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Category: Oriental Perspectives

Published: Monday, 01 August 2011 10:45

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An Oriental Perspective on Mental Health

The following is an edited version of the presentation by Sneh Prasad. Reproduced here with her permission.

N.b. We have not been able to show the wonderful pictures Sneh used here, but have links in the text that will take you to pictures on the web.

SHRI SANATAN DHARMA BELIEF SYSTEM

Classification of Prana or energy is an integral component.

Fundamental Principles

• Prana Pervades, constitutes life and sustains each human body and life in general.
• Prana is sparks of "intelligent vibrations of energy finer than atomic forces", a phenomena that interconnects particles, atoms, molecules and cells.
• The positive, negative and neutralizing attributes of the five states of prana - solid, liquid, heat, gaseous and ethereal function through the senses of touch, sound, taste, smell and sight.
• It operates through mechanical and chemical principles in the body for the running and preventative maintenance of health and self healing.

(Yogananda, SRF publication, 1995, Master Choa Kok Sui, 1988)

SHRI SANATAN DHARMA CONCEPTS OF MENTAL HEALTH

• Optimising equilibrium of Prana with proper functioning of the Causal, Astral, Physical bodies, auras and chakras.
• Optimising connection.
• Deviation results in abnormality.

(http://www.languageinindia.com; Yogananda, SRF publication, 1995; Master Choa Kok Sui, 2000)

If there is an imbalance in the pranic energy it can cause ill health.

ENERGY BODIES AND CHAKRAS

The 3 bodies are a matter of grossness of energy superimposed on each other:

• CAUSAL BODY of thoughts with mental aura. If sick the causal body gets affected first.
• ASTRAL BODY of electrical currents with emotional aura is impinged with the disorder next.
• PHYSICAL BODY of gross material elements with etheric aura finally manifests the illness physically.

Each energy body is protected by its respective aura and they are connected at the chakras. Each chakra has a specific number of subtle, ‘petals’, to send out rays of light and vibration. Chakras are “power stations” with specific functions and control procedures.

For example, the Spleen chakra filters the environmental energy. It works with infections and the immune system. It reflects the energy you are surrounded by.

CHAKRA ROTATIONS

• Counter clockwise vibrations aim to release excess energies. If the chakras are turning counter clockwise it is a process of blessing or energising.
• Clockwise vibrations seek to converge centripetal force (the force applied to a body which causes it to rotate in a circle) within the innermost individual point of mind itself and develop inner energy. Clockwise movements are taking in, or absorbing energy from the outside.
• The chakras rotate clockwise and anti-clockwise cohesively, to manifest this dynamic alliance.

When experiencing a lot of different emotions and events, if a person has no way of releasing these energies, it can cause congestion of energy centers resulting in disorders.

Concentrated energy in each Chakra is a HUB from which rays of light and energy is radiated out for the functioning of the bodies.

BASIC FUNCTIONS OF THE CHAKRAS

• Chakras manoeuvre the body.
• Each major chakra is situated close to an endocrine gland.
• Chakras are intimately associated with and promote the functioning of the endocrine system.
• Chakras influence the efficient production of hormones or amrit.

The Third Eye is the eye of Shiva. It is also the Pineal gland, the entry point into the astral body, the point of entry into the self/soul. Shiva is responsible for dissolving everything.

SHIVA LINGA PUJA

In this ritual, milk and water is used to wash the Shiva Linga, to keep the eye of Shiva clean. It is a ritual to create the same effect on the energy of the body of the individual and the family. Energy follows thought. While washing the Linga, the thought is directed to the pineal gland being cleansed. Puja, worship, rituals are processes of washing, cleansing and energising through chanting names of Shiva.

This vibrational energy reverberates upon the Pineal Gland and activates it. The Pineal Gland secretes the Neurohormone Melatonin and is the richest site for Seratonin, which converts to Melatonin by enzymatic interaction. Melatonin helps to regulate the presence of other hormones in the blood.

