Vajrahridaya

Some of the 84 Mahasiddhas have the complete mundane siddhis and others have that and Buddhahood. Being a Mahasiddha does not necessarily mean you are a Buddha. It just means you have Maha (Great) Siddhi (Power). From Wikipedia... "By convention there are 84 Mahasiddhas in both Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist traditions (Edit VH: Actually they are all Indian Tantric Buddhists and none are Tibetan), with some overlap between the two lists. The number is congruent with the number of siddhi or occult powers held in the Indian Religions." The list has nothing to do necessarily with liberation, just "great powers." Besides, Hindus and Buddhists define liberation differently but don't define the Siddhi's differently.

The Buddhist Mahasiddhas did not awaken awareness from the base chakra up, so they did not experience that wild uncoiling of dense karmas. So they did not name the phenomena of awakening higher levels of awareness as kundalini from the almighty like the theists did. The Kundalini tradition of India is specifically a Theistic interpretation of everything. I'm not saying the phenomena is not real, all I'm saying is that it's just awareness and karma.

The ancient Buddhist Masters never called it kundalini like the Hindu yogis did. It's mentioned later on by later interpreters, mostly in modern times. But, the light of awareness is treated with an entirely different interpretation in Buddhism than it is in Hindu or Theistic based paths. The phenomena is mentioned in a Buddhist texts as Chundali or something relating to the moon. But, it's a different phenomena and not that wild base level stuff. When that crazy stuff happens a Buddhist master will recommend some asanas or diet change and it's not treated as, "The will of God." But rather with a more practical understanding of karma.

Alright, I have to wait for my wife to get ready. Yes, they are felt... I didn't mean they did not have relative existence.

There are past life karmas trapped in the shashumna, and if kundalini was only opened at the base of the spine, then some wouldn't open with awareness in the hearth chakra, or from the crown down, and all sorts of other points of reference. The base chakra level awareness is just associated with the dimension of dense physicality, which is why those that awaken awareness of the shushumna there have intense physical responses. P.S. In Buddhism that base level stuff never happens like that, and if it does, then it's considered a deviation. That's because we awaken awareness at the heart level, or from the crown chakra moving down in a process of integration. That's why we don't have the term kundalini in our sanskrit texts. Because it's not "the coiled one" and it's not experienced in that bottom up fashion. The entire process of awakening is handled differently with a whole different lineage of deities that are not long lived "god" realm deities, but specifically Buddhist ones. It's complicated when put into words... anyway, I have to go shopping for food. Have fun!!

Just investigate. Have your own realization... I'm just sharing mine based upon a long, deep, look and a stepping back from all my assumptions and conditioning. Yes, all paths that mention that phenomena as Kundalini suggest that it's an independently intelligent force. It's in all the texts that mention it through that term. Chakras are just a spin polarization of karmic energy visualized as wheels or inter-dimensional vortexes. They are manipulated through awareness.

There's no kundalini, there's just karmas and awareness. When the light of awareness falls upon the unconscious, all sorts of things start happening, and this can happen through various ways. Awareness illumines our archetypes, and hidden patterns, both positive and negative. If kundalini were truly an intelligent and conscious force, as if there was an independently intelligent conscious force behind the universe, then it would be a lot smoother. The thing is, is that it can be awakened through shaktipat, as in the decent of awareness from a highly aware being and if they are connected to a good lineage with also high up beings on other dimensions (deities), then things can be a lot smoother, due to being protected by these polarizing beings as forces of protection. So for some it can seem like an intelligent force, but really it's just a whole bunch of high beings connecting with you depending upon your karmic and archetypal makeup either consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously. But so many people aren't ready to become aware of their unconscious stuff, so when they have kundalini awakening (awareness illuminating hidden karmic [causes of] baggage) their life goes to crap and they end up in psycho wards and lots of negative things happen landing them in a hell realm. So really, it's just the light of awareness illuminating karmas... that's it. All the other mumbo jumbo is just subconscious projection and wishful thinking, clinging to a self or Self of all, or clinging to a formless identity as ultimate... This gets mighty complicated as we are very complicated in all our layers. Though it's all simply dependently originated and empty of any sort of inherent existence at all. P.S. I was born and raised in a Shaivite Kundalini Yoga lineage with all the classical experiences of so called kundalini. So, I'm not some nut talking without experience. I've experienced all that stuff written about in the Irena Tweety books and Play of Consciousness, and I've read so many books on Kundalini and experienced so many amazing things. But it's just awareness illuminating karmas.

It could also depend upon "the way" you are connecting to these different lineages as well?

This is my experience with Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Dalai Lama and the Karmapa, so this is a good thing. I'd be interested in meeting Wang Liping.

