RyanO

http://kundalini-teacher.com/guidance/db.php

The beauty of the secret smile is that it is adaptable to your own constitution.  It does not need to be done exactly as given in the instructions.  A simple conjuration of a loving memory combined with deep breathing can do wonders, so I would encourage you to not be deterred.  Make it your own.  Be creative.

Bottom line:  everybody (every body) is different and you have to experiment to find what works for you.  Many schools will present their techniques dogmatically (you have to rotate energy around dantian such and such times, different for men and women, etc etc).  But you will find many contradictions in these teachings while also finding successful practitioners in many systems.  One is left to conclude that arbitrary techniques are mixed in with essential ones in these systems, and it is up to the practitioner to find out the difference.  This is especially true if one is "mixing systems", which is where you get the advice to refrain from doing just that.

Regarding the tongue thing, you can do it either way.  Simple.  Tongue connecting all the time will create a constant channel while leading the tongue can help to facilitate downward flow once energy reaches that point.  Safest would be a constant connection, which is why you hear that so often, but there is nothing wrong with dropping the tongue every once in a while.  In your case it might be a good idea to keep it up with too much energy in the head.

Some more advice would be: Inner Smile is great, HEE triple warmer sound (from Chia) while moving hands downward, google "Duck Egg" meditation to bring chi down to dantian, any qigong that brings energy down (grounding, rooting practices such as earthy walking, deep earth pulsing, mind in your feet, chi circulation movements, etc.  Lots out there)  By the way, mentally directing chi does not have to equate with forcing, so use a loving and accepting intent.  And again, figure out what's best for you!

,  

Like that one?

Indeed!

Related to the loving-kindness route, the inner and secret smile practices are also excellent for any kind of psychic self protection.  Search em up!

labria, based on what you have written, my recommendation would be:

http://www.kundaliniawakeningprocess.com

Lots of info about this school scattered about this forum.

Howdy,

I don't post much on here, and it's obvious that devoted practitioners of the Healing Tao post even less.

I myself do not practice much of Winn's stuff anymore but I did want to mention that I know practitioners who do and have for years and receive great benefit, there's just not a strong voice on here (if interested check out the Healing Tao forums).  That said my experience with this particular version of the orbit practice was that it was powerful, safe, and authentic, and I would recommend exploring it.  Winn is a great teacher and innovator and I highly respect his work.

I also wanted to say that mind-directed methods are proven, time tested approaches that are not inferior to less directed methods.  Both have their pros and cons which may vary according to the individual.  In either case, I would agree that not "forcing" anything is a good idea, but that's not exactly the same thing as saying not to lead qi with intent, which is a hallmark of many approaches to energy work.  

Great topic and great idea!  Here is an awesome method that uses this premise:

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/9719-dr-morriss-secret-smile-breathing-basic-kap-1-giri-for-the-tao-bumbs/?hl=%22secret+smile%22+giri

There are many possible variations of the above.

Thanks galloway, you're welcome!

It is generally agreed that both the inner and secret smile meditations are very safe for most people, even without a teacher.  They are different meditations with different purposes but are both variations on the theme of the smile.  Check them out and see if you like them.

Michael Winn has a great ebook on the inner smile, you can get it for free if you sign up for his newsletter.  Here is a sample of the first chapter:

http://www.healingtaousa.com/pdf/innersmile_ch01.pdf

And here are instructions for the secret smile, right here on the Dao Bums!

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/9719-dr-morriss-secret-smile-breathing-basic-kap-1-giri-for-the-tao-bumbs/

What I'm about to write is a stream of consciousness response because I'm procrastinating on work and is in no way a well thought out, formulated response which is my usual MO.  I am simply replying because I am interested in this topic.  Also, keep in mind this is general advice for habit change and not necessarily a response to your particular situation.

Here are some important factors:

1)  Intensity.  You have to want to change and you should have good reasons for doing so.  It can help to feel this desire as intensity, which is your "change" fuel.  It may be helpful to visualize (or actualize) a sun blazing in your solar plexus to feel intensity.

2)  Let Go and Smile.  When you are trying to let go of a habit, it may seem easy for a bit but when the habit strikes, you may give in unconsciously, which is why mindfulness is important.  Or, if you try to resist, you may feel tension somewhere in your body.  The trick is then to be able relax this tension and smile.  I find the Inner and Secret Smile meditations very helpful in this regard.  A quick Google should help you out if interested.

3)  Persistence.  This is perhaps the most important factor.  Most attempts at habit change will initially fail.  Those who succeed are the ones who persist over and over again even if it takes years and years.

This isn't necessarily from a Taoist perspective, but one could see it as an alchemical process involving #1 Fire and #2 Water and #3 Earth being the ground.  

I don't think self-improvement is a trap, though it certainly can be when it becomes an obsession.  Like many things in life, self-development vs self-acceptance is a balancing act which plays out in our paradoxical, dualistic reality.

Anyway, I'm back to work, hope this helps a little.  Good luck!

Lots of good advice here.  In my experience sleep paralysis occurs most during daytime napping, so that would be something to avoid if you're looking to avoid it.  

