forestofclarity

It really depends on the traditions. I think most people use awakening to refer to a fundamental shift in identity. One common example is when one discovers the "witness" beyond the thinking mind, and so no longer takes oneself to be the thinking mind. Another example is when one discovers the subtle body. These are both called "awakening" but they are very different. Enlightenment typically means that there is a more or less permanent shift. In Buddhism, it is the end of suffering, or in some circles, omniscience. In Transcendental Meditation, there is talk of continuous, permanent awareness, even through sleep. In some Vedanta circles, it is permanently identifying with the atman. In most Buddhist circles, any type of identification is a problem. As for Kundalini, I think it again depends on the tradition. For example, in kundalini based traditions, everything is kundalini. Interest in spiritual teachings is a result of kundalini. In other traditions, there is more of a difference between wisdom/consciousness/awareness/cit/Shiva and energy/power/qi/kundalini/Shakti at the baser levels. Speculating somewhat, I think this is reflecting in Taoism as the difference between xing and ming. Of course, these two are ultimately non-dual. So for instance when one discovers inner energy, this can be considered a type of energy awakening. Discovering and refining the witness would be more of an consciousness awakening. Having one doesn't necessarily mean that one also has the other, and different traditions often emphasize one over the other, or start at one over the other.

There's actually an interesting story about Ramana sitting in the cave. The story is that Ramana was cultivating nirvikalpa samadhi. The approach generally followed by Samkhya yogis was essentially to develop nirvikalpa samadhi, and then stay in it for longer and longer periods (interestingly, there is a similar technique in some Theravada schools.). The point eventually is to enter into nirvikalpa samadhi before death. Evidently, once the panditas got to Ramana, they explained to him that according to the scriptures, there is no difference to the atman between being in nirvikalpa samadhi or not. Once he realized this, he gave up cultivating nirvikalpa samadhi all the time.

For me, the Taoist worldview is based on this idea that the universe is, at its core, creative. In the West, we often think of the world as a series of inanimate blocks that we need to manipulate and control. But this is a mistake. There is a power that can spontaneously manifest if only we get out of the way. One of my favorite Taoist stories has to do with the farmer who tried to help his seeds grow by pulling on them. In applying this effort, he in fact ruined his crop. Had he properly practiced wu wei, the crops would have grown under their own power.

According to the Indian traditions, ignorance is lost and freedom is gained.

Have you heard people talk about I Am That and wondered what they were on about? Did you want to buy Qigong Empowerment, but it's just too expensive? Are you waiting for Waking, Dreaming, Being to come out in paperback you just can't justify paying for the hardback? Well, put those thoughts aside. Here's your chance to win! According to Michael Singer: I listened to most of his book, the Surrender Experiment, but it was so terrible I returned it. But the experiment is interesting. It describes fairly well a fundamental principle in all spiritual disciplines. The Bhagavad Gita says that one is entitled to labor, but not to the fruits. The karma yogi works, but dedicates his/her fruits to the cosmos. The idea is that the cosmos knows better than we do. Bodhidharma says that we should accept what happens on the basis of karma. From time to time, I acknowledge surrender, and I practice it every day. But what about on a larger scale? What about maximum surrender? I decided to give Singer's experiment a 100 day test. The basics are: 1. Open yourself up to what is unfolding before you. Pay special attention to the opportunities to help others or for spiritual practice. Say yes when you normally wouldn't. Pay attention to things that come up, or even better, the intentions that arise out of stillness. 2. Don't listen to your thinking mind, especially when it says you can't or that you're not qualified, or that you're scared. Common sense is okay. Moderation is key to some practices, such as yoga and qigong. 3. When making a decision, try to understand that what you want may not come. Allow the result to manifest. Negative results may be burning off off your ego. So far (I cheated and started a month ago), the results have been overwhelmingly positive in my practices. Stress levels are down. Bliss is up. Family harmony is up. I discovered the benefits of facing the cold and taking cold showers. I rediscovered spontaneous qigong. I'm taking a reiki class--- yes, a REIKI CLASS. I can do also do more push-ups. It also occurred to me to offer THIS CHALLENGE. Anyone who wants to take the challenge, post here that you're taking the challenge, then let us know what happens. In about 100 days, I will let the small, still voice pick a poster to win his/her choice of a reasonably priced book ($20-30) from Amazon.com. You can join anytime. To be eligible for the book award, you must be able to receive shipping from Amazon worldwide.

