Written by Antti Huima in August 1996, based on the Kundalini FAQ, the Siddha
Mahayoga FAQ, and general knowledge about the so-called Toronto Blessing
movement.
As Christians, we must not accept ``spiritual'' experiences and teachings
that are not from Bible but from occultic traditions.
It is clear that the Devil tries to mimic the genuine works of God. However,
God does not try to mimic the works of the Devil. If there are experiences
and practices that are not supported by the God but are common in non-Christian
spiritual traditions we should reject them as they are certainly counterfeits.
Kundalini is at least 1000 years old occult practice. It involves bodily
manifestations as a consequence for the ``awakening of an individual's
kundalini'' and is related to, for example, Qi Gong (a Chinese occultic
tradition).
| The Similarity of the
Outward Manifestations |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| Briefly, according to classical literature the
signs of an awakened kundalini can be grouped into: mental signs, vocal signs
and physical signs. Mental signs can include visions that range from ecstatically
blissful to terrifyingly frightful. Vocal signs can include spontaneous vocal
expressions that range from singing or reciting mantras to make various animals
sounds such as growling or chirping. Physical signs include trembling, shaking
and spontaneously performing hatha yoga postures and pranayamas.
From a more subjective perspective the more pleasant experiences associated
with a kundalini awakening may include: waves of bliss, periods of elation,
glimpses of transcendental consciousness. The less pleasant experiences
associated with a kundalini awakening may include: trembling, sharp aches
in areas associated with the cakras, periods of irrational anxiety, sudden
flashes of heat.
[Kundalini FAQ: What are the signs of an awakened kundalini?] |
The Kundalini FAQ mentions the following manifestations:
singing, reciting mantras, animal sounds,
trembling, shaking, yoga postures, waves of bliss,
elation, altered consciousness, aches, anxiety,
and feeling of heat flashes.
The counterparts of these manifestations in the Toronto Blessing are found
in the table below:
| Manifestation in Kundalini |
Manifestation in TB |
| singing |
inspired singing in the spirit |
| reciting mantras |
other inspired utterances. It is conceivable that while yogists recite
mantras, the Christians manifest something more typical to them |
| animal sounds |
animal sounds |
| trembling |
trembling |
| shaking |
shaking |
| yoga postures |
strange (or prophetical) postures in general; compulsory movements |
| waves of bliss |
inward joy; laughter |
| elation |
euphoria |
| altered consciousness |
prophetical glimpses; reception of inward understanding of spiritual
issues |
| aches |
pain |
| anxiety |
weeping; crying; anxiety because of the childhood traumas now being healed
[sic] |
| feeling of heat flashes |
feelings of heat or cold in the body |
We note immediately that every manifestation mentioned to happen in Kundalini
does happen in TB also. |
| The Similarity of the
Outward Method |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| Broadly speaking there are two radically different
direct approaches to awakening kundalini. One approach requires initiation
by a guru and relies upon a technique called shaktipat, or ``descent of shakti.''
It is variously called: Siddha Mahayoga, Kundalini Mahayoga or Sahaja Yoga
(Spontaneous Yoga)...
While not every long-term student ... necessarily shows signs of kundalini
awakening it is amazing how many people have had instant awakenings of kundalini
through initiation from siddha gurus...
[Kundalini FAQ: So how do I awaken kundalini? and the next section] |
Shaktipat means ``the descent of power (literally:
kundalini)''. The most common form of shaktipat is a touch by the guru on
the individual's forehead. This is exactly the method that is used greatly
to impart the ``anointing'', for example by Rodney Howard-Browne. This is
also the most common way to receive the power. |
| The Contagiousness of
the Phenomena |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| There is no doubt that shakti is contagious. The
mere presence of a single being whose shakti is strongly active can awaken
the shakti of those around him. Similarly being in the presence of many people
whose shakti is awakened to some degree can awaken one's own shakti.
[Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: Can one receive shaktipat just by being in the presence
of those with awakened shakti?] |
The ``anointing'' is known to be contagious by nature
and easily transferred from one to another. John Arnott compared it to a
``spiritual virus''.
It also spreads from men to men in macro scale (between towns) and occasionally
regionally even in smaller scale (in the midst of a meeting, for example
when the members of a group of people keeping anothers by hand fall
simultaneously). |
| The Similarity of
the Proofs for Validity |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| Ultimately the validity of any spiritual tradition
rests in its ability to transform the beings of its followers. The real value
of siddha mahayoga is in transforming the minds of those who practice it.
[Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: Are these kriyas some sort of self-hypnosis or some
sort of New Age phenomenon?] |
The Toronto Blessing advocates say that they cannot
understand why these phenomena are happening. They continue by saying that,
however, that the phenomena belong to a genuine work of the Spirit is clear
because of the transformations appearing as a result in the minds of the
believers.
So we see that the experience is justified by the same means. |
| The Distributors of
the Power |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| To continue the analogy, in theory ``anyone on fire''
can give shaktipat, i.e. anyone who's kundalini is already awakened. The
more relevant question is: ``Who should give shaktipat?''...
Giving shaktipat is a science and it is helpful, if not essential, to be
instructed in that science...
Therefore, it is desirable that the guru be empowered to give shaktipat by
his own guru and has been trained in an unbroken lineage back to a great
master who was fully aware of the science of shaktipat. In this way some
quality control is maintained.
[Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: Who can give shaktipat?] |
In general, TB is known to be easily transferred
further from anybody ``already on fire''. However, usually short courses
are held to direct intercessors before they go on to minister people.
The method for distributing the TB anointing is different from the traditional
view of Christian intercession. When in the traditional intercession focus
is on God and His work needs no control, surveillance or intervention from
people, in TB the intercessors are instructed to watch people and their bodily
manifestations to know what the spirit is doing. In this way, TB ministry
resembles science more than the traditional intercession.
In Toronto meetings, usually only appointed ministers are allowed to pray
for people. This is because of some quality control. In a sound Christian
assembly, all are required and allowed to pray for anothers, not just appointed
ministers. |
| The Similarity of the
Goal |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| Kriyas, literally ``activities'', are spontaneous
movements that occur after kundalini awakening. These include bodily activities
such as trembling, shaking and spontaneous yoga postures; vocal activities
such as yelling, or spontaneous chanting and mental activities such as visions.
These kriyas eliminate the blocks to kundalini rising within the spine or
central channel.
[Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: What are kriyas?]
Blocks, known as samskaras or impressions, do not just obstruct kundalini,
but they embody attachments, conceptions and other mental afflictions that
limit the freedom of our consciousness. Left unattended these attachments
lead to actions which only reinforce the attachment. For example if we have
impressions of anger then we will manifest anger in our activities which
only reinforce our impressions. As kundalini rises it will purify the anger
and as a result of the purification process the kriyas will occur...
It seems more useful to think of kundalini as a natural intelligent force
whose natural movement untangles the knots which limit its expression. The
garden hose analogy makes another point clear as well. Imagine what happens
if the hose is very tangled. Turning up the water pressure may be a very
dramatic and perhaps even counter-productive process.
[Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: How do kriyas purify one's consciousness?] |
The common explanation for the ``kriyas'' happening
in TB meetings is that the God is doing some inward work on the people's
lives and that it results in the outward manifestations.
Also, more generally, that the touch of the power from God results in the
manifestations.
Also, one alleged purpose of the manifestations is to remove blocks from
people's lives (such that pride, self-control etc.) that sustain the Spirit
from moving freely in one's life.
So we see that the supposed purpose and reason for the manifestations is
-- below the surface of religious terms -- exactly the same. |
| The Similarity of
the Requirements for a Receiver |
| Kundalini |
Toronto Blessing |
| The unique perspective of Siddha Mahayoga is that
because kundalini is an intelligent force it will, upon awakening, naturally
direct the practice of the student. All that is required is that the student
completely surrender to this force. As a result of kundalini's unfoldment
spontaneous purifying movements, called kriyas will occur...
Even to reach the point of simply surrendering to shakti takes some practice
for people. Some aids in cultivating surrender are chanting and selfless
service. These practices open the heart and make one more susceptible to
the influence of shakti.
[Siddha Mahayoga FAQ: So what happens after shaktipat? What's the practice
of Siddha Mahayoga?] |
In Toronto Blessing the receiver is asked to surrender
to the ``power of the Holy Spirit'' and to receive the good work (``purifying
kriyas'') of Him without questioning. So this is exactly the same initial
condition that is required for the awakening of kundalini.
Also, chanting spiritual songs is done abundantly in Toronto meetings. This
is supposedly to pray to God, but at least as a side-effect it moves people
to light trance (this is widely known in the psychology) and so enables
one to receive counterfeit spiritual experiences. |
![[The Toronto Blessing Discovery Page]](eye2.gif)