| [Note: This paper contains images which may be seen | | | | routine. |
| as originally published at our website] | | | | There are many components of the psycho-energetic |
| Why practice mudras? | | | | system that mudras affect, not just the nadis. With the |
| Some students on the spiritual path have a faulty | | | | power of mudras, the chakras, for instance, are freed |
| understanding concerning mudras. They feel that it is | | | | from obstructions and congestion; the aura is cleansed |
| far beneath their dignity and that they no longer require | | | | of negative effluvia, and the subconscious mind is |
| any kriyas or external methods in order to attain | | | | purged of its negative contents. |
| enlightenment. They even arrogantly belittle others who | | | | While practicing certain mudras, especially the types |
| incorporate mudras into their spiritual disciplines. Though | | | | that generate or attract cosmic energies, the hands if |
| it may be true that external forms of movement or | | | | clasped together for some time, would break apart |
| gestures are not essential, they do offer a great boost | | | | and move independently. The practitioner should not be |
| of energy and power to maintain and support one's | | | | too concerned over this but just go with the flow. The |
| position on the path towards the Light. Individuals who | | | | hands break apart for the simple reason that enough |
| blatantly declare that mudras are not a necessary part | | | | power has been collected and that the cleansing or |
| of sadhana or spiritual discipline, or who find such | | | | magnetizing processes are now under way. When the |
| practices beneath them for they are presently engage | | | | body accumulates more power than it can handle, or |
| in "higher methods" are those that have not reached | | | | when it has assimilated enough energy from the |
| the spiritual goal themselves and have not acquired a | | | | incorporeal worlds, the hands would naturally fall out of |
| universal point of view. They seek to fly before they | | | | formation, vibrate and shake in peculiar ways. |
| can run, or run before they have learnt to walk | | | | Aside from the invocation of energies, of communion |
| properly; or even stand before able to walk gracefully. | | | | with divine forces, mudras as mentioned before, also |
| They remove the rungs on the ladder on which they | | | | have the power to purify the etheric nervous system |
| are standing. They seek to imitate the state of the | | | | and the energy-centers to be found in the etheric |
| enlightened ones without undergoing the necessary | | | | body. It cleanses all obstructions and congestion that |
| disciplines to reach that state themselves. | | | | prevents the free flow of pranic and kundalinic forces |
| May we state emphatically here that we do agree | | | | through the nadis and the chakras. The etheric or "vital" |
| that mudras may not be required by some. It all | | | | body as it is sometimes called, is the blueprint and the |
| depends on their present state of awareness, spiritual | | | | power house of the physical body. When the interface |
| development, and psychic purity. Nevertheless, may | | | | between these two bodies are affected adversely in |
| we remind our readers that even high beings such as | | | | some way because of the toxins that we generate |
| spiritual avatars, Buddhas, and celestial Bodhisattvas | | | | through negative thoughts and emotions, and the |
| regularly assume mudras to teach, to invoke energies, | | | | degenerative substances found in the food that we |
| and to carry out their spiritual tasks. By stating this we | | | | consume, and likewise uncleared karma and trauma, |
| would like to point out that mudras may be practiced | | | | then the physical body would suffer as a |
| by anyone, no matter where he or she may stand on | | | | consequence. Ill health and a poor immunity system |
| the evolutionary path, and with great mundane and | | | | would result. Substances would crystallize in the |
| supermundane benefit. | | | | tissues and the fluid-networks in the body, giving rise to |
| Benefits of Mudra Practice | | | | muscular pain, impaired functioning of the organs, and |
| It would be interesting to note the benefits of mudra | | | | the ossification of blood vessels which technically is the |
| practices--the effects that they have on the mind, | | | | diseased condition referred to as arteriosclerosis. |
| body, psyche and bio-magnetic fields. Below are just a | | | | Certain mudras may heal these maladies. |
| few worth considering that are directly palpable or | | | | While performing mudras, it is not unusual for the |
| perceptible through personal experience: | | | | hands, arms, body and head to move on their own |
| Health | | | | accord. The movement patterns that the mudras |
| I.Q. improvement | | | | generate during practice are countless. In fact, just |
| Empowerment of the Aura | | | | when you thought you have seen them all, a new one |
| Expansion of consciousness | | | | appears. Mudra gestures and body motions are kinetic |
| Awakening of the three aspects of kundalini | | | | expressions of the elemental forces in the |
| Acquisition of siddhis (paranormal powers) | | | | psycho-physical body. The predominating force propels |
| Transformation & regeneration of the physical | | | | the mudras in a distinctive pattern. Earth energy makes |
| body | | | | the least movements. When the hands in a mudra |
| *********** | | | | pose remain in a single position for long periods is |
| Health | | | | indicative that the earth element is prevailing. The |
| The power of mudras clears the subtle channels and | | | | water element moves the hands in large, wide circles |
