How to Meditate on Nine Chakras? The Role of Initiation

Nine energy points run from the base of the spine to the head, and each is a doorway to the being, to moksha and to enlightenment. Meditating on them follows initiation by a realised master, who kindles the energy at the base of the spine and raises it to Ajna.

What Does Nine Chakra Meditation Involve?

Nine chakra meditation, a part of Kundalini meditation, places awareness on each of the nine main energy points of the body in turn. The practice depends on Kundalini Shakti, the inner energy at the base of the spine, which lies dormant in every human being until a realised master kindles it by touch or sight and raises it along the spine to Ajna, the brow centre. The passage from the root to every other chakra then opens, so awareness placed on any chakra draws the energy up to that chakra, which stores it and gives benefits of its own.

Can Chakra Meditation Be Done Without Initiation?

Chakra meditation cannot begin without initiation, because technique alone never initiates a chakra. A realised Guru's grace carries the energy up to Ajna and initiates the other chakras in the same way, so that each can then be felt.

What Does It Mean to Meditate on a Chakra?

Meditate on a chakra by resting your attention there lightly, without looking at the spot with your eyes, since that strains them. Sensations are not required for the meditation to take place, and they arise only of their own accord. They can be more pronounced at Ajna than at Swadishthana or Mooladhara, so feeling nothing in a chakra is perfectly fine. In that case, simply stay aware of the chakra and keep relaxed. Expect no particular experience, because the expectation itself can become a barrier to meditation.

Do not focus or concentrate either, because concentration comes as a by-product of meditation and never through effort. Let the thoughts run and watch them from the chakra without blocking any or trying to stop the flow, and bring love and trust to the sitting, as they are its key.

Which Are the Nine Chakras, and Why Not Seven?

The nine-chakra system as revealed by HH Guruji Sundar runs upward through the body to the crown of the head. Mooladhara rests at the base of the spine, near the tailbone; Swadishthana lies two inches below the navel, and Manipura sits at the navel itself. Anahata stands at the centre of the chest, Vishuddhi just below the Adam's apple and Ajna between the eyebrows, while Sahasrara crowns the head.

Two of the nine are the hidden centres that a count of seven leaves out: Pidari Kan at the back of the head, close to the ganglion region of the brain, and Manonmaniyam at the meeting point of Sahasrara, Ajna, Pidari Kan and Vishuddhi, near the inner tongue, where you feel a sensation on swallowing saliva. Four are major, namely Ajna, Mooladhara, Sahasrara and Anahata, and meditation in them brings all that a human life needs, while the other five are minor.

Where Should Chakra Meditation Begin?

Begin at Ajna, the brow centre, which should carry at least 90 percent of the total meditation time and is the only chakra a beginner needs. Prepare the room and the body as for any sitting. Choose a silent room or a divine temple, and keep away from open places such as a rooftop, which may hold outside fields. Under the seat, place a blanket or mat so that the ground does not draw the energy away, and wear loose clothes. Light a lamp or incense, then sit in a comfortable posture with the back naturally straight, the hands lightly clasped in the lap and the eyes gently closed.

When the mind is turbulent, watch the breath for five to ten minutes until the thoughts slow, then rest your attention at the brow centre. After initiation, a touch or pressure arises there, and your attention should stay on that sensation. When nothing arises, contemplate the brow centre quietly, and regular practice makes its presence known. Sit for 15 to 30 minutes and let the sitting grow towards an hour, changing posture whenever the body feels uncomfortable, without breaking your attention.

Ajna alone is enough for a beginner, who should practise it sincerely for at least six months, since it takes that long even to notice its qualities.

What Does Mooladhara Add to Every Chakra Sitting?

Mooladhara balances the whole practice by cooling the system and lowering the heat that long hours at Ajna, Sahasrara or Manipura raise in the body. Meditate there for 15 minutes once a week to keep the body from overheating.

Return to Mooladhara whenever the body feels sick, tired or drained, and also to settle a surge of energy that proves hard to handle, to root the energy there on entering a negative atmosphere and to stay fresh during travel.

How Should a Chakra Sitting End?

When meditation leaves the mind pure and strong, the moment has come to pray, first for the welfare of all humanity, next for your friends and relatives, then for your family and last of all for yourself. Thank your parents, the Guru, God and your ancestors for the opportunity to meditate, since only a person with good ancestral karma enters meditation. Afterwards, open your eyes gently, rub your palms together and touch your body with them to spread the meditative energy through it.

Before sleep, spend ten minutes at Ajna recalling the day's events, forgiving those who harmed you and asking pardon of those you harmed, since both clear most of the karma gathered during the day.

Key Takeaway

Chakra meditation is gentle attention on a chakra, practised after a realised master kindles the energy at the base of the spine and raises it to Ajna, which opens the passage to every other chakra. Begin at Ajna for 15 to 30 minutes a day, since it alone is enough for a beginner, and practise it sincerely for at least six months to notice its qualities, giving it at least 90 percent of the total meditation time. The nine chakras are Mooladhara, Swadishthana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddhi, Ajna, Sahasrara, Pidari Kan and Manonmaniyam. Mooladhara cools and balances the whole system. Every sitting should close with prayer for humanity, loved ones and yourself, along with thanks to the Guru, God and the ancestors. A realised Guru's grace initiates the chakras and brings Self-realisation, and technique alone does neither.

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FAQs

What is nine chakra meditation? Nine chakra meditation, a part of Kundalini meditation, places awareness on each of the nine main energy points of the body in turn. It follows initiation by a realised master.

How do you meditate on the nine chakras? Rest gentle attention on one chakra at a time, either in ascending order or by turning your awareness to any chakra of your choice, without using your eyes and while letting the thoughts pass. The sitting follows initiation, belongs to Kundalini Yoga and calls for a realised master's guidance.

Why are there nine chakras and not seven? The nine-chakra system counts the familiar chakras together with two hidden centres, Pidari Kan and Manonmaniyam, and the common count of seven leaves the pair out.

Which chakra should a beginner meditate on first? Ajna, the brow centre, is enough for a beginner. Place your attention there gently and practise sincerely for at least six months to notice its qualities.

How long should chakra meditation last? A daily sitting at Ajna should run 15 to 30 minutes and can grow towards an hour.

How much of the meditation time should go to Ajna? Ajna should carry at least 90 percent of the total meditation time.

What if nothing is felt in the chakra? Nothing needs to be felt for the meditation to take place, since sensations arise only of their own accord and can be more pronounced at Ajna than at Swadishthana or Mooladhara. Simply stay aware of the chakra and keep relaxed, without expecting any particular experience, because the expectation itself can become a barrier. Regular practice makes the chakra known.

Should the eyes be used to look at the chakra? Keep your eyes out of it, since looking at the spot tires them, and pain during a sitting means you are straining them. Take a break and relax, then continue once the pain recedes.

Which chakra cools the body after long meditation? Mooladhara cools the body by lowering the heat that extended hours at Ajna, Sahasrara or Manipura raise, and a weekly sitting of 15 minutes there keeps the body from overheating.

Can chakra meditation be done without initiation? Chakra meditation cannot begin without initiation, because technique alone never initiates a chakra. A realised master kindles the energy at the base of the spine and carries it up to Ajna, and the sitting rests on that.