s1va

The Dao Bums
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Content count

    1,217

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

Everything posted by s1va

  1. Reaching Deep Relaxation

    s1va replied to Yonkon's topic in General Discussion

    When we are ready, we will invariably find a teacher or a lineage that can help or provide guidance. It will happen sooner or later, no matter where a person physically is. Some of us here do group energy practices in a place called Living Unbound in slack (similar to the TDB slack chat). If you are interested and would like to check out, send me a PM and I will send you the link to sign up for the chat. This has helped some of us here tremendously in the past few years.

  2. Reaching Deep Relaxation

    s1va replied to Yonkon's topic in General Discussion

    Something like out of body experiences can happen to certain people practicing yoga nidra. There is nothing to fear about this in my opinion.

  3. Reaching Deep Relaxation

    s1va replied to Yonkon's topic in General Discussion

    Glad you liked it. It is a very good guided yoga nidra practice. The person guiding really knows what they are doing. About your question on screwing up, it is very unlikely to screw up just with yoga nidra practice. Screw ups generally happen when drugs are involved with meditation or energy practices. Also, remember this is just a starting practice for beginners. It is best to do any advanced energy practices with some guidance. True transformation happens only with guidance from a teacher/divine being. These type of practices are just to calm the mind in the early stages.

  4. Reaching Deep Relaxation

    s1va replied to Yonkon's topic in General Discussion

    In my experience yoga nidra is the best practice for relaxing and to take the mind to deep states of inner silence. It is much easier to practice than any guided meditation. Less risky also in terms of things going wrong or energy overloads, since it has a balancing grounding component also. One can lie down in savasana/corpse-posture while practicing this. It's okay if you go to sleep in the middle when starting to practice this. I bought the MP3 version of this guided yoga nidra practice below over a decade back. It helped me tremendously. After sometime I did not need the guided audio and could do it on my own. Some of the Buddhist bodichitta mediations also have similar scanning of different body parts. Helps open up and clear the energy pathways all across the body. The following video is the introduction. There are 3 more parts to this which are also available in YouTube.

  5. Anger as Power

    s1va replied to greatsaiyaman's topic in Group Studies

    Anger once acted upon is always destructive and it cannot be transmuted. Very few can just observe the underlying emotion and not act on it, 'anger' generally means it is already acted upon and therefore is destructive. But whatever is causing the anger underneath is generally some type of obstruction from a deep seated emotion, that can be let go by just observing & being totally present with the emotion and not acting on it. By following a process like what is described in The Presence Process by Michael Brown. Easier said than done at the early stages. But someone who consistently follows the process will go through a transformation and eventually reach a state of clarity from where they can just observe it as ripples that arise in mind. With time the rising of such ripples will also subside.
  6. I don't think there is a point where we stop or reach an end goal post like enlightenment, nirvana or moksha, etc. The spiritual growth is like the expansion of this universe. It's been going on from the time of creation (or start of bigbang) and it will continue. The same is the case for jivas or individuals also. All of us are expanding to various levels each day and all the time. Even if we expand to become everything there is, that 'everything there' is ever growing and we grow with it. Perhaps until the time we dissolve into the Emptiness or Dao. Like the universe shrinking into what it was before bigbang. Then, another explosion and expansion, and so on....

  7. Welcome Post

    s1va replied to Shaggy's topic in Welcome

    Welcome Ajay! Nice to see you here my friend. Look forward to your participation in the discussions. I have had a wonderful time in the past couple of years with TDB. There is so much to learn, to contribute and the best part for me was to interact and get to know some of the members here. Wishing you a fun journey ahead! šŸ™‚ Siva.

  8. Determined to overcome Aphantasia

    s1va replied to Remake's topic in Welcome

    I have dreams, but still can't picture things clearly while awake. So, yes imagination (with picture) is not so vivid to the point it is non existent many times. I think there are also different degrees to this.
  9. I can't help but observe, this sounds more like Advaita than Taoism. To discard the parts that involve duality (or the reality of the one and the many) as somewhat irrelevant. In my view, I think all parts are equally significant.

