CarsonZi

Hey Vortex and All Prahlad Jani is living off of Amrita (nectar) and has said so (I'll go looking for the youtube video in which he said this in a minute...here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewoDVPCLnt0&feature=related). He also practices taking some of the Amrita out of his mouth and rubbing it into his crown chakra to keep the chakras purified. Love!

Echoing Markern here, but Yogani teaches "siddhasana" in the AYP lessons here: http://www.aypsite.org/75.html Siddhasana encourages prana/sexual essences/and eventually kundalini in an upward direction from the perineum. It can be sexually stimulating when first beginning to use the practice, but it is good to learn to work through those sexual feelings...it is good to train the sexual essences to be comfortable flowing upwards (into the nervous system) instead of downwards into (and out of) the genitals. Love!

Namaste Everyone Thought I would take the time to highlight the parts of Seth's post that I really resonated with as it seems that some have missed the essential message of his post. Here are the lines that (to me) seemed to hit the nail on the head: "Everything we think we know about ourselves and others and the world is the assortment of knowledge we have chosen to believe. Knowledge is not True. There is Zero truth in knowledge. That doesn't make knowledge bad, in fact knowledge is quite useful, such as giving us the ability to communicate through our knowledge of the Language/s we speak. The problems start when we can no longer see that the knowledge tools that we use are just shared agreed upon constructs, and not at all the Truth." "When you realise all your beliefs are just Lies, and cease believing in any construct made with words, then you are beginning to see Truth. But that Truth can not be put into words. The minute you do, it is no longer Truth and just a construct." Personally I wouldn't have chosen to use the word "lies" above and would have picked a different word like "thoughts", but in essence I agree. Beliefs aren't Truth. "To me Knowing has Zero reliance on thoughts, words, concepts or beliefs and is always Right." A (heart) Knowing that needs no external validation. I'm pretty sure that what Seth is talking about in his post, what the meaning beneath the words is, is that words/language/beliefs are not Truth. Truth is something that can not be put into words. Words can only point to Truth. As it is said, "The Tao that can be spoken of is not The Tao" (or something like that [i know very little about Taoism]) Love!

Hey de_paradise I don't read much on the TB's these days, but yeah, Seth's post was really great IMO. Sensory deprivation.... not such a bad thing is it Love!

Hi Seth Although I have never personally read any of Don Miguel Ruiz, he comes highly recommended and I even have a friend who is bringing him into Toronto in the next few weeks to do a seminar....if you are in that area you can check it out here: http://inspirationalworks.info/ I have come to the same conclusions both you and Ruiz have through my meditation/yoga practice. I was going to respond to this thread until I read your post and then I felt there was no reason....everything I wanted to say you already had. To sum up what I would have said in a few sentences though, I would say this: In order to truly KNOW anything, you must first toss all thoughts, ideas and beliefs out the window. Everything you "think" you know means nothing. As Adyashanti says: "I know what I need to know when I need to know it". That kind of Knowing comes only from the heart, not from the mind. That kind of Knowing comes from Silence. Again, thank you for your wonderful post. It was an inspiration to read. Namaste _/\_ Love!

This is probably one of the best posts I have ever read on TheTaoBums..... A deep bow of gratitude SethAnanda _/\_ Love!

Hi contrivedname! Awesome! Glad we can (largely) agree Yes for sure! A few quotes from the Wiki page here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amrita "Amrita or Amrit (Sanskrit: अमृत) is a Sanskrit word that literally means "that which is immortal", and is often referred to in texts as nectar." "Amrit is repeatedly referred to as the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality" "In yogic philosophy (see yoga, Hindu philosophy) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the pituitary gland down the throat in deep states of meditation. It is considered quite a boon: some yogic texts say that one drop is enough to conquer death and achieve immortality." I don't want to hijack the thread here but in short, my wife and I didn't pick the name Amrita Grace. I was told in a dream that this was what we were supposed to name her. The conception of this child has dramatically changed my life, mostly through dreams. It may sound wierd but I was given shaktipat in a dream by my daughter (who looked like she was in her mid 20's in the dream and was the star pupil of a "kundalini facilitation" class). This dramatically changed the energy flow in my body. Also, both my wife and I knew on the 50th day after conception as soon as we woke up that it was going to be a girl due to a mutual dream we had about her. This was confirmed during an ultrasound in late January. There is a bunch of other stuff too but...... Love!

