The fourth and final episode 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.
The translation into French in the recording was by Yogini Ratna (Hélène Plaziat).
Swamiji starts with a guided meditative/reflective journey through each of the inner spaces associated with the three Granthis. The meditation is very simple, clear, direct and finishes with a visualised journey.
‘…. allowing any thoughts and memories to arise, but be more concerned with the space in which these things arise, because it is the space that allows us to go deeper.’
As Swamiji continues with the discourse, he emphasises this, that with some distance from emotional responses, arising in spaciousness, you can get a better understanding. That is, within the space of the Rudra Granthi, and Agya chakra, Awareness flows and brings clarity. Instead of identifying with emotions, sensations and desires a distance is created between them and Awareness.
This leads into an explanation of the very precise terminology of Sanskrit words; ‘Chit’ means Consciousness in it’s large sense, ‘Chitta’ means mind, and ‘Chetana’ is the process of Chit flowing into the individual mind.
Swamiji really labours this point; it’s most important, ‘When we talk in Yoga about “being aware” it is generally understood in terms of a mental state.’
And that’s ok because even just on a mental level, there’s a bit more distance from thoughts, emotions, sensations and feelings.
But it’s important to know that the true reality of ‘Drashta’, witness, is created through ‘Chetana’. It’s experiential, not mental/conceptual.
Therefore the creation of ‘Space’, or ‘Spaciousness’, wherever it is in the body, whichever Granthi, really derives from the Rudra Granthi and Agya chakra. It is for that reason that in practice, we usually start with the Agya chakra.
‘It’s in silence
Swami Nishchalananda
that one can start to
touch the unknown,
it’s in spaciousness
that we can evolve’.
Another aspect of Rudra Granthi is Vishuddhi chakra, and one aspect of Vishuddhi is communication through talking. The negative aspect is just talking about oneself under the guise of communicating. On the other hand, talking as real communication with another is far more liberating. In this way, an important aspect of Vishuddhi is the ability to listen. And actually, this requires that Space again. ‘If you are open, then words can create an exchange on a non-verbal level also’.
The other side of that coin is silence. Many people cannot deal with silence, especially silence between people; conversation has to be there even if it’s about nothing.
‘It’s in silence that one can start to touch the unknown, it’s in spaciousness that we can evolve’.
Another aspect of Rudra Granthi is the giving of space for perceptions other than those which come via the intellect. It is simply not possible to understand everything by means of the intellect. It is a great tool, but it has limitations; it keeps us bound in fixed concepts and ideas.
Please enjoy the recording
Swami Nishchalananda 
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