9th

Meridians and channels are basically referring to the same thing - and although the more detailed maps of meridians are typically not found in maps of channels regarding modern examples of tibetan and indian yogic practice, they certainly DO exist and in fact there are also hundreds of minor chakras related to this more detailed system which are documented in some of the older literature. Typically, the most detailed information on the tantric winds (or vayus) is found in the traditional tibetan medical literature, which is itself a derivation of ayurvedic and indian tantric practices of the middle ages. Much like Traditional Chinese Medicine, the tibetan practices are based on energetic flows and working with the channels of the subtle body. The subtle winds of tibetan medicine are yet another borrowed concept from the Indian tradition. The winds in particular have sanskrit names and descriptions that are quite ancient. The most detailed information on this topic in the indian traditions is typically found surrounding practices of pranyama (breathing control/retention/meditations), but again there is quite a bit of information also to be found in the traditional indian medicine of Ayurveda as well. In terms of modern medicine and modern biological understanding, we should be aware of the difference between the Sympathetic, Parasympathetic, and Autonomous aspects of the nervous system. The winds relate to a connection between these aspects - they are simultaneously involved in both conscious and unconscious activity throughout the body/mind. They are concerned with a number of bodily functions - breathing, sensory perceptions, eating, sleeping, sex, elimination... and so forth. In many ways, the winds are the energetic component of bodily functions - although its quite a bit more involved than that in reality - which is why you have all the literature on the psychic or mental aspects of the winds as well. However, unless you yourself are a technician of some kind regarding subtle energies (medical or otherwise) this kind of detailed information may not necessarily be relevant to your practice. Having a basic overview is often plenty to work with. BTW - its worth noting that the idea of a "body - mind" duality - or separation between body and mind - is the same thing the Christian church used to promote. The body was unclean and animalistic, false and impure - while the "spirit" (or mind, conscious thought, etc.) was clean and holy and pure and true. They just called it "body and spirit" though, because the renaissance "enlightenment" had not occured and there was no materialist science to completely deny the existence of spirit yet. Once materialist science came along, they just reframed the same idea of duality in the new form of egotism... but essentially the denial of basic truth remained exactly the same. The idea that the body is separate from the mind is an erroneous and deleterious perspective at both the personal and social levels which has far reaching implications that are eventually fatal. In other words, thinking in such a way will literally harm you to death. Our modern human society is currently living this reality and apparently pursuing it to the bitter end. Dualism by way of exclusion is obviously a struggle between an unstable life and an inevitable death. Dualism by way of inclusion is often called "non-dualism" and refers to the integration of all symmetrically interdependent aspects of existence.. and its not "natural" in the sense of being an automatic reflex - it requires willing participation, and most notably it requires a personal sacrifice.

This has been posted a few times already, but its always worth a review in the light of any current context - as there is a certain significant and increasingly intense need for clarity in the more subtle realms of practice considering the ongoing state of the human world and its relationship to Sat. For another take on this kind of thing, here is a ridiculous piece of music I made some years ago about this very topic... the moment of truth.mp3

Its considered a supportive endeavor in that it has a collective benefit and is also what you will be doing anyway once you truly are established in shunyata. In other words, "fake it till you make it". Compassion is a direct, naturally flowing result of actual realization, but the monkey mind has to put in some significant effort to achieve it.

https://www.heartmath.org/articles-of-the-heart/science-of-the-heart/the-energetic-heart-is-unfolding/

You know what they say.... possession is 9/10ths of the law...

Are faery tails told. Where unicorn horns are sold. Calligraphy, bold.

People are certainly talking about enlightenment all the time. Yet there is very little talk about desire. It seems that having such little consideration for the gravitational effects of magnetism could certainly skew your accumulation of observational data when such a fundamental pivot is in play, especially when regarding the reactionary stance involved. A projection moves from the inside out. A reception moves from the outside in. In the case of awareness which is beyond a subject-object relationship, such directional considerations are not applicable.

"Take for instance the being of a mineral and of a plant. It is a different being. The being of a plant and of an animal is again a different being. The being of an animal and of a man is a different being. But the being of two people can differ from one another more than the being of a mineral and of an animal. This is exactly what people do not understand. And they do not understand that knowledge depends on being. Not only do they not understand this latter, but they definitely do not wish to understand it." - The Black Greek, aka Tiger of Turkestan

Think of the entire body and nervous system radiating throughout the spinal column as a kind of antennae which is arranged in a telescopic manner. The idea of the "third eye" is typically mistaken as the entirety of the apparatus, rather than simply the aperture or lens of such a system. Once you actually "see" in such a way, it is obviously clear - but trying to approach such clarity and understanding through a conceptual framework based on various ideas is almost always cause for obscurity instead. Another thing to consider is the question of how a bald man would be able to braid his hair... Just think about that for a while.

takin it back to the classics..

hear from Isaiah... "as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers"

the most formal problem in this kind of question is a fundamental misunderstanding/misapprehension stemming from a hasty translation (which arent, amirite). the modern idea, concept, and general reference is indicating something traditionally known in sanskrit as "bhodi" however, the probem is that some people are referencing the sanskrit term "nirvana" and that is why there are so many questions surrounding "enlightenment" its all quite simple once you understand the basics of the issue. you know? ... problem solved. move on

desire is blind motivation enlightenment is by definition, sight do the math

Until you find yourself standing on a river.

between a cherubim and seraphim the language barrier shimmers in the wind, it follows a pattern in the air, breath of life look inside