Hey contrivedname!, Marblehead and All contrivedname! said:"What do you mean by 'meditation'? what do you mean by 'silence'?" When I say "meditation" I am talking about any practice that stills the mind, any practice that allows the mind to go beyond thought and rest in Silence. When I say "Silence" I mean the lack of "mind-modifications". contrivedname! said:"if there is a twice daily 'form' of meditation required, isn't this happiness dependent on conditions? if silence is required, is that yet another condition?" There is no specific form of "meditation" required. "Meditation" is just a word and as A Course In Miracles says: "Words are but symbols of symbols thus twice removed from Reality". Meditation is not "required", all that is required to allow the mind to rest, to allow the mind to be silent. I guess from a certain perspective this could be considered a "condition" required for happiness....but really it is the lack of conditions. Silence could again (from some perspectives) be considered a condition required for happiness, but it too could also be considered the lack of conditions.....when you have bypassed all form, all thought, all "mind modifications", what you have left is Silence. And when we live from a place of Silence the only emotion ever felt is pure, blissful, unconditional Love..... which to me is "abiding happiness"....or in the case of this thread "optimal happiness" contrivedname! said:"is there such a thing as abiding in true happiness?" Again, words are but symbols of symbols, and I have little desire to try and define things (especially for others), but for the sake of conversation, yes, there is such a thing as abiding in "true happiness". We would have to come to a common definition of "true happiness" for this to be true for everyone, which I have no desire to do, but from the perspective here, the (lack of) condition(s) that the words "true happiness" points to, is "true happiness" for me. contrivedname! said:"if you can abide, is it also possible to depart?" Yes. contrivedname! said:"how long ago was that pic? is the child born yet? That picture was taken 2 days ago. On Sunday the wife and I had a friend come over to take some "maternity" pictures as well as some pictures of me doing an asana practice.....so no, our little daughter (Amrita Grace Zi ) is not born yet....she is due on June 2nd. Marblehead said:"Yes, it has been a while. You have been hiding. Hehehe." I have been very busy lately. Dee (aka "the wife" ) and I moved into a new home near the end of February and I have been renovating it like crazy getting it ready for baby Amrita to arrive, I have been teaching a lot of yoga lately, and have been deeply engrossed in writing articles as well as helping Yogani by writing the "hands-on AYP lesson plans" and am now starting to put together both an AYP Teacher Certification program and some online AYP classes too. Spare time seems to be a thing of the past Marblehead said:"Again, I will agree except for specifying any particular path or journey. (You know how I feel about dogma. Hehehe.)" Not trying to specify any particular path or journey. I just know that in my experience, and in the experience of many others that I know, the only way to come to a place of living in "optimal happiness" ( ) is to stop the mind from analyzing, comparing, and otherwise trying to "modify" the reality of what is. How each of us gets to this point is up to them. Marblehead said:"But yes, silence and meditation is good. Allows us time to look within so that we don't rely on externals for our happiness." All is within Marblehead said:"Of course, this is the reasoning behind the idea of living one's life in the state of 'wu wei'." Yup....different words all pointing to the same Truth. Love!

Hey Mal My understanding is that baldness comes from the mother's side. If your mother's father went bald at an early age chances are good that all your mother's sons will too. If you are the only one on both sides of your family going bald then it likely isn't genetic. My grandfather was fully bald by 18 and all my male cousins on my mothers side are going bald as am I. Seems unlikely to me. Just one man's opinion though Love!

Hey Marblehead Great to converse with you again, it's been a while In my experience and those I know who live from a place of abiding happiness there is only one way to "get there".....it is through the (twice) daily cultivation of Silence through meditation. Happiness that comes "in spurts" is not really happiness as this is happiness based on conditions and is fleeting at best since conditions are constantly changing. The only thing that does not change is Silence. When one lives from a place of Silence then we have gone beyond all conditions and can truly live from a place of abiding happiness. Just one mans experience though. Love!

Hi Marblehead, Raz and All Happiness is not based on any conditions. In fact true happiness is conditionless. True happiness can only come from within, and no external circumstances can affect this. True happiness is the result of a permanent grounding in Inner Silence. When the mind is silent, nothing can affect the state of being. Everything is known as perfect, and nothing is grasped for. This (to me) is pure unlimited, conditionless happiness....and it is like nothing else. Love!

