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The Kundalini Experience : Psychosis or Transcendence
This is an alternate cover edition of ISBN 0-941255-29-8 / 978-0-941255-29-5.
Many people have heard of the extraordinary phenomenon of kundalini awakening. Over the years, a growing number of men & women have had firsthand encounters. In some cases, the experience involves very disturbing physical & psychological effects. This volume, which has sold 50,000 copies, documents numerous case studies to demystify the process & reassure those who sometimes fear for their own sanity.
Many people have heard of the extraordinary phenomenon of kundalini awakening. Over the years, a growing number of men & women have had firsthand encounters. In some cases, the experience involves very disturbing physical & psychological effects. This volume, which has sold 50,000 copies, documents numerous case studies to demystify the process & reassure those who sometimes fear for their own sanity.
168 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 4, 2016
Great introductory book for those going through a kundalini awakening. Helps you realize that you're not crazy. There are books that are much more in depth, but this is a great intro. into understanding the experience! I would say it is a must read for those who think they might need some quick reliable info.
May 27, 2025
Although dated.
This actually represents some of the best research on kundalini that I have found. The neuroscience is dated. But the descriptive phenomenological data is fantastic. And every bit as useful as the day it was written. Honestly. As a clinician, researcher and practitioner. The phenomenological approach is what I’m really seeking lately. Theoretical frameworks are (of course) necessary. But we already have some good (good enough) theoretical work on Kundalini. And as much as I love the neuroscience. It’s ultimately not that useful for practice.
5/5 ⭐️
My only complaint is that there isn’t more out there like it.
This actually represents some of the best research on kundalini that I have found. The neuroscience is dated. But the descriptive phenomenological data is fantastic. And every bit as useful as the day it was written. Honestly. As a clinician, researcher and practitioner. The phenomenological approach is what I’m really seeking lately. Theoretical frameworks are (of course) necessary. But we already have some good (good enough) theoretical work on Kundalini. And as much as I love the neuroscience. It’s ultimately not that useful for practice.
5/5 ⭐️
My only complaint is that there isn’t more out there like it.
February 25, 2021
This is a good manual describing the differences between pathological mental states and a mental state more akin to the one experienced during deep meditation. Kundalini awakening is thought to be a "purification" process in which blocks within the body are freed, releasing people into a more at-peace state within their lives. The process is associated with images of serpents, as it usually involves a feeling of rising energy within the body. After the process is complete -- which yogic scriptures say takes a minimum of three years -- people's lives are often transformed. One woman mentioned in the book went from deep depression to a state where she "has not known a day of depression in the past two years." A psychologist-writer who had been mildly depressed and unstable for 20 years since a psychotic break hit an all-time high in productivity with writing and attained a "more sure grasp on his life." People are presented as more "intact" and equanimous after the awakening process.
Lee Sannella stresses the importance of support for people going through these states, as expressing concern or pathologizing the process can induce fear in the person experiencing it, leading to adverse effects rather than the positive outcomes it is capable of (and intended to, if we want to speak teleologically) produce. He suggests that in order to discern if someone is experiencing the kundalini process, someone who has been through it him/herself should be the assessor. They will be better able to distinguish between psychosis and transcendence than a clinician who has not experienced the process ("it takes one to know one").
Case reports mentioned in the book show that this purification process is often associated with feelings of "one sight" (which perhaps means the feeling that all you are is your attention), an out-of-body feeling of consciousness (including feeling larger than your own body), as well as pains where the blockages might be -- though this pain, Sandella hypothesizes, may be due to resistance to the purification process. The science behind this kundalini awakening state is explored toward the end of the book -- EEG, as has been performed in studies of meditators, is suggested as a path forward to understand the biological processes underlying the experience of awakening. Curiously, one of the studies mentioned that piqued my interest -- using photo-multiplier tubes (whatever those are) to detect low-intensity ultraviolet light from the bodies of experimental subjects -- entitled "Experimental Measurements of the Human Energy Field" is nowhere to be found on the Web. The journal where it was published, The Energies of Consciousness, is also nowhere to be found. This very well might be because it is an old article and an old journal (this book was published in 1976), but it still seems odd to me.
The Internet abounds with people speculating about the "energy" that humans emit or people's "auras," but the consensus among modern scientists is that this is all a bunch of pseudoscience. Yet, people with a deep belief in their sense of intuition (and in positions to pursue scientific inquiry) return to this project repeatedly. They seem to think that humans emit energy, and that they will be able to measure it (Kirlian photography, mentioned in Judith Orloff's book Second Sight is another example of someone trying to prove the existence of humans' energetic fields). This book has led me to want to explore what is known about human energy fields and whether there is some sort of active suppression of research in this area.
Lee Sannella stresses the importance of support for people going through these states, as expressing concern or pathologizing the process can induce fear in the person experiencing it, leading to adverse effects rather than the positive outcomes it is capable of (and intended to, if we want to speak teleologically) produce. He suggests that in order to discern if someone is experiencing the kundalini process, someone who has been through it him/herself should be the assessor. They will be better able to distinguish between psychosis and transcendence than a clinician who has not experienced the process ("it takes one to know one").