Psychotic depression, depression, stress, insomnia, peptic ulcers, sexual dysfunction may be exacerbated by a deficiency of melatonin.  The Pineal Gland calcifies with age and melatonin production decreases (Southern medical journal. 01/01/1985; Groenendijk, 2001)

THE THREE SEEDS

MENTAL PERMANENT SEED:  We are already born with three seeds (different to chakras). The mental permanent seed is like a computer chip - it has impressions of your mental body – from past lives and this life and the future. Clairvoyants access this to read future events. It is located in the area of the Pineal Gland.

EMOTIONAL  PERMANENT SEED:  It is located in the area of the Solar Plexus, center of the emotions. We do not touch the area of the Permanent Seeds when doing energy healing. Work on the solar plexus chakra but not directly on the seed.

PHYSICAL PERMANENT SEED:  This has all the impressions of physical body. Like illnesses, finger missing, etc. It is imbedded in your heart center.

Chakra’s need energy to function:

1. Divine Energy - Paramatma: Higher Soul - God Energy comes from there. Atma - individual self.
2. Thoughts - are an integral source of subtle energy. Energy follows thought. Thoughts directed inwards facilitate the conservation of inner energy.
3. Karma - It is the law of action and reaction. Complimentary and reciprocal karmic effects are produced, e.g. love – good karma such as helping people.
4. Other Sources - earth, sunlight, plants, water and food.

Divine Energy enters in the Crown Chakra first, symbolised by the waterfall on Shiva’s head.

It then comes down into your thoughts that distribute your energy. By having good thoughts you create good karma.

KUNDALINI

It is the reservoir of energy located near the base of the spine.  Kundalini energy enables the brain to register spiritual, omniscient experiences. When awakened, both the positive and the negative characteristics are magnified.  Gentle awakening is mandatory.

“Swas Chakra - Breathing Properly Riding On A Lion” We perform Yoga to combine the spiritual energy with the divine energy (SHIVA energy) to create union with the higher self - to be one with God.

Awakening the kundalini is like riding on a lion. It is very powerful. Thus we stress the importance of awakening the energy gradually. You have to work on the kundalini energy gently, like in yoga. Kundalini is the female energy of the Universe.  We need to balance our male and female energies.

Because of the kundalini’s position, it is important to protect the spine, especially the base where the kundalini energy is located. The kundalini energy rises up through the subtle Sushumna Nadi or the Central Energy channel, from just below the Basic Chakra, the right Pingala Nadi and the left Ida Nadi. Ida is white, feminine, cold and represents the Moon. Pingala is red, masculine, hot and embodies the Sun. These three principal nadis meet at the Basic Chakra. As they ascend, the Chakras along the spine are energised.  

From the Basic Chakra Ida and Pingala alternate at each chakra until they reach the Ajna.

Chakra in between the eye brows, where they meet again with the Sushumna Nadi. Continuing beyond Ajna, Ida and Pingala end in the left and right nostrils respectively.

Once the Kundalini Shakti or energy has ascended through Sushumna to Sahasrara, the highest psychic centre at the Crown of the head, it is made to reserve its course and return to rest in the base centre again.

If the channels are congested, energy is not passing through properly. A lot of mental health problems arise. So it is very important for mental health, to do lots of breathing exercises! Do balanced breathing (alternate nostril breathing) to help clear the energy channels.

KARMA

To produce good karma, wholesome thoughts and emotions must amalgamate to produce virtuous physical actions.  Emotions must combine with wisdom. If you have an emotion to deal with, stop and merge skilfully with your knowledge before you take action. The only emotion you have with your soul is love.  So when you are taking emotions from “the outside” you have to use your knowledge to clear or deal with it.

CAUSES OF MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS

The following are expanded upon below.