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Namaste All If the hairloss is genetic, there is nothing you can do about it. Except maybe get "plugs" but that's just wierd Love!

Thanks Mr. Vajrasattva Will continue to massage baby Amrita etherically until she arrives and I can do it physically. Love.

Hi Scotty, Vajrasattva, Ya Mu and All @Ya Mu: In general I am not very worried about hurting the baby with the kundalini energy.... I was only mildly concerned that when the energy is running "high" (this would be the times when I am blowing up the lights in my house, and accidentally giving Shaktipat etc) that holding the child could be like plugging a toaster into a 220volt plug in. This is all "mind play" really though, and I see it as such....I'm sure everything will be just fine. I totally agree with you about babies being energetically sensitive too. They are still in Union (in general I think) at the early stages of infancy, and therefor are able to perceive things that those who are still buying into the "seperation illusion" aren't. It's wonderful that you are able to help people in the way that you are....am very happy for you _/\_ ....hopefully I won't have to call in a chi-gong healer a day or two after Amrita is born @Vajrasattva and Scotty: If all that is needed is Love and to Let it Be, I got my bases well covered ..... Am bursting at the seams with Love and have become a bit of a "Surrender Freak" in the past I dunno, 3-4 months..... things will be more then fine for sure. Thank you Love!

Hi Cat Thanks for the congrats I am totally ready (and excited) to be a Dad.... been a long time coming, and I finally feel ready, which was what we were waiting for, so the timing is right (when isn't it? ) Actually the timing was weird, as I practice tantric sex and don't have external ejaculations so...we still aren't quite sure how she got pregnant...hopefully it was me! (kidding) I joke about the conception being immaculate all the time, although I don't actually believe that The wife is feeling wonderful actually (thanks for the kind sentiments )...she hasn't had any morning sickness, and the only thing she complains about is the pain of her hips "spreading" (she's very very tiny). I give her lots of massages (Thai Yoga Massages) so that helps, and I make her take nice warm baths as often as I can, so she is usually pretty good I try to cook lots of good food for her too and her only complaint there is that the baby takes up too much room so it is uncomfortable if she over-eats.....(all the more for me hahaha ) Honestly, I am not too worried (about anything, baby or otherwise) and the baby has already caused so much growth here, that I'm sure she will be my teacher and not the other way around. I knew it was a girl on the 50th day after conception (through yet another dream) and not so long after the shaktipat dream I had another dream in which I was told what to name her (Amrita Grace "Zi" ) and I'm pretty sure we won the lottery with her....I'm very sure she will do/be great things in life. The concern about the "voltage" is not really a big deal, as I too feel that she will be at least as full of voltage as I am, if not more (after all, she is the one who transmitted a really strong kundalini awakening to me, not the other way around, hahaha), but I do have issues with blowing up electronics, and issues controlling the energy at times (especially when being totally open and acting as a "divine conduit") which has caused some issues in other people (and my pets) in the past...I think that any concern is likely just the mind though....everything happens for a reason. About sending "love bursts"...I do this as well! I will put my hand on my wife's belly, and send love through the palm of my hand to her, and this always gets her moving...although she is very active usually anyways. It is such a wonderful thing to be able to have physical contact with her even if it is through a "belly barrier".... It always sends shock waves of bliss right to the core of my soul feeling her move. I can only imagine how it will feel to hold her in my arms for the first time....probably bliss myself right out! hahaha. Babies ARE incredibly intelligent, I totally agree. My wife and I have already decided that we will NOT be talking to Amrita like she is unintelligent (baby talk BS)....we will speak to her like we would speak to anyone else....and yes, they are incredibly gorgeous... she already looks like her mom (see attached picture ) In regards to staying grounded....what I have recently found is that taking the approach of "giving it all away" or not trying to hold onto the energy as "mine" makes all the difference....I do still having an active grounding practice though...lots of walking (with the dogs, they especially need this ever since the increase in kundalini energy here), lots of physical activities in general. I also try to spend as much time as possible in nature, but time these days is very limited....we get possession of our new home on the 22nd of Feb (our first home) and there has been so much preparation for the move, the renos, and such, that any spare second I get it is usually spent doing practices. But that said, I teach AYP classes, I host a meditation group, and I make sure to give give give as much as possible, and this seems to keep me pretty grounded. The only real issues have been in regards to allowing the flow to get really strong with people who were not quite prepared for it. I am trying to keep that as minimal as possible now though and am choosing not to get too excited as this is when things seem to get out of control (for those around me, not so much for me). Anyways...thank you for the suggestions, thank you for the kind words, and may you rest in pure bliss consciousness always. Love.

