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In case you haven't heard about it, Star Citizen is a first person universe space MMO game, and it is almost entirely crowdfunded. It started with the biggest crowdfunding campaign ever and currently has been funded with over 100 million dollars and has over a million registered people. What I find so interesting and also fascinating, captivating and uplifting is how this project pretty much represents the antithesis to the much-cursed corporate business approach that boils down to greed and thus fear. Star Citizen on the other hand is rooted in the passionate ideas of one person who can call all the shots and has, together with people sharing his dream, gathered a team of very competent people to make it happen. And pretty much everything trickles down from that point. This describes the basic mindset and approach: http://robertsspaceindustries.com/the-pledge I am so excited about this because it is like pioneer work for a necessary turnaround if you will, fueling endeavors with love instead of abstract existential fear. I mean, if you look at the 'big business' world, it's pretty much a club of people with deep and severe issues who build a pampering zone for avoiding to resolve those issues, and thus they succeed in the environment they build and spread that fear via system design. I come from a skeptic and hesitant stance, generally considering "Early Access" games a total "no", yet I found myself spending quite a lot on helping to make this game succeed, a game which is currently in alpha development phase. Not only that, but I very actively help finding bugs and writing reports about them so that others benefit from a better game earlier. This again reminds me of how being involved in something meaningful that helps shape a better future fills me with energy. In my life situation, I should be all focused on taking, not giving, but I don't mind at all in this case, for I know this is worth it. It is nice to see projects cropping up in various areas of life that live the solution instead of fiddling with the problem. You might have heard about things like urban farming initiatives and such, but here you see, even in game development changes are getting really big and indie gaming is no longer something you can associate exclusively to small-scale projects. I'm curious to hear the thoughts from people in this spiritual community about it. Also feel free to ask any questions you might have. I have quickly become somewhat of an expert on this topic by now, mostly effortlessly. :-) Before I keep turning this into a book... A link says more than a thousand words ... or how did the saying go? ^^ General game overview: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/about-the-game/spaceflight Current state of the game: https://robertsspaceindustries.com/feature-list

dude be strong and never give up on your dream. u can still become a ballerina if you give your 100%. we all are rooting for ya.

The single rarest and most precious ability in today's world is to be normal. It is WAY easier to learn to emit, transmit, transmute, whatever, qi, ki, prana, light, heat, shit... it is easier still to grow big meat armor around your bones and big smartass know-it-all armor around your mind... big big big whatever you need to grow big so as not to feel so small and powerless inside... which is still how you feel after you've added all those big abilities on top of all your other defenses... I don't mean you personally, obviously... ...much MUCH easier... ...than to normalize any of the damaged, destroyed, twisted things in a human being who is chasing something a normal human being wouldn't begin to need. Someone who is not hungry does not dream of an eternal dinner. Someone who was a normal baby having a normal life doesn't dream of being a baby forever -- only those who missed out do. Someone who was loved from the start doesn't grow up to seek compensatory love from the whole world. Someone who truly loves doesn't love the whole world -- only those to whom it matters. Normal is not impressive. Abnormal is. However, if you're after something tremendously challenging, unconditionally rewarding, uniquely hard to find, and largely unavailable to everybody else (which seems to be what the seekers of "something impressive" are all after -- they don't want it if someone else can have it too, they want exclusivity), if you want to hunt down the biggest game in the jungle, go for normal. I'm not kidding. And... oh... one thing to keep in mind... If you can't really get a definition, much less a demonstration, of what "normal" is from someone "super-normal" or "paranormal" or "enlightened" or "on the true path" and so on -- if their power of internalizing/embodying tao, nirvana, kundalini, tortellini, whatever, stops short of being able to internalize and embody normality -- stay as far away from them as possible.

Not quite on the same wavelength with you here, Dream Bliss. If mathematics is mental masturbation, quantum physics must be too, because it is interwoven by mathematics wherever you look which you will be quick to find out once you investigate it a little further than by watching pop science videos.

