The White Tantric Experience

On the 7th of October, nine people from Golden Yogi, including myself attended the White Tantric event in Sydney. In total 258 people made it for the day. After all, Yogi Bhajan says that one day of White Tantric Yoga is equivalent to meditating in a cave, day and night for 10 years!

We sit in lines face to face with a partner and our facilitator explains that the energy travels diagonally between participants. Using this Z energy, it is then said that Yogi Bhajan (through the course facilitator), directs this energy to cut through the blocks of the subconscious mind, to bring more success to every area of your life and is the path to personal awareness and freedom. The lines must remain unbreakable and if we must use the bathroom, we raise our hand so a volunteer can come and take our place in line! In total we had 7 meditations ranging from 31-62 minutes each and at the beginning our facilitator said “My loving advice is once you’ve settled into a position, don’t move”.

We are squished like sardines and as the day unfolds, I become acutely aware of little annoyances; my neighbour’s elbow knocking me during warms ups, the pain in my back and legs from sitting in our first 62 minute posture, the people around me mispronouncing the mantra…

And so this is the work of the day, dragging the mind away from focusing on pettiness, distractions, intense physical sensations, and instead back to the meditations; to those moments of depth and connection as I look into my partner’s eyes, to those moments where time stands still and all seems clear as our individual efforts all work toward a collective goal.

We finish our last meditations; the energy is euphoric- we achieved something that seemed impossibly hard at the start, and I feel a deep sense of community. We cheer, laugh, some cry, we hug our neighbours and finally find out their names!

White Tantric for me quells my human tendency to self-sabotage. Inherently, we each know what we have to do but more often than not lack the grit and wisdom to execute it. White Tantric gives an experience of endurance and the ability to focus on a still point i.e your goal and what you’re are doing in the present moment to attain it, amidst the “noise” of self-limiting beliefs around you.

Kundalini Music

Music and Mantra is such a huge part of Kundalini Yoga. When Yogi Bhajan took the teachings of Kundalini Yoga to America in 1969, a fusion of Western-style music and mantra emerged. The mantras that we use in Kundalini yoga are in the sacred language Gurmukhi. The meaning of the mantras are encrypted in the vibrations of the sounds, and the way that they resonate internally through the body. 

When we chant a mantra, the meridian points in the upper palate of the mouth are stimulated by the tongue in a particular rhythm and pattern. This initiates a chain of chemical reactions in the body, to rebalance the energy throughout the glandular system and organs. The vibration of sounds reasonate in the body to promote energy circulation throughout the Nadi channels (the body’s energetic pathways).

Sounds vibrations connect us to the infinite flow of energy.  We do not even need to understand the meaning of the mantra for the power of the vibrations to bring energetic balance, and healing to the body and the mind.

In Kundalini yoga classes, you might chant along with the music, use it to set a pace or rhythm for a particular movement or breath pattern, or just listen to the mantra during relaxation periods.

I wanted to share some of my current favorites to inspire you during a home yoga practice, relaxation, or to enjoy in the car. 

The best place to purchase the music is Spirit Voyage (www.spiritvoyage.com) or iTunes Store. Alternatively, you could search for the songs on Spotify.

 Favourite Songs I love to Play in Classes:

• Aad Guray Nameh by Mirabai Ceiba (Awakened Earth)
• Anand (bliss) by Snatam Kaur (Anand)
• Ong Namo by Ajeet Kaur (At the Temple Door)
• Pavan Guru by Gurunam Singh (Breath of Devotion)
• Suniai by Ajeet Kaur (Darshan)
• Ong Sohung by Snatam Kaur (Shanti)
• Ardas Bhaee by Jai Jagdeesh (Of Heaven & Earth)
• Mul Mantra by Mirabai Ceiba (Mountain Sadhana)
• Mera Man Lochai by Sirgun Kaur (The Cosmic Gift)
• Longtime Sun by Snatam Kaur (Celebrate Peace)
• Ra Ma Da Sa by Snatam Kaur (Grace)

Beautiful Meditative/Relaxation Songs:

• Crimson Collection 1 & 2
• Crimson Collection 6 & 7
• Chattr Chakkr Deep Relaxation by Mirabai Ceiba
• Suni-ai (slow) by Snatam Kaur (Shanti)

Great Dance Beats/ Upbeat Songs:

• Wahe Guru Wahe Jio – Feat. Russell Brand by Kamari & Manvir
• Adi Shakti by Kamari & Manvir
• Bhangra Remix:  Kundalini Mantra Fusion Mix – whole album
• Kundalini Technology by Kamari & Manvir – whole album

Favourite Albums:

• Shanti by Snatam Kaur
• I am Thine by Jai Jagdeesh
• Light of the Naam: Morning Chants by Snatam Kaur
• Anand by Snatam Kaur
• Miracles Abound: Meditations for Transformation by Jai Jagdeesh
• Sevati by Mirabai Ceiba
• White Sun by White Sun
• Bhangra Remix:  Kundalini Mantra Fusion Mix
• Liberation’s Door by Snatam Kaur
• Prem Siri by Nirinjan Kaur
• Grace by Snatam Kaur