Ben D

Chien-chih Seng-ts'an

Physio_Kundalini_Syndrome_by_Swami_Satyananda_Saraswati.pdf Hi Raman25, I was age 36 at the time of the kundalini awakening and had a family, a home, investments, etc., and I had been diligently working and saving and investing with the view to retire at age 45 with sufficient income to support my family and fulfil my hearts desire, to get into religious practice full time. The irony is that as it worked out, by the time I was age 45, I was divorced, no assets, and just enough savings left to last a few more years without work, but I was experiencing the cosmos full time in a real way that could not have been experienced as a mere theoretical religious scholar. So when my money was about to run out when I was age 50, I went to social security and received unemployment benefits for a few years before I gave up on the idea of ever being worldly prosperous again. At that time I applied to social security for a pension and with the support of the doctor who originally diagnosed the bi-polar condition, got it without any problems. So by 52 I was retired. By age 56 I developed the left foot big toe symptoms of the physio-kundalini-sydrome diagnosed by doctors as reflex-sympathetic dystrophy and here I am at age 66 confined to my rented unit. My journey no doubt has been like so many others,.. the wheels of life turn slowly, but they turn surely, and they indeed grind exceedingly fine! Gone are all the glorious expectations that filled my ego mind about the spiritual journey's end, but is been replaced by some true clarity and understanding. Still, one wouldn't wish my physical, emotional, and mental trials on another, so all the best in the quest to find out what and who you really are. On Edit. Testing to see if I can attach the Physio Kundalini Syndrome pdf files directly to this post. Physio_Kundalini_Syndrome_by_Swami_Satyananda_Saraswati.pdf Kundalini_Psychosis_or_Transcendence.pdfGreyson1993.pdf

It started in the late 70's with silent detached self observation of my thoughts, about 30 + minutes daily and to the extent that I could maintain self awareness of my thoughts at all times. It come from trying to live my life according to J. Krishnamurti's philosophy. A sudden 'spiritual' awakening occurred in 1980 that threw my life into turmoil (the kundalini arousal) and my meditation practice now took the form of pranayama (breathing) meditation. During this time I was not able to work a lot of the time and so it would have averaged about 2 + hours a day, with the self-awareness concentration of thought process now practically continuous at all times. Then in the late 80's I began dhyana meditation which has the goal of stilling the mind to bring about the cessation of conceptual thinking. By this time I was almost permanently unemployed, and meditation time increased to about 3 + hours a day with the self-awareness thing continuous. Since I have never really worked again since then, the dhyana meditation has continued to incrementally increase in duration to now it would be about 4 + hours a day with the detached observation of any thoughts when they arise being maintained continuously always. Now in reality it is not as clear cut as that I've outlined for there was a lot of experimentation and so yes, there were periods where I did the deep abdominal breathing,..its hard to delineate sometimes between where some yogic practice ends and meditation begins or even where self observation practice ends and where meditation begins. Concerning what causes it, I'm inclined to agree with the reason Yitzak Bentov gives, that of the 7hz resonance set up by the heart/blood standing waves being converted to a mechanical one and transferred through the spine to the axis where it affects that part of the brain that is associated with the left foot big toe. Its all there in the pdf link given above in my first post on this thread. As to whether 15 to 20 minutes a day could ultimately bring it on, I doubt it. The big toe problem started in August 1998 after about 20 years of continuous daily meditation practice that was much longer that. My whole life from dawn to bedtime was in some way generally involving some religious discipline. That my situation was seen as compulsive and obsessive by family and friends is natural for only those who have subjectively experienced the true kundalini awakening truly understand (if they survive it) the bewilderment and awe and terror of it. That is why I post the second pdf link by Dr. Greyson for it is good to see that some professionals are now becoming aware that spiritual discipleship is not a walk in the park and that great trials are involved that are not just theoretical. Thank you Raman25 for your interest and your sympathy, but don't worry,...who knows?... maybe this karmic affliction is a two edged sword, the mortal side may not necessarily enjoy it, but the unseen spiritual purging may be a blessing that endures way beyond the short life of this body.

Hi Ramon25, initially it was acute and very painful, but slowly evolved into a chronic condition that forever goes through cycles of increased burning pain to just a somewhat bearable tingle on the low side. Unfortunately at the time, I was unaware that my very comprehensive meditation and other religious practices such as hatha yoga that filled my life could have anything to do with it. The medical fraternity likewise ran many tests, scans, etc., and were completely baffled. It was almost 18 months from the onset that medical people found it was a progressive condition of the sympathetic - parasympathetic nervous system which they called RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy). I was told that if it had been diagnosed within the first 6 months, it can quite easily be resolved, but after that it becomes very difficult if not impossible to treat. Now it was a few years more when I came across Bentov's model of Physio Kundalini Syndrome being associated with long term meditation and the left foot big toe symptom. I was aware since the late nineteen eighties that that I was experiencing symptoms that fitted a Kundalini arousal, and in fact these symptoms began in earnest in 1980. The prognosis for me at this time is to continue to be housebound, can't walk for more than a few steps at a time without initiating a pain cycle. The upside of this is that if meditation practice really is efficacious in progressing towards enlightenment, then there is hope yet for that's about what constitutes my life now.

