Excerpt from "Awakening to the Fifth Dimension"

Dharma is an important term used in several Indian reli- gions. Dharma has no single word equivalent in any Western language. It has many varying meanings, including “cosmic law and order,” and encompasses such concepts as duty, rights, vo- cation, customs, character, law, statute, steadfast decree, justice, virtue, practice, religion, ethics, good work, quality, nature, that which is correct or morally upright, as well as actions necessary for life on an individual and collective basis.

Because our chakras are embedded within our bodies at various locations, we can see how different points in our bodies are related to our manifestation of the many qualities contained within the concept of dharma. According to the ancient Hindus and Buddhists who researched the spiritual nature of humanity, humans have both a physical body, as well as multiple nonphysical energetic bodies, or subtle bod- ies, that coexist with the physical body. The chakras are part of our spiritual anatomy.

Chakras are swirling vortices of energy that form junctions between the physical and energetic bodies. Chakras occur at various points along the spine, from the base of the spine to the top of the head. The swirling energy within the chakra is called prana. Prana energizes both the physical body and the connected energetic bodies. Prana is transported through the body by a network of channels similar to the arteries that carry blood in the circulatory system. These prana channels are called nadis.

The chakras help balance and deliver the proper amount of cosmic energy to your body, mind, and soul, according to your current level of spiritual development. In addition to storing and distributing energy and information, the chakras also serve as the location of our psychological or mental ten- dencies, habits, desires, and aspects of the subconscious mind. Our inner struggle to grow spiritually takes place between the pull of the soul from above and the pull of the material world from below.

Here is a list of the chakras and their locations in your body. There are also colors associated with each chakra. The first three chakras are more physical in nature.

Root chakra. The first chakra, at the base of the spine, is red like fire. It represents security and sur- vival. When our consciousness is going downward in this chakra, we become stubborn or too attached to material things. Blockages may appear as fear, para- noia, defensiveness, and procrastination. When we raise our energy up through this chakra, we are more able to concentrate and persevere.

Sacral chakra. The second chakra, just below the navel, is orange like the sun. This chakra represents desire, pleasure, sexuality, procreation, and creativity. Blockage may manifest as emotional problems, obses- sive compulsive behavior, and sexual guilt. When we raise our consciousness in this chakra, we become more creative, open-minded, and more receptive to Divine inspiration.

Solar plexus chakra. The third chakra, in the stom- ach area, is yellow. Feelings of ambition, achieve- ment, personal power, laughter, joy, and anger are associated with this chakra. Blockages in the solar plexus chakra may manifest as anger, frustration, lack of direction, or a feeling of victimization. This chakra’s lower form can trigger desires for personal power. In its higher form, the solar plexus chakra increases self- control and willpower so we can achieve what we set our minds to.

Heart chakra. The fourth chakra, in the center of the chest, is green. This chakra is all about love. It is the center of love, peace, harmony, and compassion. In its highest form, this love is all-embracing and un- conditional, the love of God. In its negative form, the love becomes restricted to only our own desires.

Throat chakra. The fifth chakra, at the base of the throat, is blue. When our energy is positively oriented, this chakra gives us calmness and inner peace. Block- ages can show up as creative blocks, dishonesty, or problems in communicating one’s needs to others.

Third eye chakra. The sixth chakra, in the fore- head, between the eyebrows, is indigo. This chakra relates to contemplating the spiritual nature of our life. It is the chakra of knowing, perception, inner vision, wisdom, and intuition—even visions of past lives can come through the third eye chakra. Block- ages may manifest as lack of foresight, fixed thinking, skepticism, depression, delusions, anxiety, paranoia, vivid dreams, and nightmares.

Crown chakra. The seventh chakra, at the top of the head, is violet. The crown chakra is concerned with understanding, information, acceptance, and bliss. The crown chakra can be said to be your own place of connection to God, the chakra of Divine purpose and personal desitiny. It is at the crown chakra where we completely merge with God and achioeve final liberation. The crown chakra is usually the last to awakened. Problems in this chakra can manifest as isolation, loneliness, inability to connect with others, lack of direction, inability to set or maintain goals, and feeling disconnected spiritually. If we look at paintings of Jesus, we can often see a halo around the head. This halo is indicative of his radiant and fully activated crown chakra.

The seven chakras are often referred to as lotuses whose petals open in spiritual Awakening. The chakras are like lo- tus flowers growing from the energetic spine, which is like a flower stem.

We can learn to improve the flow of prana (life) energy through our chakras using various techniques like kriya yoga, taught by the renowned spiritual teacher and yogi Parama- hansa Yogananda.

When the chakras are fully opened, or unlocked, enlight- enment occurs. This is the goal of all true yoga, including kriya yoga. Yogananda’s guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri, compared the chakras to “seven golden candlesticks . . . Seven shining places in the body where the Spirit becomes mani- fested.” Yogananda described the chakras as “seven divinely planned exits or ‘trap doors’ through which the devotee, by meditation, may escape by seven successive steps into Cosmic Consciousness.”