Seeing Life Through the Lens of the Chakras
A practical map of human consciousness — how the seven chakras describe the levels we move through every day, from existence and desire to expression, observation, and release.
Amrit, my Tantra teacher in Nepal, didn't speak of the chakras as abstract spiritual concepts. He used them as a practical tool for understanding human behavior — a map of the levels of consciousness we move through every single day.
They explain how I first encountered these teachings during my time in Nepal, where I met my Tantra teacher, Amrit, and began exploring a completely different way of understanding the mind, emotions, and human behavior.
Chakras as a Map of Human Behavior
One of the things I found most fascinating about Amrit's teachings was that he didn't view the chakras as abstract spiritual concepts. He used them as a practical tool for understanding human behavior.
In psychology, we often ask: “What is the root cause of this behavior?” Tantra asks a similar question: “At what level of consciousness is this person currently operating?”
“This doesn't mean one level is better than another. All seven levels are necessary. The goal is not to live only in the higher chakras and reject the lower ones. The goal is integration.”
However, when we become stuck at a certain level, life often begins sending us clues. And those clues usually appear as problems.
One example Amrit often used has stayed with me for years because it explains the progression beautifully.
A Cup of Coffee and the Seven Levels of Consciousness
Imagine you wake up in the morning. The very first thing you experience is simple awareness. You know who you are. You know where you are. You know that you exist. You remember your name. Your identity. Your body. Your reality.
This is the first level of consciousness.
Chakra One — I Exist
The root chakra. The foundation. The simple recognition: “I am.” Interestingly, it reminds me of Descartes' famous statement: “I think, therefore I am.”
The first chakra is not yet concerned with happiness, success, or enlightenment. It simply establishes existence. You are here. You are alive.
Now something else happens. You begin to feel. Maybe you're hungry. Maybe you're thirsty. Maybe you want your morning coffee. Suddenly consciousness moves beyond existence and into desire.
Chakra Two — I Feel. I Want.
The second chakra enters the stage. You seek pleasure. Comfort. Enjoyment. Connection. The coffee itself isn't necessary for survival. But it brings enjoyment. And that's the domain of the second chakra.
Now imagine you walk into the kitchen and realize something terrible has happened. You're almost out of coffee. The horror. The tragedy. The existential crisis. Now a new force awakens. Motivation.
Chakra Three — I Achieve
You decide to solve the problem. You need money. You need action. You need effort. You need to work, earn, buy, and create results. The third chakra pushes you forward.
“Without this level, we might dream forever but never act. The third chakra transforms desire into movement.”
Eventually, you buy your coffee. Mission accomplished. But then another realization appears. Coffee is nice. Yet somehow it feels even better when shared.
Chakra Four — I Connect
You call a friend. You invite your partner. You sit with someone you love. You talk. You laugh. You share. Because human beings are not designed merely to survive and achieve. We are designed to connect.
The fourth chakra reminds us that life becomes meaningful through relationships. But eventually something interesting happens. Connection alone isn't enough. You don't just want to share coffee. You want to share yourself.
Chakra Five — I Express
You tell stories. You write poetry. You create art. You sing. You dance. You teach. You communicate. You reveal who you are.
This is where individuality blossoms. Love doesn't erase our uniqueness. It inspires us to express it. The fifth chakra is where our inner world becomes visible.
Then another shift occurs. You step back and observe.
Chakra Six — I Observe
You look at your creations. You reflect on your experiences. You notice patterns. You gain insights. You compare. You analyze. You learn. You develop intuition. You begin to see not only what is happening but why it is happening.
“This is the level of awareness. The observer. The witness.”
And finally, if consciousness continues to mature, it reaches the last level.
Chakra Seven — I Release
This may be the most difficult lesson of all. You create. You love. You build. You achieve. And then… you let go.
- You stop clinging
- You stop identifying
- You stop needing everything to stay exactly as it is
- You allow life to flow
- You enjoy your creation without becoming imprisoned by it
- You love people without possessing them
- You appreciate success without becoming attached to it
- You experience life fully while remembering that everything changes
According to Amrit, many of our struggles originate not from having too little, but from holding on too tightly.
“And perhaps this is why so many spiritual traditions — from Tantra to Kabbalah to Buddhism — teach some version of the same lesson: Freedom begins where attachment ends.”
The Real Purpose of the Chakras
The more I reflect on these teachings, the more I see the chakra system not as a mystical belief but as a map of human development.
We all move through these levels every day. Sometimes we are focused on survival. Sometimes on pleasure. Sometimes on achievement. Sometimes on love. Sometimes on expression. Sometimes on awareness. Sometimes on surrender.
“The invitation is not to judge where we are. The invitation is simply to become conscious of it. Because awareness is always the first step toward transformation.”