How does meditation bring about these effects? The “Sahaja Yoga hypothesis” is that meditation triggers a process within the autonomic nervous system, a complex set of nerves that governs the function of all the organs of our body. Imbalance within this system, says the hypothesis, is the cause of both physical and psychological illness. The process of meditation rebalances this system thereby allowing our natural healing processes to revitalise and rejuvenate diseased organs.
The ancient yoga tradition explains the inner healing process in terms of seven subtle energy centres (called “chakras”) that exist within our body. Each of these centres governs a specific set of organs, and aspects of our psychology and spirituality. Imbalanced function of these centres results in abnormal function of any aspect of our being (physical, mental or spiritual) that relates to the imbalanced centre.
Meditation is said to be a specific process that involves the awakening of an innate, nurturing energy called “kundalini”. The awakening of the kundalini causes it to rise from its position in the sacrum bone and pierce through each of the chakras, causing each of them to come into a state of balance and alignment (like a string threading through a series of beads). In this way the chakras are rejuvenated and nourished by the kundalini’s ascent. As the kundalini reaches the brain and the chakras within it, mental tensions are neutralised. An inner state of mental calm is established. This inner silence becomes a source of inner peace that neutralises the stresses of daily life, enhancing creativity, productivity and self-satisfaction.
