Kundalini Splendor

Dorothy Walters
May 1, 2018

The Bhakti Movement and Roots of Indian Feminism

By Maduli Thaosen - April 3, 2017

What is the Bhakti Movement?

Bhakti as a concept means devotion and surrender. Originating from South India in the 7th century, the Bhakti movement propagated the idea that God dwells in each individual and one could attain God through faith and devotion. Earlier historians perceived the Bhakti movement as a literary or at best an ideological phenomena which had religion at the basis of its inspiration. But later it also came to be regarded as an attempt at bringing about an egalitarian society, or as a protest against Brahmanical monopoly.

With everyone equal in the eyes of God, the movement brought religion and spirituality to the marginalized classes – specifically women, whose religious expression was restricted in many ways. It was a movement that not only aimed at individual salvation and a mystical union with God but also towards socio-religious egalitarianism. It liberated both God and man (inclusive of woman) from the shackles of Brahminical monopoly. The movement created a space where one could have a personal relationship with God and removed all intermediaries, rendering all Brahminical traditions, and the role of Brahmin priests futile.

With such an alternative religious system in place, many women and lower-caste individuals joined the movement and expressed themselves with no inhibitions. The quest for salvation no longer required Sanskrit mantras and rituals, but included dignity of labour.

The movement saw several women saints as well as saints from lower castes leading masses in their own regions, and singing songs and poems in their vernacular language. The Bhakti movement was not just one movement, but an accretion of smaller regional movements towards salvation and against oppressive hierarchies.

Bhakti saints rejected all fixities to religion and spirituality. When temples closed doors on them, they, freeing their god from closed doors, carried him in their hearts; they either discouraged idol worship and worshipped a nirguna (formless) god or substituted him as one of those who could dwell in humble abodes.

Bhaktins: Pioneers of Feminism in India

Tracing the roots of Indian Feminism led us to women in Bhakti, who challenged Brahminical patriarchy through their songs, poems and ways of life. At a time where most spaces were restricted to women, they embraced Bhakti to define their own truths to reform society, polity, relationships and religions. They broke all societal rules and stereotypes, and lived their lives as they pleased.

“In the Bhakti movements, women take on the qualities that men traditionally have. They break rules of Manu that forbid them to do so. A respectable woman is not, for instance, allowed to live by herself or outdoors, or refuse sex to her husband- but women saints wander and travel alone, give up husband, children and family.” – A.K. Ramanujan, ‘Talking to God’

Women saints wrote poems and songs expressing their love for the God, who is their lover, husband or consort, and about their oppression and desires for freedom. They not only challenged the god-like status of their husbands, but also gave up their motherhood and family. In this aspect, Bhakti meant different things to women and men. While a male bhakta could follow his chosen path and remain a householder, this was not possible for the women. Most women had to choose between their Bhakti and their married and domestic life. Many of these women could proceed on their chosen path only by discarding their marital ties altogether.

Mirabai, a Bhakti poet of the 15th century and a Rajput princess, denied the legitimacy of her marriage to Raja Bhojraj and refused to consummate it. She embraced Lord Krishna and spent hours at the temple worshipping him. Roughly a decade into their unconsummated marriage, Bhojraj died. Just as Mira had refused to be his wife, she also repudiated the role as his widow. She would neither wear the mourning garb, nor follow any of the customs expected of a royal woman grieving a lost husband. Mira is a fortifying precedent of a woman who refused to be cowed. She has lived through the ages through her songs and poems, describing her utmost devotion and love towards Lord Krishna.

In addition to contending male dominance, Bhakti women also had to bypass gender rigidities. Ramanujan lists the strategies women undertook for the same: refusing marriage to a mortal; becoming a courtesan; miraculously skipping youth; walking out of marriage, becoming a man or an old ugly woman; refusing widowhood norms; refusing motherhood; walking naked; or breaking caste barriers. Hence, the experience of men and women Bhaktas were starkly contrasted.

The nakedness of the female body was also perceived as a great threat to men, and heavily condemned by the larger society, and still is. However, women Bhakti saints like Akka Mahadevi and Lal Ded challenged these norms. Akka Mahadevi walked out of her marriage and wandered naked, with her body covered only by her hair. She wrote in her vachana:

“To the shameless girl
Wearing Mallikarjuna’s light, you fool
Where is the need for cover and jewel?”