Thank you for your input DaoChild, I'm sure the researchers would have considered that as a factor as a part of the methodology. As for my own observation, I haven't been able to sit lotus, half lotus, or even cross-legged for many years and there has been no sign of remission, so IMO that would seem to rule posture out as a major factor.

Hi durkhrod chogori, thank you for sharing your present understanding. Do consider however, that there are other understandings, zen buddhist understanding for example teaches non-duality as the way to enlightenment, and enlightenment is Buddhahood. Zen accepts all other vehicles as capable of producing highly virtuous disciples and arahants, but not buddhas, for a buddha is beyond time and space and nothing associated with time and space can enter into it. A buddha wouldn't know what a buddha was, for it is only a concept arising in the minds of mortals. Zen teaches that the dharma is based on concepts, and concepts are a product of the mortal mind and therefore are only used as an expedient to transmit true understanding and then dropped. Like the raft built to take one across the water, when on the other side it is left behind. Here is a perspective from the zen teaching of Bodhidharma concerning mortals and arahants relative to mind and reality,.. though it may seem somewhat abstruse if you are unfamiliar with zen. Mortals keep moving, and arahants stay still. But the highest meditation surpasses both that of mortals and that of arahants. Mortals keep creating the mind, claiming it exists. And arahants keep negating the mind, claiming it doesn't exist. But bodhisattvas and buddhas neither create nor negate the mind. This is what's meant by the mind that neither exists nor doesn't exist. The mind that neither exists nor doesn't exist is called the Middle Way. If you use your mind to study reality, you won't understand either your mind or reality. If you study reality without using your mind, you'll understand both. Those who don't understand, don't understand understanding. People capable of true vision know that the mind is empty. they transcend both understanding and not understanding. The absence of both understanding and not understanding is true understanding. Seen with true vision, form isn't simply form, because form depends on mind. And mind isn't simply mind, because mind depends on form. Mind and form create and negate each other. That which exists, exists in relation to that which doesn't exist. And that which doesn't exist doesn't exist in relation to that which exists. This is true vision.

Well said Josh! Also agree, the inherent dualistic nature of the mortal mind as a self referenced framework based on an 'I' and 'not I', 'here' and 'there', 'now' and 'then', etc., dichotomies, is a product of evolutionary design for functioning in a physical body in a cosmic material realm. The self of matter and the Self of spirit can never meet, one of the two will disappear at the death of the body,...no prizes for guessing which! BTW, it is my understanding that the true meaning of the metaphorical story of the fall in Genesis associated with the eating (pabulum) of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, is the descent of the awareness of the non-dual Tao, to the dualistic self awareness of the adamic (clay) material body. It ties in so well with the first verse of Hsin Hsin Ming, The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love (good) and hate (evil) are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised. (Italics mine Ben D) Make the smallest distinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.

Some very interesting research into the effects on the brain associated with meditation practice was carried out by Dr Yitzak Bentov. He practiced TM meditation and found a common complaint of fellow long term meditators was pain in the left foot big toe. He went on to come up with a theory to explain how this comes about,..Physio Kundalini Syndrome. FWIW, I have been meditating for over thirty years and developed the left foot big toe symptoms about 10 years ago and it continues to this day. Here is a link to a paper on his work. Physio Kundalini Syndrome (pdf) BTW, for those who are not familiar with Kundalini and its link to, not only physical, but also emotional and mental anomalies, here is a medical research paper by Dr. Greyson on the subject. Physio Kundalini Syndrome - and mental illness. (pdf)

Hi Pranaman, it is my understanding that the mortal mind can never transcend the physical. What can happen when the mind is stilled and conceptual thoughts cease, is that the apparent dualistic separation of 'I' and the external 'not I' also ceases and the two are one, i.e. non-duality of unity is all there is. In the same way, when there is a cessation of mind conceptualization, the apparent separation of complementary opposites of past and future ceases and the two merge as one, i.e. non-duality of Now is all there is. Of course, the first samadhi experience such as occurs when the mind is still for the first time doesn't last long, and just as the first drops of rain do not make a storm, the first experiences of out of body bliss do not imply enlightenment. The error of all novice disciples is that when the normal dualistic mind consciousness returns, they claim "I' had a spiritual experience! This is an error, for when the 'experience' was, the 'I' was temporarily absorbed back into the non-duality of the Tao.

Hi markern, yes, can confirm personally that CoS is a mind control, money making cult. And BTW, LRH had some questionable companions when he started into his occult research....His Magickal Career Hi Spirit Ape, agree that in retrospect it was an experience in which a wiser soul would not get involved, but having learnt from it, and hopefully wiser, it would not be compassionate for me to take the attitude you suggest.

Hi alfa, sound is nothing more than vibration, perhaps it is more appropriate to ask if there is a connection between the vibration existing in our immediate environment and the inherent vibration of our bodies and constitution, that causes us to move? And yes. you are correct, by dancing to the tune, we are naturally tending to stay in harmony with our environment. In my meditation practice, the goal has always been to try and harmonize with the very depths and expanse of the cosmic aum vibration, and therefore find local sounds like music counterproductive as it makes it more difficult for the body to be in a state of stillness and unity with the One.

