Author Topic: Bodhimind's Blog  (Read 65439 times)

bodhimind

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #135 on: December 02, 2015, 06:28:15 PM »
Record of my past few meditations...

The blissful energy burns away the deepest roots, but the ego tries to hold on, saying things like "This is you! It will burn you away!" But then I realize that the thoughts were never me - and I let the golden light rinse it away. It's as if they had some reactionary mind of their own, as residual energies, as blockages, or whatever they are. The energy intensifies and burns, my tail-bone burns, under my eyes I see an expanse of brightness. I hope this carries me into the OBE soon.

Truly, if I see the illusions, then they can no longer affect me. But I need to see them first - that is where my mindfulness is crucial. They latch onto every possible thing - it is truly the case where attachment or clinging brings onto suffering.

All I can do is continuously surrender to it, again and again. So many layers. I let go of one, and it appears again. Or it reveals something deeper.

The auditory and visual charisms are so loud and bright nowadays... I just need to saturate in that energy. I find that when I keep my spine as straight as possible, the bliss spreads more evenly.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2015, 06:30:19 PM by bodhimind »

Jhanananda

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #136 on: December 03, 2015, 02:06:03 AM »
Bodhimind, you are making very good progress.  Yes, the charisms become more intense as we approach the OOBE.  Yes, keeping the spine erect does indeed intensify the experience of deep meditation.  Yes, submitting, letting go and surrendering to the deep meditation experience makes it much more deep, much more profound.  Yes, our identity is tied up in all of the layers of the self; but as we go deeper into the meditation experience, the more we shed those layers of self, which requires letting go.
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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #137 on: December 03, 2015, 01:38:09 PM »
Good work bodhimind, I enjoy reading your progress. My own meditations are unfortunately dry, saturated with endless effort, conflict, and boredom with very little bliss, joy, or energy to surrender to. What practice have you been following? Each week I've been trying something new, but I'm accepting the fact that my current practice/lifestyle is as impeccable as it can be.
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bodhimind

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #138 on: December 03, 2015, 02:08:18 PM »
Bodhimind, you are making very good progress.  Yes, the charisms become more intense as we approach the OOBE.  Yes, keeping the spine erect does indeed intensify the experience of deep meditation.  Yes, submitting, letting go and surrendering to the deep meditation experience makes it much more deep, much more profound.  Yes, our identity is tied up in all of the layers of the self; but as we go deeper into the meditation experience, the more we shed those layers of self, which requires letting go.

Thank you for the clear explanation... The blissfulness can be so intense, and it feels like it will only get even more intense...

Good work bodhimind, I enjoy reading your progress. My own meditations are unfortunately dry, saturated with endless effort, conflict, and boredom with very little bliss, joy, or energy to surrender to. What practice have you been following? Each week I've been trying something new, but I'm accepting the fact that my current practice/lifestyle is as impeccable as it can be.

I enjoy reading what you post too. I feel like bliss started to open up for me when I separated the negativity and the things that are not-self from the Divine which is full of ecstasy. Afterall, nirvana is literally the end of suffering - so it can't possibly include anything about misery or those intense emotions that rise out of nowhere... When I started recognizing that the high-pitched sounds were that of the Divine, I submitted to it, I gave in to it and the bliss naturally intensified throughout my body.

Although this might not be entirely accurate, the way I imaged it is as if I had a line of chakras above my head extending way out into the infinity of the universe... There is the Divine, which is way, way out there. Then at each chakra down from the Divine (or perhaps gods of different planes) the energy from the Divine halves... so when it gets to the crown chakra, it feels like a connection to spirit. I also felt connected to the earth, or mother earth, who I feel is why we say Shakti rises from below upwards to reunite with Shiva.

Perhaps it has to do with the internal reverence, or perhaps the simply gratitude that I feel... I remember a GWV member (I think it was jay) who told me that he did not need to do any 'technique' but just follow his bliss. So I tried to do that... at first my heart had a gaping hole - then it was my throat... then it went up and up, as if was shakti trying to move up and up and up, healing and opening the chakras at each level... And I felt that each opening also corresponded loosely to the jhanas, just as Jhanananda described in the GWV video.

And posture really helped me too. I realized there was this point, if you adjusted your spine by rocking forward and backwards, where the tailbone starts to buzz. Then if you open your heart/chest and pull the shoulders back a little... and pull the back of the head backwards, as if the top of the head is tied to a string... Then the energy fills the heart area and the back of the head.
« Last Edit: December 03, 2015, 02:12:35 PM by bodhimind »

Cal

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #139 on: December 03, 2015, 08:16:56 PM »
Those stupid illusions. When I meditate they come in droves, never ending. The bulk of my own meditation time is calming and realizing that they can be loved and observed. After some time, an infinite darkness can come over me, its in that moment of surrender that a fear of an OOBE can bring me back to consciousness. Perhaps you are knocking on the door of the OOBE right now Bodhimind.

