Misquoting Karl Marx, ‘unite mind, body, and energy, you have nothing to lose but your delusion’. In the energy state, you are a true coach.
Chakra theory followed the Vedic concept that living beings are energy, not merely mind-body matter. It took science 5000 years to accept this through Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, followed by David Bohm and others. As energy beings we are waves, as mind-body matter we are particles, and in general, we can be either, as quanta. As with subatomic particles, our existence too is uncertain; we too are entangled locally and remotely.
As energy beings, we can transcend time and space. We have the potentiality of the Universe though we may be limited by our beliefs in our actuality. An understanding of the chakra concept and practice of its principles allows us to free ourselves from the limitations of mind-body matter and realize the freedom of energy waves, which we are.
Misquoting Karl Marx, ‘unite mind, body, and energy, you have nothing to lose but your delusion’. In the energy state, you are a true coach.
Recently I got a question from someone who read the meditation article: “What is the scientific and/or medical evidence that chakras exist in the human body?” What an excellent question! I am not aware of any controlled scientific experiments that have proven that coaching or even therapy works consistently and completely either.
I look at chakras the same way I look at Quantum Science, Molecular Sciences and Mind Sciences, and perhaps coaching as well. Be it the Theory of Relativity. Heizenberg’s Uncertainty Theory, the existence of Black Holes and Wormholes (Stephen Hawkins & Others), Epigenetics (Bruce Lipton) as different from Behavioral Genetics, or psychiatric theories on Dementia and Depression, all these are theories that are supported by empirical evidence rather than controlled Newtonian scientific proof. Yet, all these are fully accepted. So are several theories in molecular biology and neural sciences that support the mind-body connection.
As for medical evidence, practically every experienced doctor believes that the mind influences the body, though there is no proven evidence. There is a widespread condition of myofascial pain. In this condition, the pain is transmitted through a sheath beneath the skin rather than the nervous system. Despite many doctors not accepting this, physiotherapists cure this condition through multiple other interventions. Unfortunately, the fascia seems to disappear when we stop breathing, so anatomical study of cadavers do not help establish a connection. Many psychiatric theories are not evidenced through scientific rigor, yet are accepted as being true, even when results vary when practiced.
I believe that scientific and medical methodologies also have limitations in establishing cause and effect connections. Chakras are not the only area where this limitation applies. There is a large mass of published empirical evidence, some cited below, to support the existence of energy centers in the body that influence the mind-body system.
Chakras are invisible. Perhaps they are metaphors for energy. Matter and energy are integrally related as accepted by science. Body is matter and is visible. Chakras are energy and are invisible. Whether there are 6, 12 or more chakras, where they are and how they influence our body and mind are debatable. However, several postulated theories are available in Vedic scriptures.
I studied chakra meditation for over 20 years. I suffered through bad practices I learnt from New Age authors from California. I then turned to ancient Hindu Buddhist scriptural wisdom to explore them safely. All I know from personal experience is that we have energy centers in different parts of our body, which when aroused have impact on both body and mind functions. I have used chakra energization extensively in both emotional and physical healing. As with many things with our mind-body system, such as emotions and even illnesses, controlled experiments do not work in producing reproducible results.
Like many other things in life, caveat emptor, beware and be aware. Understand, internalize, practice and experience in small tolerable doses. If you find it effective and helpful continue; if not move on.
Download the Chakras ebook
This 70+ page ebook includes:
- Explanations of chakras
- Meditations specific to each chakra
- Guide to energy states
- Relationships between energy, science and self
- Relevance of this content to coaching
References
Most scientifically controlled studies related to chakras are on meditation and through meditation, mostly as a Yoga practice. Yoga meditation is usually focused on three of the chakras – navel, heart and third eye. In Tantra, one tends to go deeper into these three as well as the four other chakras. In some cases, more energy centers in various parts of the body are identified. They are termed as marma points in Yoga and Ayurveda.
- Chakra meditation techniques are described in Vigyana Bhairava Tantra and other ancient texts such as The Ascent, and John Woodroff’s Serpent Power.
- Herbert Benson of Harvard Medical School has done research of meditation with Tibetial Buddhist lamas and others for over 4 decades.
- NIMHANS, Bangalore (National Institute of Mental Health and Neural Sciences) has researched the effect of yoga and meditation in different spaces.
- The Physiological Foundation of Yoga Chakra Expression by Richard W. Maxwell, Ph.D
- The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine reviewed by Len Wisneski, MP, and Lucy Anderson, MSW
Note from the editor: This article was originally published in 2020. It has been updated to share the newly published ebook by Ram, Chakras Demystified: Actualize the Potential of Your Inner Energy. You can download that ebook here.
I began experiencing a sensation in my forehead very shortly after practicing meditation. I am a westerner who had very little knowledge of meditation previously, nor had I any understanding of the chakras from a spiritual or scientific vantage point. So…it didn’t take me long to start asking questions when I began to experience a powerful buzz between my eyes. I have practiced for ten years now, and the buzz in my forehead persists sporadically, coming and going mostly as it pleases, although I do seem to have a limited ability to cause/intensify the sensation. I strongly believe this sensation can be explained scientifically and have been wondering how others have to tried to detect this energy, such as temperature readings, brain scans, new neural connections in the frontal cortex, growth of grey matter in this region? As I teach others to meditate, some of my students have also experienced these sensations as a side-effect. There has to be a physical manifestation of some kind occurring (when this phenomenon happens). Wouldn’t you agree? I would like to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Thanks David. This is a very common occurrence , especially if someone advised you to focus on the third eye point between the eyebrows. Instead, focus on the heart. When seekers asked Ramana Maharishi (Self Inquiry) where they should focus, he simply said on the tight side of the heart where the energy rests. I have found it great advice. It’s safer.
Neurologically, the vagal, technically the twin poly vagal nerves pass through all points that are considered energy center chakra. Recent studies show that the Insula, part of the prefrontal cortex, influences and is influenced by body sensations, the poly vagal autonomic nervous system, as well as hypothalamus and hippocampus. There are studies as well that indicate deep meditation at gamma wave level produce energy fields creating whole brain activity.
The Yoga Nidra process of meditation I teach starts with breath awareness, moves to body awareness and finally shifts to energy awareness beyond mind body. During the body awareness part one focuses on different body parts including chakra, and these evidence body sensations such as throbbing, pulsing etc.
If you wish to continue with focus on the third eye, that’s fine, but don’t do it for more than 10 minutes. You can focus and rest in the heart space for hours.
Hope this helps
The link I provided was to the study report I found relevant. Try https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-scientific-basis-of-integrative-medicine-d43231554.html for the book if you wish to go in depth. cheers
Hi. I appreciate your informative article about the practicality and efficacy of integrative medicine, particularly as regards mind-body dynamics and phenomena such as chakras. I have a question for you that is only partially or indirectly related to this. I see that you’ve listed the book The Scientific Basis of Integrative Medicine as a resource. So my question is why is that book so EXPENSIVE?? I looked on Amazon and a few other places and found that its price ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Must be something I’m missing here and hopefully you’ll be able to clarify this for me. I’d love to buy the book but can’t really afford to get a mortgage to do it. Thanks so much