I read his biography "Opening the Dragon Gate", and I don't know how much was true and how much was fiction since biographies can often be embellishments and straight up mis-information, then again, maybe this one is all fact?? But, it would probably be pretty awesome to have an intensive with Wang Liping. Maybe something akin to a Shaktipat from what I read from the book mentioned above, with guidance in the practices to maintain and deepen the experience.

I agree. I read one of his books about 20 years ago and thought it was interesting. Imagination can be inspirational. He does seem to pull from some Shamanistic truths to give the stories more validity. I read his interview with Muktananda around the same time and he does say some things that contradict his stories, revealing holes of untruth.

Jnaneshwars Gita

Too true. Though, if the intention is correct, these siddhis can be used to both benefit practice for the sake of benefiting others, as well as straight up benefit others.

Ideally there is no difference between knowledge and wisdom, as they should compliment each other as knowledge should lead to wisdom and knowledge should be the expression of wisdom. But, for most of us, there's going to be some difference and confusion, but I wouldn't really eschew knowledge, as that would be unwise.

If you want the real deal hermit practices, you'll have to get them from the Vajrayana lineages. I mean those ones that teach how to eat the elements, attain body of light, and such. My Dzogchen Rinpoche teaches the practices that hermits do in caves but to people that live in houses. Vajrayana is basically a path that is designed for hermits who want to go deep down the rabbit hole, with all those exotic yogas and specific contemplations, that stuff you do in Dark Retreat. I know of a number of those really esoteric hermit practices, like Chod and such things with the use of the bell and vajra, mudras, visualisations, such things as this with very specific mantras with very specified intentions. The Nath lineage in Indian mountains I think does things like this too, but you won't find any genuine Nath teachings here in the states I don't think, mostly watered down meditation techniques and hatha yoga forms. The real esoteric yogas are Trul Khor, Yantra Yoga, those old North Indian traditions passed on and preserved in Tibet where there were tons and tons of cave yogis, and I think still are. My Dzogchen Rinpoche (Chogyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche) did plenty of cave retreats and is from this old tradition in Tibet, his uncle and main Dzogchen Guru both realized the body of light and went "poof" leaving nothing but hair and fingernails. He teaches those teachings and practices that lead to the exact same result. Though generally speaking, we're not as inclined as cave yogis... generally speaking. If you are so inclined, than Vajrayana is definitely the lineage of teachings to be getting transmission in, because these are straight up cave dwelling hermit practices. p.s. Maybe what Non said too. I know there are some great Taoist stuff that is akin to Buddhist Tantra.

It's when the kundalini isn't grounded and you start going crazy with too much information, or too many psychic powers or heat fluctuations that screw with your nervous system... all sorts of things.

It seems that plenty of Taoist lineages did slap the Tathagata into their practice and understanding of the Tao, and then there are plenty that did not. Buddhists don't consider the void the source of anything, but merely a dependently originated space that corresponds with content, as in the void is not treated as a permanent self existing self of everything. In Buddhism, there is no inherent universal mother or father, or source to things, no primal origin or ground of being unless one is talking figuratively about lets say, mind and it's space being the origin of ones state of experience, or something like that. The cosmos is just beginningless and endless cycling and recycling without inherent self. In some ways I feel some forms of Buddhism in China are polluted by some Taoist notions of space and void in China, sorry to say. Just as I would think some Taoists would think that there are many forms of Taoism that were polluted by the influx of Buddhism into China. Also soma in the yogic traditions of India of which Buddhism is a huge contributor to is found in the subtler regions of the head during kechari mudra, which doesn't necessarily lead to Buddhahood according to Buddhism, but merely higher bliss states and formless states of consciousness. I think soma is a universal experience amongst hermit contemplatives of any tradition though. Plowing the Clouds sounds like a familiar book?

I'm a huge fan of the Jnaneshwari (Jnaneshwars Gita) Not your run of the mill commentaries, and more of an expansion of the entire story with a large amount of added and nuanced detail. Jnaneshwar was an incredible poet! His rendering of the BG is unparalleled! Oh how I love Jnaneshwar!

It's good to have a guide who is adept at guiding. Otherwise we have a tendency to fool ourselves, especially in the higher levels of spiritual realization. I fool myself all the time.

Right.

They're real, but during the time that the PJS was written, was a time where there wasn't TV, video games, guns... such things as this, so a yogi was really able to give their entire day or/and night (other than begging for scraps of food) to deep yogic practices, and attain amazing states of mind and body that would blow the vast majority of normal humans minds into a lunatic asylum. None of these Siddhis really lead to true insight into the nature of things by themselves though.