Unless you are naturally gifted dream work takes time and effort. IMO many dreams are 'junk' dreams, misc regurgitations of days events and various fears and wishes. Recurring dreams go beyond that, showing aspects the subconscious wants us to examine. Dream work goes very deep as you gain lucidity. Personally I don't buy into the whole are we may be butterflys dreaming we're men dictum. A great modern teacher is Robert Bruce, he's done lots of research and has quite a bit of free material available.. Here is a link to an interview http://www.theartofastralprojection.com/blog/interview-with-robert-bruce and http://www.astraldynamics.com/home/ Michael

Hello everyone!, I'm sure you've all heard it before but I haven't seen it yet on here... Dreams are a form of Shared Consciousness. When we dream... where is it that these events happen? Is what we perceive in a dream, only taking place in our minds? If in fact we all are existing within a Holographically complete universe.... then each one of us is only the smallest of parts of the whole. Holographically, meaning that even the smallest part of the larger item contains all of the information that is contained with the much larger whole. No matter how small the piece is... no information is missing. And everything that is, and ever will be of the whole, also exists inside of us, at all times... We are just not able to normally access it in the conscious state of mind, but when sleeping, or in very deep meditation.... we attain this level of consciousness and are able to do all manner of things. So... Dreaming is a shared state of consciousness with the universal unknown. When people have prophetic dreams, they are merely accessing this information, which is all and everything happening at once. There is no time, there is no separation, there is only information, knowledge and experience to be shared, which these people do and then bring the information back to the conscious level. Peace!

BTW, in case we cross paths in a dream again, my dream body often looks a lot like this:

Your question is extremely vague, but let me say this: Anything is possible in dreams because from what i've read and experienced we create dreams through our own mental bouncing from thought to thought. Just because you projected fire from your finger-tips in a dream does not mean you are destined to do so in the future. -Are day to day mental meanderings often show in our dreams, if your thinking about siddhis all day then guess what will probably show up in your dreams?! -Also i'll dare say that focusing on Siddhis or enlightenment is often a distraction and just a product of the ego. -You talked about being Lord of your Dreams. Although i have never had a lucid dream it is my understanding that once you develop a degree of mental acuity and stillness you can create your own dreams with your thoughts through lucid dreaming. -For more info on the nature of dreams and interpreting them Bruce Vance's book Dreamscape is a good reference. http://www.amazon.com/Dreamscape-Voyage-Alternate-Reality-Quest/dp/0835606481/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1 -My 2 cents, peace.

That could be a very long answer . Firstly you should be using the mind, the mind should not be using you. The mind is not the driver or the 'master controlling circuit. It is a tool to be used and one of the main 'magical weapons' . From an 'eastern perspective', I ascribe to the 'no mind' concept. Which isnt actually no mind , but ' correct use of mind ' , but here we are back at the beginning again - I feel this is best described by ( and the wrong ideas about this concept pointed out by ) Thomas Cleary in the 'Japanese Art of War ' . The best and briefest way to describe that is , in 'swordplay', to have a clear , relaxed and 'openly focused' mind .... I like to visualise 'clear blue sky' in a match . Hermetically, I ascribe mind - in correct function - to elemental air, and for me, it has to take its place as 3rd position; first is fire, inspiration / aspiration, individuation, connection to 'spirit' * , 2nd is water , how you 'feel' about something, your sympathies and empathies, understandings, intuition, 'subconscious' ( 'dreaming on' something , 'sleeping on it ' - running it through the unconscious , etc ) , connect it to 'soul' ** , 3rd is air ; mind mentation calculation, sensibilities, logistics, achieve/abilities, various pathways to accomplishments, possibilities , etc and 4th physicality , accomplishing, manifesting. MInd is 3rd. Many of us have confused, volatile and disrupted emotional body, and the fire plane is little understood, so they get knocked out and air ' fills the void ' . Problems. Any idea, action, point, etc should manifest out of fire, be qualified by water, run through air and manifested in earth *** . Without fire we are unoriginal and uninspired, without water we lack understanding and compassion, we dont have an emotional connection with what we are doing, without mind we can go off on all sorts of silly and impractical ideas and without earth, and manifestation, what's the point anyway, it was all just a pipe dream. Then there is the whole issue of mind working for you , supportive and critically ... but not working against you critically; one needs to 'make peace' with the mind, one should not have the mind as an enemy or a subversive or dissident in the camp. Maybe more on this ^ later as it is deeper in to air and mind, and probably more important. * one's essential individual unique nature ** one's desire to have imaginative forms expressed in some form of 'outer reality ' *** and each one of these elements needs to be qualified and balanced within itself : The Powers of the Development of the Soul ( An extract from an instructional paper from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ) " Be thou therefore prompt and active as the Sylphs, but avoid frivolity and caprice; be energetic and strong like the Salamanders, but avoid irritability and ferocity; be flexible and attentive to images like the Undines, but avoid idleness and changeability; be laborious and patient like the Gnomes, but avoid grossness and avarice. " So shalt thou gradually develop the powers of thy soul, and fit thyself to command the Spirits of the elements. For wert thou to summon the Gnomes to pander to thine avarice, thou wouldst no longer command them, but they would command thee. Wouldst thou abuse the pure beings of the woods and mountains to fill thy coffers and satisfy thy hunger of Gold? Wouldst thou debase the Spirits of Living Fire to serve thy wrath and hatred? Wouldst thou violate the purity of the Souls of the Waters to pander to thy lust of debauchery? Wouldst thou force the Spirits of the Evening Breeze to minister to thy folly and caprice? Know that with such desires thou canst but attract the Weak, not the Strong, and in that case the Weak will have power over thee. "