Michael Hawkins

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #140 on: December 03, 2015, 09:47:29 PM »
Quote
I remember a GWV member (I think it was jay) who told me that he did not need to do any 'technique' but just follow his bliss.

I was going to suggest something similar to this -- the idea being that, in meditation, we are body-scanning for some little manifestation of pleasant sensation, and then we shift our meditation object to the pleasant sensation.  We may need to lose it and find it a few times, or it may shift locations and/or morph, but the idea is to follow the pleasant sensation just as we had previously followed the breath.  I believe that jhana/samadhi is an extension of a perfect Intelligence that knows precisely how to navigate our individual complexes of resistance, and eventually the small pleasant sensation will blossom into bliss, joy and ecstasy that follows patterns well-expressed on this forum.  There is a lot of letting-go that happens along the way, including our notions of what jhana/samadhi is "supposed" to feel like....

Jhanananda

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #141 on: December 04, 2015, 01:13:43 AM »
Perhaps it has to do with the internal reverence, or perhaps the simply gratitude that I feel... I remember a GWV member (I think it was jay) who told me that he did not need to do any 'technique' but just follow his bliss. So I tried to do that... at first my heart had a gaping hole - then it was my throat... then it went up and up, as if was shakti trying to move up and up and up, healing and opening the chakras at each level... And I felt that each opening also corresponded loosely to the jhanas, just as Jhanananda described in the GWV video.

And posture really helped me too. I realized there was this point, if you adjusted your spine by rocking forward and backwards, where the tailbone starts to buzz. Then if you open your heart/chest and pull the shoulders back a little... and pull the back of the head backwards, as if the top of the head is tied to a string... Then the energy fills the heart area and the back of the head.

I was going to suggest something similar to this -- the idea being that, in meditation, we are body-scanning for some little manifestation of pleasant sensation, and then we shift our meditation object to the pleasant sensation.  We may need to lose it and find it a few times, or it may shift locations and/or morph, but the idea is to follow the pleasant sensation just as we had previously followed the breath.  I believe that jhana/samadhi is an extension of a perfect Intelligence that knows precisely how to navigate our individual complexes of resistance, and eventually the small pleasant sensation will blossom into bliss, joy and ecstasy that follows patterns well-expressed on this forum.  There is a lot of letting-go that happens along the way, including our notions of what jhana/samadhi is "supposed" to feel like....

You both have it figured out.  Very good.
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bodhimind

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #142 on: December 05, 2015, 05:16:40 AM »
Those stupid illusions. When I meditate they come in droves, never ending. The bulk of my own meditation time is calming and realizing that they can be loved and observed. After some time, an infinite darkness can come over me, its in that moment of surrender that a fear of an OOBE can bring me back to consciousness. Perhaps you are knocking on the door of the OOBE right now Bodhimind.

I hope so, I hope so. I will increase my meditation time, and perhaps that is what is hindering me.  :)

I feel sometimes... as if these illusions are thought-forms, shrouded by a black cloud. As if it was an angel that was masked in darkness, and removing the cloud allows it to be healed and free. But perhaps it is just part of my imaginative delusion haha. I don't know why... but I feel as if we're running in a simulator - or like a computer - just like The Matrix. What do I know though, until I get deeper so I don't have misguided speculations... haha

I was going to suggest something similar to this -- the idea being that, in meditation, we are body-scanning for some little manifestation of pleasant sensation, and then we shift our meditation object to the pleasant sensation.  We may need to lose it and find it a few times, or it may shift locations and/or morph, but the idea is to follow the pleasant sensation just as we had previously followed the breath.  I believe that jhana/samadhi is an extension of a perfect Intelligence that knows precisely how to navigate our individual complexes of resistance, and eventually the small pleasant sensation will blossom into bliss, joy and ecstasy that follows patterns well-expressed on this forum.  There is a lot of letting-go that happens along the way, including our notions of what jhana/samadhi is "supposed" to feel like....

Thank you Michael, I couldn't have put it in clearer words than you have. It is strange that I accidentally 'stumbled' upon this but completely forgot about it in the past. I believe it was the kinesthetic charism (huge dizziness) that yanked me out in fear. I remember searching for guidance on that experience and the only one I heard about was the 'avoid premature kundalini' crowd.

