A review of "Enlivening the Chakra of the Heart"
This is a relatively
interesting book about kundalini and chakras, written from an Anthroposophical
(read: unusual) perspective. The work is published by a subsidiary to Rudolf
Steiner Press. Yet, it's unclear if it reflects the “official” position of the
Anthroposophists. To some extent, the book seems to be based on independent
research by the author, Florin Lowndes.
Lowndes argues that Steiner had two parallel teachings. The exoteric teaching was a reformed version of traditional Western esotericism. The esoteric teaching was a direct path to “heart-thinking”, based on Steiner's book “The Philosophy of Freedom”. Perhaps inevitably, it's very difficult to grasp what the esoteric message might be, except that it somehow entails the notion that thinking should reflect upon itself, thereby transforming itself into a purely spiritual force. Most of Lowndes' book deals with the first path, the “exoteric” one.
Lowndes argues that the traditional chakras enumerated by various Eastern traditions and Theosophy are solely based in the etheric body (the lowest purely supersensible body). The forthcoming task of human evolution is to develop new chakras based in the astral body (which is higher than the etheric body). In traditional teachings, the kundalini was awakened in the human body and ascended until it reached a point immediately above the head, exploding and inducing ecstatic experiences. In Steiner's version, the kundalini descends from a supersensible sphere down into the astral body, where it creates or enlivens new chakras. The end-result is said to be clear, systematic, level-headed thinking (rather than ecstasy), but also a supersensible ability to “read” other people's souls and soul states. The most important effect of the descending kundalini is to develop the heart chakra (called “the twelve-petalled lotus” by Steiner), which will start to vibrate and radiate in all colours of the spectrum. Humans will be able to communicate through the heart-chakra. Lowndes believes that it will take many more incarnations before humanity in general reaches this new level of development. To sum up this far, the author believes that the descending kundalini can be tapped by humans to aid their spiritual evolution. (Parallels to Sri Aurobindo are pretty obvious here.)
“Enlivening the Chakra of the Heart” contains six exercises to develop the heart chakra. They are not particularly dramatic, and include exercises in meditation, open-mindedness, equanimity, etc. The author proposes different body postures (the Agrippa positions) to harness etheric energy, positions apparently also used in eurythmy (a kind of performance art developed by Steiner and Marie von Sivers). The exercises are said to protect the practitioner from the evil forces of Lucifer, Ahriman and the Asuras, while gaining the protection of angelic hierarchies. Lowndes believes that the evolution of the heart chakra is *the* most important task of humanity today, and that the six exercises described in his book therefore aren't optional, but rather imperative for our future…
I admit that “Enlivening the chakra of the heart” is a relatively interesting book, although perhaps too narrow for general readers. I found the book by chance when typing the words “Steiner kundalini” into the Amazon search engine. I will give it four stars for stimulating my thinking, although perhaps not my chakras! ;-)
Lowndes argues that Steiner had two parallel teachings. The exoteric teaching was a reformed version of traditional Western esotericism. The esoteric teaching was a direct path to “heart-thinking”, based on Steiner's book “The Philosophy of Freedom”. Perhaps inevitably, it's very difficult to grasp what the esoteric message might be, except that it somehow entails the notion that thinking should reflect upon itself, thereby transforming itself into a purely spiritual force. Most of Lowndes' book deals with the first path, the “exoteric” one.
Lowndes argues that the traditional chakras enumerated by various Eastern traditions and Theosophy are solely based in the etheric body (the lowest purely supersensible body). The forthcoming task of human evolution is to develop new chakras based in the astral body (which is higher than the etheric body). In traditional teachings, the kundalini was awakened in the human body and ascended until it reached a point immediately above the head, exploding and inducing ecstatic experiences. In Steiner's version, the kundalini descends from a supersensible sphere down into the astral body, where it creates or enlivens new chakras. The end-result is said to be clear, systematic, level-headed thinking (rather than ecstasy), but also a supersensible ability to “read” other people's souls and soul states. The most important effect of the descending kundalini is to develop the heart chakra (called “the twelve-petalled lotus” by Steiner), which will start to vibrate and radiate in all colours of the spectrum. Humans will be able to communicate through the heart-chakra. Lowndes believes that it will take many more incarnations before humanity in general reaches this new level of development. To sum up this far, the author believes that the descending kundalini can be tapped by humans to aid their spiritual evolution. (Parallels to Sri Aurobindo are pretty obvious here.)
“Enlivening the Chakra of the Heart” contains six exercises to develop the heart chakra. They are not particularly dramatic, and include exercises in meditation, open-mindedness, equanimity, etc. The author proposes different body postures (the Agrippa positions) to harness etheric energy, positions apparently also used in eurythmy (a kind of performance art developed by Steiner and Marie von Sivers). The exercises are said to protect the practitioner from the evil forces of Lucifer, Ahriman and the Asuras, while gaining the protection of angelic hierarchies. Lowndes believes that the evolution of the heart chakra is *the* most important task of humanity today, and that the six exercises described in his book therefore aren't optional, but rather imperative for our future…
I admit that “Enlivening the chakra of the heart” is a relatively interesting book, although perhaps too narrow for general readers. I found the book by chance when typing the words “Steiner kundalini” into the Amazon search engine. I will give it four stars for stimulating my thinking, although perhaps not my chakras! ;-)
No comments:
Post a Comment