self-introduction

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

 

I'm Ryan. It was suggested that I write a self-introduction. Let me

apologize in advance if it is more than you want to know.

 

However, as I am not a Sikh, I feel that it is best for me to " put

all my cards on the table " so to speak. I guess I should explain a

bit about my background, my interest in kundalini-yoga, and what I

hope to learn here more specifically.

 

I am a practitioner of candali-yoga or candalini-yoga (called " gtum

mo rnal `byor " in Tibetan). This is essentially the Tantric Buddhist

version of Kundalini-yoga.

 

I also do a closely related supplementary practice called " nadi-vayu-

yantra " (or " rtsa rlung `phrul `khor " in Tibetan). This can be

described as essentially a Vajrayana version of hatha-yoga (or

perhaps more accurately, hatha-yoga evolved as a Saivite approach to

nadi-vayu-yantra)

 

Over the last several years, I have been researching how candali-yoga

relates to the kundalini-yoga in other religious traditions. I have

also been trying to get a sense of how these traditions have evolved

and have influenced each other. To date, my research has focused on

texts from Kula and other branches of Kashmir Saivism, practice

manuals from the Natha Sampradaya, and obviously the textual

traditions of Vajrayana.

 

I am very interesting in learning about how and when Kundalini-yoga

entered the Sikh tradition and in learning more about the " Sahaj "

and " anahad sabad " concepts. I am also wondering about Mahasiddha sub-

culture in the Pala period, which appears to have influenced some

Sikh literature.

 

My primary knowledge of the Kundalini Yoga tradition of Raj Yog Yogi

Bhajan comes from the scientific studies published by David

Shannahoff-Khalsa as well as his book " Kundalini Yoga Meditation " .

 

I hope my presence here is OK with everyone, and I thank you for the

opportunity to learn and grow,

Ryan