Karl R. Wolfe

Initiation of the Highest Order - Shaktipat

"Karl is a gifted spiritual teacher on the order of the awakened masters of India. His path parallels a yogic tradition and yet he is of the western tradition—an award winning electronics engineer, scientist and a former Fortune Five Executive. He is a modern day Shaman."

There are no terms in the English language that adequately describe the multi-dimensional nature of the human energy system. In the east that system and language has existed for thousands of years. Borrowing terms from the east the following describes what is shared with others through his presence and teaching.

The "Primordial Energy of Consciousness" gives birth to the universe, nurtures it, and bestows manifold spiritual blessings. This "Evolutionary Divine Energy" dwells within all beings, and in the east is called "Kundalini." Great Spiritual Preceptors have the rare ability to awaken this "Divine Energy" and lead seekers to the experience of their own true essence and "Being." This consciousness exists beyond the inflated and deflated states of psychological "happiness." It is a state beyond happiness—true inner peace and silence, it is "bliss" (spiritual ecstasy).

The energetic exchange between teacher and student is know in the east as Shaktipat. Shaktipat initiates the process (the rising of the kundalini) by which a human being recognizes the intrinsic unbounded love that already dwells within their own heart, it is that love that ultimately reveals the secrets of our existence. This is the foundation of the teaching, the effervescing energy of infinite conscious and love that is transmitted and shared with all in his presence.

Shaktipat means the descent of grace, or transmission of energy, and it is a vitally important presence in the awakening of the kundalini. Shaktipat can be received from the teacher in four primary ways—through the look, touch, thought, and word. In the tantric tradition shaktipat is understood to be the highest form of spiritual initiation, providing the initiate with immediate access to the divine energy dwelling within them. It is the fire that ignites and sustains the release and rising of the kundalini.

Shaktipat initiates the process by which a human being recognizes the intrinsic unbounded love that already dwells within their own heart, it is that love that ultimately reveals the secrets of our existence and our experience of the unity in all of life.

Kundalini is the divine energy within each person. It is the energy that gives us life—the same energy that gives life to the universe. Graphically, it is represented as a "coiled serpent" in the chakra at the base of the spine in each human—the serpentine divinity, which sleeps within each individual until awakened. The three coils of the serpent represent (prana-kundalini)—the energy that gives the physical body life, (chitta-kundalini)—the energy of our mind/emotions, and (para-kundalini)—the energy of our spiritual self. As the energy that lies dormant in each person is released it moves up the spine, activating the physic mechanism (chakras—vortices of energy/awareness centers).

Deeper awareness and consciousness is experienced in the unfolding of and flow between those energy centers of the human body (chakras). It is the rising of the kundalini, piercing and releasing the awareness within each chakra, that cuts through our tensions, blocks, ignorance, and ego. Ultimately, the kundalini moves up through all of the major chakras and rests in the chakra at the top of head, called the crown chakra. This is the "Sacred Space" where we become completely aware of our total unity with the Divine.

Kundalini is the energy of life, or the Divine, as it is experienced in the individual. Shaktipat is that same energy, transmitted from the teacher, that awakens that awareness within the student. Kundalini is the power of life, shaktipat is the switch that turns it on. When the kundalini is awakened through shaktipat from the teacher a process of cooperation, surrender, and union with the divine reality begins.

There are many spiritual practices that are generally recommended, including maintaining subjective awareness, meditation, movement, attending a group with people of like mind and living the teachings. These are activities that you can do. Yet, around these teachers, something else happens. You are done! Just as a candle lights another candle, the master injects a current of Divine Power (Shakti) into the subtle body of the aspirant. This ignites or releases their inner life force (prana). This life force (prana) then works freely, generating the various (yogic) processes. This is Shaktipat (descent of Grace) or the awakening of Kundalini. It is initiation of the highest order.

There is no conscious effort or sense of doership involved in these spontaneous processes. One watches as a witness. The workings of this "Energy" penetrate the self-limiting stories and impressions of past actions stored in the mind stuff by converting them from stories of self- limitation and allowing the stories to be seen for what they are. The release of the identification with the binding nature of these stories facilitates release and movement (Kriyas). With this, the binding tendencies that limit one's consciousness are dissolved and lifted. Whatever path one may follow, it is inevitably through the release of this life force (prana) that one enters deep meditation and ultimately, union with the Devine.

The importance of the teacher cannot be overemphasized on this journey. First, because it is extremely rare for an aspirant to be able to awaken this indwelling Divine Energy, and second, because after its awakening, various purification processes occur where the stabilizing influence of the teacher is very important.