blue eyed snake

me thinks we're not all that free to choose what we believe. reading your story of how you have fought to not believe the obvious that was put before you, again and again.

hm, not sure I am the best person to ask that but will give a try, I've known a guy who has done Kriya yoga for quite a long time with a very qualified teacher, to no avail, he was quite irked as he had invested a lot of time and money. But no kundalini for him. Kundalini is the outcome of esteemed yogapractice and is (or is told to be) liberation from earthly shackles or something like that. merriamwebster says it better: Kundalinī is the feminine form of the Sanskrit adjective meaning "circular" or "coiled." In yoga, the word applies to the life force that lies like a coiled serpent at the base of the spine and that can be sent along the spine to the head through prescribed postures and exercises. On the way, the kundalini passes through six chakras, or points of physical or spiritual energy in the human body. At the seventh chakra, the yogi is said to experience enlightenment. As far as I understand it: the idea is that energy, kundalini-energy goes up the spine, when that goes smoothly it reaches the top of the skull and then you're experience enlightenment. But with a lot of people that energy get stuck somewhere and then you get ill and/or psychotic like. not something to play with without a teacher who knows what they do. But a legit goal with a legit training. There are some bums who know far more of it then I but this is the simple shorthand. sometimes I see that the small heavenly orbit ( or MCO as it's often called) and kundalini are seen as sort of the same. Not so sure of that, at least for me the MCO opened up like a rush of cool water were kundalini energy is commonly described as hot/electrical/fiery/burning energy. so yes, it can be dangerous, but it's not intrinsically wrong or bad. and many people covet it as they want to be enlightened. I guess that desire was exactly what prevented it from happening with the yearning participant of kriya yoga. When it happens due to playing around with energy without knowing what you're doing and without help from someone who does know what tot do, I guess its a scary thing to happen leastways we sometimes have people seeking help here when things have gone awry and some of those stories are nasty.

Not so sure neuroscience has proven that, but apart from neuroscience, most people believe that consciousness is a function of the brain because it's the paradigm we grow up in. Regarding evidence, you could maybe read some books about near death experiences, and/or about kids with memories of former lives that turned out to be amazingly to the point. Just to wiggle the paradigm a bit so to say, its interesting stuff.

May I turn that question around? What causes you to believe that consciousness is a function of the mind? Or to phrase it a bit different, why do you think the soul/consciousness is a function of the mind as opposed to a independent entity?

hey, where did you get that pic of me as a youngster doing my homework?

hmm, there are quite a lot of people who would regard that as a succes of their training

Yes, a daoist teacher. 't was like a sort of direct transmission of information, not an interview, he hardly ever talked about this sort of stuff.

I had some direct pointing from teacher. But no idea whether that is a core method or whether it is used often. I am deeply grateful for these pointings as they were important to me. Further I was told that in the past the " deeper teachings" were only transmitted when a student was ready and worthy. Meaning when a teacher did not have a worthy student the knowledge would disappear when the teacher left the earthly sphere. but also, from the outside, looking like secrecy

potable water, food, cords of wood , 4 walls and a roof to make a fire in. sorry, that's four things. chop wood, carry water

thanks for posting, nice interview. I do miss @Spotless here

that's interesting, never given it much thought to be honest. oh and this is a fun read, i read about this as a kid, this actually was the first time i read something that was totally different from the accepted point of view https://www.indiadivine.org/jesus-christ-was-the-savior-buried-in-kashmir-india/

oh yes, it was a secular movement, but somehow those christian lands were the right soil to let those seeds sprout.

thank you Nungali, that's a sound philosophy and every kid you gave a sporting chance on life that way is a badge of honor. deeply grateful

these advances did however originate in "Christian lands" not so much in chinese, hindu or moslim territory (my wording may not be the best, I have problems with language)

I think he brought the concept of forgiveness in the world, i don't know about "the most amazing teacher ever" but forgiveness is quite a thing. To me that sets him apart.

Lilith, John Collier, 1877

https://www.mutualart.com/Artwork/Light-at-The-End-of-The-Tunnel/C6600CA71E1CF18C

wishing you all the best

Albert Aublet - Selene

thank you, that caused me to look up some pictures to aid my memory from modern 3D pictures of the ventricles with the pineal recess marked in red https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7195420#/media/File:Pineal_recess_of_3rd_ventricle_--_animation.gif to a picture drawn by hand

not exactly a quote... but it sums it up nicely

Undine Rising from the Waters (1880) by Chauncey Bradley Ives

I thought this post warranted its own thread, will sleep on it. Hope i did the embedding of the post right, if not its an example of my famous computer skills.

hm, so yes, will add the text here @Nungali said: @blue eyed snake said @silent thunder said:

ancient, oh my creaking old bones. I stoked the fire today as it was the first cold day. I swear the floor gets lower every year and on that specific spot gravity seems to concentrate as to get up again is getting harder too. But will persevere as it is so nice to sit beside that good old stove.