Understanding cosmic energy

Let us understand the phenomenon of (cosmic) energy by asking a few questions.

Any guess what keeps the human body alive! 

Food

Is it food ? No it is not! We know a number of instances where shipwreck survivors floated on sea under extreme weather conditions, without food for a number of days before they were rescued. Follow the link to larn about Poon Lim who survived at seas without food for 133 days:  https://www.historydefined.net/poon-lim/.  Angus Barbieri is another example of an individual that fasted for 382 days:   https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blog/2018/02/story-angus-barbieri-went-382-days-without-eating/.

Rigorous fasting has been part of many sects like Jainism, Hinduism and Islam. The highest number of days fasted are 411 days by a person named Hira Ratan Manek who claimed to have lived only sunlight for food during all these days.

Water

Is it water? No!  Ram Bahadur Bomjon is the living example of surviving without water for months together. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDho1Y8MekE&t=2s. Prahlad Jani is another person worth researching:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2010-05-starving-yogi-astounds-indian-scientists.html

Air

This possible leaves only one element and that has to be air (oxygen). Yes! must be oxygen! Wait! A female named Karoline M Meyer of Florianppolis, Brazil remained underwater (without an oxygen tank) holding her breath for 18 minutes and 32.59 seconds, a record registered in Guinness Book of World Records:    

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/longest-time-breath-held-voluntarily-(female).

We all know that our breath is affected by our emotions. The breath rate goes up while angry, having sex or watching football match. Why so? It is because of the emotional upheaval the mind is experiencing. If this is true, then the opposite of this can also true. Therefore, no emotions and thoughts equal no breath. This can be experienced under the state of deep meditation.

One can easily find details of yogis deliberately buried alive in a hole and coming out after a number of days. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhu_Haridas. From the examples given above, it is clear that food, water and air are not the factors that keep us alive.

Now the question is what is it that keeps the human body alive under such conditions.

 Underwater swimming, as mentioned above, is the best example for anyone to understand this phenomenon. Meyer found a way to survive without breathing for a few minutes but someone else (a yogi named Sadhu Haridas) found a technique to survive without breathing for 40 days buried under the earth.

Have you ever noticed the effect of changing emotions on breathing pattern? Anger raises the breath rate while maintaining calm/relaxation slows down the breath rate. Likewise, if you focus on one point/thought, the breath rate falls to 4-5 cycles per minute which normally is between 12-20 cycles. In meditation when one reaches the No Thought State, this helps one realize the connection between breath and thoughts.

The question is what is it that keeps the body alive when the respiration completely stops?

Yes, it is cosmic energy that keeps the body alive and in perfect order under all circumstances. Given below is an example of a word that describes cosmic energy in the best possible way.

Prana means energy and vaayu means wind

Sanskrit, the most accomplished language, has the word Pran-vaayu. If you break it down, Prana means energy or life-force and vaayu means wind or air. From the examples given above, we conclude that wind itself is not a life-giving force, but it is only the carrier of what gives life. If one can live without oxygen, food and water, it becomes amply clear that energy is the ultimate source that keeps the human body alive.

Life force with creative essence

 Wisdom says that creative essence is the basic nature of life-force. Therefore, it is said that each and every thing in physical form is nothing but the physical manifestation of cosmic energy. Thus, all forms of life including human beings are the outcome of this creative essence. 

Bliss-the basic characteristics of the cosmic energy

As heat is to fire, or cold is to ice, bliss is the core nature of cosmic energy. Since it is the basis of this phenomenon and we being part of the same source, also have similar characteristics. Blissfulness is a state of mind which may be understood or described as a combination of infinite peace, compassion and joy. 

We can say that when one is in total peace with self, loving the entire creation, gives rise to the sense of joy within. Such a harmonious state may be known as the state of bliss. In simple words one merges with the universe and attains the ultimate wisdom.

Just like the physical body, we have energy body. There are 8 components of the energy body out of which we will talk about 3 here.

