body through the chakras. It flows through a spinal channel (or channels), and signifies that the whole body is a spiritual entity. It works on physical, psychological, mental, and emotional levels. Everything. Connected to the neurochemical/electrical activities of the nervous system, but on a different plane. Different planes are ok for the scientifically minded. It’s quantum physics, right?

At some point the full process of energy involvement through the chakras becomes a transcendental experience. This is because the chakras and kundalini are in essence spiritual energies that seem to be associated bodily, but are only thus for the purpose of temporal engagement. The ego becomes refined, and then as the crown or topmost chakra is reached, kundalini is revealed as a Divine transcendent energy. It is the free to flow, and can cascade around the body, especially to the outer ring round the chest area. This is synonymous with a deep spiritual awareness, and a connection with the Divine Goddess energy seated out of and to the right of the heart. It is for me in the form of Tara Devi, but takes the form the individual requires. (Depending on what healing/guiding mixture is needed).  In the broadest sense there is an innate attainment of Bliss.  We can still enjoy our cappuccinos, and what’s shown in the movies, but it very much a practical experience of being a witness to our participation in life. It’s just the Prarabha that is then left, which is a Sanskrit word for the accumulated forces of karma. Like a train running on after it’s no longer got fuel. From a religious perspective, we worship a Deity firstly as external deity, and as a powerful being, but then remember that we are already in Oneness, connected to the Divine, because we are already part of that. Then we cease to be “doers” as that part is surrendered to a God or Deities will.  Then also we can be realize our true nature in the sense that a spark is not different in essence to the fire.

Divine Grace is a theological term present in many religions. There is considerable prominence of these two words in Christianity. It has been defined as the Divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation; and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin. So, how does Divine Grace really work and how do you get it? Well there are lots of books about Divine Grace. One’s personal experience of Divine Grace may be somewhat different, especially if in conflict with the Catholic or Protestant versions or explanations. 

In Christianity, Divine Grace means a favor of God for humankind. God favors every person, without looking at what they did or how much they are worth. It is the infused presence of God, a presence that is supernatural. Divine Grace an influence which operates in humans to regenerate, inspire, impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation.

Mantra Yoga is about faith in the manta and using the mantra can be seen as like a sacrament. You believe, therefore you repeat, and therefore you receive Grace or other effects sought. NB. You need not believe any of this – it’s just a religious type domain. Until you “get the goods”, and gets some results, or if it doesn’t work, don’t do it!  Just have the 30-day trial. Sorry – no refunds!

My point is that it is just too easy to get carried away by what has been historically preached or taught. I want to find out what is the Truth behind all religious and spiritual practice and thought, without prejudice. Certainly without a whiff of any fundamentalism.

My experience of Divine Grace is about my connection with my Goddess, which is supposedly of Hindu or Buddhist origin. My connectedness to Her originates particularly with the Healing Tara who is a major Goddess form in Tibetan Buddhism. Now, the how and why of getting to this point doesn’t really matter for me, because my need for Divine Grace was born of desperation! Hindu devotional or bhakti literature available throughout India and Nepal, is replete with references to Grace as the ultimate key required for spiritual self-realization. The ancient sage Vashistha, considered it to be the only way to transcend the bondage of lifetimes of karma in this Kali Yuga.

One Hindu philosopher, Madhavacharya, held that grace was not a gift from God, but rather must be earned. Grace though, has been defined as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” Still, the getting of grace requires action, but the action is: “I have to accept grace”. Or I have to stop trying to earn grace. Accepting and not striving are very active processes – at least in my experience. Living by grace requires action. Allow ones Higher Power to act and intervene. Release the need to control. Spend more time in prayer and spiritual study.

As previously noted there was the historical movement from seeing Oneness, to perceiving a Deity, which then was considered by some to be a Goddess power. The prevailing religious direction has so far primarily been focussed on a patriarchal view of God. Thus most deities/gods have been male, but in Hinduism and Buddhism there is a variety of choice here. Then there is a considerable body of scripture regarding the Shakti energy as the Goddess power emanation, which is involved individually in the kundalini and chakras processes. Whatever the philosophical stance, the idea of “who you are”, is based on the domain of the bodily based egoic individual, who says, “I am so and so”. The universe is then the undivided essence of the Supreme Self, and appearances are like seeing a snake on the ground, when it is just a coil of rope. Consciousness appears then as Jiva-atman, as the individual or Jiva who feels and thinks, and then does all based on a false perception. In religion though, as discussed, some recognise their separateness to a degree, and then pray to their Deity for the attainment of a kind of oneness, such as residing in heaven alongside ones Deity. Does then the religious approach take us beyond the cycle of birth and death? (Given that religions are created by human minds from a human perspective – historically also a patriarchal one).

In Tibetan Buddhism there is worship of Deities such as Tara Devi. She appears as a female bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism, and as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the “mother of liberation”, as a savior who liberates souls from suffering, and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements. Hinduism in particular lays out all the religious, spiritual, and philosophical options like a smorgasbord. Take your pick and, in today’s secular world, mix and mingle. (In the past and today in some countries, such an approach was/is considered blasphemous!). You can also choose your gurus or, “swap around”. Please debate!

Goddess Power – a summary

The Goddess represents both Maya in the whole world of human suffering, searching and pleasure seeking, and also represents the link back to the Universal Being, which is formless, pervasive Cosmic Consciousness. (Some people call it God). The Goddess is the energy or Shakti represented by the kundalini force, which rises up the spine with the human awakening, to break through at the crown of the head, so as to allow the liberation of the soul.

The Goddess is also the focus of the Tantric way that includes the world in worship. Instead of exclusion, there is inclusion of “money, food and sex”. (Which is in humans often in need of being dealt without addictions/compulsions). The Goddess is the link or a means of transferring human identity to Divine identity, by generating the understanding of what Enlightenment is about.

Bypass all spiritual practice hype & confusion, by a surrendering process. That is to leave it up to the Goddess, or rather give it over to the Goddess. This can be replicated of course in whatever one’s pathway or religion is. It is irrelevant, get on with the job, and attain Enlightenment and Realization.

To have the best of both, (or all), worlds, combine both a personal deity with an impersonal deity, and some “scientific” practice of working with bodily centers using the yogas of meditation, mantra and yoga postures. As well as a focus on chakra energies to connect the mental & physical body to the Shakti energy. This may seem at times a contradictory pathway, but has been in practice from ancient times as per the writing of the sages and seers. They espoused lofty philosophies but also worshiped their chosen or Ishta Deity. (Devi, Rama, Shiva etc).

The mantras though are the key activity, and these refer to specific goddess forms, (of the one Divine Shakti). As they are directed to specific chakras in the body, this repetition of mantras, purifies and bring light to the human realm. They also work subtly on mental health issues, addictions and obsessions.

The work of the Divine Goddess is about spinning us into the web of Maya, seemingly on the surface. Then to trip us into mundane activities, but really to eventually liberate, because the Divines works happen in the world, and not in some cave or monastery!.