Seth Ananda

Hi Vajrasatva, I'm very glad you haven't left yet. I love your Input. I'm new here and have really liked everything i have seen you put in - Invaluable. In terms of the things your into, you are right up my alley. (Tantra, Taoism, Martial arts...) I have just found your website and ordered the Nauli pack and will soon get the tantra one as well. Thank anyway for being here. Seth. Sat Chit Ananda! Great Elbow work here, is this Silat? I do Yang Mian which focuses heavily on elbow work and am always interested in complimentary styles. Seth. Sat Chit Anand.

I have seen the first season only but a house mate gets back today with no 2, Yes! Loved it and am going to buy them for my daughter! (and me ) Seth.

Yes! I agree with Hundun and Emily, Meditation is great but its even greater if you have just done something that opens/clears the body. Also long term meditation can deplete the body's reserves of Jing and chi. I hear many people complain that they had there best meditations in their teenage and early twenty years. Thats because their reserves were fuller. My friend had been Meditating 8 to 10 hours a day for years. Her skin became dry, her libido empty, eyes dull and her joints hurt. The only thing she could enjoy was meditation. One day she walked past a TCM clinic and wandered in. The practitioner looked up from his desk and started laughing at her, pointing and saying "Ahh haa ha, to much Meditation for you, you like a junky, haha, look what you done to your body!" He put her immediately on a very strong dose of Chinese herbs which she took for the next year or so. It was amazing watching the life return to her body and her symptoms reverse. She is now an avid Chigung practitioner as well as a Meditator and also enjoys life. You want good reserves to draw on in meditation. They may be good now but are they being slowly used? A long term plan can be exelent to keep all your bases (jing chi and shen) covered Seth. Sat Chit Anand.

(Allegedly) Jesus said "if thine eyes offend thee, pluck them out!" Well, I think that just offended every bit of me, but i cant stop laughing! It really was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Thankyou Seth. Sat Chit Anand! damn it I'm still laughing...

Awesome! I got such a buzz from watching that, how inspiring. Now i want to start Bagua even more. I do something that grew out of Bagua Taiji and Hsing-I but the more i do the more i want to explore its roots. Thanks Mantis! Seth.

Thanks Hun Dun, great thread. This is something I'll probably always have Ideas and Opinions about. Some thoughts and questions are- Gnosis or Silent Knowledge, the state where the minds thinking processes are off, yet one functions perfectly well in the world. When you feel hungry you eat but you don't think "Oh I'm hungry, I better eat" You Have a knowing Awareness of your responsibility's with out needing to think about them, but you still can if you want to as the mind is now your tool, not your master. I'm sure many here have experienced this in various ways. The Universal Consciousness that everything rises and falls within is not stupid, it contains the everything and is therefore greater than it. Someone in No mind is as far from a vegitable as you can get. What are the Ideas of people on weather The Individual Self ever really disappears? Some traditions state that it doesn't, but that it interfaces and becomes continuous with the universe. Nissargadatta used to cry when a student he was friends with would leave. If there is no truth to individuality then what is Authentic expression or the experience of being Called to do, follow or achieve something? The most important word in the Tantras was Aham (I AM) and the work was to get the minds shit off the pure 'I Sense' and follow it back to its origin where the Astonishing realization lay we share the 'I Sense' with the Universe. (but this did not dissolve individuality, only the sense of limitation) This is the experience of Oneness. I Am that... I AM seems to be the most or one of the most sacred phrases in many mystical traditions. I look forward to hearing what people think, Thanks Seth. Sat Chit Anand!

Hi everyone, its an interesting conversation here. I thought I'd add a few random thoughts. I've met a person or two who knew or spent time with Barry Long and had different stories about him. one is that his women were all from not jealous. he did not keep a tidy home relationship wise. One lady i knew said he was very angry bordering on abusive, and was very contemptuous of the Women around him and of the perspectives of others. He died of prostate cancer from what i remember. He encouraged some rather sycophantic behavior among those around him. This is all what I have been told by people who say they knew him and I have no way of knowing if its true, but i tend to believe them. I've Seen a number of video lectures and for me, i feel that sometimes he said interesting stuff but did not at all look or sound integrated. I'm a great fan of the Tantric tradition so was excited when i first heard about him but the overall vibes of the man were a let down for me. As for keeping several Women Satisfied and free of jealousy I know some Key points. (my Female instructors taught me well ) 1 - WORSHIP WORSHIP WORSHIP! 2 - Make Love to Her 24 hours a day! 3 - Be so completely present with the Woman your with that she feels like Shiva himself is holding every molecule of Her being. I've seen this powerfully demonstrated over lengthy periods and experienced it myself to lesser degrees. Its a lot easier said than done and very few men are up for the challenge. I'll probably be working at it for the rest of my life. You need a deep sense of reverence and love for all women kind to even be able to get close to this. The real teachers of this all say that if you cant get there with one Woman you have no business even trying with more than one. The other thing is the healing a (most) Woman needs to go through just to get all the old Unfulfilled, un-met, abused, stuck sexual energy out of her body is Huge. Even Women who have had fairly good sexual experiences over their life, if you ask them seriously, have been allowing penetration before they felt fully ready themselves. The stored memory in Her Yoni causes her Yoni to slowly become 'empty' of vitality. There are very few women in the west who's Yonis are 'full'. A mans worship of Her and complete reverence, will allow Her to release and heal and finally Flower which is incredible to behold. Its here that jealousy disappears for She is completely satisfied and loved and happy and tends to naturally want you to be able to share this with others, and also wants you to be completely true to yourself (whatever that will look like) as She will know this is what makes you most able to 'Meet' Her with your powerful energetic presence. So it becomes Self interest on Her behalf. If the romeo/juliet relationship starts slipping back in and possessiveness, clingyness and jealousy start to surface again its simple, You haven't been loving her enough! Thats how I see it and it works for me when I'm up for the challenge. Seth. Sat Chit Anand!