Commenting on her own nakedness, she writes:

“People,
male and female,
blush when a cloth covering their shame
comes loose

When the lord of lives
lives drowned without a face
in the world, how can you be modest?

When all the world is the eye of the lord,
onlooking everywhere, what can you
cover and conceal?”

Lal Ded, one of the earliest Kashmiri mystic poets also refused to stay confined to domestic tyranny and its power hierarchy. She left her home, broke all material ties and wandered unclothed in search of God. In her verses, she also expressed her anguish towards the Brahminical code:

“Your idol is stone, your temple a stone too-
All a stone bound together from top to toe!
What is it you worship, you dense Brahmin?
Bind but the vital air from heart to mind.” (Mattoo 334)

On the other hand, Sant Soyarabai neither rejected marriage and nor overtly defied societal norms. She wrote about her family, daily existence and her devotion to god Vithoba, pilgrimage to Pandharpur, married life and finding freedom amidst it. Her abhangas to the misery of daily life and restrictions to which they were subjected as belonging to Mahar caste, indicate her heightened caste and gender consciousness.

Medieval India had an atmosphere of immense discrimination, with patriarchy held in the highest regard. Hence, women sought Bhakti to move out the restricted domestic spaces and oppose patriarchy and Brahminical hegemony. The rejection of the power of the male figure that they were tied to in subordinate relationships became the terrain for struggle, self assertion and alternative seeking.

Bhakti women laid the roots of feminism in india. With sheer bravery, tenacity and their devotion to God, they created an autonomous space for themselves and refused to be tied down by societal norms. They did the unspeakable, and displayed the true strength of a woman’s spirit. The created their own path to freedom, and inspired many other to follow their own will. They transcended the social identities and material realities into a universal spiritual realm.

References:

1. “Indigenous Roots of Feminism: Culture, Subjectivity and Agency” By Jasbir Jain

2. “Divine Sounds from the Heart— Singing Unfettered in their Own Voices: The Bhakti Movement and its Women Saints (12th to 17th Century)” By Rekha Pande

3. “Rebels, Mystics or Housewives? women in Virasaivism” By Vijaya Ramaswamy

4. “A search for Feminist roots” By Romit Chowdhury

5. “Mirabai and her Contributions to the Bhakti Movement” By S.M. Pandey and Norman Zide

Lynne McTaggart has been doing remarkable work to discover how focused intention can affect outcomes.  Sometimes these efforts are from small groups working on some named problem of a member of the group, sometimes it is larger groups dealing with much larger issues.  The following account is a fascinating description of how Israelis and Arabs came together in love and friendship during one such experiment.  The conclusion: it may be people meeting and communing in such groups who offer the best approach to solving the problems of "enemy" societies.


The results of the Middle Eastern Intention Experiment - Lynne McTaggart
We’ve now got back the scientific results of the Middle Eastern Peace Intention Experiment I ran on November 9, 2017. For those of you who haven’t heard about it, I’d been in touch with Tsipi Raz, an Israeli documentary maker, about carrying out an Intention Experiment for Jerusalem, and by so...

LYNNEMCTAGGART.COM

This very useful list of readings was posted by Brian Luke Seaward on WINN, an online  source.  As Brian notes, some of these have come classics and well repay reading today.

