98. IDA and PINGALA

See: Post 91: The Shiva-Shakti

 

I had this piece in draft when I received a forwarded mail on the Ida and Pingala which said it better than I did, so I've reproduced parts of it. The source was not stated in that mail.

These are the two main energy channels that run through the body. They carry the life force (qi or prana) to various parts through sub-channels. They can be likened to two main rivers supplying water through various tributaries.

These two main channels represent the two primary aspects of ourselves.


The polarities........

Ida	Pingala
Feminine	Masculine
Left Nostril	Right Nostril
Right Brain	Left Brain
Sleep	Wakefulness
Energy	Consciousness
Night	Day
Moon	Sun
Cool	Hot
Melody	Rhythm
Yin	Yang
Introversion	Extroversion
Inaction	Action
Shakti	Shiva

Normally, one of the two channels is dominant. The goal of Yoga is to equalize or balance their flow. This balance brings about meditation, mindful relaxation and good health. Imbalance promotes disease. (dis-ease)

There is a third channel that starts operating when the flows are equalized. This third channel is the Sushumna - the central shaft. Sushumna represents the balance between Ida and Pingala.

For example, Ida represents night while Pingala represents day. Sushumna represents the time between the two - dawn and twilight.

Twilight has special significance in Kundalini Yoga. The particular style of Sanskrit used in most of these related ancient texts is called Sandhya Bhasha or literally, the Twilight Language

Typically, Pingala dominates during the day, while Ida during night. Pingala produces wakefulness. To balance this, Ida must dominate during the night thereby producing sleep. If the balance is not there, health problems and diseases will follow.

During dawn and twilight, the flow changes from one to another. Therefore, briefly Sushumna starts operating. These are the best times for spiritual practices and meditation. Those who are sensitive can feel movements in the perineum and a natural proclivity to perform the Shambhavi Mudra (focus on the space between the eyebrows)

The Yogi maintains prolonged flow of Sushumna for most of the time. Great Yogis require very little sleep and turn out incredible amounts of work.

Smooth, efficient operation of Sushumna also reduces aging. Death and aging occur when prana withdraws its flow or is reduced in Ida or Pingala. If the flow of prana in these two channels can be stopped and forced into Sushumna, then the Yogi 'cheats death'.

The three main nadis (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna) are Sanskrit in origin.

The 2 snakes symbolise the kundalini or serpent-fire, when set in motion along those channels, while the wings typify the power of conscious flight through higher planes which the development of that fire confers.

In a certain bible story, the snake was depicted literally and given a bad name as symbolic of satan the devil when what it tried to depict was all of the above.

Kunda means 'coil' signifying 'snake-like' for this energy does lie coiled up in the 'cave' that is the pelvic floor. During certain yogic practices, this energy is awakened and it rises crawling snake-like up and along the spine.

 
The Greeks 'hijacked' this and the symbol was widely used in Greek mythology, is depicted most often as the carduceus of Hermes, it was later adopted for use as the symbol for the healing arts and medical science.


 
It's interesting to note here that kung fu - so very Chinese - is Indian in origin. So too the various forms of martial arts traditional in South East Asian countries, in which the Indian martial arts form were fused with the indigenous martial arts and dance styles.

97. QUILIN

 

To get to scenic Quilin, we had to fly into Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Province. Nanning is a typical old Chinese city - grey, dusty looking, trying hard to be another typical new Chinese city, with spanking, shiny new malls and 'obiang' condos for the newly rich.

For a long time under Communism, the country has had frugal and practical ways. Their buildings were rectangular white washed blocks, very little new or modern developments of any kind were allowed or encouraged. Now, with the country opened to the world and the mighty tourist dollar, practically every Chinese city is in a hurry to erect new shiny buildings.

Their 'old' temple buildings have all had new coats of paint on the carved roofs which are too bright and fresh to look 'old'.
Only the natural scenic countrysides are worth visiting, particularly the caves, waterfalls, mountain scenes and such for they can't do much to 'develop' these places. Such sites are more often than not, miles away and might be prone to quakes. I will need to be more selective about where I will go next time in China.

 
Detian Waterfall, about 4 hours by road from Nanning. It's a huge 3 tier waterfall which merges with Banyue Waterfall of Vietnam. North Vietnam is just across this shallow creek which acts as the border between the 2 countries. The Vietnamese move freely around this area and run souvenir stalls on the Chinese side. They operate rafts which ferry tourists closer to the Falls.

 

Dream of Lijiang (below)

This ethereal production conceptualised and produced by an award winning Chinese film maker best known for his lavish sets, deep rich colours and casts of thousands. It was brilliant. 

Performed from boats and possibly platforms just under the water surface, it had as its backdrop, the limestone cliffs Guilin is best known for.

This outdoor performance went on despite a drizzle and we were provided with a disposable raincoat with hood. It was early Spring and it dripped everyday for the 4 days we were in Guilin which made it quite chilly.
 

