.broken.

Certainly possible. The amount of acid Jim took could certainly account for some of the energies he would need to generate to raise the kundalini. I've met a handful 60s and 70s acid takers who have various abilities: seeing auras, opened 4th chakra, etc. each of them attributing it to their drug taking past... mainly acid, mushrooms and cannabis. There are as many paths to enlightenment as there are individuals, I reckon. Glenn's list of literary authors are almost all certainly 'awake'. Yours, James

If it does end, it'll end so quickly we won't have time to grasp the notion that this is our time. If it doesn't end I remain pessimistic that they will receive the results they were after and have to go back to the drawing board. Ho hum

It changes as I read around. For example, I am currently reading about Hinduism and I love the fact that it's a very broad term which includes a huge variety of philosophies... What do I love about it most? It's that these ideas have co-existed for many, many centuries with relatively little angst or aggression. However, I have always felt a strong pull toward Bon and Dzogchen teachings no matter what I am currently reading... Sufi-ism intrigues me, are there any teachers or teachings you could recommend above others? Yours humbly, James

No worries Forgot to add the Ankh to the list. Also, to give you an indication as to how much effort it can take to properly cleanse and activate a talisman, I saw a martial arts series where the presenter went to The Philippines and met a fighter who fasted and prayed with his talisman for 3 consecutive days. Only then did he deem it ready for wearing. Apparently if someone else touched it, he would consider it spoilt and pray with it for a whole day before deeming it ready once more. Anyway, it's all second hand information. I'm sure Google will be able to provide you with better answers Take good care, James

To name the most obvious: Pentegram Buddha Cross Celtic Cross Trinity symbol Most talismans, however, require a lot of prayer, cleansing and meditation before they become potent enough to use - at least, this is my understanding from the material I have been exposed to. You should check out talisman usage in the Philippines... They seem to rely heavily upon them. Yours humbly, James

Every day is a new experience my friend, never mind the months Welcome back to the path you will discover you never left! Yours humbly, James

I used to think that I knew what love was; how niave. I thought I had been there and done that; how wrong i was. I was brought up in an intelligent, loving and kind family. Although I had experienced family love all my life I could not tell you what family love was. I had an idea, a concept, born of their example yet I did not truely know. Only now do I know that the concept I had was false. To know love is not through experiencing the giving or the receiving end. To know love is to have an open heart and be part of an endless cycle - as you aptly put it, "flow". Love is a process, not a static thing. One must learn what love is by experiencing the flow. I have lain with a number of women, and if you had asked me when the energies were pouring from my heart whether I was in love, the answer would've been a resounding "Yes!". Yet I was only temporarily part of the flow. Foolish of me to think that I could be "in" love and "out of" love... I know I have never been seperated, I have just had my mind closed. How does one experience the flow? Practice and find out. I know I have only scratched the surface, yet I understand much more of it than others and many understand more about it than I. I am humbled before those who understand less and those you understand more. I admire, adore and rejoice at the state others are in. There is so much more to this than one can think, and yet there is so much more to learn. This is my love for all others. This is my love for my teachers. I am humbled before them and I learn to follow their example. Selflessness and love are inseperable. Yours, in most humble adoration, James

Kudos Steve Thanks for opening my mind to a new concept, that chi isn't gathered and built... it's already there. Much appreciated

Welcome back Hugo In which case you may want to do a little research on the path of jnana (meaning knowledge). It is one of three categories that Hindus describe as a path to union with the Divine. The others being karma (good deeds) and bhakti (devotion). Although jnana translates as knowledge, the practices usually include both the intellectual hunt for knowledge as well as meditative practices to encourage the growth of wisdom. As such, it was very much a path commonly followed by the higher castes in Hindu society as lower castes had little, if any, access to any formal education. If I remember rightly there were quite a few 'gurus' who came to enlightenment by having a deep think! I'm currently reading a very good introduction to Hinduism by K M Sen published by Penguin - highly recommend it if this is new territory for you. Yours humbly, James P.S. Sorry for being a little off topic folks

My pleasure dude Just wish that I had more to report on. I thought that I would add a wee note to say how blessed I feel to be living my (current) life as I am. A time where this is information literally at my fingertips from arguably some of the greatest teachers of our time. In less than two minutes flat I can order books from Nietsche, Loa Tzu, Confucious, Jesus, Mohammed, Sutras attributed to Buddha, Kant, Schopenhauer, William Blake... the list is almost inexhaustible. Many other places and opportunities exist but the growth that is capable for the intellect in this era, and even the spiritual in this era, is seemingly unsurpassed. And that's just the teachers who have left their mark on this civilisation and this species... those that are still alive are small fountains of knowledge which we can also tap. I think I am only just scratching the surface when Buddhists say that human life is precious - but my dear friends, it is perhaps the most precious thing I have come across so far! (Though, noted, I do not know any different... flashes of past lives, but these are easily dismissed as imagination.) I cannot help but smile at the trails and tribulations which are a part of human existence. So many good souls suffering - to ease it would be a blessing. If I could ease just yours SiliconValley, I would leap at the opportunity before the next beat of my heart. Yours too cat In humble admiration, James