  10. Determined to overcome Aphantasia

    s1va replied to Remake's topic in Welcome

    Hi Remake, Welcome to the forums. Is Aphantasia the issue or the obsession to overcome it? I am glad this search made you learn other things and progress spiritually. As long as you are seeking for a solution without obsession it should be fine. But sounds like there is an urgency and desperation in your seeking to find an answer for this. In my experience that can become an issue. Anything we seek with obsession becomes a hindrance for us in many ways, including that very desire becoming a road block to achieving that which we seek obsessively. I came to know I have this condition last year. Read about it a little and then just let go. I am not sure if there is a cure or fix for this. In my opinion, it is very unlikely. It could be part of our making, like how some people are astrally blind and there could be a reason for it. Why view it as a curse, does it impair your abilities to function severely? There are also advantages to this condition. You can't daydream like others, right? That is a huge plus. Even if it impairs some things, it is better to just let go, accept the condition. Acceptance does not necessarily mean not seeking a solution for it. A calm mind without any impediments and present in the moment has a higher chances of finding the answers. There were some momentary instances with very high energy flows, when it felt like I was able to overcome this condition and visualize things. But, otherwise not. Sorry, I can't provide a solution for this. I hope you find the answers you are looking for. Best wishes! Siva.
  11. Yes, we discussed about this in the front page of this thread. I mentioned that perhaps I am not talking about the Self from Upanishads. Something like Shiva from KS will fit what I described well.
  12. Yes, I have had some experiences like that. But that seems to be the exception from the way dreams generally play out.
  13. Thanks, I still consider Jnaneswari's commentary on Gita to be one of the best ever. However, I have come to understand that the strict advaitin view and commentary of Gita has many limitations. There is a higher meaning and explanation given to some of the verses from the Kashmir Shaivism's monistic point of view.
  14. I know that there are many gitas in the puranas. Evern Krishna has given at least one more gita. The uttara gita, I think it was given to Uddhava. I have even a book on the Bhikshu Gita. That's right, a Gita given by a beggar or a mendicant, that imparts knowledge. Doesn't matter who imparts knowledge essentially, that removes ignorance. The word or even the dictionary definition for Gita, has become synonymous with the Bhagavad Gita, the one that was imparted to Arjuna during the war. Definitely, there is charm in this Srimad Bhagavad Gita that shines among others. When I first attempted to interpret on my own, just with english translated words, that did not go really well. The bhashya or commentary by teacher's certainly help. There are numerous bhashyas, commentaries, interpretations and translations of gita or talks given on gita. Sri Adi Sankara's commentary was later used by many to elaborate. From Sri Vaishnava tradition, there is the Taathparya Chandrikai by Vedanta Desikan (something I have heard only very little on talks). I believe all of these commentaries have their own merits. Each one serves us in different way at different times. I wanted to share some of the one's that I turn to when I want to read or refer on gita. The following 3 are some. 1) Talks given by Swami Chinmayananda on Gita, later compiled as books. 2) Commentaries by Swami Dayananda Saraswati later compiled as book 3) English translation (from Marati) of Jnaneshwar Maharaj's gita Assuming you have Bhagavad Gita, in any format, in any language, I am just curious to know which one's you have? Which one's touched your heart or made a transformation, that you would you like to share with others? It can even be one or few verses from a certain book.
  15. For instance, here is a verse that is more dualistic in my view. "bhÅ«mir āpo ā€™nalo vāyuhĢ£ khamĢ mano buddhir eva ca ahańkāra itÄ«yamĢ me bhinnā prakrĢ£tir asĢ£tĢ£adhā Translation of Bhagavad Gita 7.4 Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and false egoā€”all together these eight constitute My separated material energies." Here Krishna talks about 8 things constituting his seperate material energies. It is a challenge to explain such verses from Advaita stand point. In the Advaita commentaries, I read that these represent the lower nature of the Divine in manifest form. In the higher nature, the divine is non-dual. Well, this verse is as valid as some other verses that appear to be totally non-dual. I have provided the link below that has the commentary from all traditions for this verse and I have quoted Abhinavagupta's commentary which makes very good sense to me over others. Though Abhinavagupta's original commentary says the one and the divided eight fold energy are both valid at the same time, and goes on to explain the self reflection, unfortunately the translator or the person who wrote the English commentary on Abhinavagupta's commentary has added a word 'superior' (sadly!) to the other form vs. divided forms as consistent with other Advaita commentaries. https://www.bhagavad-gita.us/bhagavad-gita-7-4/
  16. Just wanted to also point out, the commentary for the verse 66 (link provided in the post above) from chapter 18 is very large. That's because it is considered as a key verse in Gita by almost all traditions, for the Vaishnava traditions, it is the most important verse of Gita and part of their Rahasya Trayam ( the 3 great secrets). Not all verses in Gita have such lengthy commentary running to pages in that site I pasted above. Most have concise and easy to read commentary from masters of each tradition.
  17. In the recent times I read Abhinavagupta's commentary for few verses from his Gitartha Sangraha and found them fascinating. I find his commentary more balanced because Gita deals with both the transcendent and immanent aspects of the divine. For anyone interested, here is an English translated edition. https://archive.org/details/AbhinavaguptaGitarthaSangrahaArvindSharma If someone just wants to check or read Abhinavagupta's commentary for a certain verse(s) like how I do at times, it may be best to visit the following site, and just lookup that verse. https://www.bhagavad-gita.us/ Not just Abhinavagupta (From Kaula tradition with Monistic commentary of Gita) , the above site has the commentaries by various prominent masters from completely different types of schools or philosophies such as Shankara (Advaita commentary of Gita), Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita commentary), Madhvacharya (Dwaita commentary), Prabupada from the lineage of Chaitanya & Nityananda (Achintya bheda-abhedha) and few others. It is interesting to read the commentary from various masters and traditions, side by side for some key verses. There used to be an option to filter the commentary only by one philosophy or master, for any of the verses. I don't see that option anymore in this new site. Here is the link for one verse from chapter 18 as an example. This verse talks about leaving all dharmas, processes and methods taught over all the previous chapters and verses and just surrender to the divine and to attain moksha with divine help. In the link below, we can read the commentary by various traditions on this same verse. https://www.bhagavad-gita.us/bhagavad-gita-18-66/
  18. This is not necessarily about your favorite movie. You are welcome to share your favorite movie also. I am talking about movies you have watched few times already, but wouldn't really mind watching again. Not just mind, but you know you will enjoy most of the sequences or the actual flow of the movie and it will keep your attention. We all may like certain parts of the movie and are willing to watch it any number of times. This is not about a small sequence or one scene, but a major portion of the movie you enjoy the way it flows from one scene to the next. One such movie that I happened to have watched few times was The Mummy (1999). The first movie in the series. I don't like the other movies in the sequence so much. I think the first part is shot well and nicely flows from one scene to other. Excellent screen play. Any movie any of you felt the same way and would like to share?
  19. Here is another verse I like. Again death, again birth and a stay in another mother's womb, all of the worldly experience is referred as suffering that is difficult to endure. Shankara is appealing to the divine in this verse for compassion to break this cycle of samsara.
  20. Bhaja Govindam is one of many beautiful poems composed by Adi Shankara. There are very few who had an unparalleled mastery over the Sanskrit language like Shankara. Words just seem to flow in a rythm in these compositions. This verse states, being in the company of the right people, one's that are empowered and realized (satsanga), can lead to nissangatva, a state where there are no attachments are desires. It's just like a ladder with steps. The first step in this ladder is the right company. When we are in the company of empowered and truly realized masters, we slowly transform and become empowered ourselves. Our clarity increases in the company of the right people, our desires and attachments fall away. This frees us from the clutches of Maya, and further leads us to the true state of liberation.
  21. Here it is, https://www.thedaobums.com/forum/559-king-jade/ Best Wishes
  22. Not sure if you got your PPD already! Sorry, just noticed this after I created the PPD for jagandeep. I will check to see if your PPD is there and if not, will create and provide the link in a little bit.
  23. Here is your PPD and Best Wishes! https://www.thedaobums.com/forum/558-jagandeep/

  24. The Spirit of the Dao Bums

    s1va replied to Geof Nanto's topic in Forum and Tech Support

    *** Mod Team Notice *** This post was reported as not a spiritual topic and a political topic that does not belong in General section of the forum. Since this thread raises the question about spirit of the forum, the discussions here and about staff, I feel the right placement for this thread is under Forum and Tech Support section. I will be moving this thread under that subsection. In my view this is not a political discussion. This thread talks about the political discussions and the spirit of the forum and raises some questions. Though it is not a general spiritual topic, it is also not a complete off-grid political discussion as far as I can see in the discussion so far.
  25. I already shared my thoughts about Mandukya Upanishad in this context in another thread. Mandukya is short and precise, has no concept of pratyabhijƱā or anything even relatively close. Of course, commentaries later can add what they liked from other systems such as KS. This has happened over the past and nothing wrong in Advaita taking over good stuff from other traditions and adapting, as long as the due credit is given to those systems. Also to have the clear understanding of what Advaita Vedanta is, from the real Upanishads themselves and direct works of Shankara is very important. One will not find KS concepts in these.