Lucky7Strikes

Take it at your own pace for sure. We're all here to support each other! Loneliness is a great gift, btw. It's one of the best things to ever happen to me at least.

Third eye practice does not equal Kundalini. Isn't that obvious? Don't you know Red Phoenix is a third eye practice? Kunlun is a third eye practice. "The reason why Isha practices..." Have you learned any Isha practices? Or are you just making assumptions...don't be fooled by what? What is Sadhguru trying to fool me with? The point here is I don't consciously force my energy anywhere during practice, but let it do its natural course with the right intentions and insight. As for the first quote, the man asked specifically about Kundalini yoga and why people are often cautioned against it. So Sadhguru says it's because they need guidance. That doesn't suddenly make Isha practice fire path practices... As for the second quote, you left out the first part of the whole quote, where he defines Kundalini. Your way of using only the last section after having read the introductory part is quite manipulative. I think it reveals what type of mindset you are in reading and watching Sadhguru. Here is the part where Sadhguru talks about his definition of kundalini: What is Kundalini? If you look at it, on one level, kundalini is just another name for the source of your creation. Though you provided it the fuel from outside, all the growth that has happened to this body up to this day – from the day it was born and even before – has happened from inside, isn’t it? That energy which makes all this happen, you can call it God, Divine or whatever. In yoga, we gave it a specific name because we are not looking at it with faith, but as a science. Today, science tells us that this body is the greatest piece of engineering on the planet. It really is a masterpiece. Something that is capable of creating this, you think this is all it could do? Suppose you saw one painting of an artist which was really incredible, would you think that is all he can do? He could be doing so many other things, isn’t it? Similarly, you allowed this energy to create only this much. You have seen just one piece of creation; you have not seen the rest of it. The whole system of yoga is looking at how to allow this ‘inner engineer’ or this ‘inner artist’ find his full potential. The physical body is the most basic thing he is able to create; he is doing it for everybody. If he is able to produce billions of them, then he must be capable of many more things. We are seeing how to allow him the freedom to function at his full creativity. The word “kundalini” generally refers to that dimension of energy, which is yet to realize its potential. There is a huge volume of energy within you which is yet to find its potential. It is just there waiting, because what you call as a human being is still in the making. You are not yet a human being; you are a ‘human becoming,’ isn’t it? You are not an absolute entity of being human. There is constant scope to make yourself into a better human being. For this process to happen, the process of evolution allowed a huge volume of energy untapped, that if you become conscious, you could use this to make something fantastic out of it. Ok? I'll ask Max when certain practices like Shambhavi seem to counter my Kunlun. He'll know immediately and tell me to drop any other practices. But I'm not going to go up to him and do Shambhavi Mahamudra and ask if this is compatible with Kunlun. Why? Because, just like Max says with Red Phoenix, I was told not to share Shambhavi with people who are not initiated into Isha. It goes the other way too. If Sadhguru came up to me and asked about Red Phoenix, I won't show him at all unless I'm a facilitator teaching him. So I respect this both ways, because both Max and Sadhguru gave me the practices with those instructions. I also don't know if Sadhguru's Shambhavi is what is generally known as Shambhavi, because he says it hasn't been taught this way to the general public ever. I'll probably ask Max about Sadhguru in the future. Maybe I'll shoot him and Diana an e-mail tomorrow. I'll let you know what they say. As for your mix of Kundalini and Kunlun, you ask Max yourself. Sadhguru's Kundalini isn't what your doing. So the answer I get isn't going to be an answer pertaining to you at all. I saw Max this weekend and energy work together and he didn't mention anything about Kundalini energies or whatever within me and I had been practicing Shambhavi for 3-4 months twice every day. I had tremendous openings working with him and Diana. I've had no energetic problems with combining both practices, instead complete opposite. My Kunlun took on a whole another level coming back from Sadhguru. Kriya Yoga? Well you said it yourself in this post. What Sadhguru teaches is called Kriya Yoga. My Kunlun activates during Shmbhavi all the time, and I feel a similar energy at Isha groups. Anyways it seems like your the one now obsessing over Sadhguru for some reason. It looks like you can't put this down. If he was really a total nutjob and an actor like you said in your original post, you'd stopped watching his videos after first two or three. So this is great! Keep watching them. It's clear something is drawing you towards him but at once very afraid of him.