There are good methods of two kinds: 1. Ornamental. 2. Healing. Ornamental methods are employed by the healthy people to achieve an effect for effect's sake, basically for fun and for the joy of life and not for any ulterior purpose, such as for health or for enlightenment. Healing methods are employed by the sick people to illuminate the nature of their sickness. Once the sick person understands one's own sickness, one can get better. All sicknesses are caused by ignorance of some sort. Thus a good healing method produces an experience that directly challenges an ignorant presupposition. For example, let's say for the sake of discussion that a person has an ignorant presupposition that says, "Reality is something different from dreams." What's a good method to heal such ignorance? Well, a good method is to teach the person to lucid dream. Then inside the lucid dream the person can see first-hand how the dreams are identical to reality in every conceivable way. Once the ignorant presupposition has been cured, the method is no longer necessary. At least, the method is no longer necessary in its healing capacity. It may still be useful in an ornamental capacity. There is also a third kind of a method, which is a bad kind: 3. Stagnating method. The purpose of the stagnating method is to maintain the status quo without challenging any presupposition while carrying on a pretense of working for a higher purpose. So the pretense of a higher purpose disqualifies the method from category 1. And the fact that the method doesn't challenge any presupposition eliminates it from category 2 as well. Such a method is a waste of time. What say you?

I know! I know! I know!!!! For many years that was a dream of mine but the dream never became a reality. Now my travelling days are over because I have established myself a life so that it would be impossible for me to go travelling again. However, I did go to "Splendid China" a few times when it was in Orlando, Florida. They employed Chinese nationals who came to the states on worker's visas. I met one lovely lady, a dancer in a Chinese opera presentation. I so regret not having persued a closer relationship with her. She was so nice to talk with. But still, we can still see the world simply by looking out our window. I still do that.

Wonderful ! The whole post is good, but I want to focus on this bit ^ . 'Disassembling' .... exactly - thats why many psychic visions of the Sahamn's initiation ( where he actually becomes a shaman) is about the disassembling of the physical body and organs. This has nothing to do with an ego approach and entering the experience this way , one is doomed to failure. The Shaman that successfully passes his tests and trials (initiation) will be in a type of compliant, dream like, or 'impelled' state. Much like UFO abductees report ... they are relatively helpless and compliant. How many times have you heard one of these 'abductees' claim 'Then the big one approached me with the probe. so I jumped off the table, kicked him in the nuts, grabbed the probe and .... ' 'That is the ego / hero approach .... just like in the myth of Hercules; trying to navigate through the 'Mysteries' by taking ego with him. he failed miserably ... but this is a very popular approach with the masses ... actually so popular, the whole Hercules failure ( of his initiation into the mysteries ) story brought about the concept of 'The Lesser Mysteries ' ... a type of mystical 'best achiever award ' But they do make popular heros ... I think we all know how popular the guy is that jumps off the table and snatches the probe 'Yo ! Alien ! You wanna see my arse ? Here ! Take a close look ! " [ " Here's the idea Will ... you leap off the wall and land with an elbow between the aliens shoulder blades... can you do that ? " " Of course I can ... here - Oh Christ ... my baaaack ! " ]

This advice is a bit different than my own experience. Mainly in that Salvia is nothing remotely like shrooms (nor is any plant like any other IMHO), and pure DMT is not the strongest by any means, I find it milder than many plants, particularly impure DMT that still contains a bunch of yet unidentified plant psychoactives (sometimes referred to as 'jungle spice'.) Pure DMT is neat, but the complete set of compounds the plants include offers a stronger experience IMHO. Trying jungle spice with no DMT in it is a deeper ride than pure DMT in my experience, your results may vary. As humans don't understand the technology of the mind or body or plants, the best we achieve is some stumbling in the dark assigning arbitrary labels to what we bump into. All that you dream of drinking will not quench your thrist. Unlimited Love, -Bud

A real shaman knows he has to earn it ..... what do you think the shaman's initiation is all about ? Encountering forces that may destroy you or rip you psychically apart, having your organs removed and eaten, having your bones removed and replaced with iron ones, how to control animal spirit possessions , having quartz crystal rods inserted into your chakras .... and so on, whether in real or dream states ... you think it doesnt have to be earned ??? Carefull there little fox ? It is not 'effort alone' but that doesnt mean one ignores the effort required . What good are snow chains and ice spikes if the wheels are not turning in the first place ... it ( in your own example) is all about the correct application of effort ... in my observations, over time, and throughout many 'esoteric fields' you tend to approach you seem to be the one spinning your tyres .... it is a 'calling' in a way but not just a calling . Any real path of shamanism - you will be tested and you have to earn it . Unless its some fake type of new-age ,shallow, ego - ' shamanism ' . Or a 'self - imagined shamanism ' ( read ; 'self - made ' ) .