I also increasingly believe that it is part of a beautiful, hyper intelligence... It's as if I step into transformers that unlock the blissfulness in different grades, going up and up and up. Each time it's as if I get closer to the bon-fire (eg. as I get closer, I smell the ash, I see more of the flame, I feel more of the heat).

Cal

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #143 on: December 05, 2015, 06:02:39 AM »
Those stupid illusions. When I meditate they come in droves, never ending. The bulk of my own meditation time is calming and realizing that they can be loved and observed. After some time, an infinite darkness can come over me, its in that moment of surrender that a fear of an OOBE can bring me back to consciousness. Perhaps you are knocking on the door of the OOBE right now Bodhimind.

I hope so, I hope so. I will increase my meditation time, and perhaps that is what is hindering me.  :)

I feel sometimes... as if these illusions are thought-forms, shrouded by a black cloud. As if it was an angel that was masked in darkness, and removing the cloud allows it to be healed and free. But perhaps it is just part of my imaginative delusion haha. I don't know why... but I feel as if we're running in a simulator - or like a computer - just like The Matrix. What do I know though, until I get deeper so I don't have misguided speculations... haha


Well, I've noticed different types of them. Sometimes I am viewing somebody here on earth. They could be doing any variety of activity. Other times its some spike headed fuck with the intention of scaring me. There are others that may even look back at me. I do feel that all of them are thought forms, that they are real, somewhere, and probably live some sort of life.

I feel that all the layers of jhana are shrouded by a black cloud. That as we proceed through them, a curtain is lifted. These attachments or fetters, I see them as demons. They are the black cloud, and in meditation, in surrender, a hole is opened in them and light comes through. I picture this as some fucker with his hand over my face, and light can come between its fingers. I've come to this through viewing the visual field in meditation as if it were my own eyes. There are times that I can relinquish the body, and its these times that I see it this way. There are other times that more curtains might be dropped, such as my most recent meditation.

We do live in a "matrix". ^.^

As far as time spent in meditation, just ride with the experiences. There was this one sit that I was meditating for nearly 2 hours, but then there are others that are 30mins-1hour. Sometimes I just fall asleep. Just go with the flow man.

Jhanananda

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #144 on: December 05, 2015, 01:49:36 PM »
Well, I've noticed different types of them. Sometimes I am viewing somebody here on earth. They could be doing any variety of activity. Other times its some spike headed fuck with the intention of scaring me. There are others that may even look back at me. I do feel that all of them are thought forms, that they are real, somewhere, and probably live some sort of life.

In reference to my post under In search of understanding, as we begin to experience the various depths of meditation we begin to experience the various charisms.  It just so happens that these charisms originate in the spiritual realm.  The spiritual realm also abounds with spiritual beings, some of which are benevolent, some are neither harmful, nor helpful; and others are down right evil. 

Generally as we negotiate the layers of the 8 stages of depth in meditation we become more and more aware of the spiritual realms.  Here we become aware of the 3 types of spiritual beings.  It is the more malevolent ones that get our attention most, because they mean to do harm to all. 

The solution is not to pay them any attention, and keep going deeper.  As we shed the layers of the self, we become more benevolent, so we become transparent to the malevolent entities, so they do not see us, and we do not see them, unless we need to.

I feel that all the layers of jhana are shrouded by a black cloud. That as we proceed through them, a curtain is lifted. These attachments or fetters, I see them as demons. They are the black cloud, and in meditation, in surrender, a hole is opened in them and light comes through. I picture this as some fucker with his hand over my face, and light can come between its fingers. I've come to this through viewing the visual field in meditation as if it were my own eyes. There are times that I can relinquish the body, and its these times that I see it this way. There are other times that more curtains might be dropped, such as my most recent meditation.

We do live in a "matrix". ^.^

True the immaterial domains are very matrix-like.  When we shed all of the layers of the self, then we unplug from the "matrix."

We can see how those who begin to experience the spiritual dimensions will encounter spirits of all three kinds.  We can also see how organized religion has demonized deep meditation, and out of their fear of deep meditation they have also demonized the mystics who cultivate the deep meditation experience. 

Thus, there is almost never someone we can discuss these phenomena with, and thus organized religion has no answer for these experiences.  It also takes tremendous courage to negotiate the 8 layers of the deep meditation experience, because one has to develop the necessary level of equanimity to encounter legions of demons, and not be frightened by them.
« Last Edit: December 05, 2015, 01:51:31 PM by Jhanananda »
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bodhimind

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #145 on: December 05, 2015, 04:23:57 PM »
Perhaps that is why they call it the Makyo's cave - because people face their demons and cannot navigate them properly.

