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This article considers some of the issues arising from the evolution of social and legal understandings of what constitutes “family” in the modern era and the impact of that evolution on older settlements. The article considers the common law’s default conception of familial relationships—who was a settlor’s spouse or child for example—and how that default conception could have been displaced by a settlor or testator. The article then considers some of the legislative interventions of the 20th and 21st centuries and the impact of human rights legislation which have altered the common law’s traditional understanding of family relationship. The article reviews several important cases, including the recent decision of Goodrich v AB [2022] EWHC 81 (Ch), which have considered the impact of these interventions on older settlements. Finally, the article considers some practical tips for settlors, trustees and beneficiaries.

Krishnamacharya on Kuṇḍalinī explores a distinctive teaching of ‘the father of modern yoga’, T. Krishnamacharya. Whereas most yoga traditions teach that kuṇḍalinī is a serpentine energy that rises, Krishnamacharya defined it differently. To him, kuṇḍalinī is a serpentine blockage which prevents prāṇa (breath or life- force) from rising and which represents avidyā (spiritual ignorance). Simon Atkinson draws from over 20 years of study and practice under teachers following Krishnamacharya. He combines analysis of quotations from yoga workshops with a detailed study of traditional Sanskrit texts. He traces the textual origins of Krishnamacharya’s position to two sects of Viṣṇu-worshiping temple priests, and shows how it is compatible with a stream of South Asian thought where snakes represent something to be overcome. Atkinson challenges claims that Krishnamacharya’s position can be found in his religious tradition of Śrīvaiṣṇavism. He questions the tradition’s reliance on textual sources, showing how the coherence of Krishnamacharya’s position can only be maintained by employing elaborate arguments and rejecting texts that teach otherwise. Atkinson also explores how Krishnamacharya’s teaching on kuṇḍalinī influences how yoga is practised. He argues that Krishnamacharya’s position is best viewed as a model for experience that guides practice.

Chapter 5 critically analyses and evaluates claims from two prominent teachers in the tradition, A.G. Mohan and Kausthub Desikachar (Krishnamacharya’s grandson), who both attempted to validate Krishnamacharya’s teachings about the serpent of kuṇḍalinī by putting it into a wider cultural context. Building upon the theoretical framework of Laurie Cozad (2004), this chapter will be the first published work showing how snakes are used in South Asian texts to represent something to be overcome: māyā (illusion / magic), avidyā (nescience / spiritual ignorance), ajñāna (nescience / spiritual ignorance), ahaṁkāra (ego), ahaṁmāna (egotism), abhimāna (erroneous self- conception), māna (pride), and moha (delusion) – the deadly poison of saṁsāra (rebirth). The chapter shows that this stream of South Asian thought, in which snakes represent something to be overcome, is consistent with Krishnamacharya’s use of the term kuṇḍalinī to represent a blockage to prāṇa. However, even when writers use snakes to represent something to be overcome in some contexts, it does not necessarily follow that they use kuṇḍalinī in the same way.

Chapter 3 builds upon the work of academics including James Mallinson, Lidia Schwartz-Linder and Dominic Wujastyk and greatly expands upon their contributions to trace the textual origins of Krishnamacharya’s teachings on kuṇḍalinī. It shows how verses from the Yogayājñavalkya came from the Vasiṣṭhasaṁhitā, which in turn took some of those verses from the Pādmasaṁhitā – a text of the Vaiṣṇava (Viṣṇu- worshiping) sect of temple priests known as Pāñcarātra. The chapter traces similar teachings to another Pāñcarātra text, the Ahirbudhnyasaṁhitā. It presents lengthy translations from previously untranslated sections of the Ahirbudhnyasaṁhitā, together with original observations about the inconsistency of that text in relation to kuṇḍalinī. The chapter also identifies similar teachings in the rival Vaiṣṇava sect of Vaikhānasa.

The Yogayājñavalkya was Krishnamacharya’s source text on kuṇḍalinī. This chapter contains the first detailed critical analysis of translations of the Yogayājñavalkya by two of Krishnamacharya’s long-term students: T.K.V. Desikachar (Krishnamacharya’s son) and A.G. Mohan. It argues that these translators misrepresent the Yogayājñavalkya in different ways. Desikachar mistranslated the Yogayājñavalkya by introducing concepts not in the original Sanskrit text, thereby relocating kuṇḍalinī from the navel to the perineum. Mohan changed the original Sanskrit of one verse without informing his readers, conveniently avoiding content that contradicts Krishnamacharya’s position.