VH is fine... Wonderful! A very high amount. They are the living representations of a lineage of enlightenment with physically present karmic roots on this plane of existence. The guidance of mentor-ship I have received from my various teachers is not only through their body, but also comes through dreams and meditation visions. All of which turned out to be either prophetic or immediately helpful. I've really only had 3 mentors that effected me to this degree, well ok... I've had visions of the Dalai Lama too... so maybe 4 on an intimate level. Actually, when the Karmapa was in NYC a few years go, that effected me very deeply even though I wasn't able to see him physically, he came to me psychically as my longing to see him was very strong and deep. Actually, the thing is, is that when you make a connection like that, you connect to an entire lineage of beyond the body beings, of which I can testify to. I don't feel like I've really left any of my teachers in that sense of ultimate "leaving behind." I've maybe just evolved and gravitated towards new levels of teaching of another paradigm? I still remember all my teachers with great fondness and appreciation and even sometimes have important dreams with them to this day. I think spiritual awakening is very personal and one can't judge in another what would work to awaken one or not, unless you are completely free from subjective projection, and I am not... as far as I'm aware? For me... It has played a great role, as being deprived of the comforts that make some people feel at home here, has made me long for deeper answers to the question of who and what am I? What is this? Why is this? It's made me maybe more curious as to the causes and conditions of experience itself. But, just like anyone, your personal history is a complex story, and some become embittered by their depraved situations. I had the benefit of a mother, though meager in funds, was rich in spirituality and art, as well as creativity and intelligence. Though she brought me up in less than ideal areas, her own attempt to bring me up according to good ideals of vegetarianism with the understanding of karma and the power of meditation made a great impression upon me, even if only subconsciously at first. She used to take me to Ashrams and meditation centers my entire life growing up with her, and instead of a doctor we'd go to a Chinese medicine doctor of an acupuncturist or a massage therapist slash Reiki Master, kundalini yogini or something... So you see, it all depends upon you... really. I know some very wealthy people who get sick of their constant barrage of pleasure who turn to spirituality because they find all that wish fulfillment entirely unsatisfying? I wouldn't know... but, I've met people like this.

I understand that realization very well, and would have said much the same thing a number of years ago, thinking the non-conceptual as an ultimate truth of everything. Then I came to dependent origination/emptiness... I also accept that your truth originates dependent upon various experiences, and readings, and experiences based upon readings and experiences interpreted later through such readings... etc. All inter-dependent, but empty of any sort of self existence what-so-ever. I respect your state of mind, because yes, it's peaceful, but for a Bodhisattva, that's just the beginning... I respect your sense of inner security and non-egotistical reaction to anything I have said. That's awesome! May peace only deepen in your every experience.

Buddhism isn't a belief system in the sense you are insinuating and it's nothing like the other traditions you've named. People who say this, I know have not studied Buddhism much beyond the surface at all, and don't have experiential insight into the intention of Buddhism. It cannot be compared to other traditions in that way, only ignorantly can one do this. It's not a tradition that indoctrinates. Yes, there are those that are, but those that are have not delved into it's meaning much at all, or maybe were just brought up in it and just do it because the family does it... etc. This is not my experience, nor is it the Buddhas intention behind his teaching. Buddhahood does not belong to Buddhism, but Buddhism is the path that is most clear with the most methods on how to get there without faltering or being ambiguous about the meaning and intention of the methods and philosophy, like most other systems are. It's not a belief system. It's an elaboration of the system of experience and the methods of how to master the system of experience... period. It's goal is nothing like that of Christian mysticism or Islamic mysticism, or Hindu mysticism and it only seems that some Taoist lineages go all the way there, and I don't even know if they go all the way there with as much clarity? This I can't say either way. The universe is not that simple, and all traditions take a person someplace and some places are somewhat the same, depending on the individual and some are very different, as there are many, many realms, all talked about by the Buddha and subsequent Buddhas. An individual within any contemplation can have the realization of dependent origination/emptiness, but this would transcend most belief systems and lead one karmically to Buddhadharma anyway, either in this life, the next or in an astral realm. Because one cannot be a Theist in the Monotheistic sense and see dependent origination. Sounds Totalitarian and Imperialistic, kind of like Hinduism the way you put it. As if any distinction made is nullified by this overarching "ULTIMATE TRUTH OF EXISTENCE!" Don't mean to dent your cup, but Buddhism has an entirely different view of reality, based upon experiencing beyond the void. Actually, everything is dependently originated and empty of inherent existence, including the void. Dependent origination/emptiness is a contemplation, as well as the fruit of contemplation that leads to an entirely different experience of the "how" and the "why" of everything. The Buddhist "emptiness" and the "void" that all things exist in are not talking about the same truth. The void is a meditative experience, an absorption... in Buddhism it's called the Jhana of nothingness, beyond that is the Jhana or Samadhi (meditation) of neither perception nor non-perception, and Dependent Origination is an insight that transcends that as well. Even Scientists have found that there is something in that void of space, and there going to find something in that something and something in that something. Infinite regress, no rooftop. There really is no inherent void, just like there is no inherent existence to anything, or any non-thing. Non-existence and existence, neither have inherent precedence.