So this weekend I was out in nature helping cancer survivors and decided to see if I was up to cold immersion with the Wim Hof Method. The setting, about 11,000 feet. The air temperature was in the low forties (F). I don't know the temperature, but it was a mountain lake, and there was still snow around. I told the others I would try five minutes. To help, I said, "Well, this water gets warm with the sun, right?" "A mountain lake? Ha, ha!" said the hunter fisherman. They were skeptical, and to be honest, so was I. I ended up doing 10. I never thought I would ever be able to do anything like this before the surrender experiment.

While it's not really qigong, I'm currently taking this and it is hands down the best course I've taken so far, online or otherwise: Wim Hof Method

One month down. I've noticed that the mind wants to re-assert itself, so time to remind myself of the challenge. I cannot believe it's only been one month. Many great things have happened.

Root Sequence Sutta Highlight include: There is the case, monks, where an uninstructed run-of-the-mill person — who has no regard for noble ones, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma; who has no regard for men of integrity, is not well-versed or disciplined in their Dhamma...He perceives Unbinding as Unbinding.Perceiving Unbinding as Unbinding, he conceives things about Unbinding, he conceives things in Unbinding, he conceives things coming out of Unbinding, he conceives Unbinding as 'mine,' he delights in Unbinding. Why is that? Because he has not comprehended it, I tell you. ... The Tathagata — a worthy one, rightly self-awakened — ...He directly knows Unbinding as Unbinding. Directly knowing Unbinding as Unbinding, he does not conceive things about Unbinding, does not conceive things in Unbinding, does not conceive things coming out of Unbinding, does not conceive Unbinding as 'mine,' does not delight in Unbinding. Why is that? Because the Tathagata has comprehended it to the end, I tell you.

I have both of the dream yoga books, and would generally recommend TWR over ChNNR dream yoga book. The reason is that ChNNR is fairly tightly wrapped up with his method of guru yoga, which requires transmission (although this tranmission is fairly freely given). I do think dream yoga generally is tightly wound up with general Buddhist practice. I believe in both cases that dream yoga is a secondary practice. Beyond that, there is also quite a bit of Buddhist symbolism, and this symbolism integrates into a larger practice context. A lot of the symbols get there power through frequent use in different contexts. For example, the Tibetan letter "AH" is very important in certain practices, but may not be as important to someone who doesn't practice in this way. So working with this letter is going to be a different experience depending on one's background.

I've been using TWR's dream yoga techniques for the past few nights and it has certainly increased my overall dream recall.

It is not that there is no difference, but I fail to see a significant difference. In essence, one can say that the different types of energies are different forms of a unified energy, or parts of a spectrum. This is fairly standard in the non-dual teachings I am familiar with. Perhaps you come from a different tradition, or a dualist tradition, and that's fine. One example I tend to think of is water. Ice chills, while steam burns. Yet both are different states of water. This doesn't mean they cannot be distinguished, but it means they are simply different manifestations of the same thing. Another example is white light. White light through a prism is refracted into many different colors. Note that there is a conversion between jing, qi, shen, and Void. If you look at the traditional Chinese elements, they are not atomic the way they are often presented in the West. Rather, they way I have heard them explained is that they can represent different stages of an ongoing process. I have my own experiences but I don't present them as the "way it is." I have noticed that different people experience phenomenon differently, even physical phenomenon.

I don't see a significant difference between different types of energy. As for energy transmissions, in the Bible, the energy transmission is the second Baptism, or Baptism by fire (and with Holy Spirit). This is written about in Acts. Spirit is associated with both wind and breath, oddly enough, like prana and qi. Among certain Christian groups, this transmission is given through the laying on of hands, and many Pentecostals trace their source back to the original Apostles.

Have you met my friends Achilles and the Tortoise? http://www.ditext.com/carroll/tortoise.html

I think the example is backward. Longevity isn't against the flow of nature, it is with it. Most of the traditions I know say that longevity is a birthright, but that it is squandered largely through unhealthy living.

