Small Fur

Your final proposal is a complex theory to a profoundly simple experience. What makes you think death will release you from this dream? What makes you think this illusionary life cannot be a source toward truth in itself? Now that you are here, do not be afraid to live. It takes an honest and courageous heart to awaken into truth. The first step is to surrender the mental chatter that is this post. It is this cognitive deliberation that drives the conundrums within the inquiry that will obscure you from perceiving the totality of truth in its many forms, including the form you call 'dream'. You are allowing the ideas of life and death- you are allowing these semantics to conjure a sensation, another 'illusion', and an allusion to a potential that you do not yet fully understand and yet also fear to experience in its totality. So sit, relax. What is the true nature of this totality? You will understand once you have awakened. The process of Awakening is neither/both one of life or death- it transcends this, although it is possible for us to use that terminology to discuss. But since this language has been confounding to you, let me put it more simply: Awakening is a shift in consciousness. That consciousness is found in stillness and in silence because as pervasive and profound as it is, it is also subtle and transcendent. And it takes an equally subtle presence, in harmony, to recognize this state of Truth. In this life, you will only find this form of silence through the vessel of your body (this is a form of living). What must be surrendered is your idea (this is a form of death) of what that potential is or is not, what it might be or not be, and how it can be obtained. Have the faith to let go, the patience to be still, the courage to release the grasp towards death, life or even Awakening itself.

Hi Tulku, Yes, it is true that deep meditation can be more nourishing than sleep. I find that I feel not only more fortified, but also my insights and clarity are increased. The replenishment has a cleansing quality across many levels of body and also a deepening of awareness. This state requires that you have already experienced a level of awakening and that in this awakening you are also able to consciously reside your spirit into other planes of state. Meaning you must have not only awakened but you must also understand the 'mechanics' of the subtle bodies so that it can garner the nourishment of spirit to deliver back to the corporal body. While sleeping and meditation both require physical bodies, the majority of the transmutations that occur are not actually on this plane (hence the various and also differing associations of 'mystery' in these conditions). It is in these 'other' states that one's corporal body is fed, thus the physical replenishment through spirit. To clarify, this is not necessarily a mystical state. It is not the same as intentional dream travels or astral projections. And ideally, it does not come from a purpose in discipline. It is effortless and inherent. If you have not been under guidance or if your practice has not reached a point where this comes naturally to you, then my suggestion would be to continue on your path and not concern yourself with these "advanced" methods. Because both sleep deprivation and certain forms of meditation can lead to insanity, not 'advancing' beyond where you are at in practice is important. And, for that matter, it is not possible to experience this level of quality in 'waking rest' from a state of desire, even if that desire is for enlightenment; in fact, it is rather a contraindication. A 'disciplined' lack of sleep, even in meditation, will simply become another practice, not a transcendence. A threshold must have first been crossed. The forms reveal themselves naturally as you open into being. Warm regards, Mila

Hi, since you posted this under my thread, I didn't know if you meant for me to reply to you. Just in case, I thought I would reply to let you know that a conversation about chakras would be a long one. Longer than I would be interested to convey over this forum. 'Classically' you can find writings about what 'chakras' are associated with what state. But most of the popular writings are not complete enough and does not fully convey the dynamics of the chakras within the totality of the living system, nor will it answer specifically how you personally are attuned in the astral form. So, I acknowledge your question, but due to the complexity of this question and more accurately, how it actually relates to you personally- well, for that to be meaningful, I'd actually have to know you/ look into your body, etc.,.

Depending on the core place from which this dilemma arises in you, you can choose to resolve it in one or more of these basic ways: -You can hold the poles of the conundrum in your conscience until it dissolves and no longer retains the weight of meaning. -You can find the core of integrity within yourself from which both work and play mutually resonate and approach your routines from this genuine expression. -Or you can cut to the chase and release the polarities via conceptual limits. Be present, doing as you do, and give to that experience the qualities you'd like to bring. The principle here being: Don't limit your experience to an idea. Live it authentically.