This is reminiscent of a quote from the Sufi mystic Mirza Khan, Ansari:

Quote
To the sinful and vicious, I may appear to be evil. But to the good—beneficent am I.

And this quote from the Latin Carmina Burana:

Quote
Parum centum sex nummate
so durant, ubi immoderate
bibunt omnes sine meta,
quamvis bibant mente leta.
Sic nos rodunt omnes gentes
et sic erimus egentes.
Qui nos rodunt, confundantur
et cum iustis non scribantur.

Possible Translation:
However much they drink,
we are the ones everyone scorn on,
and thus we are destitute.
May those who slander us be cursed,
and their names not written in the book of the righteous.

It does sound like a huge grievance against those who crucify or marginalize the mystics...

Now that I think about it... The main character in The Matrix was continuously chased/blocked/attacked/suppressed by Agent Smith - who was present in every other person within the simulation. Perhaps it was talking about this. Also strange how it was written using the philosophy of Plato's Cave.

I will need to strive more in equanimity. Perhaps it is about not being concerned with the 'content' but just staying within the 'context', the "I" who sees. When no thought arises, there can't possibly be fear, because there is no sorting between pleasure and pain. But I feel that there might be a depth to this... Habit energies tend to pull me into fear whenever the unknown happens. Perhaps it is wrong self-identification that is the problem.

Cal

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #146 on: December 05, 2015, 06:35:37 PM »
Now that I think about it... The main character in The Matrix was continuously chased/blocked/attacked/suppressed by Agent Smith - who was present in every other person within the simulation. Perhaps it was talking about this. Also strange how it was written using the philosophy of Plato's Cave.

I will need to strive more in equanimity. Perhaps it is about not being concerned with the 'content' but just staying within the 'context', the "I" who sees. When no thought arises, there can't possibly be fear, because there is no sorting between pleasure and pain. But I feel that there might be a depth to this... Habit energies tend to pull me into fear whenever the unknown happens. Perhaps it is wrong self-identification that is the problem.

For sure, agent smith is everywhere lol. But hey man, context is important, and you're correct in self-identification with the spirit, and not the body. Sorry for my un-filtered response, I'm not trying to scare anybody. The important thing about these fuckers is so far in my experience the worst they have done is scared the shit out of me, or in directly challenging, they have made me pretty uncomfortable. No lasting damage. They are a joke, and the last couple of days, I've taken them for rides. You have control at some point, and that was something I've been missing for awhile. The biggest mistake that I ever made was letting them dictate anything. So in the earlier meditation when I could see them as a passing image, if I allowed fear of them, I could regress. Laugh at them, they are funny.

Jhanananda

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #147 on: December 06, 2015, 01:38:23 AM »
Perhaps that is why they call it the Makyo's cave - because people face their demons and cannot navigate them properly.

Quote from: Mirza Khan, Ansari
To the sinful and vicious, I may appear to be evil. But to the good—beneficent am I.

I agree with this.

It does sound like a huge grievance against those who crucify or marginalize the mystics...

Yes, and their fear is irrational.

Now that I think about it... The main character in The Matrix was continuously chased/blocked/attacked/suppressed by Agent Smith - who was present in every other person within the simulation. Perhaps it was talking about this. Also strange how it was written using the philosophy of Plato's Cave.

Yes, I liked the movie for precisely this reason, but I found few got it.

I will need to strive more in equanimity. Perhaps it is about not being concerned with the 'content' but just staying within the 'context', the "I" who sees. When no thought arises, there can't possibly be fear, because there is no sorting between pleasure and pain. But I feel that there might be a depth to this... Habit energies tend to pull me into fear whenever the unknown happens. Perhaps it is wrong self-identification that is the problem.

This is well said.  So, through daily practice of deep meditation we overcome the habits of the mind.

For sure, agent smith is everywhere lol. But hey man, context is important, and you're correct in self-identification with the spirit, and not the body. Sorry for my un-filtered response, I'm not trying to scare anybody. The important thing about these fuckers is so far in my experience the worst they have done is scared the shit out of me, or in directly challenging, they have made me pretty uncomfortable. No lasting damage. They are a joke, and the last couple of days, I've taken them for rides. You have control at some point, and that was something I've been missing for awhile. The biggest mistake that I ever made was letting them dictate anything. So in the earlier meditation when I could see them as a passing image, if I allowed fear of them, I could regress. Laugh at them, they are funny.

