The Three Channels
In Sahaja Yoga, the subtle system contains three principal energy channels, known as Nadis — Ida Nadi, Pingala Nadi, and Sushumna Nadi. These channels carry the subtle energy within us and are connected with the seven main Chakras. The left and right channels are associated with different aspects of our attention, while the central channel represents balance, spiritual evolution, and ascent. The Ida Nadi relates to our emotions, desires, and connection with the past, while the Pingala Nadi relates to our thoughts, actions, planning, and connection with the future. The Sushumna Nadi lies between them and represents the present moment and the path of spiritual growth. In Sahaja Yoga, maintaining balance between these three channels is an important part of meditation and inner development.
Left Channel — Ida Nadi
The Ida Nadi is the left energy channel of the subtle system and is also known as the Moon channel. It begins at the Mooladhara Chakra and travels upward along the left side of the body.In Sahaja Yoga, this channel is connected with our desires, emotions, feelings, memories, and our relationship with the past. The memories, habits, and conditioning that influence our attention are associated with this side of the subtle system. Its essential quality is joy, particularly the simple and spontaneous joy experienced in childhood.
When the left channel is balanced, it supports emotional stability, pure love, compassion, and a peaceful state of mind. When attention becomes excessively caught in the past or emotions, we may experience sadness, guilt, lethargy, or other emotional disturbances. Through meditation and Self-Realization, the left channel can return to a state of balance and allow its qualities of joy and emotional well-being to develop.
Right Channel — Pingala Nadi
The Pingala Nadi is the right energy channel of the subtle system and is also known as the Sun channel. It begins at the Swadisthan Chakra and travels upward along the right side of the body. In Sahaja Yoga, it is associated with action, planning, thinking, physical and mental activity, and our attention towards the future. This channel provides the energy needed to act, organize, concentrate, and accomplish our goals in daily life. Its balanced state supports dynamism and effective action while allowing us to remain calm and joyful. However, when too much energy is demanded from the right side, we may become excessively active, stressed, irritable, aggressive, or strongly identified with the feeling of “I” and “my.” Meditation and Self-Realization help restore harmony to the right channel, allowing activity and intelligence to function without disturbing our inner peace.
Central Channel — Sushumna Nadi
The Sushumna Nadi is the central energy channel and is described in Sahaja Yoga as the middle path of balance and spiritual evolution. It begins at the sacrum, where the Kundalini is said to reside, and rises upward through the subtle system towards the Sahasrara Chakra at the top of the head. Unlike the left and right channels, which relate to the past and future, the central channel brings our attention towards the present moment. It supports our spiritual ascent and the development of a deeper sense of inner balance, peace, and awareness. At the time of Self-Realization, the Kundalini rises through the Sushumna Nadi and nourishes the Chakras along its path. As the attention becomes established in the central channel through meditation and thoughtless awareness, one gradually becomes less caught between thoughts of the past and future and experiences greater inner stillness.
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