I need to share this, because it is something I am currently going through. In my quest to understanding our reality, the nature of consciousness, etc... Many things have unfolded. Yogic practices have led to intense 'awakenings', and the experiences I've had have been spoken about in various texts that I've read, although going through the actuality of it is nothing we could ever prepare for. I will attempt to capture in detail what I am experiencing, to help a fellow yogi, to assist in those interested in following, or perhaps to deter those who have no interest in these matters, and most of all to help myself as I steer an overwhelming large ship into the sunset (I think that's the right direction...?)
There seems to be energy moving through the body, and it is mostly coming down into me and traveling outward into the world. This would make sense from a biological perspective, right? The first life form (from which we all evolved), a single celled organism, received solar energy from above FIRST, and as that energy moved through it and animated it, the life form was spurred into action towards perpetuating its species through passing on the genes to its progeny. So the energy come into it and propelled it towards life. Down and out, into the world. Fast forward on the evolution train until now. What is happening? Our body is animated somehow, who knows from where or how, but it is. And still all life on Earth has a solar basis - the energy coming down into us from the outer cosmos.
As human beings, we are receiving this energy and it is moving down through our bodies and what does it seem that we here to do? Perpetuate our species, pass on our genes. At least biologically, this is the case. Has to be - we've been programmed for it in the genetic coding in our DNA since our first birth many eons ago. So we have this energy still coming down and out. Except the 'out' no longer looks like a single celled organism seeking out basic resources for living - the energy is going out towards acquiring various things, due to the complexity of our nature. We are driven towards actions such as the possession of material things, financial success, wealth, relative enjoyment of the sensory pleasures of life and relative avoidance of pain. Same thing as the first life form - seeking the good and avoiding the bad. This is the natural cycle, only upscaled in complexity to take into account our incredibly advanced state as human beings.
Now the interesting thing is that this energy has followed this cycle seemingly forever and appears to continue to follow it, as it is the natural flow of things. Where it gets interesting is that it seems possible for a human being to involve itself in the process of the energy coming down. To begin to understand it, at least experientially, and to begin to 'flow' with it. Perhaps even redirecting it. Redirecting it, where? I believe it is the redirection of this energy that has allowed for any advancement to occur. In fact, I believe it is through the connection and redirection of this Source energy that has allowed the ultimate evolution of every life form ever, where evolution is the some form of advancement of the species as a whole. Otherwise, we would still be a bunch of amoebas floating around in a massive petri dish ocean, perpetuating the old outdated system of the energy doing one thing - coming down and out, to make more amoebas. At some point an amoeba is held onto the energy, or perhaps just experienced the sheer potentiality of it and redirected it towards some function other than simple survival. Evolution.
Side-note but important to consider - the same idea happens when we fast. Did you know that fasting (going without food) is one of the most widely researched modalities to extend life span? It also has numerous documented health benefits, which is strange - we are going against what is natural for us, and refraining from taking the very food that nourishes us and gives us life... only to be granted more life. Why??? I draw the connection between this, and the story above. We are harnessing the power of our Source energy, and redirecting it towards a conscious choice. It is in the conscious choosing that we evolve.
Carrying on with this dialogue... where does that leave us as human beings? Hopefully taking a look at how our energy seems to be moving out into the world and consciously redirecting it towards motives other than purely 'worldly' things. There is a 'spiritual' component to everything, and it is just the other end of the spectrum where evolution is on one end (spiritual), and survival is on the other (physical). The amazing thing is that we are all doing this to a certain extent, in one way or another, and all it takes is 'waking up' to the realization that we really are in control of our destiny, if we choose to view it the light of these analogies. We are able to redirect our consciousness (energy) towards pursuits other than what our past nature intends. This looks like a challenge and is similar to breaking an old habit, which is always difficult, and starting a new one. We are creating a new reality, one that we are consciously involved in creating, and not the other way around. Not one that is unconsciously re-created from our re-actions.
The science of yoga really boils down to this. Having direct experiences in the body of this energy, noticing how it is flowing outward into the world, and calling it back into our center so that we may redirect it at will. If we fail to do this, the energy will flow in the direction that it has continued to flow. Down from heaven, and into earth. I am interested in reaching up the other way - keeping my feet on the planet but allowing the energy from above to alchemize my consciousness into one that is of a benefit to all beings.
Remember that amoeba? If one never did it, the rest wouldn't 'think' it possible. Similar to Jesus walking on water.... It is the story of faith. Faith is our connection to our own Source, and the ability to see that we can direct this Source energy towards things of our choosing. Ironically, the things of our choosing end up being ubiquitously 'good' choices, because if we are creating our reality, why would we ever create anything less than perfect? I choose the creation of something beautiful. I choose life. I choose consciousness. For myself, for my friends, for my family, for the community, and ultimately the planet and whole Universe. I believe this is what 'it' wants... to experience the evolution of 'itself', so that a deeper appreciation and understanding of everything reveals itself through my own human experience, and 'I' stand before 'it' in awe of the sheer magic and majesty of 'it' All.
Woah.... Love, and light... Thanks for reading.