Correct.  The demons can do nothing to us, but frighten us.  If we do not let them frighten us, then they are powerless.  When in OOBE all we need do is fly up and away from the demons, because they are held in the lower realms through their craving and covetousness.
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bodhimind

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #148 on: December 06, 2015, 05:01:31 AM »
They are a joke, and the last couple of days, I've taken them for rides. You have control at some point, and that was something I've been missing for awhile. The biggest mistake that I ever made was letting them dictate anything. So in the earlier meditation when I could see them as a passing image, if I allowed fear of them, I could regress. Laugh at them, they are funny.
I'm going to keep that one in mind haha.

---

I suddenly realized exactly why Lao-Tzu was always depicted to be riding a donkey/water buffalo. Below shows the Christ riding a donkey as well haha. I have no idea why Lao-Tzu is always sitting backwards on it though. I guess it might have meant the body, just like how St. Francis called his "Brother Donkey" lol



Interesting, Lao-Tzu comes by two other names: Li-Er (personal name) and Bo-Yang (courtesy name). According to this page, Siddha Bhoganāthar transmigrated into the body of a deceased Chinese male and then went by the name "Bo-Yang" (sounds similar to Bogam). Apparently he was versed in Jnana Yoga, which also explains how logical the teachings of Lao-Tzu were in the Tao Te Ching. Bo-Yang is supposed to mean "bliss", which represents the kundalini.

Don't know if the history is true, since it sounds a little fantastic, but it's just a little interesting that the kundalini yoga practices migrated from both ends of the Himalayas - one to India and the other to China. If it's true, that could explain why Taoism was so ingrained in the chinese culture before Buddhism spread into it in the 2nd century.

I'm confused though. If there were so many enlightened masters before the Buddha (3102 BC), why did Gautama need to turn the dharma-wheel (560-80 BC)? He did say that he was the first, if I am not wrong? Or maybe I got the timeline reversed?

---

A friend also told me about how using earthing mats improved his health significantly, especially his gastrointestinal problems. The only problem is how expensive some of these mats can be, so I would rather go barefoot on the earth.

Going to increase my intensity to 3 hours and see if I can go deeper.
« Last Edit: December 06, 2015, 05:06:04 AM by bodhimind »

Jhanananda

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Re: Bodhimind's Blog
« Reply #149 on: December 06, 2015, 01:37:26 PM »
I suddenly realized exactly why Lao-Tzu was always depicted to be riding a donkey/water buffalo. Below shows the Christ riding a donkey as well haha. I have no idea why Lao-Tzu is always sitting backwards on it though. I guess it might have meant the body, just like how St. Francis called his "Brother Donkey" lol

The donkey and water buffalo are the conveyance of the peasant.  Sitting backwards shows the buffalo does the driving while Lao Tsu, being a stand in for the spirit, does not attend to the world, but attends to awareness/spirit.

Don't know if the history is true, since it sounds a little fantastic, but it's just a little interesting that the kundalini yoga practices migrated from both ends of the Himalayas - one to India and the other to China. If it's true, that could explain why Taoism was so ingrained in the chinese culture before Buddhism spread into it in the 2nd century.

It is the opinion of historians that Lao Tsu and Siddhartha Gautama were roughly contemporaneous.  It also simply took time for Buddhism to move from India to China.  Along the way it passed through Persia, then traveled to China on the silk road.

I'm confused though. If there were so many enlightened masters before the Buddha (3102 BC), why did Gautama need to turn the dharma-wheel (560-80 BC)? He did say that he was the first, if I am not wrong? Or maybe I got the timeline reversed?

Every religion corrupts the teachings of the enlightened mystics, so new mystics have to come along and pull wisdom (dhamma wheel) out of the gutter where the priests of mainstream religion put it.

A friend also told me about how using earthing mats improved his health significantly, especially his gastrointestinal problems. The only problem is how expensive some of these mats can be, so I would rather go barefoot on the earth.

In recent years I conducted extensive experiments with grounding and shielding.  I found grounding, or shielding, alone did nothing to improve my health; however, I found implementing both grounding and shielding at the same time did.  I also found it was more useful at night while I slept, and less useful through the day.  You can find some of my experiments under Electromagnetic radiation and health and also under Space weather and health.

If you are only interested in grounding equipment, then you can search Google for "ESD" or ElectroStatic device.  The electronic industry requires grounding of technicians when they are working with electronics, and the equipment for this has been in place for decades, so competition has driven down the price, and should be quite affordable.  If you check the above two links, then you will find links for ESD equipment.

Going to increase my intensity to 3 hours and see if I can go deeper.

Good work.
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