Shakti: An Introduction to Kundalini Maha Yoga

by Shri Anandi Ma Pathak (Introduction), Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandasji

Describing the nature of the universal divine energy of Kundalini and its relationship to spiritual growth, Shri Dhyanyogi Madhusudandasji, a great saint of India and a master of Kundalini Maha yoga, explains how to awaken this dormant energy in spiritual aspirants. In this new edition, Shri Dhyanyogiji shares his energy, wisdom, and technical knowledge of this sacred tradition, making it accessible to both the beginning and the more advanced student of yoga. Featuring helpful charts and diagrams of the chakra system and the 18 major nadis, questions and answers about meditation and the spiritual path, as well as encouraging experiences from students, this guide brings together knowledge that had been formerly unknown outside of this yogic lineage.

161 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a very deep, very personal (and also oddly impersonal - or rather transpersonal) relationship with the authors. As such I’m super duper biased. In point of fact, it would be kind of awful and weird to give it less than a 5/5 star review.

It is an honest 5/5.

But like I said.

Im particularly biased here.

So this isn’t really a normal book review.

Given that.

For me.

This book is extremely special.

And (interestingly) it’s coming into my life at the perfect time.

I met one of the authors (Sri Anadi Ma) in 1993.

The event changed the course of my life.

And I met the other author (Sri Dhyan Yogi) in person, only at his maha samadhi. But he has been with me everyday since. And probably long before then.

Anyway.

Now (30 years +) later I’m (finally) getting around to reading this. And I’m just now starting to get it. It has basically taken all that time to wear me down, and wake me up. Such that I can (finally) get out of my head enough to read what isn’t written here in, but which can only by implied, and which can’t be understood intellectually, but which can only be experienced/known, and then (only sorta/kinda) understood.

Anyway.

None of this is intended to be an endorsement, or a recommendation. This simply isn’t that kind of book.

If anything this review is kind of a message in a bottle for my future self. One of the really cool benefits of posting things on GR (for me) is that these review (occasionally or even quite often) make it back to my attention if/when someone like or comments on it. When that happens. I try to reread what I wrote about the book. And it’s often surprising reading the thoughts (or worse, having to defend some of the more strident/opinionated thoughts) of a previous version of me.

So.

If this review can function as message to my future self.

Than here goes.

Dude (future me):

If you’re reading this review sometime in the future.

Get out of your head.

Relax your body.

Open your heart.

And.

Read it again.

Love,

Your past self, 2025 💕

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book from two perspectives. It gives a good brief introduction to the metaphysics of Kundalini Yoga. It then provides transcripts of Q&A with the guru that provides some interesting insights into the experiences that practitioners have while meditating. It is clear that this meditation system is very different from Zen - relaxed rather than controlled - more trance.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very focused on this guru, Q&A format, lots of great basic info on the chakras.