Case reports mentioned in the book show that this purification process is often associated with feelings of "one sight" (which perhaps means the feeling that all you are is your attention), an out-of-body feeling of consciousness (including feeling larger than your own body), as well as pains where the blockages might be -- though this pain, Sandella hypothesizes, may be due to resistance to the purification process. The science behind this kundalini awakening state is explored toward the end of the book -- EEG, as has been performed in studies of meditators, is suggested as a path forward to understand the biological processes underlying the experience of awakening. Curiously, one of the studies mentioned that piqued my interest -- using photo-multiplier tubes (whatever those are) to detect low-intensity ultraviolet light from the bodies of experimental subjects -- entitled "Experimental Measurements of the Human Energy Field" is nowhere to be found on the Web. The journal where it was published, The Energies of Consciousness, is also nowhere to be found. This very well might be because it is an old article and an old journal (this book was published in 1976), but it still seems odd to me.
The Internet abounds with people speculating about the "energy" that humans emit or people's "auras," but the consensus among modern scientists is that this is all a bunch of pseudoscience. Yet, people with a deep belief in their sense of intuition (and in positions to pursue scientific inquiry) return to this project repeatedly. They seem to think that humans emit energy, and that they will be able to measure it (Kirlian photography, mentioned in Judith Orloff's book Second Sight is another example of someone trying to prove the existence of humans' energetic fields). This book has led me to want to explore what is known about human energy fields and whether there is some sort of active suppression of research in this area.
January 25, 2012
After not having done any disciplined meditation since seminary, my friend Alma basically dared me to try a yoga class she was taking three days a week at the local Chicago Park District. Just to confound her, I signed up and stayed with it for over five years. The physical effects were positive and even though I quit the class after they changed to a less convenient schedule, many of the physical improvements have endured. Psychologically, the class was also a positive experience. The release of endorphins during the hour-plus of practice always resulted in at least a short-term mild euphoria. Returning to meditation also got me to return to the literature. One of the books was The Kundalini Experience by Dr. Sannella.
It was an unfortunate choice. The hatha yoga I was doing was lowest-common-denominator stuff, not the serious business of kundalini yoga or even transcendental meditation. Indeed, what we were doing in class was originally designed just to prepare one's body for real meditation.
Consequently, Sannella's discussion of the potential physio-psychological effects of kundalini discipline, pretty much beyond me or my concerns, was boring. His book is directed to practitioners, not to the general public.
It was an unfortunate choice. The hatha yoga I was doing was lowest-common-denominator stuff, not the serious business of kundalini yoga or even transcendental meditation. Indeed, what we were doing in class was originally designed just to prepare one's body for real meditation.
Consequently, Sannella's discussion of the potential physio-psychological effects of kundalini discipline, pretty much beyond me or my concerns, was boring. His book is directed to practitioners, not to the general public.
February 2, 2013
Essential reading for the awakened or awakening person with a scientific mind, really simplifies the phenomenon
August 15, 2024
Interesting, but dry.
July 14, 2023
Es un libro, claro, lógico, científico y objetivo. La experiencia kundalini existe pero la ignorancia, el esceptisismo y el miedo no permiten integrar en la psicología, psiquiatría y otras disciplinas este tema con relevancia. El problema que las personas pueden ser diagnosticadas y medicadas erróneamente con otros padecimientos.
La enseñanza esencial del libro es la conexión con la dimensión de los sentimientos (feeling) y el corazón, para integrarte junto con tus experiencias (incluyendo el kundalini), para resolver problemas y vivir plenamente.
Mensaje para el Daniel del futuro: Vuelvelo a leer y profundiza aún más en cada nueva idea.
La enseñanza esencial del libro es la conexión con la dimensión de los sentimientos (feeling) y el corazón, para integrarte junto con tus experiencias (incluyendo el kundalini), para resolver problemas y vivir plenamente.
Mensaje para el Daniel del futuro: Vuelvelo a leer y profundiza aún más en cada nueva idea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2024
It was a good read, it was nice to have multiple case studies of different scenarios with common root causation. The solution being guided mental exercises as viable solutions over pharmaceuticals as a primary go to was good to see. However, I had to knock a star off the review because ultimately, it doesn't really conclude itself with very well thought out epilogue.
July 20, 2025
So I’m not crazy!! As someone who experienced a spontaneous kundalini/spiritual awakening that included hematidrosis [sweating blood] and multiple other extreme symptoms [heat fluctuations, random convulsions; both remain unexplained by my medical and mental health professionals] this was an incredibly validating read. Great book. :,)
January 7, 2020
I found this book very useful. Whether someone goes through a Kundalini awakening or is involved in related physico-spiritual processes, this book contains information and perspectives that will fill in many of the holes in you knowledge and consequently both assist and relieve anxieties.
July 20, 2025
Quite repeatative and lacking in depth analysis of the process and many of the well known guru's teaching and experiences are missing. The author keeps on repeating about the same symptoms through out the book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews