part 9, continued from previous issue
When one’s consciousness is raised to the fifth and sixth chakras, vishuddha and ajna respectively, one is in touch with the subtler aspects of existence and becomes creative and intuitive. The sattva guna predominates with the qualities of serenity and calmness.
Vishuddha rules udana vayu, an ascending force that helps to counterbalance the descending force of apana vayu. It is especially concentrated in the throat area and rules the area above the larynx. It is this upward force that is responsible for the production of sounds such as speech, coughing and sneezing. Udana is also involved in the normal functioning of the senses. When the balance between udana and apana is disturbed, some of the common manifestations are: hiccough, headache with constipation, and the sensation of a lump in the throat associated with hysteria and the suppression of emotions. Vishuddha also controls the thyroid gland, which determines the rate of metabolism of all biochemical reactions in the body. Ajna chakra, located between the two eyebrows, is of the essence of consciousness. The pituitary and pineal glands are under the jurisdiction of ajna chakra. The pituitary is the master gland of the endocrine system, and is controlled by the subtlest realm of pure consciousness. Although each of the other endocrine glands is controlled by its respective associated chakra, there is also a hierarchy of control in which ajna chakra exerts control over the lower chakras and their associated glands.
The ultimate endocrine control however lies with the mind, since almost all pituitary secretions are determined by hormones or nervous signals from the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the collecting center for all signals from the mind such as emotional pain, grief, and disturbing or depressing thoughts. It also receives any other signals concerned with the well-being of the body such as pain, thirst, hunger and sexual excitement. Once the information is relayed to the hypothalamus, it sends instructions to the appropriate centers. Though little is known about the pineal gland in Western medicine, in yoga it is considered to be the source of the very subtle intoxicating nectar that is responsible for the sleeping state of the dormant kundalini shakti. The seventh chakra, sahasrara is equivalent to atma. It can now be understood how energy flows through the mind-prana-body continuum to manifest as the disturbances experienced as clinical signs and symptoms. These signs and symptoms represent the disorder within. If we can expand the narrowness of the Western concept of the human organism to include these ancient ideas, it becomes readily apparent that disease is not exclusively something that attacks from without, but more likely takes its origin from within, as described in homeopathy. Though modern medicine clings steadfastly to the germ theory, it acknowledges there are internal factors based on the weakness or strength of the individual’s immunity and resistance that allow the invasion to take place. Emphasis needs to be shifted from trying to eliminate invading culprits to trying to understand why the so-called invasion took place.
(to be continued)
Dr. Barbara Bova, HOD, Dept. of Homeopathy