The Granthis, episode 2

Second in the series of talks and guided reflections, given by Swami Nishchalananda in 2002 in Paris, France, on the three Granthis, or ‘Knots’. They are a paradigm in classical Yoga; a way of understanding areas which are a natural part of human existence but also represent places where we may be blocked in the search for spiritual understanding.

Brahma Granthi

We need material things
but if we look to them to
completely satisfy us,
they will not.
It’s obvious, if such a thing
were true then the richer
you would be, the happier.
But that isn’t the case.

This session returns to the Brahma Granthi, in greater depth. This is the Granthi associated with Swadhishthana and Mooladhara chakras. To re-state here; this granthi represents the area of materialistic things, but of course we need such things as physical human beings.  We need material things but if we look to them to completely satisfy us, they will not. It’s obvious, if such a thing were true then the richer you would be, the happier. But that isn’t the case. But the belief that materialism will satisfy our deepest needs, will stop us from searching for something which can give that satisfaction. And of course, the purpose of the entire Advertising industry is to reinforce that belief.

‘You can only find happiness in external things if you have found happiness in yourself’

Another aspect of material needs is the need for food. It’s obvious; we would die without. But the negative side here is where we eat, or drink alcohol, in pursuit of happiness. This is not to say that taking pleasure in these things is a problem. The distinction is obvious; it’s the obsessive aspect again.

The Brahma Granthi is also called the ‘Knot of Creation’. Swamiji gives two reasons for this , firstly because we create things, secondly because it is connected with Swadhishthana Chakra which relates to procreation. But again  a huge block can happen here if one uses the sexual partner as an object for one’s gratification instead of a person in their own right. Conversely sexual energy can be a way of liberating us from ignorance, by recognising the other as an aspect of underlying consciousness.

Vishnu Granthi

Next comes the Vishnu Granthi, the ‘Knot of Maintenance’ (or preservation), related to the Manipura and the Anahata chakras. Humans are designed to ‘do’, to act, but again this can become an obsession. If we have to be doing things in order to be happy, we become unhappy if we are forced into inaction for some reason. The positive aspects of action are obvious; we can express our creativity and we can discover our abilities.  The Bhagavad Gita covers this very well, it says humans have to work, (going on to talk about the concepts of Karma Yoga). But working obsessively is the pathology, the downside. 

 And as to why some people put their ‘doing’ energy into searching for what is Real, and others look for happiness in the material world, that in itself is a mystery.

Please enjoy the recording