Hi Rainbow_Vein, I think of the tip of the tongue to the palate as a subtlety. Its a nuance to the practice. The energy will not cease without the conduit, but it will flow more effectively. Think of it as a switch in the electrical circuit of engineering. First and foremost, this is the completion of the du and ren channels on the physical level of the energetic pathway. Secondly, there are a number of other cross-correlating factors. For instance, the soft palate at the roof of the mouth relates to the nasal passages which corresponds to the lungs; while the tip of the tongue is the manifestation of the heart and its channel. So, bridging the orbit creates a convergence between the vital breath, the virtues of the lung and the chi's incorporation into the pulse of the heart. Through a rhythm of cycle and pulsation, you are now entraining* the energy of the chi to the greater shen. Another facet, is that it creates an energetic cauldron in the mouth whereby, when the energy passes via the roof to the tip, the center of the tongue (now in greater connection) has the opportunity to absorb the 'flavor' of the energy. Because the body of the tongue is associated with the stomach channel and the energetic motion of the stomach is to assimilate your spiritual experiences, this harmonizes the chi throughout the body. Finally, another reason is that the upper jiao and the lungs are associated with the heavens. So by completing the circuit 'in the heavens' of your body and drawing it from the tip of your tongue heart to your chest organ you are essentially drawing the heavens into your heart. Based on my experience, these are among the few yet also essential reasons to integrate this nuance in to your practice. If you do it often enough, you'll stop even having to think about this oral mudra and it will become second nature every time you move into an energetic practice. I think its great that you noticed your own body and were self-aware to know that it is not imperative. And I think its also great that you've continued to gain a deeper understanding about what your instincts tell you. *Entrainment ▪ Entrainment (biomusicology), the synchronization of organisms to an external rhythm ▪ Entrainment (chronobiology), the alignment of a circadian system's period and phase to the period and phase of an external rhythm

_****HI, THIS IS AN ACCIDENTAL REPEAT POST ON MY PART. HOW DO I DELETE IT? THANK YOU**** Hi Rainbow_Vein, I think of the tip of the tongue to the palate as a subtlety. Its a nuance to the practice. The energy will not cease without the conduit, but it will flow more effectively. Think of it as a switch in the electrical circuit of engineering. First and foremost, this is the completion of the du and ren channels on the physical level of the energetic pathway. Secondly, there are a number of other cross-correlating factors. For instance, the soft palate at the roof of the mouth relates to the nasal passages which corresponds to the lungs; while the tip of the tongue is the manifestation of the heart and its channel. So, bridging the orbit creates a convergence between the vital breath, the virtues of the lung and the chi's incorporation into the pulse of the heart. Through a rhythm of cycle and pulsation, you are now entraining* the energy of the chi to the greater shen. Another facet, is that it creates an energetic cauldron in the mouth whereby, when the energy passes via the roof to the tip, the center of the tongue (now in greater connection) has the opportunity to absorb the 'flavor' of the energy. Because the body of the tongue is associated with the stomach channel and the energetic motion of the stomach is to assimilate your spiritual experiences, this harmonizes the chi throughout the body. Finally, another reason is that the upper jiao and the lungs are associated with the heavens. So by completing the circuit 'in the heavens' of your body and drawing it from the tip of your tongue heart to your chest organ you are essentially drawing the heavens into your heart. Based on my experience, these are among the few yet also essential reasons to integrate this nuance in to your practice. If you do it often enough, you'll stop even having to think about this oral mudra and it will become second nature every time you move into an energetic practice. I think its great that you noticed your own body and were self-aware to know that it is not imperative. And I think its also great that you've continued to gain a deeper understanding about what your instincts tell you. *Entrainment ▪ Entrainment (biomusicology), the synchronization of organisms to an external rhythm ▪ Entrainment (chronobiology), the alignment of a circadian system's period and phase to the period and phase of an external rhythm

Hi Chi Dragon, No problem. :-) Thanks for writing me back to let me know. I feel that one of the most beautiful qualities of the Chinese medicine system and its roots to Daoism is that it is concrete as it is abstract, and vast as it is deep. An infinite number of systems, thoughts, and experiences, can be drawn upon to analyze and synthesize ones existence in relationship to its concept. And yes, I cross-reference Western medicine because it has been integral in the development of modern TCM and the culture of the US, so its not possible to see clients and consider health without understanding those relationships. Plus, when you enter Chinese medical school, you are trained in both systems up to a degree. I think a few of my favorites areas of contemplations and experiences in relating it to Chinese medicine have been in learning theoretical astrophysics, as well as applied physics; experiencing nature; engaging in politics, experiencing metaphysical systems; practicing East Indian music; doing arts, and the study of anthroposophical, as well as, aryuvedic medicine systems. Hope you are well. We are having lovely sunshine here today!

