Does any one tradition hold the truth on awakening or could there be a more global story?
The Hopi myth of the stone tablets is a significant part of Hopi mythology and spiritual beliefs. According to this myth, the Creator, Taiowa, assigned his nephew, Sotuknang, the task of creating the world. Once the world was created, Sotuknang fashioned the first humans and divided them into four tribes, each heading in a different direction: North, South, East, and West.
‘At the beginning of this cycle of time, long ago, the Great Spirit came down and He made an appearance and He gathered the peoples of this earth together they say on an island which is now beneath the water and He said to the human beings, "I'm going to send you to four directions and over time I'm going to change you to four colors, but I'm going to give you some teachings and you will call these the Original Teachings and when you come back together with each other you will share these so that you can live and have peace on earth, and a great civilisation will come about."
And he said, "During the cycle of time I'm going to give each of you Two Stone Tablets. When I give you those stone tablets, don't cast those upon the ground. If any of the brothers and sisters of the four directions and the four colours cast their tablets on the ground, not only, will human beings have a hard time, but almost the earth itself will die."
And so he gave each of us a responsibility and we call that the Guardianship.
To the Indian people, the red people, he gave the Guardianship of the earth. We were to learn during this cycle of time the teachings of the earth, the plants that grow from the earth, the foods that you can eat, and the herbs that are healing so that when we came back together with the other brothers and sisters we could share this knowledge with them. Something good was to happen on the earth.
To the South, he gave the yellow race of people the Guardianship of the wind. They were to learn about the sky and breathing and how to take that within ourselves for spiritual advancement. They were to share that with is at this time.
To the West He gave the black race of people the Guardianship of the water. They were to learn the teachings of the water which is the chief of the elements, being the most humble and the most powerful.
To the North He gave the white race of people the Guardianship of the fire. If you look at the centre of many of the things they do you will find the fire. They say a light bulb is the white man's fire. If you look at the centre of a car you will find a spark. If you look at the centre of the airplane and the train you will find the fire. The fire consumes, and also moves. This is why it was the white brothers and sisters who began to move upon the face of the earth and reunite us as a human family.
And so a long time passed, and the Great Spirit gave each of the four races two stone tablets. Ours are kept at the Hopi Reservation in Arizona at Four Corners Area on 3rd Mesa’.
Lee Brown ‘Native American Prophecies’ (worth listening in full)
The Hopi myth, might sound like a script straight out of "Avatar, The Last Airbender," but it presents an intriguing idea. It proposes that spiritual truth is not monopolised by any single culture, ethnicity, or tradition. Rather, it suggests that truth is a shared, collective heritage of humanity. Maybe we should not hold anyone path higher than another but look what unites all of them.
Exploring various forms of spiritual awakening – be it Spiritual, Pranic, Shamanic, Western, or others – reveals that each culture contributes a unique insight. These insights highlight different aspects of nature, the cosmos, or the human body, focusing on varying levels of unity or connection with something greater. Some emphasise a tangible, Earth-bound connection, while others extend to a more expansive, universal unity. The focus of energy varies too, ranging from the lower Dantien to the Heart, and even the brain. In this context, Qi, Chi, Prana, Spirit, and similar concepts are seen as interchangeable, though they may operate at subtly different frequencies.
How does Kundalini fit into this?
In contemporary Western contexts, concepts like Kundalini, prana, spirit, and chi are often merged, leading to diverse experiences being labeled as Kundalini awakenings. Traditional esoteric views, however, distinguish between Kundalini and pranic awakenings, suggesting that a true Kundalini experience aligns with prolonged, high-level Samadhi states, potentially beyond physical return.
Traditionally, prerequisites for a Kundalini awakening include the development of Yamas and Niyamas, along with other spiritual practices, fostering a life grounded in ethical and moral principles. Interestingly, contemporary observations reveal many who experience spontaneous non-dual states often engage in substantial introspective work afterwards, like addressing personal shadow aspects, post-awakening. This suggests a nonlinear path: instead of a life preparing with spiritual practices before Samadhi, individuals are finding their spiritual path following spontaneous, yet temporary, awakenings.
The convergence of diverse spiritual cultures might be facilitating these transient Kundalini experiences, acting as catalysts towards a path akin to the Buddhist concept of 'Sotapanna' (stream entrant), that is someone who has entered the stream potentially leading to more enduring awakenings, not necessarily confined to Buddhism.
Traditional Hindu Tantrics and Kundalini lineage holders might view the broadened definition of Kundalini awakening as cultural appropriation. This website, by engaging with these new interpretations, could be seen as contributing to this issue.
Nevertheless, I believe that the Kundalini framework offers valuable insights into human evolutionary developments. As mentioned above I believe that no single culture monopolises truth; rather, we are witnessing an evolution that transcends individual cultural contributions. Over the last fifty years, the term 'Kundalini awakening' has evolved to encompass a variety of experiences, not necessarily in line with original teachings, but serving as a beacon for spiritual and social change.
While this doesn't conclusively define Kundalini, recognising the spectrum of spiritual awakenings helps in understanding the contemporary interpretation of a Kundalini awakening, its current manifestations, and potential future directions.
Despite the differences in awakening experiences, here are some commonalities I have observed:
Every culture has a spiritual framework, suggesting a universal spirit or energy pervading all existence.
This universal spirit might exist beyond our conventional understanding of space and time.
Awakening to this spirit or energy can lead to profound psychic or spiritual experiences, often transformative.
The increasing number of spontaneous awakening experiences indicates a significant shift in global consciousness.
Awakenings might differ in nature, yet share underlying patterns and specific characteristics.
The diversity in awakenings might reflect cultural influences, energy circulation, as well as unique challenges.
Some individuals experience multiple types of awakenings, hinting at an integration of these diverse systems. Often they centre in the heart.
The challenge arises when these experiences occur outside supportive cultural or social frameworks, potentially leading to physical or mental health issues. Key to navigating these experiences are acceptance, community support, and broader cultural recognition, paving the way for societal transformation.
We at the Kundalini Collective want to be part of the wider conversation asking the question about what might be going on with spiritual and Kundalini awakeniungs. We invite everyone to join in this conversation and journey together, contributing to a deeper understanding and collective growth.
All images generated by AI