Page:A Collection of Esoteric Writings.djvu/268

254 It is absurd to suppose, as stated in some of the books, that the solar system is contained in the Sushumna. What is meant is that when consciousness is fixed for the time being in the Monad circulating in the Sushumna, the Yogi becomes en rapport with astral light and the universal mind and thus is able to see the whole cosmos.

The six Chakrams are located in the Sthula-sarira, but they are not visible when a body is dissected, because the leaves and petals described in the books have no objective existence, but represent so many powers or energies.

For instance, Sahasraram is considered to have eight main petals, and the meaning of this is that the brain has eight poles. Similarly the letters, characters, symbols, goddesses, etc., said in the books to exist in these Chakrams, all symbolize different power.

The reason of the differences between the Chakrams is that in the seven centres seven powers are located, and it is said that as the Kundalini breaks through each Chakram, it causes the man to subdue that Chakram.

As Kundalini goes on breaking through the Chakrams one by one, it gains control over so many forces connected with the elements, the astral counterparts of which are located in the respective Chakrams. The location of the mind is said to be between the eyebrows by the Hata Yogis.

The Chakra Sammalanam mentioned in the books means that when Kundalini passes through one Chakram, it takes its essence or energy, and so on with the rest, and finally joins all into a sort of united current.

The seven Chakrams are connected with the seven planets in the following order, beginning with Muladharam: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun. The moon is connected with the mind of man, because it is so changeable and vacillating.

The mind of man never penetrates (as sometimes asserted) into the Chakrams, but the Kundalini does so penetrate, and