A Yogi's Guide to Chakra Meditation
S.Pucelle
Preface
I'm honored to present the French translation of Paul Grilley's Yogi's Guide to Chakra Meditation.
I wish to begin by saying that Murielle, my partner, and I have been following the work of Paul and Suzee Grilley for over a decade, listening to their scientific and spiritual approach to yoga. This book culminates their work and experiments on the widely known and often misunderstood chakra system.
Our teachers, Paul and Suzee Grilley, have themselves been influenced by two spiritual giants: Parahamsa Yogananda and Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama. The methodology presented here is a pursuit of teaching lost in time immemorial and survived through the ages. It synthesizes two major schools of thought in the study of yoga, Sri Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Tantric approach to chakra meditation. Both have different perspectives on the same subject, the spiritual nature of humanity and its ascension or realization.
Paul Grilley's style and presentation subject is masterful for two main reasons. Firstly, the scale of territory over which yogis and yoginis are led to navigate denotes extraordinary maturity and exudes freedom. Secondly, the clarity and coherence of the techniques outlined are straight to the point, reflecting the Sūtra style of classical Indian literature, weaving the thread of awareness along the practice and study.
The complementarity of the three bodies - physical, astral and causal - in Tantric literature with the scientific approach of the Yoga Sutras, enables readers and practitioners to understand the implications of their meditative efforts. This approach highlights the homology of macrocosm and microcosm, as well as of the three bodies and the three universes associated with them in the first instance.
Three Worlds & Three Bodies
Illustration: @francabortot
It then systematizes the different components of the chakras and their contribution to our existence as personal tendencies and attitudes. There is undoubtely an overarching cosmological vision within all Hindu systems, producing a plurality of practices from its inception to the present day.
By assuming that yoga is an act of balancing the relative and the absolute by putting the experiencer at ease with his or her experience, Paul Grilley establishes the ideal context for cultivating such momentum.
The psychology described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras within the chakra system links our causal body of thought to the sensual perception of the astral body, described as bodily sensations, vision and internal sounds.
Thus, the relationship described and applied to our mental projection and emotional content structures a wider modus operandi, establishing bridges between the three bodies.
The calm and stillness sought for the physical body through meditative sitting, will in turn draw our latent emotional content to the energy centers (chakras), ideally allowing them to be passively observed and to disappear or transform.
Again, the overlap between the two teachings enables us to recognize the content of Shakti-Prana, i.e. Vritti (Mind movements), Vasana (Latent desires) or Samskara (Latent habits), and then discern them according to their character and relevance to practice.
A specific response can be adopted for the less favorable emotions and thoughts, such as dismissing, neutralizing or retracing them. The brilliant classification of the 8 limbs of Yoga developed by Sri.Patanjali will provide the following support:
- A most complete integration of chakra meditation.
- Presents an orientation and intention for practice.
- Combines the external and internal attitudes of the Yamas and Niyamas through the chakra repertoire.
Asana is brought back to its original function of engaging the more subtle aspects of the physical body through stillness and relaxation.
Illustration: @francabortot
I recommend considering the interconnection between the descriptions of Pranayama and Pratyahara. And similarly, for Dharana and Dhyana, the specificity of chakra meditation allows for a prolific feedback loop between each of these paired modalities. The skillful terminologies of Shiva-Prana for our consciousness or intention and Shakti-Prana representing the phenomenal field, draws us into a dynamic of duality that can be represented and reduced to the relationship between passive Yin Pranayama and its Yang correspondence.
The relationship between consciousness and phenomena, the experiencer and the experience, is in itself a transpersonal tool delivering knowledge and transformative experience.
As a guide, the text includes a list of meditative practices and techniques to explore.
- The sound vibration of the mantra,
- The interaction of Yin and Yang pranayama
- The detailed Nyasa technique and its variation in Bijas.
Yogis and yoginis pass through a system whose coherence enables the natural organization of the different forces that unfold during and outside the practice. A degree of logical confidence is acquired through patient effort, supported by systematic and regular practice.
With the exception of the beautiful sketches by Franca Bortot that illustrate the book, I have tried to stay as close as possible to the original text, allowing readers to appreciate the different levels of understanding that are open to them.
Most importantly, I believe that this guide is intended to help the spiritual seeker to explore for themselves a Terra Incognita where every frontier is described from two different schools of thought, reaching the same conclusions.
Paul Grilley then changes the Bhava (mood) of the text, and even the century, by referring to the eloquent experience of love from intuitive knowledge, which psychologist Maurice Bucke calls "Cosmic Consciousness", or by establishing a more poetic link with Tomas Thaherne's metaphysics in "Centuries of Meditation".
Leaving clues for the reader to look beyond their own interpretation and follow the intuitive whispers towards consciousness and Love.
I join my two palms in wishing you the greatest benefit from these clear teachings in your practice and study.
I join both palms to express my gratitude to Paul and Suzee Grilley for their tireless efforts in disseminating their scientific approach to spirituality to all seekers of truth.
I want to sincerely thank Kim Hurel and Sonia Seddiki for their contribution to proofreading the text, Franca Bortot for the illustrations. And Murielle, my partner, for her support in our efforts and commitments on the yoga path.
