greetings

[Guest guest]

Hello Zenbob,

Yeah, UCLA is still UCLA...

It was nice hearing from you. I am a novice at this but I am very interested

in spiritual pursuits. Do you have any advice for a beginner...readings I

should do, people I should communicate with, websites I should visit, etc. I

appreciate any kind of advice you have for me. Again, thank you for replying

to my e-mail and hope to be in contact.

Sincerely,

Ali

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/31/99 8:36:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time, ALIKHOSH

writes:

 

<< Hello Zenbob,

Yeah, UCLA is still UCLA...

It was nice hearing from you. I am a novice at this but I am very

interested

in spiritual pursuits. Do you have any advice for a beginner...readings I

should do, people I should communicate with, websites I should visit, etc.

I

appreciate any kind of advice you have for me. Again, thank you for

replying

to my e-mail and hope to be in contact.

Sincerely,

Ali

>>

Dear Ali:

 

You might initially refer to the following links:

 

For an introduction to some of the basic concepts, refer to the Kundalini FAQ

<http://www.spiritweb.com/Spirit/kundalini-faq.html> and the Kundalini Yoga

FAQ <http://www.spiritweb.com/Spirit/yoga/kundalini-yoga.html>. Use the links

in our bookmark area to explore many interesting and relevant web sites.

 

 

There are a lot of good books on Meditation techniques by Vivekananda,

Muktananda, and Yogananda, all of which are fine for developing focus and

attunement. Additionally, there is the fun "A Chakra & Kundalini Workbook"

by Dr. Jonn Mumford, published by Llewellyn Publishers. It is relatively

recent, 1997 or so.

 

Now, all these fine books and written advice are great, but limiting. All of

this is merely "intellectual" direction, not learning by doing. So

meditation, practicing specific techniques is of utmost importance. And if

you wish to understand Tantra and the power of Kundalini in the ultimate

sense, then you must have a partner who can carefully and intimately guide

you, as well. This is a choice you can only make when prepared and

comfortable to do so. Because this crosses so many boundaries of cultural

values, morals, ethics, etc., it is not to be done or undertaken lightly.

However, as you no doubt have gathered in reading the communication on this

list, a great deal occurs when two people merge their efforts to achieve

ultimate Kundalini release.

 

The biggest problem is that most younger males in our society would look upon

this as simply an exciting sexual adventure and be useless as Tantra/K

partners. They must be willing to maintain a state of energy without

reaching conventional climax and their attention must be focused intensely

upon the most subtle of vibratory effects, matching your rhythm, breathing,

etc., and avoid self indulgence.

 

This is easily said, but requires effort and skill to achieve.

 

If you have an intimate friend who is willing to learn these techniques, that

is fine, and many couples do develop good techniques together...as long as

both also study and meditate individually as well. Like archery, however, I

would say the most progress is often achieved with a student finding a

sincere and well regarded teacher, at least to direct their basic skills and

habits (even if they do not actually engage in any physically intimate

actions). If two archery students with the best of intentions attempted to

learn archery, they could make some progress, but the student working with a

skilled expert trainer will do far better and avoid pitfalls.

 

Blessings

Love,

 

Zenbob

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/99 7:37:49 PM Central Daylight Time, ZEN2WRK

writes:

 

> If you have an intimate friend who is willing to learn these techniques,

that

>

> is fine, and many couples do develop good techniques together...as long as

> both also study and meditate individually as well. Like archery, however,

I

>

> would say the most progress is often achieved with a student finding a

> sincere and well regarded teacher

ZenBob,

have you found such a teacher?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/4/99 4:42:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

SLapla8352 writes:

 

< If you have an intimate friend who is willing to learn these techniques,

that

>

> is fine, and many couples do develop good techniques together...as long

as

> both also study and meditate individually as well. Like archery,

however,

I

>

> would say the most progress is often achieved with a student finding a

> sincere and well regarded teacher

ZenBob,

have you found such a teacher?

>>

Dear SLapla:

 

I have studied under Kriya instructors, Prana Yoga instructors, Swami

Muktananda and several most accomplished Martial Arts teachers whose wisdom

was most profound (more valued because they had cultivated inner silence and

never portrayed themselves as other than teachers of Karate, Aikido or Tae

Kwan Do...but they had attained true mastery of art and Chi as well).

 

I truly wish that I could say that any one or any combination of teachers

that I have been privileged to work with had "ultimate" knowledge or vision,

but this is not the case. Each of these worthy examples had personal

failings, human limitations and in some cases fatal flaws. The old adage,

"Familiarity breeds contempt" is perhaps too strong an example...but those

who most set themselves up as "masters" and perfected leaders, also set

themselves up for the greatest "fall." Idealistic, young, and faithful

followers, students and devotees often do not find these all too human flaws

until it is "too late." They have invested so much personal time, devotion,

money into the quest and have in many ways become inexorably linked to the

path, organization and teacher in the minds of others that to "back out" or

reveal that the "emperor might be at least partly clothed at best" is very

difficult, if not impossible. Part of this problem is the expectation of

perfection and infallibility. So a good teacher, one who is truly profoundly

wise does not place themselves into this deadly corner. Such is the example

of my Martial Arts instructors, who clearly expressed their own limitations,

faults and never made claims of complete mastery.

 

I think in a complete, fully realized life, we must always be seeking two

masters: the master within and the master who lurks in the eyes of all we

meet. To limit this search otherwise is the path of illusion and

disappointment.

 

Blessings,

Zenbob

[Guest guest]

Zenbob - I believe SLapla was asking if you had found a "skilled

instructor" of Tantric sex techniques. After reading your post to Ali,

I'm also quite interested in your answer to that question.