FireTattva:The2010GlobalMeditation
Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan
CommentarybyGurucharanSinghKhalsa,DirectorofTraining
Fireisanimportantqualityorelementinthephilosophyofyoga.FromtheformlessmanifoldBeing
thatistheInfinitetothedenseformoffiniteexistencethereisaprocessofmanifestationthatmoves
fromthemostsubtletothegrossandtangible.Thistransitionoccursin36stepsortattvas.Eachstepor
tattvaisastateofBeing.Fireisamajorstepinthatprocessandassuchisapervasivepotential,which
manifestsindifferingdegrees.Fireasanelementencodesatransformativefunctioninherentinthe
universe,whichisexperiencedinparticularfunctionsthroughoutthebody.Firegiveslight.Lightenables
vision.Visiongivesinsight,perspectiveandprojectivepotency.Intermsofchakras,itisassociatedwith
theThirdChakra,theManipuraChakra,whichisoftenrepresentedasanupwardpointingtriangleand
thecolorred.
Inthefiniteworldofforms,fireisfedbyfuel.Physiologically,itisthepowerofdigestionandfoodisits
fuel.Emotionally,itispassionandthefuelistheobjectofloveordesire.Psychologically,itisknownas
personalwillandthefuelisagoal.Whenfireispresentitinducesdynamicchange,restlessness,and
purificationofthesubstanceandformitpresidesin.Fireisincreasedwiththepracticeanddisciplineof
yoga.TheFifthChakrasupportsthisinternalflamethroughthepowerofprojectionandbychargingthe
spaceitcanburninwithpotential.
Intheformlessrealmofexperience,thefiretattvaisprakasha,thebrillianceofthesoul,theinsightand
intuitionofthemindandthepresenceofawareness.Itisthelight,whichgivesrisetoforms.
Thisqualitywasdescribedinanearlylecture:Saintsandsageshavetaughtmankindthatwhatever
elementsarefoundintheconstitutionoftheInfiniteUniversewillalsobefoundinthehumanbody.The
UniverseistheentireCosmos;andweareamicrocosmoftheentireCosmos.Ifweweretotakea
thimblefulofseawaterandexamineitclosely,wewouldfindbychemicalqualitativeanalysisthatthe
constituentsoftheseawaterinthethimbleareidenticaltothoseofthevastocean.Similarly,the
constituentsofourindividualbodiesareidenticaltothoseoftheUniverse.Itwouldbeastrangefinding
ifsomeelementwerefoundinsidethehumanbodywhichdifferedfromtheelementsoftheUniverse.For
thereisOneCreatorwhohascreatedthisCreation;andallmanifestedthingsarebornfromtheOne
Sourceofall.
Ourpersonalityisdependentonwhichofthefivegrosselementspredominatesinournature.Theagni
granthi,orfirecenter,manifeststhroughthespleen,liver,pancreas,andadrenalglands.Justastheheat
ofthesunmakeslifepossibleonEarth,theheatoftheagnitattvasustainslifeinthebody.Thedaythis
internalfiregoesoutmeansdeathtotheindividualassurelyasthisworldwoulddieifthesunrefusedto
shine.Personswithasupremacyofthisagnitattvaareveryvigorous,fullofperseverance,andbecome
untiringworkers.Theyhaveawonderfulcapacityforleadershipandadirectnessofmannerandspeech.
TheTeachingsofYogiBhajan,January1,1973
FireisappliedandrefinedinthemeditativeartofTraatikYoga,sometimescalledgazing.Studentsselect
aflame,asacredobjectortheimageofateacherorsainttofocuson.Butitismorethangazing.Gazing
2009KundaliniResearchInstitute
www.kundaliniresearchinstitute.org
intheWestimpliespassivitywithalertness.Inyogaitisanactiveprojectionofthemindandselfin
ordertomergewiththeexistenceandqualitiesofanobject.Ifthefocusisaflame,youincreasethe
purifyingcapacityofthebodyandmind.FireTraatikisusedforhealing.Iftheobjectisateacherlike
theTantricphotoofYogiBhajanthemeditatorattunestoandacquiresthevirtuesoftheteacher.
Certainobjectsarecraftedwithspecificqualitiesthatameditatormaywishtocultivate.Thisistheartof
yantratheuseofformandimageasenergy.PerformingtraatikonanimageoftheGoldenTemple
linksthestateofthemeditatortoaprofoundhealingspace.Thetempleitselfisdesignedwith
proportionsandcolorthatmakeitaperfectgatewayforspiritualandhealingtraatikpractice.
Whenthefireelementisstrongandintegrated,inbalancewiththepersonality,itgivesonebrighteyes.
Thelightofthesoulisshowninthehealingglanceofthesaint.Practiceoftraatikkeepsvisionhealthy
andgivestheabilitytoseethesubtleandunseenaswellasthevisible.
AswemovetowardtheAquarianshiftweinvitethisqualityofinsight,willandleadership.The
meditationwearepracticinginvokestheprojectivepowerofthechakras,fromtheThirdandFifth
Chakras,andrefinestheuseoflight,fireandtruth(satya)inthemantra.Letusgainclarityandwillto
walktherestofthemileanddeliverourheartandsoultoafutureofpeaceandblessings.Letuseachbe
fullyhumanandfullyourSelf.
BytheblessingsofourteacherandthepoweroftheNaam,
GurucharanSinghKhalsa,PhD
DirectorofTraining
KundaliniResearchInstitute
2009KundaliniResearchInstitute
www.kundaliniresearchinstitute.org