• Kundalini Syndrome (See below)
• “Bad” Karma
• Negative thought entities - emotions for instance; anger energy may be depicted as an entity representing a snake. Similarly, hornets represent jealousy. Flies may represent "other people feeding off you". If you start seeing flies, you should look at the characteristics of them and what it brings up in you.
• Curse
• Psychic Pollution
• Witchcraft
• Evil Spirits and exorcism
• Trauma and Abuse

KUNDALINI SYNDROME

If aroused prematurely and without proper purification of the 3 bodies, kundalini syndrome can manifest in the physical, emotional and mental bodies; affect our sexual feelings and action; cause psychological disturbances; affect our extra sensory perceptions (ESP) and mystical syndromes. The Kundalini can be awakened accidentally, by sudden falls or excessive physical exercises affecting the base of spine.

If kundalini erupts suddenly, it could explode like a volcano. A surge of energy shooting up the spine is likely to create a ‘Tsunami’ in the head and body. This is portrayed by “Shiva fallen down with Maha Kali in ascendance. Energy goes through to the pineal gland and fries your mental body – your mind. The Goddess Maha Kali overtakes Shiva. She doesn’t harmonise with Shiva and causes an imbalance. This would be perceived in the West as Psychosis. (Master Choa Kok Sui, 2000)

BAD KARMA

A bad life transaction.  Disordered and diversified vibrations create a centrifugal force. The rotating body tends to move away from its circular path at a tangent. Inner energy is dissipated. The chakras become depleted and dysfunctional. Karmic repercussions transpire, e.g. rejection, abuse, violence.

Example: “Reciprocal and circular patterns of behaviours are accumulated. A myriad of forces operating on individuals and their environment, in the present and from the past convey something within the person that is somehow separate from the world in which they are doing their best to cope”.  (Read, Mosher, Bentall, 2004)

CURSE

A deliberate form of psychic attack. Negative thought entities are projected. Chakras become congested and over-activated or depleted and under-activated or shrink. Low self-esteem, poverty and other mental health disorders result. This is just negative energy transferred by another person to you.  Forgive the person who cursed you. Forgive and let go. Visualise the person and ask them to forgive you. Greet them from your heart to their heart.  As the soul is always pure. Perform Namaste

PSYCHIC POLLUTION

Dirty psychic energies transmitted intentionally or unintentionally, cause pollution of the environment and individuals. Constant exposure to alcohol and drugs, gambling, and violent situations contaminate the auras and chakras.

WITCHCRAFT AND EVIL SPIRITS

Witchcraft is unethical healing practices - intentional or unintentional.  It is another form of negative energy. Use same techniques of forgiveness as under Curse. Evil Spirits – astral beings with lower nature. ‘Idle minds’ become receptive to any astral vibrations and run the risk of “getting into bad company”.

TRAUMA AND ABUSE

Emotional energies of deeply distressing experiences lodged in the chakras and manifest as mental disorders, such as phobia.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

• Yoga; Upanishads; Siddha, Vedas - Rituals & Rites; Ayurveda
• Medical -  Western and other colonial influences
• Support systems – Family and Community

THE YOGA SYSTEM

Hatha Yoga – physical exercises to clean the chakras, auras and nadi’s that connect the 3 bodies.

Laya Yoga – absorption of the mind in the inner astral sounds to increase the rate of vibration and shift the consciousness to create awareness.

Jnana Yoga – cognitive techniques and therapies to provide understanding of the subjective and objective values of the individual self.

Bhakti Yoga – the path of love and devotion, the key to higher spiritual achievement.

Karma Yoga – uniting right activity and meditative actions to optimise chakra rotation and balance.

Mantra Yoga – loud, soft, whisper, mental and super-conscious chanting.

Katha Yoga – narratives, discourses, language used to shift attitudes.

Raja Yoga – combines the essence of all other Yoga paths. Utilizes simple body disciplines with higher meditation techniques to achieve tranquillity.

THE YOGA SUTRAS OF PATANJALI

Yama - rules that are prohibitive e.g. non-injury to others, no alcohol or drugs.

Niyama – rules that must be followed e.g. self-discipline, hygiene and sanitation, reflection.

Asana – correct postures to facilitate free flow of Prana.

Pranayama –control of upward and downward movement of Prana to avoid congestion and contamination of the Chakras and prevent mental health disorders.