Is I chuan related to hsing I? I practice Yang Mian which is master Yangs version of Mian Chuan. Mian Chuan grew out of Tai chi, Hsing-I, Bagua and somthing called Tong-Bey. Just interested in the relationship between them. does anyone know what Tong-Bey is? Seth.

You can 'program' your energy to ground rather than fizz out your appliances. This is what i did and it worked. although sometimes i miss flashy displays! It only took a couple of minuets of intent.

Maat magick by Neema is superb! (a female author )I was part HML for a few years. its sort of Thelemic Egypto wicca, with elements of many other traditions. I have always been a fan of Israel Regardie - Garden of pomegranites - foundations of practical magic and midle pillar. Nancy B watson - practical solitary magic is a good beginner to intermediate Vivian Crowley (no relation to old ac) is great on the wicca side too, I really liked -Wicca, and others. Philip Coopers Basic magick is excellent, but his annoying to read. He gets a bit "the one truthish" and i dont think he gives the credit he should to where his stuff comes from but the info level is great. His Sigil magic is covered well. The Chaos magick current is interesting as well, its sort of Shamanism/wicca/western. It gets a bit weird sometimes but it really breaks down the way magic works and strips off the dogmas of tradition. Phil hine is worth a look at if only to understand the other stuff. They have a good sense of humor, youl come across rituals with titles like 'The Invocation to Mr T' Lol, all fun. I cant remember the names, maby someone else will? but there are a few Wicca for family/kids books out there. Its great what just a simple candle lighting and honoring of the elements can do, and children are very receptive to the beautiful space it creates. Ive been privileged to share that space with a few children and i cant wait till my daughter is old enough to share some of these things with her. Seth.

I'm getting so excited about Kunlun my jing retention skills may fail ! Im still waiting for the book in the mail. I keep hearing about when Max comes to Australia, Does anyone know If, when or where? I reside in Melbourne. Is there an Oz Kunlun comunity? Seth. Sat Chit Anand!

Ah Master Yoda comes through with goods again, thankyou.

Thanks Silicon, unfortunatly im a bit of a noob using forums like this i got ur thing and when i changed pages i lost it. do i have an in box or something? Seth

Fascinating Topic. I thought I'd add my own experiences. When i was younger I experimented with a variety of substances: Aminita Muscaria, psilocybin, lsd, E, mescalin, salvia divinorum, and Dmt smoked and injested. I also meditated and practiced a wide range of mysticisms techniques. In my opinion no drug of any kind can even closely aproximate the depth and range of mystical experience, but am i anti drugs? no. drugs can open a door or at least oil its hinges. I always took drugs in a sacred ritualized space, away from party scenes. I think for me very few were of much value more than once or twice. Dmt smoked I am very suspicious of as many friends when the dmt hype started ("man its what happens in your brain man when you die...") smoked it regularly ("man its natrual, the brain knows how to deal with it cause its already in there man..."). Needless to say they stirfryed them selves slowly. It was a painfull process to watch. They couldnt see it happening either as i guess you have to be looking from outside to see a process clearly. Ahyehesca though for some reason is different (for me) I think, because its the only thing ive taken that is truly a medicine in that it really heals. it has no come down, it leaves my body fresh and energized, my kidney chi feels like its had a top up, and any internal leaps i make on it, i keep. They dont fade out over the comedown or in the next few days. ive experienced several years worth of permanent emotional healing over a couple of hours with Mother Ahyehesca. She is a loving being and the only drug/medicine id consider taking again. that may just be my make up, someone else may have these results from shrooms or peyote, I can only speak for myself. Kundalini and deep mystical experience still have taken me thousands of times further and felt thousands of times better full stop. We are the perfect alchemical lab for ourselves. Seth. Sat Chit Anand

No, Great! I hadn't seen that site, wow, Look at all those mp3s! thanks heaps. as for sites on more practical K.S. i cant help much. I do like Virendra Qazi's stuff but there is way too little of it, also he is one of the very few teachers left who actually grew up with it. I'm hoping to visit him next year to see it being practiced in a traditional context. There is a book called 'Consciousness is everything' by swami Shankarananda in Australia. He is a lovely man and I can say for myself it's easily the Best, most inspiring, practical, and enjoyably read on the subject ever (its scholarly as well but not dry). if this sounds too much like a sell I'm not his student. My training comes from a different school in Melbourne. His website is Shivayoga.com any way thanks again for that site, i do like marks books. Hi thanks again. could you tell me more or point me somewhere for Srividya Tantra? Seth.