This is only true if it is in your experience. My experience is not yet at that level and so it is with most people. A glimpse does not mean a full blown knowing. People are separated relatively, therefore surface healing of the effects and not the causes can become a distraction, and a hindrance as Sadhguru says. Sadhguru's definition of Kundalini is different from the Kundalini Max talks about which is raising the fire energy up the spine, which is not what is taught in Inner Engineering or any practices I have been exposed from Isha. Sadhguru actually tells people not to mess with the spinal energies as does Max. Kundalini is defined by Sadhguru as simply "dormant energy." The techniques I practice from Isha are very complementary with my Kunlun practice or else I would have immediately noticed a counter balance happening. I'm very aware of what's happening in my body energy wise, and having done both for the past 4-5 months, there has been absolutely no negative side effects. In Isha there's no raising the energy upwards, but it is about resting in the flow of energy, much like Kunlun. It's not about a need. It's about feeling a connection with a teacher. Sadhguru has cleared up so much in my mind and has dragged me out of filth, just by his words. What I experienced from Sadhguru is not something I think I would have realized merely through Kunlun, or if I did, it would've happened at a much later point in practice. Kunlun is my engine, Sadhuru is my map, and Thusness/Xabir/Buddhism are my vision.

Ok, ok. As long as we're clear that it's not taught that way. You might even be right in the long run, but I just want to clarify that's not how it is being presented right now.

Why would you make unqualified opinions on... anything... Edit: I think opinions are great..they lead to good discussions on our beliefs. But here we're talking about a teaching and a method taught, so it's not really an "opinion" to say GF and RP are the same. Because they are not taught that way.

What do you mean what is it? Spirituality as traditions always emphasize transmissions so you get initiated into the lineage. It isn't just about the techniques.

Uh no, Red Phoenix is not Golden Flower....yes they're related, but you don't give yourself transmission... Max never said those things so I don't know where you got this information. Red Phoenix is taught by approved facilitators for a reason, so you don't have to go see Max, but at least learn it from a teacher. Golden Dragon Body isn't dependent on Kunlun...it's in many traditions in the world. Kunlun is just one method to get there.

Unfortunately, yes, somethings are only taught at the seminar or with an approved facilitator. Red Phoenix is a main example because you need the transmission. However! Practicing the K1 posture itself will lead to your energy body totally opening up. I didn't even practice Red Phoenix for the first year or two because for you to really understand the practices, the energy body has to open up. So if I were you I'd just focus on the practices in the book because that's what you'd be doing anyway after a seminar and then hopefully wait for a chance in the future to meet a facilitator.

