Experience and Knowledge

Teaching – Parent

The player, now a parent, experiences a need to instruct others based on one’s own experiences. She also takes up the responsibilities of parenthood. This is usually the period where the adults have chosen to become parents and are ready to nurture a child.

The path of this stage starts with “gyāna” (knowledge) and ends with “suvidyā” (apt / right knowledge). “Gyāna” accelerates the player to “ānandaloka” (the home of brahmā, lord of supreme knowledge). “Suvidyā” raises the player to “rudraloka” (the plane of shiva, the “doer of cosmic good”). The player in this stage is vulnerable to “avidyā” (ignorance of the infinite within) which if indulged in will result in the experience of “kāma” (desires) and the player will fall to the lowest level.

This is the stage of the 5th chakra (vishuddhi) residing in the throat and the colour is purple. Beyond the realm of the senses, the dominant experience is that of meditation. Specifically the player meditates on the sound of her breath which she hears as “So Ham” (“That I am”). The player sleeps 4 to 5 hours daily switching sides. Tāntric texts suggest that mastering this chakra gives the yogin the power to rejuvenate at will.