Posted by CELIA, WINN EDITOR onMAY 4, 2018

Here is a short list of books that have been of great service to me in my search as I explored the world beyond the curtain. Many of these books have become classics and call for more than one reading.
     Man and His Symbols, Carl Jung – 1968. This was one of the first books that gave me comfort with what’s beyond the curtain. The topic of consciousness gained a strong foothold with the collective works of Jung, a pioneer in the field ofpsychology(in the original Greek the word means “the study of the soul”). Knowing that his work was quite complex, Jung offered to simplify his concepts. Sadly, he was only able to write one chapter before he died, leaving the rest to his students, who rose to the occasion. If all you do is read the first chapter (Jung’s chapter) you will be miles ahead of where you started. Be sure to read the color version (not the black and white one).
     Memories, Dreams, Reflections, Carl Jung – 1963. This is Jung’s autobiography. Not just a look into his past, Jung revealed more about his theories and the experiences behind them.
Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of the Lakota, Wallace Black Elk – 1991. While the American Indian culture often remains reticent in sharing information, shaman Wallace Black Elk opened the door to the Great Mystery through remarkable personal experiences and the collective wisdom. The stories are fascinating and his message is genuine: we are all part of a much bigger picture.
Stalking the Wild Pendulum, Itzak Bentov – 1988. Those with a scientific mind will find solid ground to stand with this physicist’s examination of the great mystery through the lens of quantum physics. From energy healing to an explanation of the kundalini experience, you can see the world quite differently with this book.
     Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell – 1949. As a cultural mythologist, Campbell illustrated the hero’s journey though a tapestry of stories, myths, legends and fables from all over the world. From the departure stage, through the initiation, and ultimately the return home, we are reminded that we are never alone and have spiritual assistance from point where the seen and unseen worlds merge.
     The Portable Jung, Joseph Campbell – 1971. Even Jung thought his work was hard to understand: he once said, “I am glad I am Jung and not a Jungian.” Campbell met the challenge of Jung’s writings by distilling his collective works into an easily digestible read. To understand consciousness, to obtain what Jung called psychic equilibrium, we must master the language of the unconscious mind. This book can be part of that understanding.
     Starseed: The Third Millennium, Ken Carey – 1991. When the curtain is pulled back long enough, you begin to realize that humans are members of a much bigger family of beings. Carey,  through knowledge received through what he called transmissions, explained our relationship to the cosmos in a way that is comfortably grounding.
     One Mind, Larry Dossey – 2014. Dossey is a physician who has bridged the physical and metaphysical worlds through an incredible collection of case studies, scientific investigations, and personal experience. With over 10 books to his credit (each one a gem), Dossey has taken the reader step by step from the known to the unknown. One Mind explored consciousness through what Dossey called the non-local mind.
     Recovery of the Soul, Larry Dossey – 1989. The words soul and science may not seem to belong in the same sentence, but Dossey offered convincing proof (through case studies, scientific research and amazing stories) that both validated perceptions of a bigger picture and invited questions at a deeper level.
     Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl – 1946. The question of the purpose life is universal. Frankl, a survivor of Auschwitz, presented his ideas about meaning and purpose that became the core of his Logo Therapy, but the triumph of the human spirit was his real take-home message.
     Vibrational Medicine, Richard Gerber – 1988. A radiologist, Gerber walked the reader through scores of energy medicine research, leaving the reader to question why Western medicine does not embrace this aspect of healing. In easy to understand language (and a host of wonderful illustrations, Gerber gave credence to what he called esoteric wisdom. This book is considered a classic in the pantheon of energy medicine.
     Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert – 2006. What may appear to be an armchair travel book is really about a dynamic spiritual quest. Throughout the story of her journey Gilbert scattered gems (such as the blue pearl meditation and the internal search for happiness) that she gained from various spiritual teachers in India and Bali.
     Infinite Minds, Valerie Hunt – 1996. Hunt explained her research into the field of the human energy field. She was one of the first people to scientifically measure the layers of the auric field. This book showed us, in an academic setting, where the metaphysical world meets the physical world.
The Future of the Mind, Michio Kaku – 2014. When a world famous physicist addresses the concept of consciousness and the mind, we should all pay attention. Kaku did just that as he explored consciousness through the lens of physics.
     Questions and Answers on Death and Dying, Elizabeth Kubler Ross. After hearing Kubler Ross speak in 1981, I wanted to read everything she’d written about human consciousness after death – after publishing her landmark book, On Death and Dying.