We propably all do guess work, excuse me if I offended any realized beings that dwell on TDB, so that's what I'm doing as well - specially with regard to Nirvana But ilumairen, I would call that a healthy and functional human being Something worth aspiring to, but I'm not sure if it is the same as non-abiding Nirvana or Buddhahood, full enlightenment? Would you say that a being on the bodhisattva grounds perceives or clings to body/mind while in meditative equipoise? Also I guess the zen people use this line about killing body/mind or dropping body/mind to show that realisation is not to be found in either the body nor the mind (the body and the mind get liberated) But that actual liberating insight goes beyond apprehension of body/mind Doesn't nullify them sure, they'll still appear like dream characters but without any ordinary grasping that is still there in ordinary dreams More like an old man watching children's play

I see Buddhism slightly differently. Our experience (Buddhism is about the nature of experience, the nature of things 'in themselves' isn't the point here) is what it is, but we misprocess it out of ignorance and mistake that confused mess for the experience itself. So it's not that there's a reality hidden behind the appearance, it's that we're actively projecting a falsehood onto the reality. So then the whole idea that awakening is about escaping a dream life doesn't apply. Life is just life - so why not see it as it is? Waking up from the illusions we project means total immersion in the actual experience as it really happens. Which doesn't sound too different from Daoism to me. We can be rid of the illusions of permanence, self, etc. Illusion is a distortion of our natural condition - ignoring some chunks of experience and over-magnifying others results in a distorted picture, and it causes a subtle tension to constantly be running away from our own experience. Constantly blocking out that bit there, shifting that across, a never-ending struggle to create a convincing image of stability with a subject (self) at the center of it all. So long as we aren't awakened, we're constantly processing experience to try to get it to fit our delusions. Which makes it impossible to truly embrace experience, to truly just be. So much more free, open and simple to see in the seen just the seen, in the heard just the heard, in the sensed just the sensed, in the cognized just the cognized...

Everyday on the news I watch another boat load of migrants being hauled out of the Med ... many are complete families including small children and pregnant women, old grannys too - who in their right mind would think it the best thing to do to subject your own family to such risks. Sure I still have human sympathy for people suffering - but it's obvious that they are following some kind of bizarre false dream of life in Germany or elsewhere - some kind of mythical shangrila. Its ridiculous.

If you know that you have no thoughts, you are wrong, because when you don't have any thoughts you don't know that you don't have any. It's like when you are practicing a sport that needs concentration to win, you won't know that you are concentrated when you actually are. So forget about the fact that you need to concentrate (for example when you are meditating on a sound), just be the sound. When your mind is completely relaxed on that sound, you'll start to have like strange "dream thoughts", that's when you'll be at the edge falling asleep. Don't fall completely into these "dream thoughts" (or you'll fall asleep), but stay aware.

