BIBLICAL BRIEFS 122
The kundalini is a manifestation of the spirit of divination of which we read in Acts 16:16. In Sanskrit, the word ‘kund’ means “to burn”, and ‘kunda’: “to coil or to spiral”. In Hinduism it is commonly accepted that a symbolic snake is coiled up in each person’s lower back. Donning International Encyclopaedic Psychic Dictionary gives the following detailed description of the concept ‘kundalini’: “a concentrated field of intelligent, cosmic invisible energy absolutely vital to life; beginning in the base of the spine as a man or woman begins to evolve in their first incarnation; fed by the chakras along the spine and by the cosmic energy entering through the feet from the earth; as wisdom is earned in each incarnation, this electromagnetic, ultra potent energy moves slowly upward through the spine …” (p. 343). A direct translation of the word ‘kundalini’ is “serpent power” – that is why some Bible translations call this spirit of divination the “snake-spirit” or “a pythonical spirit” or “a spirit of Python”. Usually, Kundalini’s power is gained by practicing yoga, accompanied by meditation, chanting, and the laying on of hands by a guru. This is the way to supernatural power and ‘divinity’. Yet, experts in the area warn that kundalini yoga and related activities can often lead to mental disorder, nerve collapse, psychosis, depression, and demon possession. Christina & Stanislov Grof, New Age writers of The Stormy Search for the Self, make it clear that kundalini energy can be conveyed by any spiritual person without him/her necessarily endorsing the philosophy. This means that Christians are able to carry over this spirit without even realizing that it happens. One of the Hindu gurus, Sri Ramakrishna, explains the manifestations of the Kundalini spirit: “He daily went into ‘Samadhi’, a trance in which one involuntarily falls down unconscious and enters a rapturous state of super-conscious bliss (Ananda), complete with beautiful visions and often involving astral projection. These states could last anywhere from a few minutes to several days and were often accompanied by uncontrollable laughter or weeping. He could send others into this state with a single touch to the head or chest.” Readers should immediately recognise the similarities with the Toronto blessing of a decade or so ago. Rodney Howard-Browne, one of the most influential proponents of the movement, said: “God will move in various ways and with various anointings in these last days.” But unfortunately, these anointings resemble those of the kundalini spirit. Andrew Strom of New Zealand, in a global declaration, distanced himself from the movement in no uncertain language: “Since 1993-4, I believe a foreign spirit has been allowed to invade the church – first through Rodney Howard-Browne’s ministry – then Toronto, then the Prophetic movement (which I was part of at the time) … I urge people now to ‘test the spirits’ … Do not let anyone just lay hands on you. This is a powerful spirit …” Very alarming is that on a Kundalini website, the following is stated: “Usually the awakening of Kundalini was a process that only occurred after years of spiritual practice and meditation. Yet increasingly, the Kundalini experience is being reported among people who are not undertaking spiritual practices. Since 1993, when Shared Transformation, an American journal for connecting spiritual awakeners first started, it has been contacted by over 700 people in the throes of spontaneous kundalini arousal (Collie & Kree, 1995). These increased reports of spontaneous Kundalini awakening at this time of planetary upheaval may be indicative of a greater purpose at work, the beginning of a planetary wake up call.” In addition to the fact that the true reformation is stolen in this way, many believers unfortunately still function with the imitations of the Holy Spirit, of which the slave girl of Acts 16:17 is a good example: “She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’” This absolutely looks like the true gospel that she proclaimed, but Paul discerned the demonic spirit in her that made the so-called confession and delivered her from the kundalini spirit. It is something to be very concerned about in our current spiritual experiences where believers go out to seek spiritual thrills.
Dr Tom Gouws
