Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips Babs _ 2/8/16 6:52 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 10/2/14 12:22 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Karalee Peltomaa 10/2/14 10:23 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 10/2/14 1:15 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Karalee Peltomaa 10/4/14 3:09 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 10/5/14 5:13 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/12/15 7:44 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/12/15 10:22 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/12/15 11:33 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/12/15 9:00 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/13/15 1:50 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/13/15 8:59 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/13/15 9:40 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/26/15 10:54 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/26/15 6:00 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/27/15 2:37 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/27/15 11:17 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/28/15 3:59 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/28/15 9:19 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/28/15 10:09 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/28/15 11:13 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/28/15 12:58 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/28/15 5:48 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/28/15 11:42 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/29/15 2:24 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/29/15 8:02 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/29/15 9:40 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/29/15 10:59 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/29/15 11:55 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/29/15 1:05 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/30/15 10:07 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/30/15 10:51 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 4/30/15 11:31 AM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Change A. 4/30/15 3:09 PM
RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips Babs _ 2/8/16 6:53 AM
RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips Noah 2/8/16 1:20 PM
RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips Babs _ 2/8/16 2:27 PM
RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips Noah 2/8/16 3:55 PM
RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips Babs _ 2/9/16 3:03 AM
RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips Noah 2/9/16 4:06 PM
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 6:52 AM
Created 9 Years ago at 10/1/14 10:11 AM

Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Here is a pretty unique study or demonstration of the last stages of karmic purification filmed in 10 video clips between 2013-2014. Look through them carefully and attentively. Perhaps you notice a change taking place along the way. Feel free to comment.

Baba

Go to playlist =>

Stages of karmic purification, #1-10:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqTm9fV9DGhtMC0mMJXwEytpxTVbpX2Q-
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Babs _, modified 9 Years ago at 10/2/14 12:22 AM
Created 9 Years ago at 10/2/14 12:22 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Hi Colleen,

It's me in the videos. Yes, I have disabled the Tube-comments because there were so many Christian fundamentalists flooding the comments.

No, sitting without blinking hasn't been my main practice, this is just recorded documentation. I am practitioner and teacher of tantric yoga.

The purpose why I filmed these clips is to show/demonstrate how karmic purification progresses at it's last stages. I did this mainly for those who study with me but anyone can surely study and evaluate them. It's not rocket science, you know. Basically when you take any spiritual practitioners photo 5 or 10 or 20 years ago and compare it with a newly taken shot (assuming that one has continued practicing), you can see that a change has taken place.

How you can study/evaluate these clips? Meet the stare and feel it. This is not a "transmission of energy" (not at least per se), that is not the point. When ones perception becomes subtle and ones own mind becomes clear, one can notice very subtle changes in other persons karmic state. One can feel if there are still karmic knots, impressions and impulses going on in the bodymind. Myself I feel sort of tingling in my limbs if the person/teacher being studied still has personal karmas and therefore is not liberated (jivanmukta/arhat). This is because the subconscious mind which stores all the karmas is mostly in the area of limbs. Stream-entry on the other hand can be most directly observed right between the eyes, that's where the I-sense (subject) falls off (or hangs on).

How I came to study like this?

This is nothing new. I have over a decade background of zen calligraphy in addition to tantric yoga where you get initiatied and meditate different kinds of spiritual energies (shakti). I studied zen calligraphy (hitsuzendo) with a Japanese master. Perhaps the most central element in this practice is not to yield the brush but to be able to evaluate the energy what the writer (could be a zen monk, a master or a tantric master) has instilled into the piece. All the Chinese characters are not important. The energy (jap. bokki) tells everything about the writer: what is his state of awareness and integration during writing the piece and so on. It is all there, the writer's spiritual/mind-state, and it can be sensed with bodymind-listening. I have an in-depth background in this. I also have a gallery of zen/buddhist calligraphy just because of this reason. Perhaps a hundred scrolls at the closet by various yogis and practitioners from China and Japan, just for the study of this.

Cheers,
Baba
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Karalee Peltomaa, modified 9 Years ago at 10/2/14 10:23 AM
Created 9 Years ago at 10/2/14 10:23 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

Posts: 401 Join Date: 6/19/14 Recent Posts
Hello, Kim
I re-visited the video, pushing aside my intellect.   Seeing all and seeing nothing.

