Yoga Work 5

• Some Deep Teachings
• Frustrated
• Reading Tips

Some Deep Teachings

You should ask Gott himself about it.

Q: . . . or is the Hindu concept of rebirth in a bodyin order to eventually go back to God the more proper reality?

Rudolf Steiner has many observations on rebirthing. Online books, lectures and articles abound (He is wordy).

Q: in order to eventually go back to God . . .

Your way is the awakening. A process.

Q: . . . the more proper reality? Or indeed, is it some sort of mixture of the two?

The awakening process is helped and fuelled through contemplation. Developing skills in the world should be as planned deep inside too.

Q: What do you think I am here to do? Really?

I figure that could be seen in a depth birth chart as a part of the dragon's tail in the South Node constellation. Accordingly, I was supposed to do Libra things in Europe - Libra things, Libran things . . . It may be very hard to find out exact degrees of constellations, for they are of irregular differing shapes and so on. [cf. Link]
      If astrologers agree that "In your cosmic depths you are an Aquarian", then, from old and young Libra people there could be much to gain; that is in the general theory of these designs, actually. That was an answer.

Frustrated

In our culture, it has been observed, "When I talk to God it is called prayer, and if God talks to me it is called schizophrenia." (Joke)
      Some persons hear something, others see visions, and to know steadfastly and truly is much better. For visions need accompanying understanding, and words one hears with the inner ears may be from other entities too.
      So first attune yourself inwardly as best you can, in order to ensure as reliable output as possible at any time. And don't forget to check and double-check and triple-check if it is possible to do it in any given case.

Q: Do the chakras exist?

Well, what do you think? What do we mean by chakras (wheels), padmas (lotuses) and such things, including the currents they link up to?
      The basic thing is that they represent levels of awakening, of getting more (inwardly, at first) conscious, and so on. Practitioners don't have to think of them, unless such attention is part of a method that is used. In Zen the subject of chakras is considered to be "not interesting".

Q: The Hindus seem to place a lot of emphasis and importance on chakras whereas as you say the Zen ones think little of them.

That's how it is. Chakras are in the main teachings of Tantra.

Q: But my nature is sceptical so I'd much rather see some hard evidence.

You may not get that. For the delicate mind-and-energy vortexes called chakras are not items, not hardware, so to speak. So hard evidence is hardly to be had about you. But individual experiences may be had and registered. That's in the layout.
      Statistical studies or inquiries about chakras may yield statistical data - useful to some, but hardly hard evidence anyhow, just averaged reckoning with statistical significance at the root of many of you.
      There are many books that describe chakras in tantric literature,
      It is good to bear in mind that chakras are on the level with fays and fairies. They are not seen and understood by everybody. One may behave all right without seeing them all the same.

Q: Why do you quote Jesus and think at the same time that the NT is not a good place to "gate" a young tree?

I would not start with the Bible, and would not end with it either, but something cosier . . .
      And the Bible is unstructured and not well fit for self-help advances of spiritual development.

Q: I think it is much better to eat, drink, and be merry.

King Solomon said that too in his day. He fell greatly, even though Jesus calls him the wisest man that had lived. The ancient Greek Epicureans tried to enjoy living on an even keel too, and found one needs to know a lot in order to master a life-time.

Q: I'm becoming tired with attempts to better myself and attain some degree of mastery.

What's the alternative(s)? is a good standard question to ask.

Q: If the Self wants experience on earth through a human vehicle, then pleasures should be indulged.

You put forth an opinion - The question is how true to fact it could be.

Q: It's no good speculating about life after death I think.

Buddha teaches it helps to lead good, moral lives, at least in the wider picture. His karma teachings are well worth studying. [LINK]

Q: Can you vouch for the authenticity of kundalini?

"If they did not believe Moses and the prophets . . . " (they would not believe me either). (Big smile)

Q: I can't help but think of it as a psychic thing which involves grace from God.

In yoga thinking about is at best second to experiencing for yourself by methods handed over. Some methods are better than others; that's in the teaching.
      You are free to think of it as you like, but "Modest dogs miss much meat."

Q: Regarding God's grace: do you think it is true that God arbitrarily gives his and her grace or is divine grace always there?

I should say that everything that others think may not be very favourable to ourselves. Ramakrishna used to pinpoint it by "eating mangoes" (meditating very deeply and so on). On another occasion he said:

I cannot cure my own illness, and you ask me to tell you what happens after death! . . .
      You have come to the orchard to eat mangoes; what need is there of knowing how many . . . branches and millions of leaves there are in the orchard? To bother about what happens after death! How silly!" (The Gospel of Ramakrishna, p. 411)

That thing varies so much. And often progress in the deep mind is unnoticed for a long while. Thus, comfort yourself.

Q: Frankly, I thought kriya yoga was supposed to be dangerous . . . In other words, I simply just cannot understand how it is supposed to be an efficacious technique.

So you feel disappointed? After big words about how effective and magically good it is?
      A tool in able hands may do great work, and the same tool in beginner's hands may not - not at once at any rate.

Q: How does it achieve a breathless state?

By counteracting currents and favouring contemplation, and so on.

Q: And why is there confusion over Dandelion producing breathlessness and the state of samadhi (and where does kriya come in)?

Factors may be into it:

1. How the methods work if given a fair chance in a life - that is practised well for at least 4 months, to say something important.
2. How the actual performance is.
3. How the life is regulated or lived.
4. How the environment is - warm, welcoming and so on.
5. Descriptions and promoting words can make a mess.