Hi Blasto, Cat and All Haven't been around the bums for a while, but figured I would drop by today and see where things are at....other then the new format everything seems pretty much the exact same around here About energy and young children....have been wondering about this myself for a while now. My wife is a little over 5.5 months prego right now, and I have semi recently had an extreme increase in kundalinic energy lately as there has been a switch in motivation here....have switched from doing practices for my own benefit and have started doing everything in service of the Divine....being a servant is a powerful practice And since this recent opening I have noticed some changes in those around me....from my wife, to my friends and co-workers, to my pets....there seems to have been a "shift" in all those I have been in contact with recently....even accidentally gave shaktipat to someone during a deep spiritual conversation just yesterday....she is still trying to understand what happened/is happening (extreme energy and perception changes, heart opening, and "extra periphery vision"). Anyways, in November while at a yoga teacher training intensive, I had a dream in which I received shaktipat from my (soon to be) daughter (who I didn't know [for sure] was a girl at the time, this was before the sex determining ultrasound) who was (in the dream) the "star pupil" of a "kundalini facilitation class". This drastically changed the energetic flow in the body and I have been, not struggling, but perhaps a better term would be "coming to grips with" these changes ever since. I am still not quite sure how to "control" (if that is even possible) the outward flow of this energy (hence accidentally giving shaktipat to this friend I met last evening). I am already very sure that my daughter is going to be quite spiritually advanced when she arrives at the end of May/beginning of June, but I would also like to be very sure that I can do no harm to her by holding her close/being close to her while the energy flow is very high. If anyone has any suggestions here, they will be read with enthusiasm and acceptance. Thank you and may you all enjoy this moment as much as I am. Namaste. _/\_ Love.

Wishing you all a Blissfilled Holiday Season.....may you each feel deeply blessed. Love.

Hi eric Yes....a main reason for Yin Yoga is to increase Hyleronic Acid production (which is what the meridians are made of) so you are right. Although Yang practice also works some of the surface fascia, the deeper fascia within the joints is never worked in Yang practice. And Yin also works the connective tissues in the joints (this is different from the fascia) which won't get any stretching at all from Yang styles of practice. Sounds absolutely wonderful sir! Ok. Here goes. As you read in the AYP thread, The Universal Principles of Alignment ("UPA" from now on....such a bitch to type that out every time ) can be applied in every Yang style posture. Step One is to engage all 4 corners of the feet....first the big toe mound, then the inner heel, then the little toe mound, and finally the outer heel. Even in inverted postures, even in sitting postures the feet must have muscle energy engaging all 4 corners of the feet. Also this is when we consciously bring the shoulders onto the back...meaning pulling the scapula (shoulder blades) closer together on the back and pulling the shoulders back and down, away from the ears. This pushes the chest out a bit and opens the heart. This step is called "Opening to Grace". Step Two is called "Muscle Energy". This is physically a hugging in of all the muscles to bone. Not a clenching, just a nice "energetic hug". This engages all the muscles in the body. This is a "pulling in" so that there is something to stretch out. If your muscles are loose, you will not stretch anything. Step Three is "Inner Spiral". This is something that works with the arms and the legs (mainly the legs...the arms get a bit specific as the rotation changes depending on whether your arms in above the shoulders or below the shoulders). This is basically a pulling back and out with the inner thighs. A good way to feel this is to go into Downward Dog, slightly bend the knees (the knees cannot be locked or Inner Spiral will not work) and pull the inseam of your pants back and away from the midline/centerline of the body. This, (especially in standing postures) will create an extra bit of curve in your lumbar spine...it will also slightly pull your toes inwards and your heels outwards....but only slightly. This creates space for: Step Four: "Outer Spiral". While keeping Inner Spiral engaged, pull/tuck the tailbone down into the space created by Inner Spiral. This will balance out the slight outward movement of the heels and will straighen out the legs once again. It will also help to keep ALL the leg muscles fully engaged which is what makes every posture more doable (especially balancing postures including arm/forearm balances). You don't want to clench the buttocks in Outer Spiral though...if that happens you are doing it too much. Tuck the tailbone just enough to tone the buttocks but not clench them. (It should be noted that not every posture will have an equal amount of Inner and Outer Spiral on each leg. For example: In Virabhadrasana II, Warrior two, with your right leg forward in a lunge position, you will want to do more inner spiral on your back leg (left), and more outer spiral on your front leg (right)...this will help to really open up the hips and make this posture as effective as possible. While in the lunge position for Warrior II, pull the inseam of your inner thighs back and away (mostly your left leg), creating extra curve in the lumbar spine and making you have to lean a little forward to keep your balance...then do lots of Outer Spiral on your right leg, tucking the tailbone down and squaring off the hips. (this will bring the torso back in line with the legs as it should be) Doing this will give you an idea of what I am meaning in saying that there is not always an equal amount of Inner and Outer Spiral on each leg in every posture.) Step Five is call "Organic Energy". This is the counter part to step 2 "Muscular Energy". Muscular energy is a hugging in, Organic Energy is a stretching out. This causes a deep stretch in every muscle (because they are all engaged). In Downward Dog this would be pressing all four corners of your hands and feet (well not all 4 corners of your feet, depending on your personal DD posture, but it is a pushing of the balls of your feet into the floor and pushing your heels down towards the floor) firmly into the floor. This is the stretch. I have to run now, but if you have any more questions, I will check back in an hour or two before I leave work and try to answer them. Good luck and play safe Love, Carson