Hi ChiDragon, Since you addressed me by question, I am posting to you. I just wanted to let you know that I generally do not respond to any statements on this forum that appear to be spoken from a place of hostility as its not a way in which I am interested in engaging with others. Are you yelling at me about something by placing multiple question marks, multiple times or are you just excitedly asking me a question? The tone of your question over the screen feels to me as if there is aggravation leading to prejudice or assumptions. I cannot tell if you are asking me a genuine question out of curiosity about my background and how I think about things, or if you are trying to demand that I prove myself. Because I do not feel certain about the emotions and intentions behind your post, I am not replying to it right now, but I did want to respond to you let you know I see your question and acknowledge that you have asked, especially in case you meant to inquire as a part of a process in understanding and supporting each other.

Some answers to your question: 1) Energetic Continuity. The tip of the tongue to the roof of the palate completes a circuit of orbit allowing energy to pass. Therefore, you want to keep this position for the duration of the entire practice to prevent discontinuity. 2) Duration. In this case, "too long" would best be limited to _what your system cannot handle_. How do you know what you can and cannot handle? Become self-aware of your own energies and gain an understanding of what this system means outside of theory. Learn how to sense energies through other (non-sexual) cultivation methods that focus on balance and sensitivity. This is going to better inform you of these advanced practices so that it is not merely an idea when you read about it, allowing you to perform them both more effectively and safely. Generally speaking, if you are not versed, I would not suggest anything longer than allowing the energy to simply pass through the head as in a course of a normal breath or cycle. You are not seeking to retain energy in the upper jiao during the beginning stages, rather, simply trying to clear blockages and enhance movement in the channel, so learning to circulate it achieves this aim. 3) Health Safety. Unfortunately, the practices he has suggested are presented out of context, without sufficient supporting historical and medical context to be safely and accurately practiced by one who is not deeply immersed in Chinese system medical theories, and therefore, is potentially dangerous to people who have not cultivated higher sensory awareness of subtle energies. Therefore, I would suggest taking precaution in doing this particular practice, especially because this energy is potent and can lead to mental instability and other serious physical imbalances, including genital dysfunctions. I am not persuading or dissuading you from these practices, but I do personally feel that it is important you are informed about what you are doing and have a clear understanding of _why_ you are working on these techniques. My response here hardly even begins to cover a level of supporting information necessary to perform these disciplines safely and effectively. [As reference, I note that I am professionally trained in Classical Chinese Medicine and am highly experienced in subtle energy anatomies]

Transcendence. On the level of awakening, yin and yang are resolved and are no longer separate- self and other/ this and that/ yin and yang; they become and Are the great 'nothing'. And, it is not that there is not emotion or other possible states in the formed being. It's just that, it doesn't matter anymore to your awakened being. You are no longer attached to the variety of displays in yourself or in others- whether this be physical, material, emotional, or otherwise. The awakened self is free, allowing the diverse states of emotion to be in greater harmony, in a resonance with one another, like in an immense song- the totality of that sound resulting in a 'sound of silence' and thus, that harmony appears exteriorly as an expression of equanimity. But even that equanimity is not itself exactly an emotion, but nor is it the state of realization itself, but rather a type of reflection of what has been realized. This is a really beautiful, simple and thoughtful question. Thank you for asking it. Blessings on your path. Namaste

