झीनी झीनी बीनी चदरिया ॥
काहे कै ताना काहे कै भरनी,
कौन तार से बीनी चदरिया ॥
इडा पिङ्गला ताना भरनी,
सुखमन तार से बीनी चदरिया ॥
This popular poem by Kabir is sung across cities and villages, by schoolchildren and their grandmas and great grandads! Literate or totally unschooled, those who know Hindi are likely to know at least the refrain of this popular song. Jheeni jheeni beeni chadariya… fine and subtle is woven the fabric that covers my being, the physical material that clothes my soul. What makes the warp and weft of this fabric, Kabir asks. And he answers, the ida – pingala are the warp and sushumna the weft…
The poem goes on to describe time, the elements, chakra energies, and other contributors to the weaving of this body, but strangely the pointers given in the opening words of the song are seldom explored by us.
This poem is talking about kundalini energy that provides the base on which our existence is built and sustained. It flows through two subtle channels of which we live in total ignorance. Like automatons we shift from waking to sleep, from strenuous activity to repose, and remain unaware that these channels light up and dwindle many times each day, shifting our breathing patterns, activating and deactivating different nostrils, making our systems more alkaline or more acidic in rhythms through each 24 hour day.
Awareness of these shifts and control of one’s breathing with certain exercises can pave the way for harmonising our rhythms. The immediate side effect is tangible control over emotions, improved body health, and greater equipoise. Guided by a Master, Guide or Guru one can learn to awaken the wisdom-guru lying asleep within oneself. The inner and outer gurus then work in tandem to harmonise both minor subtle channels so the energies become balanced outside the central channel. The more centered one gets, the clearer and wider the central path becomes. The stage is set for the great dormant kundalini shakti to waken and to flow up the central sushumna.
Without wisdom and guidance some attempt shortcuts via specific breathing and other exercises. These build up one or other facet of our being, further unbalancing energies. Like children playing with fireworks, such shortcuts invite serious risk of completely destroying lives.
By becoming aware that we each have amazing power just waiting to be summoned, we can begin to live in ways conducive to our inner blossoming. The kundalini can then open up and flow steady, sure and constant, its glow quietly radiating as it does in all saints who have ever lived, totally natural and effortlessly.
May we each grow to our deepest inner potential.