The energy flow is completely dependent on the mindset. Non grasping and not identifying with your body and mind leads to a smooth flow. I practice Kunlun, which is a downward path and when experientially the mind at the head level begins to sink into the heart you begin to interact things is a very fluid manner...very much in harmony with the energies of your surroundings. Especially with other people. I'm not sure if you are familiar with Kunlun, but Max's mantra is to live the art, and I'm just now understanding that (haha! after like 4 years!) But when I practice the current becomes intense and a lot of purging happens. For me much blocked emotional content tends to come out, crying, screaming, and just letting whatever you held within you simply flow out. This is, as I see it, the approach to nondual energy states...hopefully leading to the point where my energies are clearly seen to be interconnected with everything around me. That hasn't happened yet to its full extent...still a lot of letting go to do. I'm not sure what you mean by types of energies, but I do feel my body's energy shift usually from constricted and unbalanced states to just being without any obstacles..like I'm just floating in my surroundings. I try not to associate any of my energetic states to outside influences. I think then the blame game begins. It's usually things within me being dug out. I only recently feel comfortable opening up energetically to people who'd like to do energy work on me, and really I'd only let someone who knows what their doing do that (hint: Max, Diana). Those experiences I'd rather keep to myself, because it would just create expectations for people (I really want people to experience it for themselves without any stories getting in the way). But it's nothing fancy like spirits or demons....just very mundane yet powerful emotions and habits within you expressing themselves. But when it's all calm, usually my body is running a cool, but excited current (like I'm kid about to go into a toy store), I guess that's why they often call it the cool fire. In context of Sadhguru...just being near him your body and awareness feel as if they are being soaked with "awareness-juice". Not on a sensation level, but at a deeper, existential level. But it's not just him, the people of Isha and the way they conduct things create a certain atmosphere where you are not associating with the nonsense happening in your head but very intensely becoming aware of yourself not as an individual, but this vibrating life not different from the trees, insets, animals, the earth...It's a very devoted atmosphere there towards one another, not just Sadhguru. It crushes your silly-self. However, during my direct experiences, it was JUST ME It's not like I felt Sadhguru entering me or whatever. It was just me being in that atmosphere without distractions searching within. If there is enough intention, I believe that can be created anywhere. Those moments were when the past three four years of practice culminated into the realizations I described above. Please don't think it was Sadhguru who somehow gave me these experiences. He was just there to nudge me and be a guardian to keep out the nonsense outside of spiritual work.

Hey BlueMonk! Try to find root in who you are. Don't listen to what society or your peers demand of you. Tell everyone you are a virgin and laugh about it (ok, maybe that can be a bit too much, but you see the point). There's so much um..what's the word...stigma? Or expectations placed on men today to all be these sexually oriented animals. I used to want to bang every hot women I saw because that's the way this advertisement generation is molded to think about beauty. Not true at all! Sex is usually pretty gross anyway and you'd be severely disappointed if you don't really connect with your partner. Especially after you ejaculate. People are different. The trick is to examine within yourself and see what is society's garbage and what your body and energies are saying. You'd be surprised that it doesn't always want hundreds of women! Your emotions definitely wouldn't want that. So see what your needs and desires are as a human being unencumbered by your peers and social norms. When sexuality is cherished, it can be a beautiful things you share with one other individual. You can have just one woman your entire lifetime, and if she is right for you, I'd think that's an infinitely richer sexual experience than having thousands of women but only in flesh. So stay a virgin if that's the natural path for you! If you are truly established in who you are, people around you begin to naturally respect your choices. You already seem very highly self aware. That's great! Learn how to meditate man, and ask away here about practices.

Hahaha! Last place I thought I'd see Matthew Macanughy pic...on thetaobums...

LOL. MARBLEHEAD...NOT HELPING>>>>

I want to clarify that I don't mean to say everyone's experiences should be like mine. No not at all. People all hold to different truths and beliefs within them, and how they release will be dependent on that. But I do believe it is not a gentle experience as people seem to believe meditation is supposed to be. For me it was a literally mind shattering experience, and by far the most intense moments of my life.