It's all good Shroom Cat. If you feel the need to explain things to yourself in light of others, than fret and fear not. This is the very reason to it's core of what real spirituality is all about- learning from each other, and being honest with oneself, so as to illuminate that which is not understood. Now, through the many people who speak here on this site, as well as the many people who have been cited throughout written recorded human history, a longing for deeper understanding of all things has been expressed. This essential curiosity and deep yearning expresses itself through all that life is and every question that we can ask about it. Said in many ways, "the meaning of life".."The search for truth.".." The search for all knowledge." The quest to understand oneself." It is all at it's most simplest form a search for answers, is it not? " Why are we here?" " Why this? " Why that?" People have taken many different approaches to find the answers or things that they are looking for. Hence you have all the different ways of expressing these expressions... philosophies, religions, science, mathematics, energy practices, etc. etc. that go back as far as anyone can remember. Some people find the answers, some do not. Some people make things up that sound good to themselves, some people stop looking all together, some people forget and forgive, some people love to hate, and some people hate to love, some people love to love... some people don't believe in hanging onto things, some people do. It's endless. There are too many people living the life they want to live to be able to have time to give you whatever it is that you are trying to get, that somehow you do not think you can get by yourself. But that's just it. No one can live your life for you, you are here as the outcome of some previous action, you have a free-will to live and to believe in what you want, you have your own time to do whatever it is that you like. That's where I would start. I would start in understanding the questions that I want to have answered, I would write them down. I would write down what I want to achieve in my life and let it be the biggest dream that I have ever dreamed. I would not let anyone tell me how or what it is to be, or why. Since this is a taoist website, I leave you with the beginning of the Tao Te Ching, or ( Way of Change ) "The tao that can be named is not the eternal tao. The way that can be followed is not the eternal way." If you like philosophy- dissect the inferences in those two lines. And remember that words express only valid meanings that have become through time engrained in our lexicon, but words are not true. Not true in the sense that they convey a reality of what something is. You have a name, but is the name you? We have names for everything, but are the names really what things are? No. Written Language is simply a symbolic expression used to communicate entirely made up, and most often relative meanings to one another. Your mind lives in these meanings to explain things to itself so that it can feel that it is at peace. This is the very crux of spirituality and life and everything.... all of the meanings, beliefs, identities that enshroud your true child-like awareness of life block the true understanding of what is really there, what is. Do they not? This is a fact to be true to everyone. Also true, is the law of karma or cause and effect. Everything that happens causes an effect or a consequence. In short, there are universal laws that operate through all levels of the universe that we cannot change. There are things in life that you have to take a stance on, that you have to decide how to feel about at some point so that you can move on from that point and flow on with life.

