Recorded at the Vedanta Society of Western Washington on March 23, 2014.

In this lecture, Swami Bhaskarananda explains the concept of kundalini power within the framework of Raja Yoga, the path of meditation and mind control. He begins by affirming the Vedantic teaching that divinity is equally present in all beings, though not equally manifested, and that the goal of spiritual life is to realize this inherent divinity. Different spiritual temperaments follow different disciplines—devotion, selfless action, knowledge, or meditation—but Raja Yoga emphasizes concentration and mastery of the mind as the means to direct experience. Kundalini, described as a dormant spiritual power coiled at the base of the spine, represents the potential for awakening to higher consciousness through disciplined practice and divine grace.

Swami Bhaskarananda outlines the traditional description of the chakras—centers of awareness along the subtle spinal channel—through which the awakened kundalini ascends, bringing profound inner transformation. As this power rises from the muladhara to the sahasrara, spiritual experiences deepen, culminating in samadhi, in which individuality dissolves in direct awareness of divinity. He distinguishes genuine spiritual experiences from imagination or emotion, noting that authentic awakening brings lasting transformation and clarity. Quoting Sri Ramakrishna’s vivid descriptions of the ascent of this power, he emphasizes that while effort is necessary, realization ultimately depends upon divine grace. The talk concludes by encouraging sincere spiritual practice aimed at manifesting the divinity already present within.