Haha! Sensei! Far from it...veeerrryy far from it...but I know the difference between what is direct and what is indirect. For a long time I was a indirect practitioner. I am very familiar with the words and concepts people use especially from Buddhist lingo in the most cunning ways...because haha! I've been the most guilty of them all! This is my experience of anatta, or emptiness of self. When I was doing intense practice, I realized first that despite all the knowledge I had gathered about "myself" I really did not know who I was at all. I then realized I didn't even know what the hell "knowing" was. Digging deeper and deeper I clearly saw that there was no one there at all that there was merely a boundary around nothing making it seem like there was. At that moment something within my energy body clicked open as if a knot that had been there to hold onto a boundary between itself and the rest of the world just let go instantaneously. I lost all sense of self will, and a tremendous sadness and pain started rushing from all parts of my body. I cried as if it were my own funeral! Then the sudden absolute clarity of hilarity overcame everything, like my entire life of suffering was a very stupid joke! I don't know for how long but I danced in this stupendous feeling of ecstasy and freedom! One could do absolutely no wrong! My personality was seen to be a clear concoction of the mind, and no independent "thing" was found anywhere at all, even in other people. There's a great Zen poem on this about this Korean monk who rushed immediately out of his meditation hall and sang "who will I tell it to? there's no one here, there's no one here..." Like my signature says, it was a moment of a thousand petals entering an empty house, the entire world seemed blissful naturally, every step felt like a liberation of life, the sound of the herder's flute, and not of a human being. But my deeper understandings came later when I saw that my old habits based on notions around the ego were still very much there or began re emerging after the peak experience, like the branches of a tree still there after the roots had been cut. If you read Hakuin's Kensho: Four Ways of Knowing, he puts in perfectly when he says that just because the sun has begun to rise, don't expect the snow to instantly melt. The snow was still there, and more than that, I saw that there are deeper inter-connected levels of blockages affected by years of living under the idea of a self entity within my energies, mind, and body. My energy practices after this took on a whole another dimension. I finally understood just a little bit (finally! like I was learning to baby step after witnessing people run marathons ) about what my Kunlun practice was there to do. Energy practices aren't to build energy, but rather to melt into that potential, that sea of energy always around us and within us but we feel separated from. Everything that I had been doing just took on a whole another direction. You may not see it from these posts, but I felt very humbled by all this. I felt like a miniature insect in a endless jungle that is the vast universe. P.S. Around 2 years ago, I also had days of tremendous awareness experiences where my consciousness began experiencing another level of being awake, like I was shown that our normal everyday consciousness was actually half sleeping compared to this. I was awake during sleep, and couldn't really eat anything. Just a lot of water and laughter. It was another dimension of awakefulness than beyond mere bodily senses. The comedown from that was not pleasant due to my lack of understanding and immaturity. Then it was 2 years of struggling in my own filth. Hence when I'm questioning Nikolai's statement on realizing that the outer world is a complete illusion, which is a realization one should ultimately arrive at (likely in degrees...to the point where it becomes certain that it is like a magical dream and never existent) according to Buddhism and even modern science, certain signs of your realization should manifest in shifts in consciousness and energy. It shouldn't be a mundane thing at all (too many people, having had no such break through fall into the ever popular zen saying, carry water, chop wood. Those are grounding practices that you do in these states to keep rooted on earth). The mundane should be shattered. I suspect it will be much more vibrant and incisive than seeing the emptiness of self since the physical world has a much stronger anchor than the personality. You can change personalities easily and observe the shifting of the ego. But to take the roots of the physical dimension out, it would require a level of energy the body is normally unaccustomed to.

There are 3 books. 2 are outdated so get the new one. The book is good. I suggest you practice from it to prepare for an actual seminar. The standing postures can also be done sitting (the 5 elements) if you have a bad back or bad knees. Level 2-3 are no longer necessary The result of the practice is dissolution of the physical body into a pure energetic state, called the Golden Dragon Body. But that's just words. This isn't a practice where you take level 1, 2, 3 then bam! you are there. It's an art. Think about it as learning how to paint. Does taking painting classes 1, 2, 3 make you a great painter? Nope. But it sure can help.