Energy tubes or nadies

There are 72,000 energy tubes or pathways through which energy flows through the whole body. They are spread throughout like roots and shoots of a tree. Three of them are the most important ones namely Ida (moon channel), Pingla (sun channel) and Sushumna (neutral channel).  

Chakras

There are 108 energy centers/circles or chakras, out of which 7 are major, which are located on the central channel, out of those 3 channels, in the backbone. These chakras get energy from the cosmos and supply it down to different parts of the body through various energy channels.

The information given here is of a very basic nature. Starting from the bottom we shall move to the top. 

Mulaadhar or root base chakra (also known as the Survival Center)

Location: Between anus and genital.

Shape: Lotus with 4 petals of crimson red color.

Element: Earth 

Attributes: Seat of vitality, survival instincts, sense of rootedness, stability, belonging

Gland: Suprarenal and adrenal.

Organs: Base of back bone, kidney, bladder

Negative emotion: Lack 

Positive emotion: Abundance

Swadhishthaan or sacral/pelvic chakra (also known as the Sex Center)

Location: Above reproductive organ but below navel region.

Shape: Lotus has 6 petals of orange color.

Element: Water 

Attributes: Sex center, seat of “I”ness or ego

Glands: Gonads

Organs: Reproductive organs, kidneys

Negative emotions: Greed

Positive emotion: Creativity

Manipur or solar plexus chakra (also known as the Death Center)

Location: Behind the navel

Shape: Lotus with 10 petals of yellow color

Element: Fire

Gland: None

Organs: Stomach, liver, pancreas

Negative Emotion: Jealousy, fear

Positive Emotion: Happiness

Anahat or heart chakra (also known as the Love Center)

Location: Ribcage at the height of heart.

Shape: Lotus with 12 petals of green color.

Element: Wind

Glands: Thymus

Organ: Heart, hands and blood circulation system, partially lungs and respiratory system

Negative emotion: Hatred, anger, disappointment

Positive emotion: Love, compassion

Vishudhi or throat chakra (also known as the Communication Center)

 Location: Throat region

Shape: Lotus with 16 petals of blue color.

Element: Space/ether or aakash.

Gland: Thyroid

Organs: Throat, esophagus (food pipe), lungs, respiratory system

Negative emotion: Emotional choking 

Positive emotion: Thankfulness, openness

Agya or third eye chakra (also known as the Intuitive Center)

Location: Forehead

Shape: Lotus with 2 petals of purple/violet color.

Element: Space/ether

Gland: Pituitary

Organs: Spine, lower brain or hypothalamus, left eye, nose and ears

Negative emotion: Overwhelmed, confusion

Positive emotion:  Intuitive ability

Sahastrar or crown chakra

Location: Top of the head

Shape: Lotus with 1,000 petals of white color.

Gland: Pineal

Attributes: Spirituality, sense of oneness

Organs: Upper brain and right eye

Element: Space

Positive Emotion: Tranquility, equanimity, wisdom, peace

Negative Emotions: Depression, schizophrenia, autoimmune diseases

The word aura in Latin language means the glow of light. The electromagnetic field that surrounds the human body is also called aura because it looks like a glow of light.

The energy body surrounding physical body is made of 7 layers namely:

Annamaya Shareer or Physical body 

Praan Shareer or Etheric Body

Manomaya Shareer or Mental Body

Bhaavmaya Shareer or Emotional Body

Chaitanya Shareer or Spiritual Body

Sukshma Shareer or Astral Body

Aanandmaya Shareer or Celestial Body

Aura watching

Though ordinarily, it is not possible to see the energy body but with the help of certain exercises, one can develop the capability to see the aura. Kirlian, a Russian scientist, developed a photographic technique that can take photographs of human aura. It is a great step forward from the health point of view because it is well known among energy healers that any disease first sets in the aura body and if not cured at that level manifests itself in the physical body.