I used to sit with people doing this drill for hours and we would take turns coaching and "flunking" each other with the desired end result that one would experience the environment with "no mind", no overlay of mental machinations on the environment.   At session #8, for example, I would have said, "Flunk for right eyebrow twitch.  Start."  I often was flunked for using my chin.  Even a chin and even an eyebrow has its possibly unexamined purposes.   I used to study Chinese face reading.

Okay, so now I get it, thank you for explaining and, yes, I did notice a change in your beingness -- less psychic mass around you, but felt you still need to keep going -- and seeing that you will.

I acknowledge your abilities gained from your practices.
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Babs _, modified 9 Years ago at 10/2/14 1:15 PM
Created 9 Years ago at 10/2/14 1:15 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Colleen Karalee Peltomaa:
Hello, Kim
I re-visited the video, pushing aside my intellect.   Seeing all and seeing nothing.

I used to sit with people doing this drill for hours and we would take turns coaching and "flunking" each other with the desired end result that one would experience the environment with "no mind", no overlay of mental machinations on the environment.   At session #8, for example, I would have said, "Flunk for right eyebrow twitch.  Start."  I often was flunked for using my chin.  Even a chin and even an eyebrow has its possibly unexamined purposes.   I used to study Chinese face reading.

Okay, so now I get it, thank you for explaining and, yes, I did notice a change in your beingness -- less psychic mass around you, but felt you still need to keep going -- and seeing that you will.

I acknowledge your abilities gained from your practices.

Oh ok, I see, Chinese face reading. Were the sessions you mention focused on Chinese face reading? Could you give an overall view what it is and what is it's purpose? Psychic readings? Something like that?

Perhaps the eye twitch would have flunked in the sessions you mention. I've had to do that often to make sure that my eyes are well visible because the lighting and the webcam are not perfect.

Sure, I keep on going. But the reason for practice has changed since 7/2014 (in the videos this can be seen since 8/2014). No need to scrub my own bodymind/karmas anymore. The focus is now on helping all beings and specifically my students. Closely linked to this theme I wrote a lengthy article with the title "Actual oneness" which explains to some extent how I feel about the mission of helping and alleviating the suffering of all beings. I posted the article on this forum as well.

Thanks for your input Colleen. I see you have a Finnish heritage. I am Finn, you know emoticon

Baba
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Karalee Peltomaa, modified 9 Years ago at 10/4/14 3:09 PM
Created 9 Years ago at 10/4/14 3:09 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

Posts: 401 Join Date: 6/19/14 Recent Posts
Hello, Kim,

Am Finnish by marriage and visited that country several years ago.

That face reading and face staring chapter is past and now I do other practices.

I'm reading your actual oneness post and please check my replies, thank you.
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Babs _, modified 9 Years ago at 10/5/14 5:13 AM
Created 9 Years ago at 10/5/14 5:13 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Colleen Karalee Peltomaa:
Hello, Kim,

I'm reading your actual oneness post and please check my replies, thank you.

Colleen,

It shows that you have posted on the Actual Oneness-thread but for some reason I can't see the message.

Baba
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 7:44 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 7:44 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
In case someone hasn't yet seen this documentation.

Here is a set of 12 videos which I've filmed during the last 2+ years of the last stages of my karmic purification before liberation
(jivanmukta/arhat) which took place last July 2014. I keep filming these clips every now and then just to give my friends and students a clear
picture what karmic purification actually is.

Here is the latest clip, shot yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5pqY3sSGHI&feature=youtu.be

Feel free to comment.

Cheers,
Baba
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 10:22 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 10:22 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Very good!

Good way to document your progress rather than just writing about it. People watching the videos can see the change that happens.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 11:33 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 11:33 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Change A.:
Very good!

Good way to document your progress rather than just writing about it. People watching the videos can see the change that happens.

Isn't it? emoticon I've tried to convince my students to do the same thing but no success yet emoticon

Baba
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 9:00 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/12/15 9:00 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Could you upload a "doing nothing/just sitting" meditation video?
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/13/15 1:50 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/13/15 1:50 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Change A.:
Could you upload a "doing nothing/just sitting" meditation video?

Sure. Any specific wishes? Length? Eyes open or closed? Whole body in picture or just profile?
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/13/15 8:59 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/13/15 8:59 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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About 5 minutes, eyes open with whole body in picture, thanks.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/13/15 9:40 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/13/15 9:40 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Coming up, will let you know.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/26/15 10:54 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/26/15 10:54 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Change A.:
Could you upload a "doing nothing/just sitting" meditation video?