     The Cosmic Serpent, Jeremy Narby – 1998. In the course of spiritual exploration, we gather many data points (dots) and processing them is another aspect of the spiritual path. This was a book that helped me to connect the dots. Narby headed to South America and explored the chemical properties ofayahusca.He understood that this shamanic drug is a portal to consciousness and that the “cosmic serpent” is our own DNA.
     The Psychology of Consciousness, Robert Ornstein – 1986. Ornstein assembled a wonderful collection of early studies of consciousness and the mysteries of the mind. This book is considered to be an early classic in the exploration of consciousness.
     The Road Less Traveled, M. Scott Peck – 1978. We can’t understand consciousness without including the concept of love and compassion. This book is a classic best seller because Peck explained the dynamics of love in a simple yet profound way.
     The Field, Lynne McTaggart – 2003. Most books on consciousness are written by experts in the fields of medicine and physics, or even in healing and mysticism, but Lynne McTaggart is an American investigative journalist based in London. Puzzled that energy medicine is commonly accepted in England but not in America, she wrote about the scientific findings on aspects of energy healing and consciousness. The Fieldhas become a classic about research studies that’s written in an easy-to-understand style.
     The Mystery of the Mind, Wilder Penfield – 1975.Are the mind and the brain the same thing? Is the mind created by the brain, or is the mind independent of the brain? Penfield, an esteemed neurosurgeon, explored human consciousness from the perspective that the mind and brain are not the same thing, and he made a compelling case that the mind is not a product of the brain.
     Entangled Minds, Dean Radin – 2009. As the Director of Research for the Institute of Noetic Sciences, Radin was in a unique position to create studies on mind-body healing that otherwise might have been ignored or not funded. Using double-blind methodology Radin came to understand that science is beginning to prove what mystics have been saying for eons: thoughts are energy, consciousness is energy, and at a deep level, all of this energy coalesces into one connected, entangled mind.
     Secrets in the Field, Freddy Silva – 2002. In Ireland, life is often described as involving both the seen and the unseen worlds. Silva explored the unseen world through structures that were created to access it such as stone circles, dolmans, pyramids, and standing stones. With data points from around the world it would appear that planet earth is not only conscious, but that ley-lines form a geomantic grid also allows for instantaneous mind to mind contact.
     The Holographic Universe, Michael Talbot – 1992. If you are looking for a book filled with stories about mystical events and experiences, this is one of the best collections ever published. In an articulate narrative, Talbot guided readers through a complex understanding that every one and every thing is connected through a matrix of consciousness. (As a side note, after reading this book, I was invited to a dinner party where I was seated next to Marilyn Ferguson, the author of The Aquarian Conspiracy, and a good friend of Talbot’s. She said that Talbot’s publisher edited several of the most amazing stories out of the final version and shortly after that, Talbot died. We will never know what those stories were.
     Many Lives, Many Masters, Brian Weiss – 1988. At some point in our exploration of consciousness, we run into the concept of reincarnation. Weiss, a psychiatrist, wrote a beautiful story of the wisdom gathered from hypnotherapy sessions that gave credence not only to the idea that consciousness survives physical death, but that planet Earth is a “school” we attend to learn the difficult lessons of love and compassion.
     Miracles of Mind, Russell Targ and Jane Katra, – 1999. Russell Targ was instrumental in helping to establish the field of remote viewing that was used secretly by our military. In Miracles of Mind, Targ and Katra explored the psychic abilities known as clairvoyance and clairsentience and how these abilities can be used in the healing process.
     Waking Up In Time, Peter Russell – 1994. The premise of this seminal work, that time is an illusion (everything is now), and human stress is a result of the lack of conscience and consciousness. Inner peace involves examining our own consciousness and in doing so, opening up to a much greater world.
     The Source Field Investigations, David Wilcock – 2011. Wilcock created a wonderful synthesis of current research ranging from the mysteries of our DNA to our connections to the family of beings in the cosmos. With over 100 references, The Source Field Investigationsis a well documented and well written synthesis of information.
*   *   *   *   *   *   *
Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.is the author of several popular books including Stand Like  Mountain, Flow Like Water; Health of the Human Spirit; Quiet Mind, Fearless Heart; Stressed Is Desserts Spelled Backward, and the acclaimed college textbook, Managing Stress. He is the executive Director of Inspiration Unlimited & The Paramount Wellness Institute in Boulder, Colorado and can be reached via his website
http://www.brianlukeseaward.com