Chapter 6 will be the first published exploration of teachings about kuṇḍalinī in Krishnamacharya’s religious tradition of Śrīvaiṣṇavism. It examines quotations that T.K.V. Desikachar attributed to the Śrīvaiṣṇava polymath Vedāntadeśika, showing how those quotations misrepresent Vedāntadeśika. The chapter’s conclusions are based on a survey of over 90 texts and confirmed by an interview with the pontiff of a leading Śrīvaiṣṇava organization, who described Krishnamacharya’s position as “unacceptable”. Śrīvaiṣṇavism uses the term kuṇḍalinī as a synonym for the suṣumnā nāḍī (a type of conduit, nerve or artery), not to mean a blockage to it, as Krishnamacharya taught.

The Discussion and Conclusion draws together the findings of the previous chapters and evaluates Krishnamacharya’s position. Krishnamacharya’s teaching on kuṇḍalinī has a valid textual basis but the number of supporting texts is limited. The chapter challenges a claim that all texts support Krishnamacharya’s view, arguing that his conception of kuṇḍalinī is one of several textually-valid conceptions. Those arguing for Krishnamacharya’s position need to be very selective in which texts they cite and which manuscripts they use for particular verses. They also need to employ complex exegesis to paper over the cracks in some texts and they need to critically reject other parts of the same texts that describe kuṇḍalinī differently. The book ends by challenging the tradition’s emphasis on traditional texts and its presentation of Krishnamacharya’s conception of kuṇḍalinī as an accurate realist account of something that has objective existence. Instead, it argues that his conception is best regarded as an idealized and simplified model for one’s subjective experience. Krishnamacharya’s teaching on kuṇḍalinī should be judged primarily by how useful it is in describing experience and guiding practice, not by how well it is supported by texts.

Chapter 1 introduces the South Indian yoga teacher Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888- 1989) and the concept of kuṇḍalinī. Most yoga traditions describe kuṇḍalinī as a serpentine energy that rises, granting liberation. Krishnamacharya, however, taught that prāṇa (breath / vital energy) rises, not kuṇḍalinī. To him, kuṇḍalinī is a blockage that prevents prāṇa from rising. Kuṇḍalinī is not something to be raised: it is something to be destroyed. This is a unique perspective among modern teachers of yoga.

This is the most practical chapter of the book. It gives a fresh and original perspective on how yoga is actually practised by followers of Krishnamacharya and how his conception of kuṇḍalinī has influenced that. The chapter will be the first published study exploring how Krishnamacharya and his students used his position on kuṇḍalinī to connect teachings from two separate textual traditions: haṭhayoga and the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali. It shows how Krishnamacharya’s conception of kuṇḍalinī and his overall approach to haṭhayoga were subsumed within the overarching framework of Patañjali.

As reported previously (Membrane Technology , January 2021, page 2), technology from Dutch firm NX Filtration BV, which develops membrane products for treating water, is being used to optimise the Dumai City Water Treatment Plant in Sumatra, Indonesia. The Indonesian company selected to carry out the work – PT. Bayu Surya BaktiKonstruksi, which specialises in the construction of water and wastewater treatment plants – will employ NX Filtration's hollow-fibre nanofiltration (NF) technology to turn, in a single step, the peat water from the local Mesjid River into a valuable source of drinking water, as this follow-up article explains.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies' DIAvent pressure compensation element that is designed to help engineers make electric vehicles more reliable and economical, and safe is now being used by German and Chinese car manufacturers. The company has also significantly enhanced the performance of the existing valve that provides pressure equalisation in batteries for electric cars – both during normal driving, and for emergency venting in the event of damage or accidents. In addition to providing details of the latest generation of this technology, this article also looks at some of the applications in which the original valve is being used.

Technology developed by US-based Voltea Inc is being used to treat borehole water for a manufacturing facility in South Africa. The aim is to not only alleviate the customer’s dependence on the municipal water supply for its daily operations, but also provide other benefits, including high recovery, reduced chemical and energy consumption, and minimal maintenance, compared with traditional reverse osmosis plants, as this brief article explains.

Hollow-fibre membranes developed by speciality chemicals firm Evonik Industries AG are being used at a plant in Belgium to efficiently upgrade raw biogas to high-purity biomethane. As the 500th reference plant for biogas upgrading, using SEPURAN® Green membranes, this project shows that the company is playing an important role in the decentralised supply of biomethane as a climate-friendly energy source.

As reported previously in this newsletter, Fluence Corp Ltd's Aspiral™ family of decentralised, smart packaged wastewater treatment systems is being used worldwide, including countries such as China, where it is already being employed in numerous applications. Here, we briefly look at some recent developments in this country, where interest in this technology continues to grow. As an aside, the company has also provided an update regarding its operations in China and how they are potentially affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus.