For anyone interested, here are some Taoist books in pdf format for free download that I've put on Scribd. Hua Hu Ching http://www.scribd.com/doc/14071666/Hua-Hu-...y-Brian-Walker- The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu http://www.scribd.com/doc/17108926/The-Com...y-Burton-Watson Book of LiehTzu http http://www.scribd.com/doc/14940109/Book-of...aoist-Teachings Also some zen/taoist sermons/summaries. The Faith Mind..Hsin Hsin Ming Transmission of Mind http://www.scribd.com/doc/13956477/Transmi...ing-of-Huang-Po Bloodstream-Sermon http://www.scribd.com/doc/13909483/Bloodst...-of-Bodhidharma Wake-Up-Sermon http://www.scribd.com/doc/13956702/Wake-Up...-of-Bodhidharma

There is nuance when it comes to virtue, for there is superior virtue and inferior virtue. Superior virtue is a state of virtue that is consciously unaware of acting virtuously, whereas inferior virtue makes it a practice of being seen to be virtuous. This is not a judgement, but rather an observation of the unfolding nature of virtue. One who is of the superior virtue nature, began by practicing inferior virtue.

It is my understanding that the three poisons, greed, anger, and delusion, are synonomous with the three realms. To leave the realm of greed, one should practice morality, to leave the realm of anger, one should practice dhyana meditation, and to leave the realm of delusion, one should attain true understanding, i.e. wisdom. The three poisons/realms have no real nature of their own, for they are merely products of the mortal mind, and when this mind is stilled, conceptual thinking ceases and the non-dual underlying nature (Tao) reveals itself. IOW, to be mortal is to be afflicted by the three poisons, to be purified of the three poisons is to be immortal. So long as the mortal mind deals with reality indirectly through conceptual thinking, then it is afflicted, only when the mind is free from desires and preferences will the Tao that is forever beyond the mind's concept of Tao 'shine forth'.

It is my understanding that generally, Qi is like radiation pressure, a high pressure yang center will flow to a lower pressure ying environment, and conversely, a low pressure ying center will attract a flow from the high pressure yang environment. In Qigong exercise, the flow will tend to flow according to that predicated by the empirical knowledge behind the manipulative purpose of the exercise, but always the general underlying metaphysics of flow are always in play. IOW, like electricity, Qi will always flow from high pressure to low, i.e. the path of least resistance. But if the natural resistance is modified to increase it in some place and decrease it another, then it can be put to work. This is what is meant by the previous statement above concerning the empirical knowledge of Qigong exercises. So the question really is, what is the most appropriate Qigong exercise for the problem? In the mean time, do consider that the general flow of Qi in the universal environmental sense is occurring in the interest of the whole, not just one soul's personal agenda, so always try and maintain a sense of identity with the whole and then any and all practice will tend to reduce the resistance between ying and yang in both the separate individual (dualistic) and wholistic (Taoist/non-dual) way simultaneously.

Namaste friend xuesheng.

From the perspective of mortals whose minds naturally work in discriminating, Ying and yang are perceived as separate, but the eternal Tao is the absolute oneness beyond duality. The Tao that can be discussed is not the eternal Tao, therefore any discussion that takes place involves it's reflection, ie. duality and it's reflection, etc.,..the ten thousand things. "The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences. When love and hate are both absent everything becomes clear and undisguised. Make the smallest distinction, however, and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart." Hsin Hsin Ming

Thank you daoian, how wonderfully succinct and illuminating. Occam's Razor has brought focus on the essential nature of Dao. Ying and yang are relative,..ie. immanent complementary opposite energies of the transcendent Dao.

My delusion is that of being profoundly and fondly attached to this temporary human body my parents named Ben.

Since this site is about Taoism, and Taoism is about the transcendent oneness that contains all complementary opposites, please define your conceptualizations of the absolute reality in which we all live, move, and have our being! In the light of your statement above, and in the context of Tibet/ Olympics/ China/ ten thousand things 'maya',.. so that one can understand what you mean by it under Taoist teaching, please elaborate. 1. What are you? 2. Who are you? 3. What and who are people? 4. What is the truth? 5. What is life that is being lived? 6. What is the the lie? "True understanding does not only understand understanding, it also understands not-understanding, if you claim to understand anything, then you just don't understand!"...... Bodhidharma

Agreed, enlightenment can be said to have been realized when the mind's conceptualizations come to an end,.. nothing new is realized,.. just that which has always been. Tao is only revealed by Tao, and can only be received by Tao, and the medium of conveyance is Tao. The O at a D thing seems quite involved in the dualistic nature of things and there is a saying that "there is no difference between the means to an end, and the end itself". On the other hand, there is dhyana meditation practice which is based on bringing about the cessation of perception of duality in what is really a oneness. This does not presume that the kundalini unfoldment isn't involved or important,... it is just that the focus is always on the oneness.