Tulku, There are many forms and layers to what you call 'death'. To simplify the concept by using an amplified word without understanding it could be misleading. One cannot 'embrace' absence, per se, for it isn't there to be had. So, the rush to attach oneself to 'death' is an illusion, especially also because death is not separable from life. This is true of all forms of cycles, including the mystical and the spiritual. Having died many times over and across many layers, I can tell you, it is rather simple and nothing so spectacular. In fact, it is as death is: non-eventful. And yet, therein lies the potential for the profound. 'Death' is the step into 'life', and 'life' is a path to 'death'- it is not an escape to and from anything, but rather a rhythm of breath and continuation. Having read many of your posts now, I really appreciate how strong and dedicated you are to transcending the misery you feel inside. And I sense that in your desperation and fervor to escape what has pained you, you have embroiled yourself in a battle that cannot be 'won' through might, but rather that your actual path will come through surrender, calm, and grace. Have the courage to rage, scream and cry your heart out about what has wounded you so deeply, and then let what is left, be the grace that carries you through… to the actual peace you need. My warm regards to you, Mila

Yes, this is true. And just because one can see with clarity the Truth, does not mean we cannot use the multitude of tools available to affect the wellbeing, and ultimately awakening of others.

Dear ffvii, The most simple way to "release a desire" is to do just that: release it. Practice it as a principle of non-attachment- this releases you from the duality of reactions. There is no need to dwell in it positively or negatively, nor resist it when it arrives. Rather simply be aware and allow it to pass. Bringing a presence of grace to the matter of witness should help to bring ease as the tumultuom moves through and around you. Use your energy to cultivate yourself more deeply. But again, don't cultivate energy as a form of resistance to desire, do it in acknowledgement of yi (the spirit of intention within- notice that this is a spirit, not a mental exercise. so move as spirit does, not as mind wants to dictate). It is not necessary to have desire to enjoy or live life. Momentum doesn't need justification or lure to move as it does.You don't need desire to know that you are clinging to a rock in a moving river. And eventually, you will need to do something other than stay attached to this weight. When you reduce your sense of desire, you will be able to dance in the river with greater clarity. Living is clearer when you do not presuppose or seek to predefine, as life exists beyond the confines of our self-limiting expectations.

Oh! And here I thought the biggest oxymoron to hinder awakening is that we are all on a forum trying to name all sorts of parts of the 'unnamable' one. (there isn't an emoticon big enough to express my hilarious joy of this!) Oh what fun it is to ride on the dharma wheel of life!

Is there a "problem" with people, really? Really? I have never noticed a 'problem' with anyone. There are states of greater benefit to our wellbeing than others, but neither condition need be a 'problem'. The conception of a 'problem' is a perception that often undermines and perpetuates itself. In Chinese, there is a character for the idea of 'crisis'. It is composed with strokes for 'danger' and in that, also 'opportunity'. Even in crisis there is opportunity. Hold the deepest regard you can for the core of everyone's light. Learn to look into one's beauty when you gaze; even upon the seemingly destitute and perverse. Their wellbeing is a reflection in your eyes. Why not act with the utmost grace from the core of your own being. Likewise, why not express that through speaking mindfully when you post. I assume the intent to post this significant observation was to 'enlighten' everyone with your 'realization' of their 'fear'. So why not speak of it from a place of power in compassion.

Hey there Astral, So, did you end up finding significant additional information on the 72 chakras? If so, please share. Thanks!