 










Cormorants fishing is now put on as a show for tourists















This Elephant Trunk Hill has become quite iconic but somehow, looking hard at it, it looks more man-made. This place is a narrow river not some open ocean where the rock might be subjected to endless battering from the waves and very strong winds. The opening was too perfect, too smooth....ah well....


 








China's public toilets have an open-door policy.....part of the cultural experience



 












 Wuxi water village, Ziangnan, on an earlier visit

See: post 62: China - Here I Come

96. BABA

Baba's appearance is unique. He's easily recognisable even to those who do not know him well. This is an old pic, even in his 80's, his hair has never turned grey, never bald, just got thinner. I could recognise him when in my 20's after briefly setting eyes on him for the first time as a young girl of 10 when I looked through a classmate's ring (Post 9)

Baba is most often seen in an orange robe - orange is the colour of the chakra at the solar plexus that controls emotions. Emotions has been the bane of many, those strong and weak, male or female, young and old. Baba has many discourses on control of one's emotions and moods.
Link: Post 9 - Sathya Sai Baba

Baba is gone from the physical plane but I know he's not 'gone'. When Paramahansa Yogananda came into my consciousness in 1998 (Post 4 - The Journey Continues) he had been 'gone' from the physical plane since 1952. When I found my way to Osho's ashram in 2001, he had been 'gone' since 1990 (Post 5: My Masters )  When I was led to the Theosophical Society in Singapore (Post: 94)  the 2 Masters associated with it were 'gone' for more than a century.

Baba's detractors are totally ignorant about him. They criticise because they fear him, his power and his influence. So many millions all over the world can't all been duped by 1 man, many of whom are intelligent thinking folks. 

He did only good, he dosen't need sex or money - he's way beyond that. His legacy is there for all to see. For those of us who have spent time in his ashrams, been to the schools and hospitals he set up, been to the villages where his Trust had put in place a water project to bring running water to villagers in and around Baba's home town, all unsolicited donations were put to good use in the service of others. 

Education up to university level is free. Medical care, including major surgery is free. The schools and hospitals are manned by volunteers from all over the world. 

Absolutely nobody pays tithes here, nor in any Sai centers in Singapore. No donation boxes are placed anywhere throughout any of his ashrams. All unsolicited donations are handled by the State Bank of India, which has a small office inside the ashrams. Donors are required to fill in their full personal particulars, show their passports or driver's license, tick what they want their donations used for - education, medical care, water project, feed the poor, housing.
 
The 4x I've stayed in his ashrams in 3 different locations, I met people from all over the world, some from places I never expected - atheist Russia, Catholic South America, Muslim Iran and Indonesia. When we do talk, the usual question is 'What brings you here?' For many, it's a loooong way to travel and rough it out in uncomfortable conditions.

I once had a chat with a Malaysian Indian man who told me that he's a chain smoker and in the quiet afternoons he would have some puffs in the dorm when nobody's around. On one such afternoon, when he pulled out his matchbox from his pocket, he found the full box empty of all matchsticks.

2 young Aussie males would pop out of the ashram for their evening meals instead of dining inside the ashram where the food is recommended by Baba for being satvic. They could smoke and drink in the eateries outside. During morning darshan, Baba would stroll among his devotees in the huge mandir. He stopped at these 2 young men seated on the mandir floor to ask if they had enjoyed their beer 'last night'.

A man from Sao Paulo, Brazil, related how he got to discover Baba whom he had never seen or heard of before.
In his house one night, he was writing at his desk under a table lamp. The rest of the large room was not lit. In dim lighting, he saw this person in an orange robe smiling at him. In a panic, he called the police to report of an Indian thief in his house. (he meant a Sth American tribal native).
 
When driving in the streets of Sao Paulo, he was diverted into a lane by bad traffic where he came across Baba's picture outside a building, a Sai Center. The face and smile was unmistakable. He went in to check out the place and found out who this 'Indian thief' really is. He made immediate plans to travel to India.

On the mandir floor, devotees sit on designated places leaving a path for Baba to walk among them. Baba veered away from this path and cut through the devotees who made way for him. He stopped at where this Brazilian man sat at the far end of the mandir and said to him, 'You've come - you have a very nice house!'

Baba has leveraged on those who are in a position to serve others through their wealth, influence and power. He's able to see that they have it in them at a deeper Soul level to serve with love. Such devotees went on to establish charitable Foundations in which they work tirelessly to help large groups of people, not just a handful of individuals or small groups.

Although physically in India, Baba has been experienced by many people from all over the world. My very own phenomena with Baba took place in Singapore. (Post 9).  

The phenomena I've read about in spiritual literature pertaining to evolved souls isn't just book knowledge, I know it's for real and such Beings walk among us. I'm at peace with myself, secure in the knowledge that I've had the chance to sit at the feet of a true Master.




Love All Serve All - Baba