Here is another translation by Georg Feuerstein Book III The [phenomenal] self (âtman) is the mind (citta). (3.1) [Finite] knowledge is bondage. (3.2) Mâyâ is nondifferentiation (aviveka) about the principles [of existence (tattva)], such as [limited] activity (kalâ). (3.3) Dissolution of the parts (kalâ) [should be achieved] in the body. (3.4) Comments: According to Kshemarâja’s commentary, the kalâs in question are the various ontological principles or categories (tattvas), such as the elements, the subtle elements, and the mind. Dissolution of the currents (nâdî) [of the life force], conquest of the elements, isolation from the elements, and separation from the elements [are accomplished through yogic contemplation]. (3.5) [Paranormal] power (siddhi) [results] from a veil of delusion (moha). (3.6) Through the conquest of delusion, through infinite enjoyment (âbhoga) [of the Real, there comes about] the conquest of spontaneous wisdom. (3.7) [The enlightened adept is always] awake; [for him] the second one [i.e., the world of duality] is a ray-of-light. (3.8) Comments: The world is a “ray-of-light” (kara) because the enlightened adept experiences it as identical with the divine Reality. The self (âtman) [of the enlightened adept is like] a dancer. (3.9) Comments: The meaning of this obscure aphorism is that enlightened adepts, though they may engage in all kinds of activities, are only play- acting so to speak. They are not really involved in their actions, because they have ceased to identify with the limited body-mind and its functions. The inner self (antar-âtman) [of the enlightened adept is like] a stage. (3.10) Comments: This aphorism, which continues with the dramatic metaphor of sûtra 3.8, emphasizes that the enlightened adept is pure witness. He is constantly and continuously aware of the contents of his own mind, which no longer has the power to delude him. The senses are [like] spectators. (3.11) Through the force of [transcendental] insight (dhî), power over sattva [is obtained]. (3.12) Comments: The term sattva, or “realness,” stands for the luminous aspect of Nature. It is one of the three primary constituents of phenomenal existence. The compound sattva-siddhi also can be understood in the sense of “perfection of luminosity.” Both senses are applicable. [Thus] the condition of independence (sva-tantra) [or liberation] is accomplished. (3.13) As [the adept accomplishes transcendental independence, or liberation] in [regard to] this [body], so [does he accomplish perfect independence in regard to] all else. (3.14) Attentiveness (avadhâna) to the “seed” (bîja) [i.e., the Source of the world, should be cultivated]. (3.15) He who is established in the seat (âsana) [of the transcendental Consciousness] easily plunges into the “lake” [i.e., the ultimate Reality]. (3.16) He effects creation by his own measure. (3.17) Comments: Since the enlightened adept is one with the divine Reality, he or she also is the absolute creator of everything. While wisdom prevails, the elimination of [future] birth [is certain]. (3.18) Maheshvarî and so forth, [residing] in the classes [of letters of the alphabet] beginning with ka, are the mothers of “beasts” (pashu) [i.e., fettered beings, but they have no power over the enlightened adept in whom wisdom blossoms.] (3.19) The Fourth [i.e., the ultimate Reality] should be poured like oil into the three [conditional modes of consciousness, namely waking, dream sleep, and deep sleep]. (3.20) He should enter [into the Fourth] by immersing himself with his mind (citta). (3.21) Upon the equalization of the life force (prâna), [there comes about] the vision of sameness. (3.22) Comments: When the breath is no longer erratic and the body’s energies are harmonized, the mind too is balanced. Then everything reveals itself as the same One. In the interim, [there occurs] the generation of inferior [states of consciousness]. (3.23) Comments: The yogin, who has not yet fully and stably realized the ultimate Reality, experiences intermittently lower states of consciousness, which lack full awareness of the fundamental sameness of all things. Upon [ecstatic] union between the self-concept (sva-pratyaya) and objects (mâtra), [the yogin brings about] the reemergence of the vanished [vision of sameness]. (3.24) He becomes like Shiva. (3.25) [Retaining] the functioning of the body [for the sake of others is his only] vow. (3.26) [His] conversation is recitation. (3.27) Self-knowledge is [his] gift [to others]. (3.28) And he who is established in Avipa is a cause of [higher] knowledge (jna). (3.29) Comments: In Kshemarâja’s tenth-century commentary, the difficult compound avipa-stha is explained as “established in the protector (pa) of animals (avi),” that is, “established in those who protect the finite beings.” Thus, it is taken to refer to the Goddesses that preside over the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. For him the universe is an extension of his [innate] power. (3.30) The maintenance and absorption [of the universe are likewise an extension of his innate power]. (3.31) Despite such activity [as the maintenance and absorption of the universe, there is] no discontinuity owing to [the enlightened adept’s] condition as witness. (3.32) [The adept] considers pleasure and pain as external. (3.33) Free from these, he is indeed alone (kevalin). (3.34) However, the dynamic [or karmic] self [i.e., the unenlightened personality] is afflicted by delusion. (3.35) Upon the eclipse of differentiation [based on the unenlightened mind, the adept acquires] the capacity for [bringing forth] other creations. (3.36) The power of creation [is well established] on account of one’s own experience [in dreams and meditation, etc.]. (3.37) [There should be] animation of the three states [of unenlightened consciousness] by the principal [state, which is Reality itself]. (3.38) As with the [various] states of consciousness, [there should also be animation by the ultimate Reality] in regard to body, senses, and external [objects]. (3.39) For the “confluent” (samvâhya) [unenlightened individual, there is constant] extroversion (bahir-gati) because of desire. (3.40) Comments: Driven by desire, the consciousness of the unenlightened person habitually flows out toward the external world. This externalizing flux of attention is captured well in the rare word samvâhya, denoting the individual who “flows together” with objects. For him who is in the condition of being rooted in that [Fourth, or ultimate Reality, there results] termination of individuality (jîva) owing to the ending of that [desire for contact with objects]. (3.41) Then, he who has the elements for his covering is released, mighty, supreme, and the same as the Lord [i.e., Shiva]. (3.42) The connection with the life force (prâna) is natural. (3.43) Comments: The meaning of this aphorism appears to be that even though finite life depends on the connection of the life force with a particular consciousness, in the case of the enlightened adept, this is not an intrinsic limitation. In fact, prâna is a manifestation of the ultimate Reality. Ultimately, prâna is the universal Life itself. Through constraint (samyama) [i.e., through ecstatic identification with] the innermost center of the nose, how [can the ultimate Reality not be realized] in the left, the right, and the central [channels of the life force]? (3.44) Comments: This is another obscure aphorism carrying a wealth of esoteric information. The innermost center (antar-madhya) of the nose (nâsikâ) is really the core of the life force or consciousness. By practicing successively concentration, meditation, and ecstasy relative to that subtle central point, the adept is able to abide as the ultimate Reality, regardless of whether the life force flows through the left channel, the right channel, or the central channel. In Tantrism and Hatha-Yoga, these channels through which the life force circulates are respectively known as idâ-nâdî, pingalâ-nâdî, and sushumnâ-nâdî. The Shiva-Sûtra uses the word saushumna for the last, which is the most important, since it is the conduit for the awakened kundalinî-shakti, the psychospiritual power that brings about a total alchemical transmutation of the human body-mind. [in the case of the yogin] let there be repeatedly the opening-and- closing [of the vision of sameness]. (3.45) Comments: The phrase pratimîlana is a technical expression of Kashmiri Shaivism. Here rendered as “opening-and-closing,” it literally means “counter-closing.” It refers to the high yogic art of seeing the ultimate Reality, Shiva, both within oneself and in the outer world. This practice comprises both subjective ecstasy (as epitomized in the closing of the eyes, or nimîlana) and objective ecstasy (as epitomized in the opening of the eyes, or unmîlana). This condition is otherwise known as spontaneous ecstasy, or sahaja-samâdhi.

