amoyaan

Thanks Ish. Yup, gathering info from different sources leads to confusion. The main reason I am interested is for increased health as I currently have something called chronic fatigue syndrome, which the doctors don't even really understand and can't treat. I feel it's something wrong with the wiring on an energetic level, but I could be wrong. I am getting acupuncture which is helping, yet don't have access to a qualified teacher. I was hoping that between the book/s and online support that would be enough to get me started? Though obviously I'm aware of the dangers of dabbling and wouldn't want to make anything worse. So basically, one shouldn't visualise or direct the energy up the spine, but instead wait for it to move on its own?

I'm curious Tulku. This isn't meant as a criticism or anything, just a simple question. On what are you basing this perspective of enlightenment? Those are quite bold statements, just wondering where you got them and what path it is you are following?

Hey everyone! Oh it's a teesny bit awkward starting one of these threads - you're like a late arrival at a party, hoping to slip in as inconspicuously as possible, only to find the room goes silent as you walk in :-P I came across this site and really enjoyed the range of topics and discussions, and felt that I'd like to dip in now and then. My name is Rory and I'm a 33 yr old artisty-writer guy from Scotland. I have a website at www.bluestar-art.co.uk (although a new site is in the works so that'll be yanked down quite soon) and blogs at lucid-exposition.blogspot.com (philosophical and spiritual reflections) and daily-tao.blogspot.com (my own commentary on the Tao te Ching, something I really just did to help myself understand and reflect on the text, but which I decided to share). I have explored a great many spiritual paths since I was a teenager and have meditated diligently since I was 17 or 18. After trying a great many spiritual approaches, (looking back on it now, some of it was a bit wacky - about 10 years ago I was very keen on the notion of 'ascension'. In spite of my best efforts I didn't happen haha), I settled upon the ancient tried-and-tested pointers of vedanta, zen and the teachings of the Tao Te Ching. Those have helped me the most I think, and although things are not necessarily all wonderful in my 'life' - I'm dealing with some health stuff which has kept me from being fully functional in the world as most people are - I'm generally at peace and happy...I've found that Self knowledge really is the great elixir of life. When we no longer identify with what-we-are-not, the old limitations, fears and doubts gradually vanish and there's just peace - and if the mind is especially still, a great joy as well. K, didn't mean to write as much. I do ramble sometimes. Look forward to getting to know everyone and joining the discussions. The past few months I have been studying and starting to practise Taoist yoga and the Microcosmic Orbit, so I'm looking forward to maybe discussing and learning more about that. Laters Rory. PS that's weird, I wasn't aware I'd uploaded a photo, but there's one there! Hah. Oh well, that'll do

Thank you Elliot

A lot of interesting stuff in your post Tulku, some of which I relate to and some of which I don't. The problem I do have though is the underlying assertion that we need to somehow transform from human to divine. We ARE Divine. The only thing that stops us from realising that, and being that, is our lack of awareness and ignorance; our mistaken identification with a body and mind, an imaginary objectivisation of self. I truly believe don't have to BECOME anything other than what we already are and always were. All we need to do is clear the obstructions to self-realisation. It's true that sex, greed and attachment to physicality and sense pleasures are what hinder us much of the time. It's not that these things are inherently bad. It's just they tend to hold too much of our attention, keeping our awareness off the Self/awareness/being. It's our attachment that's the problem and that's why in monastic traditions they are discouraged. So long as the attachment is no longer there, and one is able to spend the appropriate time and energy looking inward, directing attention to the Self (or whatever you want to call it)...there isn't really a problem. The funny thing is, it's possible to 'attain' Self-realisation or enlightenment and still have a healthy enjoyment of food and sex. And it's also possible to spend decades trying to starve yourself of food and restrain every sexual impulse and be as unenlightened as a turnip