It's not important whether or not you mind says it consciously. Our minds often don't say things consciously but act from deeper layers within. Share with us the difference between a direct realization of the illusions of the physical world and an indirect realization of the illusions of the physical world. And by the way, that the body is an entity with needs is NOT an opinion if you have not experienced beyond ordinary physical senses to see clearly that the body is an illusion, and to understand the mechanisms and causes of the illusion of the body having arisen. No matter how ultimately true the fact that the body is an illusion may be, for you it is still the truth that the body is there as a fully functioning living organism. No matter what you believe, this is in your direct knowing that you have a body and it has a presence within a physical realm. This is again, NOT an opinion if you are not freely able to navigate the illusion as illusion. Do not make fairy tales out of this. Be straight with your condition. It is however another thing to slow apply the understanding that the world is an illusion to your practice until direct realization is had. If you have yet to experience reality beyond the senses you have not seen directly the illusions of the physical realm. Please be straight with yourself. You can have a very thorough understanding that the world is an illusion, but this does not necessary mean you've had a direct experience, an unshakeable knowing of the world's illusory nature. It seems that you have understood emptiness but have not yet seen the depths to which it can perpetuate your being. To be lost here in saying, "there is not even a being to penetrate" then you have gotten stuck on the surface ideology of emptiness, whereupon you are only applying that understanding to surface experience. There are great many layers to a person. The body, the energies, the emotions...to dismiss them because of the small glimpse of emptiness and the idea of emptiness is to be given a key to a tremendous treasure underneath you, but believing that the key itself is the treasure. True meditation can perhaps be said to happen only when one has a slight understanding of emptiness. One should extend their efforts even more at such a stage.

Whether it's escaping or stuck there, from what I've learned that's not good, especially if you are beginning to get headaches. It means too much energy in the head. You should always bring it down to the lower dan tien and walk around nature a lot to ground. I remember your troubles with sexual alchemy earlier and a lot of instability. I don't know where you live, but make it a habit to just walk around a lot of nature, better if you are barefoot. Don't listen to music or anything, just be with the grass, trees, the sky, kind of melt back into the earth. Also, when you are doing any internal cultivation like raising your sexual energy you must must must have the tongue at the roof of the mouth. For circulating mco, put it behind the teeth. When that circulation is not there the energy kind of sits at the head and stagnates, which is very bad.

Go with your feeling all the way. Crash and burn. Then laugh it all off! Your hormones are fun to play around with!

That's probably what he'd say too.

Yeah! And luckily a lot of people responded positively. But there are still many people who cannot see anything besides their mind's analysis. And when they read any posts validating that nonsense, no matter how ridiculous they may be, they cling to it! Weren't you hear for the whole Kunlun fiasco on thetaobums? It's just a matter of words. But the 24/7 practice should become effortless. You like Xabir's stuff don't you? 24/7 practice means there is no conscious act of practicing since you no longer see duality of a doer and the deed done. Every action is self liberating and total and effortless. Hence the term "no practice and no method" can seem more fitting. Peace and silence? Psh! I'm silent when I'm silent, and LOUD AS I WANT TO BE WHEN I WANT!

You say the posts were abusive. Abusive! A bit of a drama queen you are! No one's here to abuse anyone here. Despite the language I use I know almost everyone here are genuine seekers. Lol! Are you sure your feelings were not hurt? Banning people! Haha! Yeah go ahead! Insult me! It has nothing to do with bliss, sure that may be the sensation of it, but its good to push one another and not have a filter in between discussions. I know that you are holding a lot back in these posts, and you really shouldn't! Speak your mind freely. Don't worry I won't ask anyone to be banned. Ah, you don't understand the difference between sensational bliss and true bliss that comes from realization. One is fleeting, the other, is realizing something very natural within. Spirituality is supposed to be blissful! But if that becomes a goal for the ego, then it becomes trouble. It becomes like a drug, and the seeker becomes more entrenched in craving. Don't try to analyze so much about the words Sadhguru is saying, but the meanings and the contexts of them. Don't you see how he is trying to relate the bliss of spirituality to the mundane person's search for it in daily activities like drinking and drugs? As Max would say, too much in the head, not enough in the heart. Self healing is different from healing another person. These are very obvious points Tibetan Ice...I'm scratching my head really... Perhaps the context in which you learned the practice is different. This is also a very obvious point for spirituality practices. The teaching isn't just about the technique, of how long you hold the breath or what type of posture you are in. No. I clearly didn't. You are misunderstanding everything and not seeing things clearly. It was very clear what I wrote. It's been a very acknowledge problem with certain kunlun practitioners that they just become attached to the sensation of bliss like a drug. Max wrote about this several times on the forum when it was running, and I believe he mentioned it on the primordialalchemist blog a few times. It's not about the technique but the mindset, just like the Shambhavi. Two teachers can teach the same technique with an entirely different context to them, and they will be different practices as a result. The Shambhavi Sadhguru teaches comes with very carefully planned ways of shifting the mind's way of perception. You totally missed the point of my example. What does it matter how long he kept the death of his wife from her family when she has severed herself from her body identity completely? Family is a physical relationship. Her true family is her fellow seekers. And didn't you read my reply? There were many people there during her time of passing and the father-in-law just filed unfounded police investigation all of them that came to nothing. Very reasonable! A four day retreat I'm attending this weekend is only 400 dollars and they give you food, beds, even towels! Sadhguru disturbs you doesn't he? But I bet he still draws you in very much. That's why you watched hours of his videos and you mind made all the nonsense to counter whatever he is saying. That's great! It's a sign that you have encountered someone who you can truly learn from. If a teacher only appeases you, then he is just catering towards your current preferences. No true growth can happen in such relationships. Only when you are threatened but at once drawn, you know he or she is the right teacher for you.

