Chapter 4: Seven-Chakra System & Meditation Techniques

To assert, through the joy of the kiss of delusion, that it is the ultimate truth is like a man leaving his house and standing at the door, asking (a woman) about the experience of carnal pleasure—this pursuit is external. But Tantra's map is internal. Tantra says that no man is merely a man, and no woman is merely a woman; every man is both man and woman, and the same applies to every woman—both woman and man. Adam has Eve in him, and Eve has Adam in her. In reality, no one is merely Adam, and no one is merely Eve: we are "Adam-Eve." This is one of the greatest insights. Now psychoanalysis has become aware of it. They call it androgyny. But at least five thousand years ago, Tantra recognized it and spoke of it. This is one of the greatest discoveries in the world, through which you can move inward. You cannot move inward in any other way. Why would a man fall in love with the same woman? —Because he carries a woman within him, and otherwise he would not fall in love. So why would you fall in love with a particular woman? There are thousands of women, but why, suddenly, does one particular woman become the most important to you, as if all the other women have vanished, leaving only this one woman in the world? Why? Is there a specific man who attracts you? Why, at the first sight of him, does a voice suddenly resonate? Tantra says: Within you you carry the image of a woman, or the image of a man. Every man carries a woman within him, and every woman carries a man within her.

This inner map, which I've discussed in the context of the seven chakras, is based on Tantric yoga physiology. These seven energy centers are:

A. Muladhar: Root Chakra

In a man's body, the Murada is masculine. It carries the fear of sex, and society makes you particularly aware of your sexual center; it makes you agonize over it, so you cling to it. You can easily see this. You always hold your genitals tightly, as if afraid something will go wrong if you relax. Your whole conditioned reflex is to maintain tension in it. Relax it, let it be itself. Don't be afraid: fear creates tension. Let go of that fear; sex is beautiful; it is not sinful, it is a virtue. When you consider it as a virtue, you will be relaxed. Energy can only move inward or upward when the Murada is relaxed, so the most important thing is to relax the Murada.

B. Svadisthan: Sacral Chakra

In the male body, Swadistan is female. It is also the center of death. Do not be afraid of death. These are the two main fears of humankind: the fear of sex and the fear of death. Fears are dangerous; they prevent you from growing. Let go of all fears.

C. Manipura: Solar plexus

Manipura is masculine, and it carries negative emotions. That's why your stomach gets upset—when your emotions are disturbed, Manipura is quickly affected. In all the languages of the world, we can experience phrases like "I can't tolerate it (my stomach)." It's literally true. Sometimes, when we can't tolerate something specific, you start to feel nauseous, as if you're about to vomit. In fact, something happens—a psychological vomiting. Negative emotions: anger, hatred, jealousy, and so on—they are repressed. Your Manipura is too full; these repressed emotions don't allow energy to move upward. These repressed emotions act like stones: your channels are blocked. Tantra says: Express your negative emotions, allow them to exist. If anger comes, don't suppress it; if aggression comes, don't suppress it. Tantra doesn't say: Go kill. But Tantra says there are a thousand and one ways to express your repressed emotions. You can go to the garden and chop down trees—have you ever seen lumberjacks? They seem quieter than anyone else. You can run into the forest and shout, scream. Once Manipura relaxes, a balance emerges between positive and negative. When positive and negative are in balance, the channels open. The energy rises higher.

D. Anahata: Heart Chakra

Anahatana is feminine. Doubt is a problem that accompanies the fourth chakra. If you are a doubter, your fourth chakra will remain closed. Trust can open it. Therefore, anything that causes doubt will damage your heart. Anahatana, logical, strong logic, argumentative, overly rational, overly "Aristotelian" is within you. It damages Anahatana. Philosophical, skeptical, damages Anahatana. If you want to open your Anahatana, you will have to become trusting. Poetry is more beneficial than philosophy, intuition is more beneficial than reasoning, feeling is more beneficial than thought, so you must move from doubt to trust. Only then can your Atahana open and become capable of receiving masculine energy from your Manipura. Trust will open it; the moisture of trust is released into this chakra, allowing masculine energy to enter.

E. Vissudha: Throat Chakra

Vesuda is masculine. Lack of creativity, imitation, parrot-like, monkey-like—that's the damage. I once heard a story: A primary school student was asked: Ten copycats are sitting on a fence. One jumps away, how many are left? The child answered: None. The teacher asked, "None left? Only one jumped away!" The child said: "Because they are copycats. When one jumps, all of them jump." Vesuda is destroyed by copying. Don't become an imitator, don't become a photocopy. Don't try to become Buddha or Christ. Be careful not to become like Thomas, a Christian who only imitates. Not imitating will be helpful. Vesuda is destroyed by lack of creativity, imitation; creativity is good for it, expressing yourself, discovering your own style of life, having the courage to "do your own thing"—art, singing, music, dancing, inventing—all of this is beneficial. But to become creative—whatever you do, try to do it a new way. Try to bring some personal touch to it, some of your own message. Even cleaning the floor, you can do it your own way. Even cooking, you can do it your own way. You can bring your own creativity into everything you do; it should be. In as much creation as possible—okay, Vesuda is open. When Vesuda is open, only in this way can energy enter Agyar, the center of the third eye, the sixth chakra.

F. Agya: Third Eye Chakra

When energy comes to Agyar, it is complete awareness. This is the sixth center you can reach.

G. Sahasrar: Top Chakra

The seventh wheel is solitary. There is no male or female. Adam and Eve vanish into each other. This is the absolute, eternal meeting. This is what Hinduism calls "satchitananda," the Kingdom of God spoken of by Jesus. In fact, the number seven has been used in all religions. Seven days are symbolic; the seventh day is a day of rest, a sacred day. God works for six days, and on the seventh he rests. You will progress through six wheels, and the seventh is a great state of rest. Total rest, absolute relaxation—you have returned home. With the seventh, you vanish as one of duality; all polarities vanish, all differences vanish. Night is no longer night, day is no longer day. Summer is no longer summer, winter is no longer winter. Matter is no longer matter, spirit is no longer spirit. You have reached the other shore. This is the transcendental place, which Buddha called Nirvana.