Short of complete liberation, I can think of no better way than to come to a direct understanding that everything we experience is a creation of the mind. This in itself can bring a large amount of relief. When you observe and then compare the different states of consciousness, you quickly learn some fairly good insights about what comes and goes--- memories, personality, gender, body, etc. My favorite states are the transitional ones: when one falls asleep or wakes up. If you pay attention, you can literally watch the world arise and dissolve.

Personally, I don't think it is possible to become immortal. If we are not immortal already, how do we change our essential nature from a being limited in time and space to one that is not? No matter how many limited things we put together, combine, or transform, we will only end up with a set of limited things. This isn't to say that I believe we are limited beings in the first place, however.

Let me preface by saying that I've been practicing some Wim Hof methods for the past month and I love them. I lost about 8 pounds and my energy levels are up. Having said that, I don't think his methods are similar to Tummo. Note that I am citing from Kathleen McDonald, who learned Tummo from traditional sources. Compare: Tummo-Lite Kathleen McDonald Wim Hof-Lite I think that Wim's method leverages bodily anatomy, whereas Tummo is more meditative. Accordingly, I actually think Wim's method is more accessible.

Except the Wim Hof method doesn't use vase breathing, not even close.

Wim Hof doesn't really do tummo. His techniques, as far as I can tell, come from his personal experiences with the cold. He has developed it to a freakish ability, but he has also trained people to become immune to viruses following his technique in a very short period of time.

It's an interesting list. I listened to Peter Kreeft's philosophy of religion class where he goes through the pros and cons of each argument. I find that the pro-God arguments tend to appeal to concepts of the higher good: truth, love, beauty. Anti-God arguments tend to appeal to pain, suffering, and other negatives. Ed Feser addresses some of your objections. I think the arguments are sound philosophically in that I think one could accept these arguments as a basis for a faith that is not inconsistent with reason. In fact, William Lane Craig has made something of a career demolishing prominent atheists in debate--- although that seems to have more to do with his skill in debating than anything else. http://edwardfeser.blogspot.com/2011/07/so-you-think-you-understand.html I'm not necessarily advocating one side or the other personally, just pointing out the situation is often a bit more complex than it can seem.

When people say they know there is no god, I'm curious as to what they mean by God, because usually it is a dumbed-down, straw man God -- typically a superhero type of God. Here are 20 arguments for the existence of God, created by philosophers throughout the centuries. http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm

From what I know about reverse breathing, it is intended to increase one's power. In my research, I've come across Western scientists who say that reverse breathing simulated how we are in states of anxiety. This makes sense because when we are feeling anxious, then we might be drawing in more energy to deal with our issue. Western research has also confirmed the absolutely calming and healing effects of belly breathing. So while belly breathing tends to calm and center, reverse breathing increases energy. However, energy destabilizes. In Buddhist teachings, energy is related to the element of air or wind. Air or wind blows things away, and the stronger the wind, the more destructive is can be. Personally, I think it is this destabilizing increase of energy that causes many of the psychological problems in these teachings. I think that's why so much time and emphasis is spent in both Buddhist and Taoist teachings developing a proper container that can hold these energies by rooting, centering, and grounding. Without a proper foundation, one can only go so high. Just some of my thoughts on the matter.

I might want to make sure its not a hernia or some other issue.

I'm not a qigong expert or teacher, but I feel like posting this. I've been taught from a number of teachers that standing is more of a gathering/increasing qi exercise. Nearly every teacher I've had did standing at the end of practice, which typically started with relaxing, then movement of some sort, then standing at the end. What I've noticed is that learning to relax and flow with gross movements makes it easier to relax in standing. When I first started to stand, I had nothing but tension. One of my early qigong instructors deeply impressed on me that qigong is about flow. Flow can be inhibited by a number of things. On a physical level, this can be muscular tension. On an emotional level, there are desires. One a mental level, these can be thoughts. All of these represent a contraction of one kind or another. One mistake I made for many years was trying to force the sensations with some sort of mental, emotional, or even physical tension. I thought I was helping the techniques to work, but as it turns out, I was stopping them FROM working by creating tension. But now imagine you have these tensions, then try to up the voltage with standing. This would only intensity the contractions. So in an effort to get it to work, one might then further increase the tension. Looking back, if I could have my earlier self do one technique to help with qigong, it would probably be laying down and relaxing completely.