So what is this 'Kundalini'?

Almost every tradition speaks of Kundalini in one form or another and describes Kundalini in its own way. In Japanese it is called Ki; in Chinese, Chi; the scriptures of Christianity call it the Holy Spirit. What is that Kundalini? It is the power of the Self, the power of Consciousness.
Kundalini is Shakti, supreme energy, whom the sages of India worship as the mother of the universe. Shakti is the consort of Shiva. She is the active aspect of the formless, attributeless Absolute. .. Enlightened men of knowledge perceive Her in all the forms and objects in the universe, and seeing everything as one in That, they merge in That.

What is the nature of this Shakti? She is the supreme creative power of the Absolute Being. Just as heat, which has the power to burn, is not different from fire, Shakti, which has the power to create this universe, is identical with Parabrahman, the supreme Absolute. She is Brahman in the form of sound, the sound vibration of the Absolute, which manifested the universe.

Kundalini and Shakti represent the dynamicism of Brahman. Collectively, they are the active, dynamic principle of the One Reality. This is the essence of Eastern philosophy / mysticism - the universe is a dynamic unity. Fritjof Capra expresses this understanding well;

In Indian philosophy, the main terms used by Hindus and Buddhists have dynamic connotations. The word Brahman is derived from the Sanskrit root brih - to grow- and thus suggests a reality which is dynamic and alive. The Upanishads refer to Brahman as 'this unformed, immortal, moving', thus associating it with motion even though it transcends all forms.' The Rig Veda uses another term to express the dynamic character of the universe, the term Rita. This word comes from the root ri- to move. In its phenomenal aspect, the cosmic One is thus intrinsically dynamic, and the apprehension of its dynamic nature is basic to all schools of Eastern mysticism.

They all emphasize that the universe has to be grasped dynamically, as it moves, vibrates and dances. .. The Eastern mystics see the universe as an inseparable web, whose interconnections are dynamic and not static. The cosmic web is alive; it moves and grows and changes continually. (Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics, 1972.)

Western Physics (with its 'particles' and 'forces' in 'Space-Time' ) has never correctly understood the Eastern world view. It is also important to understand that the ancient Indian philosophers did not actually know how the universe was a dynamic unity, what matter was, how the One Thing / Brahman caused and connected the many things. Thus Eastern philosophical knowledge is ultimately founded on mysticism and intuition. The ancient Indians further believed (along with our current postmodern society) that human Language could never directly describe this One Thing (which must therefore remain beyond comprehension) and which we called 'God'. (Brahman, Tao, etc.)

How can one know that which is infinite, perfect and unlimited with an intelligence that is finite, imperfect, limited? How can one know That with the mind which is created by That? The wise say: That cannot be known. (Swami Prajnananda)

If One Thing / Brahman is all that exists, then there can be no logical concepts, (as logic requires two things), nor indeed any understanding of how this One thing could cause the Many changing things which we experience in the world. The error has been in not correctly realising the properties of the One. The ancient eastern philosophers are frustratingly close to the truth, with Kundalini and Shakti representing the dynamic principle of Brahman, 'the sound vibration of the Absolute'.

Recent discoveries on the properties of Space and the Wave Structure of Matter (Wolff, Haselhurst) suggests that we can understand Reality and the interconnection of all things.

The One Thing / Brahman, (Space) has Properties (Wave-Medium) that give rise to the many things (Matter as the Spherical Wave Motion of Space). This then allows us to form the necessary connections for language and logic (as logic requires a relationship between two things). Space and Motion exist a priori (necessary for us to have senses, the cause of our senses).

Kundalini, as the 'active aspect of the formless, attributeless Absolute' can now be described as the (spherical wave) Motion of One Infinite and Eternal Space / Brahman. As it is through (wave) Motion that Space manifests the many things.

Related: Nature of Kundalini | Awakening of Kundalini | Kundalini Awakening in Daily Life | The Attainment | Glossary