You certainly have never been hungry or thirsty enough. Your mind saying: in drinking, just drinking water, walking just walking, and all phenomena are empty is actually much more of a fictional story than your body's survival needs. This is the totally delusional understanding of arm chair Buddhists! Your body's needs are much more concrete than your ideas and it is very intelligent in its own way. If you practice energy practices or are aware of your body's mechanics, you will see that its reality is much more than what you may have happening in your mind. Your mind on the surface may not say to you "Im drinking water to survive." Of course not! It's very much molded into it from generations and generations! Until your body realizes directly the illusions of the physical world, you have no right to claim that its needs are a fiction. But have you? Have you seen through totally the illusions of the material realm? Be straight with yourself. Because if you have, you are a bodhisattva of a certain stature. Having a physical body and knowing none other than the physical means that you are very much entrenched in its mechanisms for survival. If you have gone beyond that, I'd be very much interested in your direct experiences beyond the body. But I'm telling you, a good idea to test is just cut yourself a bit, or burn yourself, see what sentiments arise.

And what makes you the expert here? Do you know this for certain? Or did you figure out this by thinking about it?

No survival needs! Ok. Go about two days without water and see if telling yourself the body is empty quenches your thirst. Or how about a week fast? Or let me take a knife and cut you up a bit see how you react! Empty empty empty! Ok, so cross the road with your eyes closed now since the road, the car, you are all empty! Ooooo, but wait a second, you still look left and right! You are exactly like that student who came up to the master's saying "I see now! Everything is empty!" and the master just threw an ashtray at his head. Pooping out of the head is what your doing, just seeing things and observing their emptiness is far from what Parsons is talking about here.

Yes Niklai! I'm very angry! Lol. We're just having a spirited discussion here. Now as for this statement: "There was no physical animal, no surviving and no notion of living."...so do you not experience the physical body anymore? Doesn't your body have survival needs? The body as long as it is present as a separate existence in your experience has its survival mechanisms. If its hungry, it will need to eat for itself no matter how much your mind goes "no ego!" If someone cuts you, the body will tell you that it is in pain so to preserve itself. It seems like you have misunderstood Buddhist emptiness as a method or sorts, or things "passing into emptiness," isn't how emptiness is used in Buddhism. Rising and falling are only at the initial states of observation, and is not a realization of non-self or emptiness. For more about this visit Xabir's site: awakeningtoreality at blogspot (google it!). You understand the philosophies but don't know how to apply it correctly. Just going "everything is empty" and perceiving reality in that light is not realization. You shouldn't be in a relaxed and uninvolved state. That is a sign that you've misunderstood the teachings. You should be in a fully involved state instead. Anyway I think all that you wrote above is just needless mind analysis. It's poopy poop. Not a direct understanding of someone like Parsons.