It would depend on how deep your meditation was in the first place. And in more advanced stages it may not always matter so much.

Q: When you meditate, are you supposed to fall asleep somewhat?

Not exactly. However, a long time's need for sleep may take its toll during meditation sessions. One should see to it that the need for sleep is met. One can often experience a sort of drowsy or lazy-like state in meditation. It's a good thing, and can be good for building HEALTH RESERVES too.

Q: And how do you know if you have visions that they aren't produced by your imagination?

I would say the good thing is to learn to detect the differences by such a training. It may take some time, even decades. Also, fairness and bravery helps realizing things too. Visions may be means to that end. It is implied deep in the bible, about Moses. [LINK]

Q: Further, is imagination an important thing?

For knowledge it has to be. Check out ancient Zoroaster thoughts on it: [LINK]

Q: And did you ever commune with God in a relative sense?

Struggling with making fair and hopefully fit "maps" (cognitive maps) of a "terrain" that others have found worth exploring, you have stumbled across discrepancies between SOME descriptions and your experiences, and keep asking yourself much. That is not bad, but it is not the best one can do either: When it comes to religious matters, there are at least three things to bear in mind.

Time works for those who work (Proverb).

Better stand alone with pride than err with millions on your side. (From an American proverb)

The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong (Proverb).

No rogue to the godly rogue (American proverb).

"It is difference of opinion that makes horse races (American)".

Q: How can one have a personality if they become the Self? . . . And how can a man be the same after having falling into deep sleep every night and lost his human identity then - and waking up?

It comes back to him. If not, he would become an outright case of amnesia and further.

Q: And when the body dies, does the Ego perish also?

No, not according to Vedanta.

Q: Alf said that he had killed himself a long time after he realised his God-state, but I cannot help thinking that he must have had some sort of sense of personality?

That's a good question. He said he could put on any personality he liked also.

Q: I think I know now why the great ones can ignore their yamas and niyamas.

Who is great? asked Yesus (Jishua, Jesus), and showed up a little child.

Q: Surely it is impractical to do nothing in the face of attack?

Alf teaches with "two mouths" in this matter. I regret to say. His non-violence topics may crowd out better ones.

Q: You seem deeply interested in Asatrulogy. I wonder about it myself - that is, is it a true thing?

As true as the stars at night. At day, in the hustle and bustle, we do not see them perhaps. And in the daily routines we may sense no asatrulogical influence (Joking).

"Asatru is for all people of European origin, whether or not their heritage is specifically Scandinavian . . . "We believe in an underlying, all-pervading divine energy or essence which is generally hidden from us . . . this underlying divinity expresses itself to us in the forms of the Gods . . . We never surrender our will to theirs or humble ourselves . . . "Although Asatru represents our spiritual heritage, most people have never heard of it!" [Link] - [Link] We are expected to use our freedom, responsibility, and awareness of duty and not overly concern ourselves with the next world. We live here and now [- advocating] a more natural, more honorable way. In most ways we are like our ancestors and accept that - Asatru . . . is what we are. We, the creative and intelligent individuals are part of Nature, subject to [some of] its laws . . . What are the runes, and what do they have to do with Asatru? [A schooled, educated and wisely questioning] attitude removes . . . the supposed conflict between religion and science. People are looking for . . . answers to the "big questions": the purpose of life . . . and what happens after death. Asatru has answers . . . People may honestly believe that this is the case - Follow up: http://www.runestone.org/flash/faq/index.html

However, the question pertained to "astrology" ;).

Q: Do the stars really affect us or it that just nonsense?

The guru of Yogananda and Yogananda himself teach that they do, but also that there are means to counteract unfavourable patterns, if it seems good. Have you heard of astrological bangles of such as intertwined gold, silver, and copper? Or gems used for similar ends? It is possible to get a "Sri Yukteswar bangle" from an Ananda-linked smith. [READ MORE]

Q: I'm confused. I don't feel alone.

"If you can't get a horse, ride a cow. (American)".

Q: Why am I different?

Everybody is different (to some degree). Fingerprints, DNA profile, and - if Carl G. Jung is right (again), one's identity, individuality.

Q: Could it be that everyone is in the same situation? Can you shed some light on my situation?

Your situation seems to be: Delving is not enough. Asking things is not enough. A bangle of gold and silver might help - according to Sri Yukteswar and Yogananda. The latter was equipped with two; he was in "astrological trouble" (deep shit, even) then, according to his autobiography. He survived thanks to Sri Yukteswar, he tells.
      Should we try to get swami Kriyananda's special bangle, or is it too late now? [Link]
      Or a gold-silver-copper bangle (further down on that site)?
      Here is a serious site: [Link]

Reading Tips

All right, among the pages I might recommend are:

• Dreams and Dreaming: [LINK]
• Ole and Lena Jokebook: [LINK]
• Prester Ben tales: [LINK]
• Marco Polo's Saving Sex?: [LINK]
• Fetching gold eggs: [LINK]
• Oracle teachings: [LINK]
• Divination: [LINK]
• Meditation articles: [LINK]
• Save yourself a hundred poetry books: [LINK]
• Patanjali Yoga: [LINK]
• Kissing used as a metaphor: [LINK]
• Heuristics: [LINK]
• Etc.