Photo taken by Varanjeet Kaur from Montevideo, Uruguay

Kundalini Yoga teachers from Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, and Spain during the KRI Teacher Training Level 2 Authentic Relationship module in Córdoba, Argentina.

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The Five Stages of Mental Refinement

The quality of mental and emotional experience changes as the aspirant guides the mind through the eight limbs of yoga practice. Patanjali describes five stages of mental refinement. The descriptions reflect the general principle that all emanations of Prakirti are composed of some combination of the three gunas: tamas (heavy, confusion, lack of clarity); rajas (active, energy); sattva (balance, subtlety, clarity). The qualities of mind reflect different degrees of activity and combinations of the three gunas. The five Stages of Refinement, their description and the influence of the corresponding gunas follow:

1. NIRUDHA. Sattva is fully expressed. Total calm. The transcendent perception of the soul, consciousness or Purusha is now possible. It is “well-controlled,” can distinguish false from Real, and see the nature of the Self reflected throughout the mirror of Prakirti.

2. EKAGRA. Sattva rules. This creates tranquility and calmness, clear perception about the nature of things. The mind is able to manifest its intentions.

3. VIKSIPTA. Rajas dominates, so the mind is fast, flighty, almost manic. It never rests on one thing nor commits. Often seeks stimulation and information, but doesn’t analyze.

4. MUDHA. Predominance of tamas assures laziness, confusion, sluggishness, ignorance, and even vice. It is a state of dull confusion or stupidity.

5. KSIPTA. Rajas gives the mind a lot of energy. This combined with tamas loses discrimination. The mind is disturbed, irritated, erratic, distracted. Attention is often focused on the wrong things.

Conscious Communication Student Manual © Kundalini Research Institute

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Ghee (Clarified Butter)

Simmer unsalted butter for about 10-15 minutes over a low-medium heat. Regular salted butter can be used if unsalted butter is not available. After heating, let it set for a few minutes, and then scoop all of the white foam from the top with a spoon. You'll see the clear, yellow ghee left at the bottom. Pour this into a container, using a strainer, and not letting any of the white sediment at the bottom of the pan slide in. Use ghee as you would butter or cooking oil.

Yogi Bhajan says of ghee: "Ghee is not an oil, it is a pure protein. It is supposed to melt the fat in your body, when you eat it with your food, you'll find three things:
1. You'll urinate more than usual that day (helps rid excess fluids from the body).
2. Your body will be warmer than normal.
3. You'll look at things more clearly than you normally do. You'll think more clearly.

In India if somebody gets obese, they start living on ghee. And in Tibet and all these areas, they put ghee in their tea, and drink it-they live on it. That's their protein."

From The Master’s Touch, © The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan

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