Chakras, Yantras and Spiritual Awakening: Ancient Indian Meditation Practices

spiritual with a world of cosmic consciousness. Similarly, every point of the human body is the individualized and externalized expression of a state of human consciousness that is and remains buried as long as the ascetic or mystic does not awaken it with precise ascetic practices typical of Yoga. The purpose of many Indian rites and practices was aimed at awakening these states of consciousness corresponding to the action of particular deities in which the ascetic would blossom. These centers of consciousness manifest on the energetic plane in the form of wheels, hence the name chakras or korlos which literally means wheel. MANDALA, YANTRA AND AWAKENING OF FORCE CENTERS Let us try to understand how mandalas and their geometric variants or yantras were used in awakening operations. First of all, it must be specified that the awakening of these force centers occurs through a mind and strong will concentrated at one point. The direct and highest method of all therefore to obtain awakening was through deep meditation concentrated on the idea to be meditated upon, possibly with a graphic support or a mantra, that is, a word whose repetition would lead the ascetic back to the idea to be meditated upon and guide him by polarizing him. However, since at the beginning the disciple did not have great dominion over the unconscious forces that bound him to the physical world, had no capacity for abstraction, could not abstract himself from his physical senses, had no control over thoughts, emotions, etc... Then the Indian ascetics had structured a strategy to channel these forces of the deep unconscious so that meditation would be much stronger and fruitful. As we have said, the state of consciousness to be awakened is in correspondence with a point of the human body, was considered under the protection of a particular deity that represented its transcendent expression and could be represented graphically by a geometric figure that in this case takes the name no longer of mandala but of yantra. What is this YANTRA? It is a diagram that represents schematically the chakra or center in its state of perfect functioning. The idea behind this yoga asceticism was simply this: when the disciple's center has become in all respects similar to the center represented by the Yantra, then the disciple has obtained the awakening of the center to the maximum degree. Therefore the strategy is to strengthen the bond between the center drawn on the Yantra and the disciple's center and make the latter conform to the former. Given these premises, the process for awakening was thus structured: 1. A mandala dedicated to the deity that presided over the awakening that was to be obtained was realized. The scheme is essentially always the same with the triple or quadruple enclosure, then with small variations but at the center there was the deity that presided over the awakening to be reached. 2. At the center of the mandala there is a wooden pedestal on which the bronze or copper Yantra is placed, made with the seven noble metals or simply the parchment on which it will be drawn. 3. A series of mantras is performed to expel negative or evil forces. 4. The Initiate performs another rite to bind the four cardinal points. 5. At this point, through deep meditation, appropriate mudras and appropriate mantras, the disciple begins a process of identification with the deity that presides over the awakening to the point of completely penetrating and uniting with it. 6. Once the indicated state is obtained, he transfers the result of this meditation to the Yantra, vitalizing it with the help of a lotus flower or through controlled breathing. 7. At this point, a sympathetic bond was created between the Yantra and the disciple's center such that by acting on one, one could also act on the other. 8. At this point the sadhaka performed a whole series of celebrations and hierurgical rites with a whole series of blessings and exorcisms, consecrations of the vitalized Yantra to angelic hierarchies and transcendent divinities so that every blessing and consecration performed on the Yantra would have a reflection on his center, developing and perfecting it. 9. When the process in question was advanced and the disciple mature, one proceeded with meditation and direct concentration on the force center, always helping oneself with this support, precisely the Yantra, internalizing it trying to refine the attunement and assimilate the force center to the represented Yantra. Therefore this diagram was visualized, positioned at the point corresponding to the center, but one also proceeded with the aid of breathing techniques and especially with the aid of logodinami, mantrams or power-words. LOGODINAMI That is, Names or particular power words that repeated in certain states of consciousness can produce transformations in the individual's consciousness. This topic of Logodinami interests us quite a lot because to this day it is one of the most used means to facilitate the awakening of force centers. 1. Absolute and Transcendent God has no name 2. He reveals Himself to Man with all powers. Sefirot. God gives a name to one of his powers and reveals himself by drawing it from being. 3. Man in the image and likeness of God has the same divine powers when he is in adherence with him. Hebrew Alphabet Letters How to meditate on a divine name. Conditions of consciousness sensitivity so that the name acts. Example $\text{AUM} = \text{"God Absolute Reality"}$ Another Example $\text{JAH} = \text{Giah} = \text{"God"}$ AUM: The mental recitation rhythming the breath facilitates the spiritual experience of the realization of God's Wisdom. On this mantram one could say much more, but let us pass to the AUM according to the Brahmanic manner or the OM in the Buddhist way. The AUM is not only a Sanskrit mantram of yogic India, it is an ancient Chaldean-Hebrew mantram. The meaning is the Supreme Power for the Aleph, the abyss for the Waw and the final Mem for the produced World. The Hebrew AUM is Absolute Reality; it is the power-word that is repeated mentally while holding the breath for a long time and keeping the mind clear of bad thoughts. It grants