aboo

In my opinion, meditation is enough, and if you do meditate 2hours a day for 6-24 months you will experience plenty.

From personal experience it takes months of practice before you will see 'results' in terms of sensing internal energy. As GMP says, slow and steady wins the race.

Thanks for posting about the rainbow body ZOOM; it's an intriguing subject I knew nothing about.

To the OP: I am pretty sure Sri Ramana Maharishi taught that silence was his highest teaching, and his written teachings were for those who could not appreciate his silent teaching. His written teaching was to investigate the non-self (ego), which would highlight the illusory nature of it, quiet the mind to silence, and the real self would shine forth.

I guess things can get lost in translation Jetsun. The reason why I have always been drawn to his teachings are that they are relatively modern, and are backed by the exemplary way he lived his life - although that, of course, is relying on secondary sources as well. There are also the teachings of Annamalai Swami, one of Sri Ramana Maharshi's personal attendants, and who helped build the first ashram. I think it was only by the 1980-1990's that he agreed to discuss his time with Sri Ramana Maharshi, and give his interpretation of his teachings; some of which can be found at the following url: http://www.arunachala-ramana.org/forum/index.php?topic=8236.0

In terms of alcohol, I guess it depends how much you drink. The odd beer or glass of wine won't have much of an effect. However, in my experience, if you drink heavily it won't help you cultivate. Alcohol is a depressant, and the more you drink the more chance of a negative mental state. You will end up behaving in ways you may regret, and it's an extra hurdle to jump. For many years I'd meet up with old school friends, and it was always at the pub. While it was nice to meet with old friends, I think the cons outweighed the pros from my experience. It can also become a routine that is hard to overcome. I don't think there is much to recommend it.

It's an interesting subject, I've watched documentaries discussing what you posted about Nazuna. Personally, I've never been able to sense such things, hopefully someone on the forum can enlighten us .

That's how I view things Spotless. Although I find it difficult not to get totally distracted by "the story" eventually and it takes a heap of time and effort to return to a 'pure' state of being. What you say is in line with what Sri Ramana Maharshi taught. To me, it's such a subtle truth, it soon gets washed away by all the noise, and of course, survival in the physical.

"You don't get rich counting other men's gold"

I respect your posts ZOOM, but when it comes to mantra's I think you are incorrect. I actually used to think like you did, that they were 'mumbo jumbo', but before my crown chakra opened I heard internally mantra chanting which did not come from my own mind. And when it finished, energy exploded, so I think they do have a very real effect. Obviously my own experience will not convince you, but maybe keep an open mind for the possibility and see for yourself.

An interesting thread to read. Like ZOOM I haven't had many experiences that I'd classify on the extreme side. The only time, was as Tibetan Ice also experienced, when I popped out of the top of my head and it wasn't enjoyable: I thought I was dead. I have a hole in my eardrum from a childhood operation, I experienced the most powerful release of energy, an uncontrollable freight train, it entered my head and I was in agony due to the pressure it caused on my eardrum. In one sense it was a physical relief to have that pain end when I popped out of my head; I assume when the knot at the seventh chakra was broke. I had the experience of floating in a void, and eventually re-entered my body, nothing of note beyond that. It's never occurred again, the physical pain validated the experience to me, it is impossible for me to pass it off as an illusion like with other mild energy experiences. I have experienced numerous visions, colours, pinprick of light at the third eye location, but as ZOOM has said, nothing I could "take to the bank" as proof of anything.

There was Ram Bahadur Bomjon, aka "the Buddha boy" - I think the discovery channel made a documentary about him. Even his amazing feats of meditation did not rouse that much interest from the scientific community or the wider population in the West. A curiosity, a 10 minute slot on the evening news. Esoteric by definition "likely to be understood by a small number of people".

http://www.kriyayogainfo.net/Eng_Downloads1.html Ennio Nimis has a free book about Kriya, I've just downloaded it and will give it a read before deciding on J C Stevens book.

White Wolf, I think you are being a little harsh on Spotless, he didn't say he didn't care about the plight of people in Iraq, he probably just isn't interested in political conspiracy theories about Isis.

Thanks for the posts Spotless, great to read

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look into it and consider whether or not its for me now

It seems it is not available to purchase. The book that got me interested in meditation was Autobiography of a Yogi. I did actually write a letter to the Ashram Yogananda setup in America to see if I could buy a book to learn Kriya Yoga. I never did end up learning Kriya Yoga, although I would have loved to at that time.

"Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak. Sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go and move on."

At times I've considered moving to that part of the world: India or South East Asia. I guess, the practical issue is, as a westerner, can we get a VISA? I know for countries like Thailand it is very difficult for a young man with no money or job prospects to stay longer than 60-90 days. I haven't looked into India, but I am guessing it's difficult to get a residency VISA, I suspect GrandmasterP will know more about that. I often wonder if terms like cultivation, realisation, refinement, can mislead somewhat. As, to me, it indicates a process of gaining something, level by level, and reinforces striving after. I suspect there is only the present experience and while the mind is a useful tool for the survival of the body, it will take you on a merry dance of chasing this and that.

Loved the role he played in Good Will Hunting, a great actor indeed.

Do we have a full explanation, the whys and whatnots, of how some westerners were taught and why it all stopped and the story behind it?

I have to admit to being a self confessed dabbler , and, I must say I have no idea if Ken's 'hard headed' approach is a pro or a con, or someplace inbetween. Maybe it would befit the thread to get back to discussing MoPai and the things we may not know about it, rather than focusing upon it's western students. I think 20-30 or so pages back we had a few posts from one of the eastern students; I for one would welcome reading his input.

Not wishing to put words into Ken's mouth, I think he is on record as saying "There are only 10 people on Earth who have achieved something more. Pretty much everyone else is going nowhere". Therefore, I can see from Ken's perspective no-one on this forum will effect his mindset as they are not within that 10. Likewise, from Ken's perspective, I can see why he is so devoted to the MoPai path, because he is so certain that is the only valid path. If I also believed that - I don't - I am sure I would prefer to feast on the few crumbs that fall off the MoPai table.

removed, didn't notice the post above

The only problem with waiting till retirement, is that not all of us may make it to retirement; especially in a country like India. If I had a deep spiritual "calling" I'm not sure I'd wait till ill health may make it difficult or an unfortunate death made it impossible.