We have three forms of energy - (1) essence of consciousness (sourced at muladhara chakra) which activates with the first breath at birth; (2) “will” power (sourced at swadhisthana chakra) activates at the second breath. Both these energies perpetuate, but carry an expiry date. (3) Awareness: this is sourced from the earlier two energies, when will power causes essence of consciousness to travel upwards and to activate other chakras. Thus, awareness is progressive and ultimately merges with the essence of consciousness to become ‘pure consciousness’ itself.
However, will power is born faint and neutral. While growing up, this power remains imprisoned in the physical world and is mostly exhausted in making choices in life’s struggles. At best, it grows up to become ‘emotional will’ when our choices are not by near-animal instincts, but more human.
When we take the spiritual path, the early purification processes elevates awareness to anahat chakra, when emotional will is firmly active. Soon the awareness keeps elevating as the will turns intellectual and eventually, spiritual. Since will elevates awareness, the will’s power is manifested in the choices we make. This is why one with intellectual will has to make efforts to stay non-attached to objects, while one with spiritual will does it effortlessly.
But,it is not a one-way street. We can dissipate the will energy, as well. Excessive indulgence (as swadhisthana chakra is associated with regenerative organs), swings of emotions, inconsistent yoga practice, locking oneself up in intellectual battles and the likes of such deeds can deplete the energy.
But, in any case, CitiMonk, I don’t think DESIRE or STRONG EGO have anything to do with cultivating will. And if at all we can inherit anything it may not be brain, but ability to purify swadhisthana, when it comes to will.
Not the best place for deep thought.