Pratyahara –withdrawal of the 5 senses from the external objects, e.g. transmutation of sex energy.

SADHANA – MEDITATION PROPER

Stuti: invocation to seek consent from nature to utilize its energy rather than exploiting it.

Dharana: prolonged one-pointedness to avoid drifting of the mind.

Dhyana: prolonged awareness to register and respond to inner, higher stimuli.

Samadhi: achieving oneness by combining Dharana and Dhyana. 

Sanyam: use of Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi in Sadhna.

Visarjan: releasing excess energies through the act of thanksgiving and blessing.

Shantihi: conclusion of the process of meditation to optimize a dynamic equilibrium of energy at physical, astral and mental levels, hence achieving peace and tranquillity.

RITUALS

Solution-focused with options for healing in absentia, based on the Yoga disciplines, Vedic, Upanishad, Siddha and other principles, according to behaviour and presiding Deity.  E.g:

• Shri Ganapati Puja;
• Shri Dhan Lakshmi Maha Puja;
• Lakshmi Maa Vrat; Shri Vijay Lakshmi Maa Vrat;
• Maha Shiva Yajna;
• Maha Durga Yajna;
• Maha Kali Puja

(Nayak, J.N publication 2005; Vedas)

Rituals include:

• Devotion to the Supreme Being and Reverence to the Guru.
• Purifications include symbolic physical rite of pouring clarified butter, rice grains, sugar, dried fruit into fire - the mental rite of burning debilitating emotions, habits and restless energies.
• Meditations.
• Tithing/contributions and Services.
• Study.

Shri Ganapati Puja - for behavioural issues.  Ganesh controls the emotions/solar plexus – all obstacles overcome.

Shri Maha Saraswatiye Yajna -For Cognitive Behavioural issues. Using creative energy to express emotions. She works with Ganesh to produce good karma. Knowledge.

Maha Lakshmi Vrat, Puja aurYajna - To alleviate consciousness of poverty and associated symptoms of mental health issues, like depression.  Lakshmi provides material manifestation. Shows the practical physical aspect. Lakshmi has many aspects; you can worship the particular aspect of the goddess so the problem does not happen i.e. preventative worship. Friday is her day.

Maha Durga Puja for Kundalini awakening.

WESTERN MEDICAL SYSTEM

DSM-IV Diagnosis explores and labels problems, e.g.

Bipolar 1 Disorder Most Recent Episode Depressed

Bipolar 1 Disorder Most Recent Episode Depression Severe with psychotic features

Bipolar 1 Disorder Most Recent Episode Depression Severe without psychotic features

Bipolar 1 Disorder Most Recent Episode Depression in Partial Remission

Bipolar 1 Disorder Most Recent Episode Depression in Full Remission   www.psychiatryonline.com

FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES

Involved in the recovery processes for the individuals. Globalisation of Deepawali exemplifies the extent of family and community participation. Deepawali came to be celebrated as a festival, following the recovery from paranoia and psychosis, of a famous ‘Queen’ in India.

Maha Sudarshan Puja – A family/community function

Performed to get rid of negative thoughts, emotions, habits and to attain mental stability.

Lord Vishnu represents the aspect of the Supreme Reality. His four arms indicate omnipresent and omnipotent energies. The right side of the body represents creative activities of the mind and the intellect – omniscient energies. The left side symbolizes the activities of the heart; that is, love, kindness, and compassion. The serpent heads indicate “Awakening of the Kundalini energies.

SUMMARY

• Chakras promote the proper functioning of the causal, astral and physical bodies.
• Efficient supply of energy is mandatory for the rotation of the chakras and optimizing healthy auras.
• Energy follows thought – direct thoughts inwards.
• Kundalini is the reservoir of energy – stimulate gently.
• Mental illness is preventative.

Information kindly supplied by:

Sneh Prasad

Trans Cultural Clinician, Mental Health Services

Manaaki House Community Mental Health Centre

Auckland District Health Board

15 Pleasant View Road

Panmure