As reported on the first page of this month's issue, SUEZ, which operates largely in the water treatment and waste management sectors, is expanding its manufacturing centre in Oroszlány, Hungary that produces ultrafiltration membranes. Continuing coverage of the firm's recent activities, this article looks at a number of projects – in the USA and Europe – that rely on membrane technology it has developed. In addition, it briefly covers “Shaping SUEZ 2030” – its comprehensive plan to substantially strengthen its position as an environmental services company.

Carmakers rely heavily on a range of automated systems to manufacture vehicles. This is particularly true for the application of seals, adhesives and potting materials to various automotive components, in processes that need to be carried out precisely, safely and efficiently. In this article, sealing specialist Sonderhoff, which has been part of Henkel AG & Co KGaA since July 2017, briefly looks at sealing technology used in the automotive industry by describing some of the materials and technologies it has developed for this sector, together with the way in which these are effectively used.

US-based provider of water and wastewater treatment systems Fluence Corp Ltd is seeing continued interest in its submerged MABR (SUBRE) and AspiralTM systems and growth in their use worldwide. This is particularly true in China, where recent activity concerning these technologies has featured prominently in news from the company, as this brief focus article reveals.

This article shows how fresh water from local watershed creeks in the mountains around the town of Los Gatos in California, USA, makes its way to customers’ taps in the greater San Jose area. It highlights the important role that Multibore® membranes from Germany's inge GmbH – a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF – are playing in supplying this water to residents living, and businesses operating, in the area.

Strict emissions regulations are forcing engineers to come up with alternative ways of powering cars and commercial vehicles. Electric power-trains that run on batteries, and fuel cells which consume hydrogen to produce electricity, are playing an increasingly important role in the automotive industry as it seeks to develop power plants that comply with these regulations, ultimately reaching the target of zero emissions. As this brief article reveals, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) is developing critical sealing technology for batteries and fuel cells – that work towards these objectives – to ensure that they operate efficiently, reliably and safely.

PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, has adopted acoustic leak detection tools that are able to “listen” and pinpoint developing leaks in underground water pipes, to minimise water loss, as this brief focus article explains.

This brief article explains how a Loctite product from Henkel Adhesive Technologies – the adhesives, sealants and functional coatings company that is part of Henkel AG & Co KGaA – has effectively protected the surface of a flue gas duct at a power plant in Dusseldorf, Germany from aggressive sulphur and nitrogen compounds, and condensation water. An inspection, carried out recently, revealed that even after five years, the effects of acid, corrosion and intense heat hardly had any impact on the duct which has been protected by the ceramic-filled, sprayable epoxy surface coating.

The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery market is set to experience substantial growth over the coming years as batteries are increasingly used to power vehicles and other modes of transportation. Developers of these sustainable energy devices are constantly exploring ways to make them more powerful and robust. This article looks at how Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) has expanded its material testing capabilities to include performance and compatibility evaluation of rubber, elastomers and thermoplastics used to seal and safely maintain Li-ion batteries. Also briefly described is a material that will be used primarily in electric car components. Developed by the company, it merges a relatively high heat capacity with electrically insulating properties by combining silicone rubber with special fillers.

The various applications in which Voltea's salt-free membrane capacitive deionisation (CapDI©) electro-desalination technology can be used continues to grow. As seen previously in the pages of this newsletter (Membrane Technology, November 2018, page 8), the company has developed and launched a home water purification system based on this technology. Called DiEntry©, it addresses the most pressing water issues in the market – quality, taste and waste. Here we focus on its DiUse©, a miniaturised version of its current CapDI systems, made specifically for point-of-use applications. In particular, we describe how a coffeehouse in Houston, Texas, USA, is using it to purify water for its beverages.

Following a research and development project – in collaboration with wind turbine and bearing manufactures – James Walker has launched a new version of its Walkersele® rotary lip seal. The UK-based company, which specialises in sealing technology and materials development, says it is designed to maintain effective sealing against eccentricity of movement and increased offset in applications involving large diameter bearings and shafts – critical components that are found in the latest wind turbines.

Each year numerous satellites are being launched into orbit around the Earth. Global communications, navigation, and weather, climate and environmental monitoring are only a few of the areas that are driving the increase in their use. Materials science needs to keep pace with the development of satellites as their designs change and the sensitive systems on board become more complex and need protection for the hostile environment of space. In this article, Saint-Gobain Seals, which specialises in polymers and sealing technology, explains how its materials are being used to meet the evolving needs of satellite engineering.

Process control and monitoring systems from ABB Energy Industries are to be deployed across multiple facilities at the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant that is being built by PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency. As this brief article reveals, this technology will be used to manage and reduce the energy needed for the process of treating and purifying water – improving plant performance and efficiency.