Checking self aura    

It is easier to feel one’s own aura body with a simple method. Rub both palms together vigorously for a duration of 3 to 5 minutes. Move both hands an inch away from each other and then slowly bring them back closer. You will find repulsion between both hands. It may feel like there is a presence of a cushion that is preventing both hands from touching each other. This rubbery feeling between the palms is the energy (aura) body of self.

Size

Aura can be broadly divided into three parts namely etheric, mental and spiritual. Etheric aura is about 2-6” inches wide, whereas mental aura can be 8 feet and spiritual aura can be from 8-1000 feet (or infinitely) wide. These numbers give an indication of the dimensions, but they actually vary from person to person. .

Reach and clairvoyance

Aura is a translucent field of energy. Size and intensity of one’s aura field depends on the mental, and emotional state and the spiritual development of the individual.

Its color and intensity change with the emotions of a person. All negative thoughts deplete the aura in size and make it weaker and vice-versa.

Spiritually advanced individuals may have a heightened clairvoyance ability. What is clairvoyance anyway? It is the ability to look beyond normal physical range of vision. The bigger the periphery of aura, the broader the vision. Simply put, this means, if the aura is 1,000 feet in diameter- the range of vision will be 1000 feet. Sometimes, it may also be interpreted as an ability to look beyond time and space. In either case it is very much connected to the size of one’s aura.  

Color

Aura can be of different colors. These colors keep changing depending on the emotional experience an individual is going through. Given below is the overview of different colors of aura and their characteristics:

Blue:  Helpful, supportive, caring

Green: Teacher, animal and nature lover, communicative

Indigo: Seeker, spiritually advanced, sensitive, independent

Orange: Adventurer, good planner, appear to be powerful

Red: , honest, blunt, straightforward, sexually expressive

Violet: Visionary, intuitive, innovative

White: Healer, sensitive, vulnerable, translucent

Kirlian Photography is a technique that allows the ability to capture the image of energy fields in their true colors.  For more accurate knowledge one should learn the art of aura watching and self-analyze different colors with personality traits.

Having talked about energy and its kingdom and administration through chakras, naadies and aura, it is now time to dwell on the realm of health.

Health

Since the inception of mankind, health has been its prime concern. With the changing times, the definition of health has been constantly evolving.

Not long ago, health was related only to the physical body; meaning, if a person appeared not to have any disease was called healthy but that is not the case anymore. Today health is taken as a sum of mind, body and spirit known as holistic health.

Let us take a perspective of the word health from a healer’s point of view.

When all the chakras are fully balanced, energy flows freely to each cell of the body. Respiratory system, blood circulation, endocrine system etc. function smoothly. Thus, the energy is transferred without any hindrance to every cell of the body. This is what is called total health from the energy-healer’s point of view.

Here goes the maxim one derives from what is stated above ‘Whenever the transfer of smooth flow of energy is disturbed it results into disruption of one’s ease and becomes known as dis-ease.”

Therefore, we may say that balanced unhindered flow of energy is health and the absence of the same is disease or if we are not in harmony, we are diseased.

Thoughts/Vibrations  

Like positivity and blissfulness are the basic characteristics of energy, negativity and sorrow are the features of the Nature. Here Nature does not mean vegetation, greenery, mountains, rivers etc. but anything that takes birth and goes to death or anything that has a beginning and an end comes under the purview of Nature.  

To understand the phenomena of vibration we can take the example of sound waves. Let us understand, how sound travels? Let us simplify this by understanding water waves first. If we throw a pebble in water, it will create waves. Those waves would travel to a distance directly in proportion to the weight of the pebble and the speed at which it is thrown. These waves use water as the medium and carrier. 

Similarly, if a vocal sound is produced it would form vibrations and those vibrations would travel in the form of waves to certain distance depending on the intensity at which it is produced.

In the same manner, the brain vibrates when it processes thoughts. But those vibrations are so subtle that they cannot be experienced by physical faculties. Therefore an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine is used to measure them.

Telepathy is another great example of the thought vibration phenomena. Even in our day-to-day life, we often experience that we are thinking about a person and we receive a phone call or we bump into them.   

