Guest guest Posted March 8, 2000 Report Share Posted March 8, 2000 Hi all, I've been lurking on the list for a few weeks now and thought I'd make an introduction. My name is Michael, I'm 20 and stay in Cape Town, South Africa. I've been practicing Hatha/Kundalini yoga for almost 3 years now, and it is a large (if not all encompassing) facet of my life. I started my practice in my last year of high school using a book ('Yoga for you' - Indra Devi) I found in the school library. From day 1 I've been pretty dedicated to my practice, however, doing it all myself without guidance, and a fairly impatient, restless mind, I've made a few errors along the way. I joined the list, because recently, having notched up my practice and dedication to the yoga philosophy, my interests have become almost entirely focussed on transcendental matters. Even before I started practicing yoga, I was aware (intellectually) of Kundalini. It started as an interest related to my use of certain 'inspirational' substances, and has remained deeply ingrained in my mind ever since. I know many practitioners discourage or are even repulsed by the use of substances in a spiritualistic sense (or any sense for the matter). However from personal experience I have found the use of certain psychedelic substances to be in many ways beneficial, as long as they are handled with a respectful intent. I'm aware that this opinion is only shared by a minute minority, but I'm interested to hear any opinions any of you may have on the subject. For those who are even slightly interested in this train of thought the article psychedelic yoga (http://www.luminist.org/Archives/psychedelic.htm) may be of interest. Another issue I'd like to hear opinions on is my use of a certain 'customized' pranayama. I found while performing Hastapadasana, that if I inhaled to my full capacity while rising and held it, an enormous overwhelming 'surge' would rocket through my body, causing tremors, flooding my vision with a milky glow, and leaving me feeling light and invigorated. I wasn't sure if I was experiencing an ordinary, although very intense headrush, due to lack of oxygen or something else. I practiced this infrequently, not wanting to cause any physical damage as there was a fair amount of 'pain' (more like pure intensity) when doing it. I started doing tai chi a few months ago and tried filling my lungs in the same way but while standing in the traditional tai chi stance (toes slightly inward, knees bent, spine erect with my weight resting on the tan tien/manipura). I found that if I rouse while inhaling a full yogic breathe and then sank back down while restraining, concentrating the pressure around my solar plexus, the surge was almost as powerful but much more 'controlled'. I'd like to know whether those of you experienced in pranayama consider such a technique to be potentially damaging or not? I look forward to my stay on the list. :-)PLUR(-: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2000 Report Share Posted March 8, 2000 Hi Michael, I can understand why you may still find use of substances to be a temptation but as you really focus on your objective, it will fall away. I guess the question at this time is what is the objective? If the objective is to experience light shows, etc...then you may stay with your practice as is. If your objective is to be self realized then all of this changes. Clarity and interior knowing comes from silence and stillness, this isn't something which is acquired with stimulation. This is up to you to find out. Either way, it is not right or wrong but something you need to identify within yourself. Gloria Skylined wrote: > "Skylined" <mdunn > > Hi all, > > I've been lurking on the list for a few weeks now and thought I'd make an > introduction. My name is Michael, I'm 20 and stay in Cape Town, South > Africa. > > I've been practicing Hatha/Kundalini yoga for almost 3 years now, and it is > a large (if not all encompassing) facet of my life. I started my practice in > my last year of high school using a book ('Yoga for you' - Indra Devi) I > found in the school library. From day 1 I've been pretty dedicated to my > practice, however, doing it all myself without guidance, and a fairly > impatient, restless mind, I've made a few errors along the way. > > I joined the list, because recently, having notched up my practice and > dedication to the yoga philosophy, my interests have become almost entirely > focussed on transcendental matters. Even before I started practicing yoga, I > was aware (intellectually) of Kundalini. It started as an interest related > to my use of certain 'inspirational' substances, and has remained deeply > ingrained in my mind ever since. > > I know many practitioners discourage or are even repulsed by the use of > substances in a spiritualistic sense (or any sense for the matter). However > from personal experience I have found the use of certain psychedelic > substances to be in many ways beneficial, as long as they are handled with a > respectful intent. I'm aware that this opinion is only shared by a minute > minority, but I'm interested to hear any opinions any of you may have on the > subject. For those who are even slightly interested in this train of > thought the article psychedelic yoga > (http://www.luminist.org/Archives/psychedelic.htm) may be of interest. > > Another issue I'd like to hear opinions on is my use of a certain > 'customized' pranayama. I found while performing Hastapadasana, that if I > inhaled to my full capacity while rising and held it, an enormous > overwhelming 'surge' would rocket through my body, causing tremors, flooding > my vision with a milky glow, and leaving me feeling light and invigorated. I > wasn't sure if I was experiencing an ordinary, although very intense > headrush, due to lack of oxygen or something else. I practiced this > infrequently, not wanting to cause any physical damage as there was a fair > amount of 'pain' (more like pure intensity) when doing it. I started doing > tai chi a few months ago and tried filling my lungs in the same way but > while standing in the traditional tai chi stance (toes slightly inward, > knees bent, spine erect with my weight resting on the tan tien/manipura). I > found that if I rouse while inhaling a full yogic breathe and then sank back > down while restraining, concentrating the pressure around my solar plexus, > the surge was almost as powerful but much more 'controlled'. I'd like to > know whether those of you experienced in pranayama consider such a technique > to be potentially damaging or not? > > I look forward to my stay on the list. > :-)PLUR(-: > > ------ > DON'T HATE YOUR RATE! > Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as > 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. > Apply NOW! > http://click./1/2120/1/_/505222/_/952540554/ > ------ > > "OUR DESTINY IS TO BE HAPPY" > - Yogi Bhajan > > WEB SITE: kundalini yoga > > KUNDALINI YOGA ON-LINE TRAINING. Details from > kundalini yogaclasses.html > > Sponsored by YOGA TECHNOLOGY - Popular publishers since 1988 of books on Kundalini Yoga and Meditation. > > > You can UNSUBSCRIBE from this list at the ONElist Member Center (My ONElist), or send mail to > Kundaliniyoga- > NO UNSUBSCRIBE REQUESTS TO THE LIST PLEASE! -- Enter The Silence to know God Accept life as the teacher Gloria Joy Greco e-mail me at: dennisgloria visit my homepage & internet retreat at: http://users.intercomm.com/larryn/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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