THE MULADHARA CHAKRA
Muladhara = 'the root and base of Existence' – from mula (root) + adhara (base)
Location: Base of the spine Locked by: Imagination & expectation (fantasy) Unlocked by: Acceptance of the other, acceptance of reality Meditation technique from: Shiva Tantra Name of technique: Dukkha Harana (Destroyer of Misery)
The Muladhara chakra is concerned with Sex. The most talked about, thought about, written about subject is sex.
The most misunderstood, misinterpreted, confusing subject is also sex.
What is sex?
We try to avoid the subject, or we try to indulge in the subject.
Sex is buried in the darkest corner of our unconscious minds! Right from the start, we find no one to enlighten us on the truth about sex. And sex, more than any other subject, needs to be illumined! It needs to be illumined with the light of consciousness.
Our condition right now is like that of a man walking in a forest on a dark night. Somewhere in that area is a big pit that has been dug to trap elephants.
The man who tries to avoid the subject is in unawareness. He doesn't even know where the pit lies – then how can he avoid it? The man who indulges in the subject is aware of the pit, but can't see any other way than to jump straight into it.
Can either of these be the solution?
One should know where the pit lies, and then take the right steps to move around it.
What is sex?
Sex is a tremendous creative power! The whole world arises out of sex energy.
Tantra deals beautifully with the whole concept of sex. In the scriptures, the god Shiva speaks to Devi Parvati on this subject. Those insights recorded over 5000 years ago are found to be relevant in modern psychology today!
Our ancient enlightened masters, the rishis, have also given us great clarity on this subject. Do you know, Vatsyayana - the man who wrote the Kama Sutra, the science of sex – was a sannyasi? He was a celibate!
He was questioned, What authority do you have to speak about this subject?
A natural question – I think you might be silently putting this question to me also?!
The answer that Vatsyayana gave, I am just translating into modern language for you, using a modern analogy: An electrician who visits your home for the first time knows exactly what happens when each electric switch in each room is put on and off. He knows the entire circuitry hidden beneath the wall, he understands the exact function of the instruments, and can gauge the possible problem and its solution. He understands the science of electricity. On the other hand, you, who put those switches on and off fifty times a day, have absolutely no idea what is actually going on when you turn on a switch!! Am I right?
(much laughter)
Many of us know nothing more than how to put on and off the switches. That's why we sometimes get an electric shock! So we may be fathers, mothers, grandparents – but still we may know nothing about sex.
Vatsyayana says, only an enlightened person, a sannyasi, has true authority to speak about this subject – for one more reason:
Have you watched two people playing a game – say, chess? Very often, the right move suggests itself to you – but somehow never occurs to the two players! Have you observed this? Hmm? What do you think could be the reason?
(from audience) Because we have no involvement?
Yes, in a way. Actually, the man who is witnessing is not under pressure to win! Stress makes the mind dull. So, only the man who has come out of the game, who is outside the samsara chakra, can give you the right idea about it.
Let us return to the subject, What is sex?
Today, biology has proved that no man is 100% man, and no woman is 100% woman!
In fact, each man is just 51% man, and 49% woman. Likewise, a woman is only 51% woman, and 49% man. Just a difference of 1% this way or that way! Did you know that?
After all, you have taken birth from the Muladhara of your father and the Muladhara of your mother. How can you be only male or only female? The qualities of both are bound to be there in you.
This is the reason behind our symbolic representation of Shiva as Ardhanareeshwara (the figure who is half male and half female). To be complete, to be whole, it is essential that we are able to accept and express both the masculine and feminine aspects of our nature.