Took me a while emoticon Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-aXV5DWIoI

Baba
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/26/15 6:00 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/26/15 6:00 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Excellent, thanks Baba!
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/27/15 2:37 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/27/15 2:37 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Comments? Some analysis? Critisism? Advice?
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/27/15 11:17 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/27/15 11:17 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Kim Katami:
Comments? Some analysis? Critisism? Advice?

Your body seems more pure but there seems to be some remnants in your face. Perhaps you could practice to relax the front half of your head a little bit, not much, just a little.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 3:59 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 3:59 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Change A.:
Kim Katami:
Comments? Some analysis? Critisism? Advice?

Your body seems more pure but there seems to be some remnants in your face. Perhaps you could practice to relax the front half of your head a little bit, not much, just a little.

Could you define what you mean by remnants? And what do you mean by my body being more pure? Other comments are also welcome.
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 9:19 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 9:12 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Kim Katami:


Could you define what you mean by remnants? And what do you mean by my body being more pure? Other comments are also welcome.
Your face seems to be doing something rather than nothing whereas your body seems more relaxed. By saying your body being more pure, I meant that you are just sitting, doing nothing.

Paying more attention to the upper part of the spine would be helpful to relax the face.

Just by doing nothing, you would eventually figure out what to do or what needs to be done! It is the most difficult of meditations. Some just start trying to figure out what to do if they start getting to where they have nothing to do.

What was your experience of doing nothing/just sitting? Did you find it difficult?
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 10:09 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 10:09 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Right. I am still recovering from a major physical exhaustion due to few years of heavy work and 15 months of random sleeping due to a baby. A month back this video would have looked even more tense. But these tensions are only in the physical body, not at all in the mind, emotions or awareness. Hence, just sitting is my natural state. However, when I sit these days I have to keep coming back to relax the body because of the tensions appearing in the body due to the exhaustion.

Thanks Change A. What is your practice background?
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 11:13 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 11:13 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Vajrayana and now yoga as well which is considered as completion stage practice.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 12:58 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 12:58 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Change A.:
Vajrayana and now yoga as well which is considered as completion stage practice.
Could you give a one or two sentence long description of what is generation and what completion? From which experiential point does completion begin?
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 5:48 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 5:48 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Generation stage is the visualization of deity either in front of yourself or as yourself.

Completion stage is working with the breath energy.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 11:42 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/28/15 11:42 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Thanks emoticon
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 2:24 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 2:24 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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What is the name/term for just sitting/doing nothing meditation in vajrayana?
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 8:02 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 8:02 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Zazen is the name for it but it is not a Vajrayana term, it is a Zen term. But I think that you can come across it in various traditions. It could even be called calm abiding.

I like the simplistic term just sitting/doing nothing because it is self-explanatory. People who start doing meditation, they might think that they have to do something for them to meditate and may not realize that they simply have to sit and do nothing.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 9:40 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 9:40 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Change A.:
Zazen is the name for it but it is not a Vajrayana term, it is a Zen term. But I think that you can come across it in various traditions. It could even be called calm abiding.

I like the simplistic term just sitting/doing nothing because it is self-explanatory. People who start doing meditation, they might think that they have to do something for them to meditate and may not realize that they simply have to sit and do nothing.
I started out in Zen tradition and sat 8 hours every day for 4 years, 1 year out of that in a monastery. For me it didn't work at all in the beginning of my path. I had to admit to myself after that effort that it was mostly a waste of time. I was pretty much the same guy with same problems, compulsions and delusion. I certainly don't think that for young people or restless people like myself shikan taza is the best choice to start with. Change A. used the term "completion stage practice" in regards to just sitting. As a descriptive term removed from the traditional vajrayana context it sounds fitting to shikan taza.

Calm abiding refers to shamatha meditation which is a multi-faceted whole. In order to avoid mix up, I would underline that this sort of shamatha deals with the last few stages of Nine Stages of Shamatha, not the early stages. Further I would say that it is close to impossible to get to just sitting with shamatha practices alone. Vipashyana is very much needed to get to just sitting.

Baba
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 10:59 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 10:24 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Kim Katami:

Change A. used the term "completion stage practice" in regards to just sitting. As a descriptive term removed from the traditional vajrayana context it sounds fitting to shikan taza.

Calm abiding refers to shamatha meditation which is a multi-faceted whole. In order to avoid mix up, I would underline that this sort of shamatha deals with the last few stages of Nine Stages of Shamatha, not the early stages. Further I would say that it is close to impossible to get to just sitting with shamatha practices alone. Vipashyana is very much needed to get to just sitting.