Also, I think that a lot of hypnogogic states have an element of sleep paralysis and thus the actual experiences may vary widely. Sometimes it is fun can be associated with lucid dreaming.  The most painful sleep paralysis experiences, on the other hand, are associated with night terrors, in which case there is a strong element of fear and can include a feeling of a demonic presence.  For these cases, practicing the inner smile or similar meditation such as loving kindness can be a powerful antidote, in addition to healthy lifestyle and spiritual practices in general.

Hi Juan,

Regarding your interest in the correlation between the Hindu and Taoist systems, you might find the following video helpful:

Good luck to you.

I wanted to add that conditional love is not "bad" and is a necessary and even virtuous thing in this realm of duality.  One would benefit from being immersed in non dual unconditional love while paradoxically playing the game of duality.  

Relationships where both parties do this would naturally be more harmonious than attachment based relationships, so in that sense the advice for relationships is true, just often misunderstood. 

I agree, well put Bud.

I think unconditional love is mostly misunderstood.  This is reflected in common suggestions that a relationship should be based on unconditional love.  But a relationship can't be based on unconditional love, because a love that is directed towards anything is by its nature conditional.  It is conditional simply because the identity of the receiver itself is a condition.

Rather, unconditional love is our natural state of being.  It is simply awareness.  Non-discriminating awareness is unconditional (infinite) love.

This is why sages such as Ramana Maharishi state that ultimately there is no difference between Self-Inquiry and Bhakti.

I've spent a good deal of time researching and taking various kinds of supplements, it can be a frustrating thing to do with the overwhelming amount of information out there, often contradictory.  It can also be an expensive habit!

In order to keep things simple and easier on the wallet, I have narrowed down what I consider an effective supplementation regimen:

Millennium Sport's MVP 365/ZMK

Barleans Omega Man Flax Oil

Nordic Natural Fish Oil

Three Lac Probiotic

Spring Dragon Longevity Tea

Of course I try to eat as healthy as possible and get in other healthy superfoods when I can, and have yin yang (mix of hot/room temp) water with whole squeezed lemon, ginger powder, and cayenne pepper first thing in the morning. 

The most essential part of this is the MVP365/ZMK.  The first is a multi-vitamin, the second a multi-mineral.  They separate the vitamins from the minerals to enhance absorbability, and also have everything in more bioavailable forms than most other multis (Krebs cycle intermediates).  

I am not a doctor or scientist so its often hard to sort out the BS from the truth, so I'm left to gauge my own body to determine a product's efficacy, and I feel great with these.  I knew the MVP 365 was legit because contains the same Coenzyme B vitamin complex which I have consistently responded well to in the past.  The ZMK is essentially ZMA with added minerals, including copper, but not calcium which would interfere with the absorption of the other minerals.  I have responded very well to ZMA and the ZMK is ZMA Plus.  You can google or go to amazon (which is where I get mine) for more info. 

I love OBOD!  I am halfway through their Bardic course and find it extraordinarily beautifully presented.  If one were to take the course I would highly recommend doing both the audio and physical lesson format.

It is my understanding that the second year Ovate grade deals more in depth with Shamanistic techniques.

That said, there is some dissension between OBOD's Revival Druidry and Reconstructionist Druidry, the latter emphasizing historical accuracy.  Revival Druidry borrows heavily from Western Magickal traditions to fill the historical gaps.  Personally I find myself too drawn towards Eastern approaches especially concerning energy practices for me to consider Druidry my primary path.  But I still get a lot from it and would recommend OBOD's courses to anyone interested.

In addition to OBOD, the British Druid Order and Mara Freeman also have in-depth home study courses.

Hi Oneironaut,

I'm a big advocate of the Inner Smile and it's my favorite meditation technique I've come across in 15 years.  The beautiful thing about it is that it be adapted to your own personal style.  As such, it can be as simple or as complex, as short or as long as you want it to be.  Feel free to experiment.

For instance, in Chia's system it is done by focusing inwardly on the body, but you can also project it externally to other beings.  If you're interested I'd recommend taking a look at Michael Winn's ebook, which has a lot about both the theory and practice (it's free, just google).

In my experience, I view the Inner Smile in three ways:  as a body scanning practice, a breathing practice, and as a blessing practice.

The body scanning is done similar to Chia's version but I don't do much visualization.  I simply scan my body and relax it while sending it love.  I find that kinesthetically imagining the body channels opening like an unkinked hose makes this feel really good.  This can lead into the breathing practice, which I do by smiling to the Tao (or God, the Universe etc as you prefer) on the exhale, and feeling the return of the smile on the inhale.  This can be done all day long as a mindfulness practice.  The blessing practice, where you send love to every being you come across, as well as food, etc., also works great for mindfulness.  This is a subtle practice that should not take much effort.

