Beyond Borrowed Knowledge

Spiritual experiences are deeply personal and transformative, and there is a fundamental truth that borrowed knowledge is not true knowledge. It is not enough to read about spiritual phenomena in books or listen to others’ experiences—one must experience them firsthand. Without direct experience, knowledge remains an abstraction, prone to illusion and misinterpretation.

This is particularly evident in the study of chakra physiology. Over time, various conceptual overlays, such as colors, frequencies, vortexes, and connections to autonomic nervous ganglia, have been added to the understanding of chakras, often leading to confusion. Ancient Indian physiology describes 30,000 nadis—the energetic pathways—but these concepts can only truly be understood through personal experience.

A Simple Experiment in Direct Awareness

To bring spiritual concepts into direct experience, we begin with a simple yet profound exercise. This requires nothing more than an open presence and the warmth of the sun.

1. Find a quiet space, preferably outdoors where you can face the sun, or simply imagine its warmth if indoors.
2. Raise your hands in the ancient gesture of greeting the sun.
3. Close your eyes, bring awareness to the here and now, and focus on your hand palms.
4. Feel the subtle sensations—warmth, tingling, pulsing, or a faint sense of space within the hands.
5. Gently begin circular movements with your arms, breathing in as you raise them and exhaling as they descend.
6. Observe any changes in sensation within your hands. Do you feel a subtle vortex or spiraling energy?

These sensations, often described as spandana (vibratory movement), are the direct energetic manifestations commonly associated with chakras. However, rather than imposing concepts, one must simply stay with the experience.

The Energetic Field: Beyond the Physical Body

Through this simple exercise, one begins to sense the subtle energetic field that extends beyond the skin. This is where the concept of nadis—the energy channels—becomes relevant.

The nadis are not physical structures, like acupuncture meridians, but rather networks of energetic perception. By tuning in to this field, we experience the subtle spaciousness of our body, which transcends the boundaries of form. When attention is placed on this energetic awareness, warmth may increase, and the sensation of a subtle vibratory network within and around the body may emerge.

Activating the Inner Awareness: Kundalini and Perception

Another commonly misunderstood concept is Kundalini energy. Often shrouded in mystical descriptions, Kundalini is best understood not as an external force but as a process of heightened perception. When one engages deeply in energy-based awareness practices, Kundalini naturally awakens, manifesting as a deeper connection to one’s own inner energy field.

To facilitate this experience, one may use a wobble cushion—a simple balance tool that enhances the subtle activation of the body’s energetic systems. The rhythmic micro-movements created while sitting on such a cushion can intensify the perception of energetic flow, bringing awareness to deeper layers of the self.

The True Nature of the Chakra System

Rather than rigid color-coded energy wheels, the chakras can be better understood as vibratory centers of experience. Different people may perceive these centers in distinct ways:

• Some feel them as open energetic fields, rather than localized vortexes.
• Certain chakras, such as the navel and sacral chakras, may merge into one vast energy field.
• The heart and throat chakras may be experienced as an interconnected energetic bridge rather than two distinct centers.

By cultivating direct experience, rather than relying on rigid models, one attains true insight into one’s energy system.

Therapeutic Applications: The Power of Presence

For those involved in energy healing, acupuncture, or Reiki, the ability to fully sense the energetic field is paramount. Before treating others, one must first become deeply aware of their own energy system. When placing hands on another person, it is essential to perceive, rather than impose, allowing the natural energetic dialogue to unfold.

By integrating these practices, we shift from conceptual understanding to embodied experience, leading to deeper spiritual insight and therapeutic effectiveness.

Final Thought: Experience Before Interpretation

Before discussing spiritual concepts, one must first feel them. Each individual’s perception is unique, and by cultivating awareness in the present moment, we unlock authentic spiritual understanding. Only through direct experience can we move beyond borrowed knowledge into true wisdom. Shunyam Adhibhu