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290 SPIRIT AND THE MIND
with this model of consciousness would normally involve working on a number of different levels at the same time—such as nutrition, medication, exercise and relaxation (body level); acupuncture, Rolf- ing, bioenergetics and breathing exercises (pranic level); interpersonal relationships, cognitive learning and hypnosis (psychological/ mental); devotional practices, selfless service, moral observances and meditation (spiritual)—using different techniques for each level, while working toward a common goal such as increasing strength in the body or developing control of emotions and mind.
KUNDALINI
The dynamics of evolving consciousness, the way one moves from one level of consciousness to another, may be best understood through yoga’s concepts about the evolution of kundalini6 energy—an energy system in man which is little known in the West though studied by yogis of the East for thousands of years. Relating to man’s spiritual development, it includes penetrating insights into man’s psychological development as well and can help us see the relationship of the developmental stages of Freud, Erikson and Piaget to man’s spiritual nature.
The dynamics of kundalini are recognized by all schools of yoga in India: raja, karma, jnana, hatha, and bhakti yoga. The theories of this energy system take into account the developmental stages and personality configurations described in Western psychology and then proceed to define others beyond. They agree with Western psychology that the personality is initially undifferentiated and primitive in its organization and becomes more highly organized with normal personal growth. More highly evolved personalities are seen as representative of higher stages of consciousness, growing from the successful maturation and evolution of lower stages, and allowing for freer, more versatile and creative interaction between inner and outer reality and representing a broadening of consciousness.
But whereas psychology focuses on those qualities in the personality that allow for successful adaptation to the outer world which we perceive through the senses, the yogi’s system of kundalini describes, in addition, the development of those necessary for mastery of the inner world of the spirit and the ultimate transcendence of the material and psychological realms.
I’ll describe the system of kundalini in moderate detail here, so


































































































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