Hi Informer, Yes, there is definitely a soul. I see it (literally not symbolically) in the windows of the eyes, in others lives... even before and after life. The soul is different to, but related to spirit, which is similar but different and also related to a larger unity. More frequently, a spirit may leave the body rather than the soul- sometimes as part of their natural function (like what the Taoist call hun or po) or its capacity is diminished due to illness, emotions, malintent, and/or trauma. The soul, as I have seen it, doesn't really exist inside the physical body, per se, it is more omnipresent than that ( -but this means you could also argue that it very much resides in the body!) Rather, I would say, it's quality infuses the body's life force; in this way, much of the formation of the body is due to the map of the solar body. More importantly, the soul is also, not just one 'thing.' The light in the eyes carries the little spirit shen from the heart. This little shen is deeply entwined with the big Shen of the soul. And, when in severe trauma, it is certainly not uncommon for the shen spirit to vanish or leave the body. In many cases, I have also seen that people incarnate without deep relationship to their soul. This often leaves a feeling of great flatness/apathy and disconnection. And quite often, these people are likely not to believe in spiritual-based/mystic-based conceptions, especially because they have not experienced it in this life time. Many of these people are more comfortable to designate their experiences to scientific data, prefer more seemingly rational concepts like that of the intellect, or will just flat out discount anything that is outside of their realm of tolerance. And more often than not, the denial of or inability to have really touched the soul leaves a bitterness, even when we want to doubt. Some have glimpses here and there, but unable to comprehend the totality of dimension and depth of our existence, remain without clarity and so continue to perceive it as 'mystery'. We speak from what we know and sense of life. I do want to note, that the concept of spirit and soul varies across cultures and spiritual practices, and that many people use these terms interchangeably without distinguishing, or really knowing what they mean, and even being aware of the relationships. This often causes more confusion. In addition to the idea being largely theoretical, philosophical or poetic for most (if not discardable all together), many have a very static and simplified notions of the soul or spirit and they are largely discrete. So, for me to even speak of it, so casually as I have here, is a quite a bit of a misnomer in itself. You are questioning this because of that experience with RT? Many aspects of ourselves will come and go over a life time, but allowing yourself to feel your heart is something that best remains when even there is pain.

Cat Pillar, Dreaming is a form of reality and a type of experience. Reality and experiences take on many dimensions and can be explored at many levels. Rather than worrying about a theory as to whether the reality within dreaming can affect the experience of waking, just ask yourself what it has meant in your own life. If your experiences in dreams have disturbed you than that's the important information you need to know to begin to heal yourself. Just as dreams have the power to be painful, they can also have the power to be healing. Just as your waking life is affected by dream, so can you affect your dream life through the waking life. The veil between what we call each of these states is as thin and permeable as the blink of an eye.

In address to your question briefly from my particular academic, practitioner and experiential basis- Ming Men- is both an acupuncture point and a gateway that houses a field of energy in the body. It is literally a pivot point and thus a pivotal point through which we are infused with the many dimensions of our existence. The experience of this point provides us with a greater understanding of what informs our existence, and hence, in health, provides an aspect to the totality of wisdom in our life. Hui Yin- is an acupuncture point located on the perineum. It is spiritual point with implications upon our mortality because it the point through which the spiritual energy of formation enters and leaves the system. Relationship of kidneys and testicles- The kidney houses the primordial essence of life. This essence is known as jing. The testicles house the seed of this jing in the form of semenal production. Hui Yin and Root Chakra- Hui yin is located in the same place as the root chakra, but it's overall dimensionality is significantly smaller (assuming an ideal state of energetic health) than the root chakra. The functionality, process and access of both is superficially similar, but also quite deeply different. And, they give formation to the physicality of your existence in different ways. Thus its energetic implications would affect the perspective and approach toward addressing health, treatment and cultivation practices. Stopping the leakage- Without knowing you, I can not address this specifically. But generally speaking, practices which transmit or transmute energy from the base of the perineum would be of benefit.

In address to your question briefly from my particular academic, practitioner and experiential basis- Ming Men- is both an acupuncture point and a gateway that houses a field of energy in the body. It is literally a pivot point and thus a pivotal point through which we are infused with the many dimensions of our existence. The experience of this point provides us with a greater understanding of what informs our existence, and hence, in health, provides an aspect to the totality of wisdom in our life. Hui Yin- is an acupuncture point located on the perineum. It is spiritual point with implications upon our mortality because it the point through which the spiritual energy of formation enters and leaves the system. Relationship of kidneys and testicles- The kidney houses the primordial essence of life. This essence is known as jing. The testicles house the seed of this jing in the form of semenal production. Hui Yin and Root Chakra- Hui yin is located in the same place as the root chakra, but it's overall dimensionality is significantly smaller (assuming an ideal state of energetic health) than the root chakra. The functionality, process and access of both is superficially similar, but also quite deeply different. And, they give formation to the physicality of your existence in different ways. Thus its energetic implications would affect the perspective and approach toward addressing health, treatment and cultivation practices. Stopping the leakage- Without knowing you, I can not address this specifically. But generally speaking, practices which transmit or transmute energy from the base of the perineum would be of benefit.

