Guest guest Posted November 5, 2005 Report Share Posted November 5, 2005 THE MAHARSHI SEP/OCT 2005 VOL. 15 NO. 5 Pranayama and Kundalini The reason I write is that I am experiencing something that I am curious about. I have been doing breathing exercises and kundalini work as per traditional methods. This is used in the light of Ramana’s words. I use it to get to the silence. I have been doing kumbhaka. I hold the breath and send energy up from the base chakra to the crown. I have always sat as awareness in the centre of my head during this. A few months ago I made efforts to sit in the spiritual heart. When I do go deep into the silence the reference to the body drops. Three or four months ago this kumbhaka started to go into nirvikalpa samadhi, I think. I had to catch myself from hitting the floor. I have been always sitting in a chair. Sitting in the lotus position is supposed to help one from hitting the floor, but my spine is straighter in a chair. Recently I have been meditating on a bed without the support. I have been scared of hitting the floor or possibly going into nirvikalpa samadhi around people who do not know what this is about. So I have been holding onto physical awareness. A few months ago during breath retention, my whole mental body would disappear. I would be almost disorientated as there was no me, or mind — just the body. In a traditional American Indian ceremonial room, I was sitting in a half lotus position during my kundalini and breath sadhana. I bent forward with my head on the ground and then inhaled as I straightened back up. I was like someone hit a restart button on a computer. I opened my eyes and had no idea how long I was out, where I was sitting in relation to the doors (as it is a tippee structure with two doors and is uniform on the inside). I am getting an electrical-type shock around the right side. It comes and goes. It has been happening for around two months now. Hence my concern. I have had numerous phenomena happen over the years, but nothing that has lasted like this. I have tried to close my heart chakra with visualizations, but this does not seem to help relieve the problem. Could it be because I am holding onto the body in meditation? I am not sure. Maybe it has something to do with energy work? But it seems to be localized in the spiritual heart that Ramana talked about, and is mentioned in scripture. The American Indians call it the “First Assemblage Point of Awareness.” I am hoping you have some words for me concerning this. Maybe you know someone who is advanced and knowledgable, concerning this sadhana of mine. —Namaste, Canadian Seeker As a friend, I must give you a warning. If you are doing pranayama, not in the manner prescribed by Bhagavan, and not under the guidance of a qualified yogi or teacher, you must be very cautious. It can result in an unbalanced state. Read what Bhagavan says on pranayama. The focus must always be on the Self, or the ‘I-consciousness’, not on chakras, visualizations, kundalini, etc. Please be cautious. Bhagavan has given us a simple and straight path. It is a safe one too. By turning to Him, He will guide you. —Editor Comment: Mixing the way of SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI with other ways - in these case with the way of Castandeda – can be very dangerous and contra-productive at least..... Michael Bindel FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2005 Report Share Posted November 5, 2005 > > THE MAHARSHI > > > > > > SEP/OCT 2005 VOL. 15 NO. 5 > > Pranayama and Kundalini > > > The reason I write is that I am experiencing something that I am curious about. > > > > I have been doing breathing exercises and kundalini work as per traditional methods. This is used in the light of Ramana's words. I use it to get to the silence. > > > > I have been doing kumbhaka. I hold the breath and send energy up from the base chakra to the crown. I have always sat as awareness in the centre of my head during this. > > > > A few months ago I made efforts to sit in the spiritual heart. When I do go deep into the silence the reference to the body drops. > > > > Three or four months ago this kumbhaka started to go into nirvikalpa samadhi, I think. I had to catch myself from hitting the floor. I have been always sitting in a chair. Sitting in the lotus position is supposed to help one from hitting the floor, but my spine is straighter in a chair. Recently I have > > been meditating on a bed without the support. I have been scared of hitting the floor or possibly going into nirvikalpa samadhi around people who do not know what this is about. > > So I have been holding onto physical awareness. > > > > A few months ago during breath retention, my whole mental body would disappear. I would be almost disorientated as there was no me, or mind — just the body. > > > > In a traditional American Indian ceremonial room, I was sitting in a half lotus position during my kundalini and breath sadhana. I bent forward with my head on the ground and then inhaled as I straightened back up. I was like someone > > hit a restart button on a computer. I opened my eyes and had no idea how long I was out, where I was sitting in relation to the doors (as it is a tippee structure with two doors and is uniform on the inside). > > > > I am getting an electrical-type shock around the right side. It comes and goes. It has been happening for around two months now. > > > > Hence my concern. I have had numerous phenomena happen over the years, but nothing that has lasted like this. I have tried to close my heart chakra > > with visualizations, but this does not seem to help relieve the problem. > > > > Could it be because I am holding onto the body in meditation? I am not sure. Maybe it has something to do with energy work? > > But it seems to be localized in the spiritual heart that Ramana talked about, and is mentioned in scripture. > > > > The American Indians call it the "First Assemblage Point of Awareness." > > > I am hoping you have some words for me concerning this. Maybe you know someone who is advanced and knowledgable, concerning this sadhana of mine. > > > —Namaste, Canadian Seeker > > > > > > As a friend, I must give you a warning. If you are doing pranayama, not in the manner prescribed by Bhagavan, and not under the guidance of a qualified > > yogi or teacher, you must be very cautious. It can result in an unbalanced state. > > Read what Bhagavan says on pranayama. > > The focus must always be on the Self, or the `I-consciousness', not on chakras, visualizations, kundalini, etc. > > Please be cautious. > > Bhagavan has given us a simple and straight path. It is a safe one too. > > By turning to Him, He will guide you. > > > > —Editor > > > > > > Comment: > > > > Mixing the way of SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI with other ways - in these case with the way of Castandeda – can be very dangerous and contra-productive at least..... > > > Michael Bindel > > Indeed, mixing any path is creating chaos. Slipping into samadhi one leaves with the Surat [current of intellect] the body behind, no concern where one falls.. usually one stoops forward. If one already reached Ramana's teaching of Self-Inquiry you don't need anything more. Vichara does not include concentrationg on the heart. What you described is called Spiritual, or Kundalini Emergence. Kundalini can be amplified and be the spiritual ego, when someone pushes to hard, or is driven. It is hard to disassociate from it and can lead to psychotic brake, but can be treated also. Stanislav Grof did research on this and his wife has the best clinic in San Fransico. Good book about the medic side: Stanislav Grof The Holotropic Mind <http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy/holotropic_mind.html> His wifes' clinic: <http://www.spiritofmaat.com/archive/sep2/truheart.htm> http://www.spiritmoving.com/SENarticles/SpiritPsychosis.html Best is to leave "IT" alone for a month or 2. Any attention and or spiritual sadhana, pranayama, or meditation just amplifies the problem. Love, Era Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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