So I came across this discussion from 2011 in a google search http://thedaobums.com/topic/18260-transmutation-of-sexual-energy/?p=256160 A bit about me first. I am young and in my mid 20's. About 6 months ago I walked down a path in my road I knew I had to one day, which lead me back to sobriety after a 9 year gap where my life was void of love, in me, around me. I began eating of the earth, exercising, I left myself no crutches, no medication from doctors, no therapy, i put myself in a corner where I was trapped naked and without any cigarettes or cans of beer or cocaine to distract me from facing myself. I got through it alone. Everyone with addictions whether to substances or just only believing in or carrying with them a negative environment by habit, has to in a sense and to a large degree go through it alone and face themself and say hey, this is where I'm at, and Im done. Leaning on others for support got me nowhere. I will say that I might not have gotten so far without my partner's kind words always telling me I didnt have to live how i was living. I was weak though and My personality was built paper-thin with the idea in my head that i could always turn to someone for support. I had to realize that i could turn to me, and for that to happen I had to isolate myself from every single person i knew. I disabled my facebook and shut off my phone. I have been SO HAPPY. I lost my dear friend and partner over my alcoholism, hatred from "friends" bringing me down, I dealt also with self hatred, self pity. A conglomeration of negative things seperated us, I have since left negativity in the past. I take all bad things i remember, and I see the good they brought, the things I learned. Such valuable knowledge. I wouldnt change anything. I'm getting back to digital and physical arts. I love the arts. Filming, painting, drawing, sculpting, stop motion animation, folding origami, doing home projects, creating with my hands. I keep a dream journal, I used to practice lucid dreaming when I was 17, I'm coming back to that as well. I have returned to the few good friends i left behind. I thoroughly enjoy my time alone and am looking to spend it in the way of fulfilling my passion. Which in general is a thirst for more. For culture. For grasping the world. I have been reading books. I love to read read read. Before I type 3 pages i'll move on. I actually did type 3 pages, going in depth. But for sake of introduction I'll omit them today. I spoke with a friend's father 5 years ago about practice of QiGong. It stuck with me ever since. Last week I decided to begin learning about it. I want to practice it. I have my own history with meditation but it is a scattered one. I am searching for pointers on the following Grounding myself to help with indecisiveness Good literature & guidance (ASAP) on Sexual transmutation (as of now ive just been building up my Qi and after a few days I begin getting so crazy inside, so horny, its unbelievable. I have to know a better way to direct it than just flushing it away. I want to keep it. I want not to tap into my Jing reserve. I must retain it, and circulate it. What do I DO? I am on the brink of letting my creative genius flow full force, however I've been misdirecting myself) Literature or some solid, core guidance to supplement myself going into my new practice, QiGong. The link i shared in the beginning of post, a person by name of "Fizix" here posted a reply it is the second reply, and the link will bring you straight to his spot on the page.. in his reply he shares a link to a 3 hour long lecture on sexual transmutation. Wish that link wasn't broken now, will be seeking out this lecture. if anyone knows of this lecture or others please share. From the single thread I read I can tell the people here, are here to discuss things and give their insights seriously, and i didnt see anyone being flamed like some communities I've visited. That's what made me actually register an account here. Ill be skimming threads. You'll see me around.

Hello there, my name is Alexander and im fron Greece.I had no previous experience with such stuff as one might say.Two year ago i was rly stressed,had anxiety issues as well as some hormonal (based on what my endocrinologist said).I visited a psychiatrist and later a psychologist after the endrocrinologist promted me cause the hormonal imbalance said was due to psychological issues nad stress (like a lot).Nevertheless i did some therapy but it didnt rly help,they also said i had back then some form of depression.anhdonia and a thing that i felt life as it was a dream whilst awake (im sorry but ican recall the exact term).So after all that i did some reasearch myself regarding nutritional therapies on the intrnet and began expiramenting stuff which kinda helped ( a lot ix ould say).Other that than i changed my diet and overcomed a porn addicton i used to have ( ithink)..Then because among other things i had some insomnia related to stress i think, iread somewhere that meditation could help u relax and then sleep.So i did and then strange things began occur.At the first night some movements which rly scard me ( i though i was possesed or smhting) then yoga like stances,symbols (with) the hands,strange dreams,feminr like dance etc etc Now a year after and after having followed some advice relating to that im having some problems (like allergies,losing weight (at some point) etc) and i was wondering if anybody could u hellp me one way or another cause i rly dont know what is this and id like also to have some more spherical viewSo thanks in advance and have a happy good year!