The Magic of Ireland

By Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D.

"The first time I noticed the imprint of what appeared to be a mysterious symbol on the palm of my right hand was in the shower as I poured out some shampoo. Over the next seven months, this same symbol appeared several more times. During the last occurrence it appeared on the left palm, this time with a Sanskrit word written on my finger. When all rational explanations fail (assuming fear has not erased our curiosity) we tend to entertain irrational possibilities.

When we cross the threshold of mystery, it’s wise to be cautious: we need both discernment and illumination. We certainly can use some guidance.
Spiritual wake up calls can come in a variety experiences – such as premonitions, psychic dreams, bizarre coincidences, or like the symbol on my palm.  The common thread found in these events is an invitation to explore a world different from the one experienced through the senses of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. When the curtain is pulled back from our normal reality, even briefly, a glance into other realms is both alluring (the excitement of discovery) and challenging (the confrontation with belief). While there are many excellent guides, there are a few known to lead the curious astray.

I have had several mystical experiences and I know this isn’t rare. Having an “other worldly” encounter, one that defies the logical, rational mind, may not be uncommon, but it can leave us feeling alone. If we tell others, they might reject us or label us crazy. I think feeling apprehension is not only normal, but to some extent healthy: we should be cautious. But we should not let fear immobilize our spiritual quest.

In the past when spiritual awakenings led to exploration, the seeker would go to a tribal elder for validation, insight, wisdom. We still have wisdom keepers, yet today we are more likely to consult spiritual elders’ books than to talk to them directly.

On a trip to Ireland in 2010, I explored the ancient sites of New Grange and the portal tombs of the Boyne Valley. Walking among the field of stones, I recalled being told by a psychic that the symbol on my hand was an ancient Celtic symbol that would reveal itself to me one day. As I entered the portal tomb, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. There before me was a symbol identical to the one that appeared on my hand years before. The tour guide explained that Celtic bards and wisdom keepers marked these stones with symbols as a way to pass down wisdom through the ages. I passed my hand over the stone carving and smiled."

(picture from internet)

(Brian Luke Seaward is a writer, mystic, and lover of Ireland.  He leads special tours there often.  The front of the stone in front of the entrance to Newgrange is covered in spirals,
a symbol found throughout that country.  I did not particularly resonate when I walked through this ancient passage tomb, whereas I fell into profound ecstasy at the site of Tara,
the place where the old kings of Ireland were crowned.  Before that, Tara was sacred to the Great Mother Goddess.  I also felt much bliss at the various "holy wells" scattered about the countryside.)

NOTE: TODAY'S POST GOT SENT TO THE WRONG DATE.  IT APPEARS ON MAY 10.  YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT THERE.

Another Unusual Day: Bliss, Boxes and Synchronicity

When I first woke up I turned immediately to a webcast on Accelerating Your Light Body.  Frankly, I did not resonate with the frequencies teacher was bringing in, and decided to be a witness rather than a participant. She spoke in front of a divider screen, behind which were people who apparently were cooking themselves breakfast. I found this movement and noise distracting.  For the most part she spoke directly to the other listeners (by name), but one observation was of special interest to me.  This was when she announced out of the blue "trouble with right ankle and leg plus hip problem."  Now, I have been having much swelling in my right leg as well as some discomfort in my right hip, so wondered if that message was for me.

This channel brought in healers and helpers from many realms, including some from Atlantis and Vanuvians (Venus?).  She spent time helping people with forgiveness and one or two other problems.  She was clearly in an altered state, but not in full trance.  She made many facial grimaces as she talked and often snapped her fingers.  Her expressions and gestures somehow reminded me of pictures of  oracles from other cultures I have seen on documentaries.  When she finished, several expressed appreciation and said they had been helped by the experience.