Hello SiliconValley I have not yet done KAP 1. I just happen to have bouts of sensitivity where I am able to 'see' things... like Santiago glowing a whitish colour when he taught the last lot of KAP 1 students (incl. Vortex). I have signed up for the London workshop this Autumn/Fall and eagerly await it. However, I have been on the receiving end of some long distance energy transmissions from Santiago - as well as recently receiving an empowerment for a particular mantra. Been practicing the mantra for less than a week now but I can feel the prana flow through from my crown chakra to my feet and beyond. I also get some spontaneous movements (kriyas?) when practicing it. Good stuff Time for me to keep practicing!! At the end of the day I know that all these are just experiences but I cannot help but get excited and enthusiastic about it all - bit like the first time I felt chi, or the time I could make my flatmate feel my own projections, or the time I briefly attained samadhi. It's nice to be rewarded for the time one puts in Take good care bro, James

Sounds like a fun place See you in London my friend! James

Imo, it all depends on how the information is imparted. One has to be careful not to tell people that this is how it is, but informing them to keep an open mind about all things. There is a fine line between saisfying someone's curiosity and imparting one's own dogma upon others. I know, durkhrod, that you know of these things and I trust that you converse with great care - I just fear that someone might read this and get the wrong end of the stick. Most humble, James

Wow. It amazed me that this thread has developed on this forum. From a Buddhist point of view, I would like to note that those after a six pack are very attached to form - a well documented obstacle in spiritual progression. From a common sense point of view and if I were in this position, I would personally wonder why I am concerned with what others think. From a internal arts point of view, I have met a number of tai chi masters - some well built, some thin... it's simply genetics and NOT an indicator of health. It can be an indicator of health if it is onset through bad diet and a lack of exercise. But a well developed belly through breathing exercises. although perhaps quite sizeable, is not the be mistaken for bad health. Yours humbly, James

Well said! I work in the charity sector (fundraising/communications) and also volunteer every now and again. Brilliant... A superb feeling of elation at the end of the day. Nothing quite like it - spending your day helping others soothes the heart. Right livelihood My personal experience is that also regular social contact (not sexual) with females is soothing too. Practice-wise I do a massage that Yogani recommends before doing asanas, doing each of your limbs and after each one ending on the heart. Also, there are HAM - SA breaths which make my heart glow some As the above have mentioned diet is very important: fish oils, garlic, fruit (particularly apples), oats... Not to forget exercise, but unless all you do is seated meditation I would imagine you might have this one already in the bag! Stay healthy, James [edit for spelling]

I am honoured to have received this. I see now what I have never seen before. Simple, and profound. The nature of karma is fascinating. May love flow to all those here, and to you Santi I extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation. During the last KAP seminar I saw you and what looked like four students seated on the floor. The energy was immense - I will be sure to tune in later today Love, light and happiness, James

I did not say you are rude, that is just how the message read. For all I know you could be a saint I was bothered because I saw in you what I once had. Don't forget to smile Yours, James

sykkelpump, what are you attempting to prove? Even if the internal is "bullshit", what does it matter? I wouldn't waste my time satisfying your curiosity, so I do not see why Santiago should. You come across as rude and disrespectful of another's beliefs. Open your heart and happiness will find you, keep it closed and suffer accordingly. I wish you peace and joy, may they one day find you. Yours humbly, James

Honey is fantastic for the liver if taken before bedtime. A teaspoonful or tablespoon should be adequate. Apparently it sugars it contains help the liver to metabolise toxins... I believe it's called the hibernation diet - might be worth googling. Many swear by it for treating hayfever, particularly the local stuff. Eat it while it lasts, there's a virus killing many bees and it's spreading rapidly throughout the UK and perhaps other places around the world too! Enjoy the sweet flavour my friend James

Cheers Lino My right nostril only opened up pretty recently - think this might be a good way for me to go. Yours humbly, James

They are active, they exist, they too try to raise the kundalini. From indirect experience I believe that they still study other schools of metaphysics and spiritual practice and add it to their vast libraries of knowledge. As for the rumours of doom and gloom... take it or leave it. Yours humbly, James [editted to add this wee link for those interested in a broad education in alchemy]

Indeed I am.

Well written indeed I like the idea that reciting Buddha's name is just calling out to our own true self. It makes sense now that I have read it but it had never been explained to me in that way until now. Thank you for your insight. Yours humbly, James

Balance

Fantastic, wonderful and weird. His voice induced a trance like suspension of thought I have experienced a few times in the last 24 hours. There are many teachers it would seem these days whom teach a whole host of different methods. The methods seem to simply be a key to entering certain states of mind which are conducive to spiritual propegation. Growth appears to happen without effort, yet effort is needed to place oneself in such a state. AsEric23 implied, labels and words cannot place meaning on such insight, it can only be talked about in a round-about way. The penny only drops with practice. This recording, in my experience, was something unique. I am filled with living water and light. May others have the blessings to experience what I have, and go further in their practice. Om ah hung vajra guru padme siddhi hum. May each find a path of their own, James