To me, it is important to understand the theory behind the Inner Smile to make it potent.  This is where Winn's ebook might help.  Briefly, it is a way to embody the perfection of the universe, that all beings are worthy of love, and indeed that all is love, and that there is nothing to fear.  In this, it is also a tonic for all kinds of anxiety.  Another insight I gained from the Smile is that there is nothing I need to do to be perfect, or achieve any kind of exalted spiritual state (this is where I differ from Chia's immortality theories).  Rather, the smile is a way to let go of everything that gets in the way of my experience of the perfection.

Anyway, this has been a stream of consciousness response to your question.  I'm not very active on here but I always have a moment to talk about the Inner Smile!  I'm happy to answer any more questions if you have them.  And of course, this is all based on my personal experience, and is not necessarily the view of Chia, Winn, or any other teacher, system, or philosophy other than my own

Very good to know Aetherous, thanks!

Steve, thank you for your thorough and insightful post!

CT and bubbles, you both have very good and thought-provoking points. I don't have much to add right now other than to say thank you both (and other contributors as well).

Interesting points Forest. What I meant primarily about looking at the end was not so much related to what the end experience will be, but more about things I will be expected to do along the way. And in Vajrayana, one of the expectations is to make a number of vows declaring commitment to Buddhism and the Guru. I understand this comes at a later stage, but I do not want to find myself "boxed in" in such a way. There are many reasons for this, and it is a personal thing.

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful responses.

Some points to clarify: If I am going to set out on a path, I want to look at the end and see if that is something that I want. So if I were to follow this particular path, to make it to the end there are some commitments I would need to make in the form of vows. The precepts, taking refuge, the Bodhisattva vow, and in particular Samaya vows in the Vajrayana stage. And breaking them, even by simply moving on to a different path, is very bad form. This is something that I take seriously, which is why I think I would have a hard time accepting it.

Sebastian, you're experience is certainly similar to mine. In fact, what got me thinking about Vajrayana again is exactly Ray's Mahamudra program you mention. I explored it and notice the same thing you did about it being a teaser for the real experience. So naturally I thought, why not go for the real thing?

At the same time, I think I would find it hard to accept the more traditional aspects of this path, as you point out. I also have a hard time accepting that in order to experience true formlessness, I need a transmission from a teacher. I think this could be a slippery slope to thinking that my way is the best way. I find myself drawn to the perennial philosophy because I feel in my heart that there is truth in all the mysticisms of the world, and with this approach I feel more of a connection to the whole of humanity.

So I think I will take your and other's advice and explore other aspects of Buddhism that don't require these same commitments. I am interested in Ajahn Brahm's approach to anapanasati. I like that he teaches not to focus on a particular spot with the breath, this is something that I have found works for me. Does anyone have experience with his teachings?

Howdy Bums,

Been a while since I posted on this board, things have been interesting!

Long story short: Once again I find myself attracted to Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's practice program on Tara's Triple Excellence, found here: https://dharmasun.org

The reason for the title is that I am not a Buddhist, I have not taken refuge, etc. I am normally anti-religion, as in the institution of it, hierarchy etc etc.

But for some reason I find myself continually attracted to Buddhism, and especially this Tara practice program. There are some other threads on here about it if you care to search. I even contributed to one years ago, in which I said I was sticking to my Taoist practices. But things change, as any good Buddhist well knows!

By temperament, cultural upbringing, and logic, I am anti religious authority. I could get into why but I'm sure most of you are aware of the general reasons already. That said, I am in a place where I am looking for a well-trodden path to the highest truths. I sense that there is some ingredient in a traditional approach that is not present in blazing one's own trail, so to speak.

So there are multiple levels of questions in this post. The first is whether or not I should pursue Buddhism in general. As I said, I am attracted to it, but am turned off by both appeal to authority well as emphasis on moral conduct (am I allowed to drink and eat meat in Vajrayana? I am concerned this path would be disruptive to my relationships).

Next, what are your thoughts on Vajrayana as a path compared to other Buddhist approaches? I know this is a potentially loaded question so please play nice!

Lastly, what are others' experience with this specific practice program? Is it worth it? How far did you go? Does anyone have any experience with Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche?

Thanks in advance,

-Ryan

Flowing hands,

You might be right about my experiences, that it is all mental. This would actually be a correct approach in Buddhism, but it seems you don't have much respect for that religion.

Despite what you say, quite a bit of suffering on my part has been relieved through meditating on Kuan Yin. Even if this is all from myself, I'm sure the 'real' Kuan Yin would approve.

That you claim to have been taught by immortals and commune with the 'real' being Kuan Yin I of course find fascinating. From what I can see so do many on this board, some being more skeptical of your claims. It's hard for me to say either way.

You surely speak with great confidence: maybe this is a trait required by shamans. If everything you say is true, I would still encourage you to be a little more tactful in your dialogue. People will naturally be very skeptical of your fantastic claims and you have to adjust for that.

Anyways, best to you.

I have been touting the benefits of the Inner Smile on this board for years. It has so many applications.

The biggest for me has been applying it to fears and anxiety. It is also great for guilt and any feelings of unworthiness or inferiority. As such it helps to assuage feelings of not being spiritually 'advanced' enough (whatever that means).

Great thread!