I think a lot of different things depending on when and where you catch me and the context. The primordial wisdom you refer to later in your post is the realization of emptiness. Believing that "they really do exist" is inconsistent with the empty nature of things that is at the heart of the Buddhist view. Our conceptualization, whatever the flavor or topic, is a label or an image, not the reality. That applies to chakras, channels, deities, etc... And, for the record, I'm absolutely convinced of the power of working with the channels and chakras, I do it in waking and dream practices daily. You can attach yourself as deeply to any model as you like... they are all conceptual constructs. And they are valuable as long as they support our practice. When the information is inaccurate or misleading or causing difficulties in your practice. Not intended as defeatist but more experiential. Sometimes the intellect can get in the way. I agree... And even greater benefits to also do the practices skillfully, with expert guidance, along with learning about them. Energetic anatomy is not a distraction and a dead end but getting hung up on it is... which is what I said. Bindi seemed to be getting blocked by the relationship of the central channel, heart chakra, 3rd eye, and crown. When the words get you tied up, I think it's good to let the words go and start with what you feel. That is my message. No you don't. The concepts are useful if they help you to connect with the natural state. If you can do it without the concepts, that is even better... more direct. No, it doesn't work that way in experiential practices. There are many people with extraordinary knowledge of taijiquan who can't push their way out of a wet paper bag. They have information but not skill, therefore no mastery of taijiquan. Many scholars have never experienced the natural state. They can't be said to have mastered anything but information! Since you mentioned dzogchen earlier, the word knowledge is often used to translate rigpa (eg Jean Luc Achard) but it's important to distinguish information from realization, both of which can be implied by the word knowledge. Having a "whole lot of knowledge" is useful when information is the currency. However, in the natural state information is a worthless currency. Yes, primordial wisdom which is the realization of emptiness. It is not the accumulation of knowledge, it is more related to letting go of all knowledge and all concepts. And much ignorance is based on the accumulation and utilization of information in an unskilful fashion. All that said, I agree that knowledge and practice are both valuable on the path, for sure. I agree! I was trying to do just that and I apologize if I came off as critical.

I like the idea of unskilled thoughts - not evil or bad, just unskilled. Steadying one's mind is definitely a skill, it seems to me. There is something, for example, that I would love to tell my partner of many years about, something that one of our friends said that was terribly 'unskilled' toward another. It would be a delicious repetition to my partner for me to make, but it would certainly appeal to my baser instincts, and it would cause my partner to think lesser of the person who said it. There is just something that would feel so good about repeating this event. But Life is the practice. And the best practice for me is to just keep it to myself, although the temptation is horribly strong. But what is it in me that makes me want to repeat it so? Baser human instinct, I suppose. Part 2 of this response: I just went to bed and continued reading The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche. I happen to be at the place where it speaks of the kunzhi namshe, the repository within the individual where karmic traces are stored. The book speaks of compassion, of seeing things non-dually, as a cure for generating karmic traces due to clinging or aversion, which will continue to play out in one's present and future existences, until such time as they are finally dissipated. It appears that compassion is the great dissipator here. In reading these paragraphs, I see my own error in my above characterization of my friend's statement being 'unskilled'. This is a value judgment on my part, a categorization of aversion. Here, by trying to stifle my desire to tell my partner of another's behavior, I am merely giving it strength. Better I should look at the person who made the statement with compassion, knowing that he said this entirely within the realm of his own conditioning, through the lens of his own experience. To look at it through these eyes takes the power out of it altogether. Lesson learned.

I said this because this course doesn't make use of any particular breathing techniques and postures typical of the Eastern approach. It employs guided meditations to teach various kinds of visualizations and affirmations that the attendants can then do on their own, without an instructor's guidance. It is expanding on the work of early pioneers in the field of auto suggestion like Émile Coué, but also integrates modern research into brain wave frequencies etc as well as some of the shamanic practices that its founder José Silva had looked into. The course uses states of deep relaxation (on alpha and theta brainwave frequencies) as a basis for various visualization techniques designed for solving problems and achieving practical goals. This includes dream induction and other methods of accessing one's intuitive guidance. What I found particularly appealing is that participants practice remote viewing and healing. Back in 1990, this part of the curriculum (along with some other influences) helped me to awaken my skills of remote viewing specifically for therapeutic purposes, which I apply extensively in my work with clients and had opportunities to use for you and some other TDB members. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in the aforesaid topics - which all have got to do with "opening the third eye". Ime, it really works!