| psychic centers in the etheric body allowing life-force | | | | or wavy movements. Fire energy causes the hands to |
| to flow unhampered to the organs and all parts of the | | | | move with great force in straight movements and |
| body. Regeneration and improved health is the result. | | | | jerks. The elemental force of air is graceful and |
| I.Q. Improvement | | | | flowing. Its movement is a combination of curves and |
| As the cleansing process takes place in the head, | | | | straight lines. Most nondescript motions of the hand |
| clarity of mind is felt and the mental faculties are | | | | belong to the Akasha (etheric) element. In Yogic |
| considerably enhanced making it possible for the innate | | | | teachings, this subject of elements belongs to the field |
| soul-intelligence to express itself with greater intensity. | | | | of Tattva Vidya (Science of the Elements). |
| Empowerment of the Aura | | | | The directions in which the mudras flow likewise reveal |
| The magnetism produced by the mudras cleanses the | | | | the element in power. Upward movements indicate the |
| bio-magnetic field of the body and empowers it with | | | | influence of air; downward, that of earth; to the right or |
| greater vitality also forming a protective shield against | | | | forward, fire; to the left or to the rear, water. |
| negative forces. | | | | Why do mudras cause the hands and arms to move |
| Awakening of the three aspects of kundalini | | | | without any direction or control by the conscious mind? |
| The three aspects of kundalini: prana kundalini, chit | | | | As we clasp our hands in mudra formation we cause |
| kundalini, and para kundalini are awakened and | | | | energy to build up in the various psychic vortices in our |
| stimulated to greater activity. | | | | hands, arms, and body. These vortices take on |
| Expansion of Consciousness | | | | different polarities--positive, negative, and neutral. |
| As a result of the cleansing process and the activation | | | | These emanating centers fluctuate in their polarity and |
| of Shakti in the form of kundalini, one's consciousness | | | | strength in concordance with the currents generated. |
| is transformed, transcending ordinary awareness. | | | | The resultant magnetic fields of these vortices interact |
| Acquisition of Siddhis | | | | with one another causing the law of attraction and |
| In concomitant with the transformation of one's | | | | repulsion to take effect. This causes the fascinating |
| consciousness, certain powers and virtues of the soul | | | | motions of the mudras. However, it should be |
| would unfold and dormant spiritual senses would arise. | | | | emphasized that even though the conscious mind |
| Transformation & Regeneration of the Physical | | | | does not produce the swaying and oscillation of the |
| Body | | | | body appendages, it does have the power to cause |
| The overall effect of the constant practice of mudras | | | | the motions to cease. Therefore, there should not be |
| is the complete transformation and regeneration of the | | | | any fear that mudra practices might cause an |
| mind-body principle, a spiritual expansion of the | | | | impairment in the conscious control of one's motor |
| consciousness stylized in the Mystery Schools as the | | | | movement. |
| "Second Birth" and symbolised by the newly-born | | | | Time and Place for Mudra Practice |
| phoenix bird that grew out of the ashes of the old. | | | | Mudras may be practiced at any convenient time--at |
| ************ | | | | odd moments of the day. However, as a discipline, it |
| The Theory of Mudras and its Practice | | | | would be beneficial to practice mudras in the morning |
| Mudras attracts cosmic energy into the microcosm. | | | | and evenings. Practice mudras prior to meditation, for |
| They arouse the etheric body's latent energy into | | | | they are conducive to a more relaxed and deep |
| awakened activity. All of the dormant nerve cells of | | | | meditative state. |
| the brain are vivified and stimulated into action. The | | | | Mudras should be practiced in an isolated place or |
| functions of the organs of the physical body are | | | | room, well ventilated, and free from any disturbances |
| optimized. The immunity system is strengthened. The | | | | and prying eyes. Because of the mystifying |
| energies that mudras awaken manifests as magnetic | | | | movements that the hands make we do not want any |
| and electrical force depending on their form. | | | | outsider to think that we have gone bonkers. |
| Like the physical body, the etheric body has its own | | | | How long should each mudra be held? Generally, each |
| "nervous" system, or channels conveying prana and | | | | mudra is to be positioned for a period of 5-30 minutes. |
| other energies of etheric origin. In yoga teachings, | | | | Let your intuition function here. It will tell you when you |
| these channels are called, "nadi." In Hindu texts the | | | | are ready to stop or continue with a succeeding |
| number of nadis are variably given as 72,000 and | | | | mudra if required. Sometimes in a practice session, the |
| 350,000, of which 72 nadis are said to be particularly | | | | mudras themselves will tell you when it has done its |
| important. Every mudra clears some of these channels | | | | work and that you may proceed with the next one. |
| from impurities and psychic toxins. There is not one | | | | This is indicated by mudra movements launching from |
| mudra, however, that have the power to cleanse all of | | | | its position in front of the body or chest and then |
| them. For this reason the practitioner of mudras | | | | returning to it to remain still and quiet. |
| incorporate and employ many mudras in his daily | | | | |