A very important question may arise at this stage which is-how these vibrations travel? These vibrations use atmosphere and energy as a vehicle to travel. Entire telecommunication systems, radio and television are based on this same phenomenon. Sound is produced in the radio station but one can hear it sitting away at home. 

Negative Vibrations 

The characteristic of thought vibrations is that similar types attract each other and they become stronger by creating a pool. It also has a kind of snow-balling effect. Once produced, they never get destroyed because they feed on energy.  

If someone gets angry, they create vibrations which also affect people around them. Now these new set of people create more vibrations that lead to affecting many millions on the earth. Finally, anger expresses itself in form of committing a violent act or watching someone else do it. The best examples are mass public shootings, roadside brawls, a boxing match or an American football game. All wars and revolutions are nothing but the expression of anger which allow the energy to be processed, dissipated and ultimately subside until it erupts again. 

Energy Blocks 

In the energy healing world, brain and mind are treated as two separate components. Brain is just a device or hardware whereas mind is like a software. Mind uses brain to process thoughts and emotions. When the brain is processing thoughts, it literally vibrates and produces very tiny electrical particles. Let us call them emotional dust. This dust attaches itself with the electromagnetic field (aura) that surrounds the physical body. This is what we call energy block. To the person who has the blockage, it feels like wearing a dirty shirt all the time. If this blockage is not removed from the aura, it starts to expand and affects the chakras. From chakras, the blockage grows and affects 72,000 channels. From there the blockage shows up in the physical body in the form of some or the other disease.

Thus, in the healers’ world, every physical disease is the result of unresolved emotional stress.

Homeostasis

Homeostasis is the capacity of the body to achieve natural balance or equilibrium by moving in the opposite direction. For example, if there is a foreign substance in the body causing imbalance, the body would get rid of it through urination, defecation or vomiting, sneezing etc. If there is a shortage of fluid, there would be thirst sensation urging to consume water (fluid) etc. which will help achieve homeostasis.

Thoughts and Homeostasis  

Similarly, whenever there is an energy block caused by negative emotions, the mind tries to balance it by holding on to positive emotions like trust, faith, love, peace and joy.

Here is where another noteworthy phenomenon comes into play and that is-these type of positive vibrations use a very different energy field which is made up of a level of frequencies which are very subtle in nature. Also, they flow at a higher level from the earth in the cosmos.

These positive thought-vibrations remove energy blocks and diseases caused by negative thought-vibrations and bring back homeostasis which is also known as the healing ability of the energy. 

There are certain techniques which can enhance the flow of energy if the body and mind are trained and attuned to them. Reiki is one such technique.

Reiki is a Japanese word. Rei stands for Universal and Ki stands for Life-Force. Thus, together they stand for Universal Life Force. Mikao Usui was the founding father of this technique. Reiki is nothing but a frequency of energy which has healing ability.

This technique has two components-intention and energy.

How does Reiki work  

Let us examine how Reiki works? The Reiki practitioner’s own ability to channel energy is enhanced by a certain process called ‘attunement’ while undergoing training. When the practitioner sets the goal, the enhanced flow of energy removes the vibrational junk from the aura, chakras and energy channels of the receiver and helps manifest the goal, which is normally in alignment with the short term and long-term needs of the receiver. A person thus attuned and trained can facilitate the flow of the energy to intended targets in person or at a distance. The sole aim of using this technique is to bring healing and equilibrium by removing energy blocks.

Treatment and Homeostasis 

Reiki can be used as a preventive measure or for complete healing. It creates an atmosphere of homeostasis in the body. Reiki also works well with other forms of treatments. There are no known side effects of Reiki. Also, there can never be an overdose of Reiki.

Other modalities  

Just like Reiki, there are multiple modalities to work with cosmic energy. Acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology, yoga postures, pranayama (breathing technique), Tai Chi, Qigong, Essential Oils, Crystals, meditation are some of the known methods to work with this life-force.