I felt that I had had my curiosity satisfied and felt no other results. But  when I did my practice, it was again sweet energy that got more intense until it resembled what I had felt at the beginning of my experience when I was much younger (back in l981)..  Even when I did the gentle movements of tai chi, or even simply moved my arms around softly in the air, I felt true bliss, and once more wondered if this was not how such practices had originated (when the practitioners felt the same energy move within.)  I had to stop when I got a call from a dear friend, and then later when that was over, the bliss returned and also a bit more channeling: "Go to the island, the island that is Ireland."  Again, I do not know the import of this message, but since I am almost entirely Scotch-Irish and was born on St. Patrick's day, these words got my attention. What brought the bliss?  The experience with the "oracle," my own practice now reinforced by the joy I am feeling these days, the visit with my dear friend?  Whatever the cause, it was delicious.  The book I preparing now carries the subtitle: "The Future as Ecstasy."  This rapture is what I am talking about.  It comes as part of the process of transforming your body, including the nervous system, cells, ligaments, and indeed all of you as Kundalini rewires your system to receive higher frequencies.  It is part of becoming the Divine Human that all of us are involved in these days,

Then a synchronicity occurred.  When I went downstairs later to check my mail, I discovered several plastic file boxes that someone was giving away.  I need such boxes for my future move, but I could not carry these.  I was on my way upstairs to get paper and pencil to announce that I wanted them and, as I waited at the elevator, a strong looking young man stepped off.  I did not know him, but asked if he could help me get the boxes upstairs into my apartment.  He even had a little dolly to carry them on.  He was happy to do this and I am now sitting happily in my home, with many useful boxes stashed behind my couch.

As always, my response is gratitude, gratitude, for all that is happening to me.  I think unseen powers are at work helping me.

Dorothy Walters
May 12, 2018

How I Learned to Channel

Today was special.  I woke up feeling exalted for having found a new place to live, and here is what happened:

First, while I was in my dressing room, I picked  up my favorite essence, "Frankincense and Amber."  I waved it over my face a few times and immediately entered a slightly altered state.   This scent always brings deep relaxation and often, as happened this morning, my shoulders immediately went down and I felt sweet energies move within.  I raised my hands above my head and felt much bliss in the head.  I placed my hands a few inches away from body while I moved them down and around my physical body, until I reached my feet (via intention).  The sensation was delightful.

I next repeated my mantra silently and then, for some reason, decided to say it aloud, something I seldom do.  My voice immediately went into a lower register, sounding much like a male (from a previous incarnation?)  And then, much to my surprise, I decided to see if I could channel words aloud.  I had never done this before.

And then then a different voice spoke.  It was that of a mature female, with a decided Irish accent.  As far as I could tell, the accent was quite authentic, rolling r's and all.  She spoke in very simple language.

At first she assured me that she had been with me always and spoke messages of love and assurance.

Then I decided to ask a question.  I asked to learn something about the future.  The answer came in chant form:

"Trouble ahead, trouble ahead,
stay together, stay together."

This chant was repeated several times, sometimes becoming "Stay together, you can weather."

This chant reminded me of the I Ching reading: "Gather your friends around you.  In friendship there is strength.

Whatever the source of these words, they were clearly good advice.

Was this my inner guide speaking at last?  When I asked for her name, I got "Samantha."  Actually, I sleep with Samantha every night, for that is the name of the sheep who furnished the wool for the blanket on my bed.

Later, I tried to see if I could speak with an Irish accent once more, but I had limited success.

GREAT NEWS!  I HAVE NOW RENTED AN APARTMENT IN THIS SAME BUILDING THAT IS IDENTICAL TO THE ONE I AM IN NOW.  MOVE IN WILL BE JULY 31, PERFECT DATE FOR ME.  ALREADY HAVE SET UP APPOINTMENT WITH MOVERS.  THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT GOOD ENERGY FOR THIS AND WHO OFFERED SUGGESTIONS AND HELP.  I TRULY APPRECIATED YOUR SUPPORT DURING THIS STRESSFUL PERIOD.  NOW I MUST TRY TO RELAX AND LET THE NEWS SINK IN.

BLESSINGS AND GOOD WISHES TO ALL.  LOVE EACH ONE OF YOU AND DEEPLY APPRECIATE OUR CONNECTION.

NAMASTE!

DOROTHY

The Poet

I am a fountain
 pouring forth verses
that are seeking beauty.

I am a flower
opening into its own joy.

I am a shuttle
weaving a tapestry of words.
I am a mind that has
fallen in love with itself,
that wants to speak things
unheard of,
hidden for too long.

I am a map
marking with a circle
 my heart's destination.

I am another,
a reality come
to be birthed
and then return
once again.

Dorothy Walters
May 1, 2018