David Gottlieb

[Guest guest]

May I ask for an update from you? On of off list my friend. -

[Guest guest]

Chrism,

 

Just a brief update.

 

Time has stretched - though it has been only about two weeks since I last

emailed an update, it seems like 2 months or more...

 

Generally things are going very well.

 

In addition to the inner world, it seems I have become very busy in the outer

world. Between homeschooling my son, taking care of ordinary chores, family

life, and attending martial arts classes, Shakti graced me with some progress on

a business deal I have been working on for some time. Finally got to meet with

the seller and we easily ironed out various details that were difficult when

communication was by way of intermediaries. It has been a lesson in surrender

and patience. There are times where I simply have to wait until other people do

the work they have to do - there is nothing for me to do but wait. For the past

week, anyway, I have found this challenging - feel like I should be " doing "

something. As I write this, it occurs to me to fill those empty spaces of time

with some more exercise, Tibetans, meditation, just sitting, whatever. Rather

than allowing myself to lose energy being antsy.

 

I do spend a lot of time chanting mantras, surrendering, praying to, and gazing

at Divinity pictures - Siva, Kali, Lakshmi, Ganesha, Muruga primarily.

 

Partly allergies, partly Shakti, I find myself taking naps at various times.

The extended " Indian summer " here does not help my allergies. Nothing like a

good frost to put the ragweed to sleep. Breathing is not so much the problem -

for me the allergies manifest more as puffy, itchy eyeballs that just want to

roll back in my head and close to sleep. Sometimes I am almost forced to lie

down and take a short nap.

 

Much teaching has been taking place on the dream plane. I don't always remember

it all. In many instances, I find myself in a school-like or apprentice-like

situation, being taught with a group of others, either by you or one of my

previous teachers. I remember that you have said, Shakti comes in familiar

guises.

 

Basking in love - a hobby. Still doing it a lot. The cats notice - they tend

to pile on top of me even more so than before.

 

My son and I have many silly moments during the day. There is more laughter in

our homeschool than in regular school.

 

A part of me remains at the spot I stood in at Bandy Canyon Ranch before and

after shaktipat at the seminar - I can close my eyes anytime and be there,

gazing at the magnificent desert.

 

Lots of times when I lie down doing mantra or the Shakti prayer, my spine

vibrates delightfully.

 

Safeties are generally going well. In the last week, I have found it

challenging to do the Tibetans. Either did them only once a day or sometimes

skipped them. Just resumed them yesterday as a " beginner " , i.e., 6, 9, 12 or 21

times depending upon my back. Feeling it is better to do them even only 6 times

than not at all. This applies only to 2-5 - the first Tibetan I tend to get

carried away with, sometimes spinning up to 60 times before sitting for the rest

of my routine.

 

In my inner world, things are always in flux and constantly changing. So a week

can seem like a month.

 

About two weeks ago, I found myself spending much meditation time gazing at a

picture of Ganesha. The picture radiated light, the rest of the room

disappeared, and Ganesha quite literally glowed. It was just me and Ganesha.

Then a week ago, the same occurred with a picture of Shiva - so he became my

object of meditation for a while. Most recently, of the various pictures

available around my puja, Kali Ma has been glowing strongly and I meditate upon

her. Always changing. I just go with it.

 

In meditation I find myself now naturally doing a few rounds of kapalabathi and

also uddiyana bandha. I also find myself doing nauli kriya - pulling in the

stomach muscles, hold them there or doing a kind of rolling thing with the

stomach muscles. Sometimes I also find myself drawn to doing a combination of

locks - muladhara, uddiyana, jalandhara and shambhavi mudra. This just takes

the form of brief retention of breath, apply the locks, gaze up at the third

eye, then release. Typically not more than three times.

 

I have had a variety of experiences with second chakra energy - more appropriate

for an email or posting in the tantra group.

 

At different times, I feel energy moving/work being done at various parts of the

spine. Sometimes I find tingling and blissful sensations in the back of the

head, between the throat and the crown.

 

There are many more experiences to recount, both in meditation and sleep - I

will post some as I progress in deciphering the handwriting in my journal.

 

I would note that all of these experiences have been very gentle and generally

blissful and full of love. Not interfering with my ability to function. Except

for the occasional naps " stealing " time that might otherwise be used. I have

always had a natural inclination to bliss out, which seems stronger now. But I

can, if need be, pull my attention back to whatever task is at hand.

 

Alas, I did fall off the wagon in relation to coffee - began drinking it again.

This for me has been a lesson in self-forgiveness and releasing guilt. I have

always been very strict and harsh on myself - to allow this to happen without

castigating, chastising, or punishing myself has been an interesting lesson for

me. I suspect Shakti has many more such lessons in store for me in relation to

coffee, food, and just about everything else....

 

In love and gratitude,

 

David

[Guest guest]

Excellent David very nice!

 

Except of course.....the coffee....

 

I cannot warn people enough about how nasty caffeine can be when mixed with

Kundalini but some may just need to have that trauma. It can last over a year.

 

I feel your self determination is very healthy though slightly on the

stimulative side. But healthy. I encourage your discerning of your choices. How

are the issues and instructions discussed at the restaurant going? - blessings

and bliss to you my friend, your wife and child and of course your feline

caregivers. - chrism

 

, " djgottlieb "

<dgottlieb wrote:

>

>Just a brief update.

[Guest guest]

Dear David:

I clicked on your name and came to this from June 2008; see below. It makes my

heart swirl. (Perhaps it's the coffee I need to say no to. LOL). But in all

seriousness in both matters...

 

I wanted to ask you, if you can recall the mantra we breathed in and breathed

out while standing in the pool's water at the seminar. Would you be so kind to

help me remember.

 

" Your name means " Dear God " in German. I feel a great sense of love

when this Shaktipat is given to you. It feels as though you are

destined for this path whether or not you receive it here or there or

anywhere it is coming your way! Open as completely as you can.

Surrender completely. Give your life for your expanded life. Live from

love for love. Really David not that you are not but as much as you

can practice the qualities of the safeties. It is the saint in you

calling to be claimed. - "

 

-Love,

Danielle

 

 

>

[Guest guest]

Danielle,

 

Thank you so much for posting this. Rereading these (seemingly) long-ago words

of is a gift:

 

" Surrender completely. Give your life for your expanded life. Live from

love for love. Really David not that you are not but as much as you

can practice the qualities of the safeties. It is the saint in you

calling to be claimed. - "

 

Love,

 

David

[Guest guest]

Danielle,

 

I remember Siva and Shakti in each ear, and afterwards reciting our individual

prayers to Shakti, but in between, the mantra we recited was " washed away " from

conscious current recall...

 

Love and gratitude,

 

David

 

> I wanted to ask you, if you can recall the mantra we breathed in and breathed

out while standing in the pool's water at the seminar. Would you be so kind to

help me remember.

>