A useful way to get a clear sense of what "in general" means is to bring awareness to the vocal intonations and physical cues of the presenter; listen carefully for the subtleties of architecture in the language; and hear the totality of the statement being presented; while accounting for the personal and intercultural vantage point of the speaker. And the way to perceive this accurately is to listen sincerely, feel with neutrality, and sense with acuity while utilizing a mind that is informed and aware in order to discern. Therefore, in essence, the ability to accurately perceive this or any other question follows the principles of meditation: that listening happens sincerely requires Ding- to be still and Jing- to be quiet physically and mental that one be mentally and emotionally in neutrally requires Xu- emptying of the mind that true awareness requires Ling- being alert and intuitive So it follows that living and acting from the state of meditation allows us to have clarity of heart and mind in action, which in this case, is response to the idea of 'in general'. And this includes, any portion of of this thread. It is fairly uncommon that when people are in lectures or discussions that they sit around ready to pull out a dictionary or look up the statistical measures of a term in order to determine the 'logic' that their thoughts and emotional processes could take. Looking at the level of emotionality and attachment the very idea of this thread has elicited in respondents gives reflection to the principles of understanding and clarity I mentioned above. This survey was not intended to measure logic (as stated by the originating author). Nor is the surveyor trying to be entirely scientific in his measure. It is a causal survey about eliciting gut reactions towards a term with a skew factor towards this same term when used within a provocative phrase set. He elicited what he wanted and if you keep arguing for one side, you fall into a certain, more subtle quality of statistic in his survey. ;-)

Dear Mewtwo, It is sweet that you share this concern. In my experience, the form that beings take in this life may be differ significantly to the presence of the soul form. There is a period after death, where souls usually stop to do some individually focused 'processing'. Thereafter, the path a soul continues depends upon many factors; including previous lifetimes, agreements that have been made, and transpiration at the waypoint. It also depends on many other spirits and the state of the universe. The soul actually has many aspects of form and it can be seen through the eyes. One of those forms is not as an 'individual' entity, per se, but as part of a larger constellation of celestial bodies. Which means, partly, that our soul composition is comprised of relationships to others. There are many methods of increasing the possibility of reuniting with another soul, some of which depends on what you do together in this life time- from unintentional things, to simple things, to grand things! And, I believe that you and the other will each have an opportunity to discuss this individually with the beings at the 'way point' if you desire. But remember, souls don't look like or act like 'people'. Who we are on one plane, in one aspect of existence, is not necessarily the same as else where. Time changes as we pass through planes of space, and so will form. The reunion of souls may not mean the same to you in another life, in another form, in another circumstance or way of being. So, my suggestion is not to be attached to any one outcome or who someone appears to be to you in this lifetime. Love them now while you are both here together. Love them well. Love as purely as you know how. The 'right' things will come to pass. Do not worry. Grace to you and your love one, Mila

Makyea, I have medical training in Chinese medicine and acupuncture and am part of an extensive network of practitioners in the holistic health field. If you are interested, I would be happy to connect you to individuals or clinics in your area that can assist you. You are welcome to private message me at: [email protected] and I will promptly reply. I have not met Ya Mu, but his offer to refer you is generous and I have a good feeling about who he is. So, it seems fortunate he decided to reply to you about your medical concern and I wanted to express my support for him and for your wellness. If you haven't already contacted him, I feel quite certain he would also provide you with some wonderful leads similar to and also different than my own. This will help diversify your list of potential sources for assistance. Best to you, Mila

Hi Todd, Lots going on here that you have shared and more than meets the eye. To answer generally, I mentioned other dimensions, partly because broadening our conceptions gives us opportunity to deepen the understanding we have of ourselves and existence. The inspiration to mention this is based on experience that moves beyond ordinary perception and theories. I would be glad to reply to you more about your post in private. Preferably, if you don't mind sending me an email off the forum to: [email protected], I can respond to you there. Please give me a little time to compose a reply. Thanks for your question and your insight into my post. Mila

Yes.