Krama - Successive realization, where the unfoldment is gradual, employing bhedAbhedopAs [dualistic-monistic techniques] Kaula - Realization of the totality of the universe, employing Tantra, Shakta to be specific Spanda - Cognition of the vibration or Spanda in everything Prathyabhijna - Spontaneous recognition of the individual self as the universal self, through anupAya or lack of practice or techniques. Manifestation of pure bliss is in the realization of the universal consciousness and only unified consciousness can bring about true and unceasing bliss. The two are faces of the same coin. But pursual of bliss is not the goal of any school of Tantra or even Advaita, be it Kevaladvaita or Monisitic Shivadvaita as bliss, for most, is associated with the the mind, (or names and forms alternately), which ceases to exist when the Supreme Consciousness of Paramashiva unfolds. Yes! You put it better than me thanks. the onlt thing i might add is that the Pratyabijhna school was/is not only anupaya as it covers a whole range of amazing Self inquiry practices. Definitely has Shaktopaya /Shambhavopaya elements as well as anupaya. the Pratyabijnahridyam itself has its meditation/contemplations on the 5 processes... I'd love to talk more, where do/did or with whom do you study? do you know of any good teachers? I'm always especially interested in anyone teaching it from a non-scholarly straight up practical yogic standpoint. Not dissing the scholars, its just that i already have reems of their books on my shelves. Dence reading tends to contract mayiya mala Thanks again, Seth. Sat Chit Anand!

Hi everyone, I just found this site a few days ago and love some of what i read. My name is Seth, I'm Australian and have studied many traditions over the years. I am primarily a Tantric practitioner (Kashmir Shavism and am studying the Maha Vidya tradition currently with an Indian teacher). I'm mostly interested in the traditional stuff but am very well versed in the Pop/neo/western tantra business and all its fun and games. I love the mystical teachings from everywhere and will try anything that I get a vibe for. I Love Taoism, I'm a Yang Mian student, have studied Kabballah, Gnosticism, Magic, shamanism, the Occult, Sufism, Yoga and much meditation. (heh, all to varying degrees) I teach Tantra around at times and have run a Kundalini Support group with another friend, helping people deal with adverse Kriya's to regain balance in their lives. I'm also studying Transpersonal Counselling. I can't wait to learn more! If anything i have an open mind and a sense of humor. Any way thanks every one for this site and i look forward to contributing

Thanks Guys (or Girls if I'm mistaken) ill look up those sites. I'm really enjoying this site, what a fantastic sharing resource! Even the people with liver disturbance (the angry bastards) are entertaining in other words, Thanks! Seth

Hi everyone, I don't at all know if there is any truth to this statement but a friend did the shaking for a period in Bali with Ratu and said It was influenced by 'Subud' or 'Latihan Subud' which is a very interesting transmission based, quazi Sufi like spiritual tradition where you shake to heal and deepen. I dont think you shake deliberatly though, its more that you learn to let go to the energy and it moves you. It also sounds very similar to Kun Lun in some ways(i have ordered the book and am waiting, it sounds great) Though i dont know, i look foward to finding out

What an interesting series of debates . I love this subject as it has driven me mad for years. My bias tends to be strongly Tantric (Kashmir Shaivism) as that is my main path. The traditional Trika philosophy Is an interesting mix of typical Mind only, awareness style schools (Pratyabijna) and cultivation bliss schools (Spanda and Kaula). Also Schools such as the Kramer school which were a mix of the two. Even as i write this its too neatly divided, as they all had aspects of each other within them. The Amazing thing about them is that they all got along well and teachers regularly sent there students to learn from other schools to help them be more well rounded or to strengthen their deficiencies. The awareness focused schools didn't look at the energy/cultivation schools and say "Your just a bunch of Bliss Junkys, Stop bothering with yoga and go smoke some Hash!" That would be like Shiva saying "Sorry Shakti your not worth the time of day!" In the teachings there was very much an understanding that bliss was a potential distraction and that it was the natural byproduct of Enlightenment. Techniques were called Upayas (ways) and many techniques could bring bliss which was extremely usefull to the Yogi. Usefull for many reasons. One is that the monkey mind is only jumping around because it wants a Banana. Bliss is that banana, so bliss shuts up the mind, which is great for any further practices. One easilly becomes one pointed when blissfull so samadhi is easy to reach. the danger was if you started doing the practice only for the bliss (thus keeping it a lesser bliss) and stopped using it as a vehicle to ride deeper and deeper into Self/Universe. A bit on love not having anything to do with Enlightenment, Love is the feeling of oneness. If you are deeply connected to your partner there is a little oneness happening there and thus 'Love!' If if you feel at one with your work you love what you do. When One with the universe you naturally love everything in it as a result. I guess all I'm saying is that Bliss can take you into Consciousness and Consciousness results in Bliss. The 'both and' camp surly belongs to the middle way. Sat Chit Anand! Seth.