Hi Eric Thank you for the kind words. I am not posting much here at the Tao Bums these days, but I still log on and look for things that catch my eye every day. Yin Yoga is the one style of yoga that the Universal Principles of Alignment won't help much with.....the reason being is that Yin Yoga is entirely different from any other style of Yoga. Yin Yoga was created (by Paul Grilley I believe) because Yang styles of Yoga can not stretch the connective tissues and the deeper fascia in the joints because the muscles are engaged. Yin Yoga is done with the muscles relaxed and the postures are held much much longer so that you can stretch the connective tissues in the joints. It is not physically possible to stretch these tissues with your muscles engaged so the Universal Principles of Alignment are not much help in Yin Yoga. So unfortunately my suggestions to Mal will not help you with your Yin Yoga practice. Sorry. But they certainly will help you (and anyone) who is practicing any style of Yang Yoga (ashtanga, Bikrams, Iyengar, Hatha, and on and on and on). Yin Yoga will also only take you so far as it will not stretch your muscle tissue (much). It is not designed for that. A balance between yin and yang styles is necessary to maximize your flexibility. I suggest watching the Yin Yoga DVD that Paul Grilley has if you want to know more about Yin Yoga. It is excellent. Best of luck! Love, Carson

Hey Markern If what you are looking for is to attract more ladies, then cultivation is a good way. But for me, sadhana is for so much more then that, and to set that (attracting more ladies) as your goal seems to me to be really limiting the potential of your practices. It would be a nice "side effect" if one was single, but definitely a challenge when one has chosen monogamy. Ah....such is Life Much Love _/\_ Carson

Hey Markern... I have personally noticed more attention from girls (not just physically attractive ones, but physically attractive ones also) since I stopped using drugs, started a serious sadhana and have opened my chakras. I also have noticed that since starting tantric sexual practices and preserving and cultivating the sexual essences the sexual opportunities I have been presented with have probably tripled if not more. Maybe it's just the wedding ring though (I got married about 4 months after starting to practice twice daily) who knows . I find that it is actually a distraction/disadvantage though....it keeps the ego more engaged (it's flattering to the ego) and it can also creates more thought about cheating on my wife.....I have never taken advantage of any of the opportunities I have been presented with, but I can now see why so many of the "guru's" out there have fallen flat on their faces in this respect. Women seem to flock to practitioners, even if they don't know they are practitioners. I think this is why Glenn Morris talked about "aura hiding".....it would probably make it a lot easier to not be presented with so many sexual opportunities. Without being truly grounded in what one is trying to accomplish with their practices it would be easy to fall into the trap of engaging with all those beautiful women who suddenly seem to be interested in you. Just one man's opinion though. Love, Carson

Hahahaha Biff! That is the funniest thing I have read in God knows how long....thank you for giving me such a hearty laugh..... My wife thinks you're nuts (I just HAD to read it to her...the part about the finger in the ass was just to priceless to keep to myself) Thanks again Love, Carson