Baba
I used the term "completion stage practice" in regards to yoga practice that I'm doing, not for just sitting.

Just sitting could be the result of shamatha practice when you let go of the object of concentration and even then the mind remains calm and abides naturally.

I asked you for just sitting/doing nothing video because of your claim of being jivanmukta/arhat. A newcomer to meditation would never be able to do it. Vipashana might be needed to get to just sitting/doing nothing. I use just sitting/doing nothing myself as well to see if I'm making progress or not.

Regarding the tensions being only in the body and not in the mind that you mentioned in one of your earlier posts, I've found that once you release the tensions with the stretching while doing yoga, then something comes up in the mind also. Physical exertion doesn't last very long after you are done with the work that was tiring but the mental exertion stays hidden and remains in the body.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 11:55 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 11:55 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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>Change A.:
I used the term "completion stage practice" in regards to yoga practice that I'm doing, not for just sitting.

Just sitting could be the result of shamatha practice when you let go of the object of concentration and even then the mind remains calm and abides naturally.

I asked you for just sitting/doing nothing video because of your claim of being jivanmukta/arhat. A newcomer to meditation would never be able to do it. Vipashana might be needed to get to just sitting/doing nothing. I use just sitting/doing nothing myself as well to see if I'm making progress or not.

Regarding the tensions being only in the body and not in the mind that you mentioned in one of your earlier posts, I've found that once you release the tensions with the stretching while doing yoga, then something comes up in the mind also. Physical exertion doesn't last very long after you are done with the work that was tiring but the mental exertion stays hidden and remains in the body.
Is there a more specific name for the completion practice you do?

As I understand just sitting is not concerned with only silent sitting but covers all situations and actions. That, I think, is not possible to attain without vipashyana or only with shamatha practices. I've seen descriptions like "never distracted" and "never not-meditating" of this attainment. Maybe that is what they mean by non-meditation but as far as I know there is subtle progress even within non-meditation after the attainment of liberation/jivanmukta/arhat. That is the progress from bodhisattva-hood to full buddha-hood.

A newcomer to meditation or even a seasoned practitioner cannot do it, just sit/non-stopping samadhi, because sooner or later stuff comes up and distraction takes place. Here I am specifically referring to shamatha in which concentration is not needed at all, ever. One of my "case studies" is a Zen roshi whom I trained with. Based on studying his videos and calligraphies (ink trace which directly tells the condition and attainment of the practitioner) it looks like he attained this after over 35 years of full time Rinzai Zen training. Great that he did but who else can commit in such depth!?

I have tried to find references from reliable yogis about jivanmukta/arhat/liberation and it's relation to the physical body. Tai Situpa on one of his YouTube-videos is the only reference I've come across where he says something like "for very advanced and attained practitioners workaholism is the only reason why they can get into burnout". I have also read of Dalai Lama's personal doctor asking, or should I say demanding, him to take rest of his busy schedule obviously because it's too hard on his body. Same in the case of Chetsang Rinpoche, I saw this in some Drikung Kagyu-documentary a while back, don't remember which one.

I burned out my body just because not realising that it became so worn out of so much working and in addition the baby year. As there is no stress, pain or confusion in the mind or emotions emotions at all, it kind of sneaks up on you and bam* then the body just won't move anymore and you are bedridden because the battery has been worn out. I have never seen discussion of this topic. Maybe Ingram has pointed to this in some degree, I don't know. Anyway, the situation in this case is completely different from the common physical and/or mental-emotional stress/karma impulse.

Baba
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 1:05 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/29/15 1:05 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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It is basically meditating while stretching and breathing at the same time. Stretching helps to release the tension in all of the body by doing various poses which in turn can bring out something in the mind which I then use the meditation experience to release it.

If the same tension starts to build up in the body, I then know what to do with it before it progresses further. Eventually it just subsides and doesn't build up.

This I consider to be completion stage practice, taking the practice beyond the mind to the body itself using the breath. Breathing itself can cause tension in the body if there is misalignment of the spine and the muscles are not contracting evenly. Muscles can remain contracted even after they are released and that can cause some suffering. Or the muscles that are not needed to be contracted for certain activity get contracted. For eg. if you are to make a fist, it is not just your muscles in the hand/arm that are getting contracted but even beyond and when you release the fist, you can still feel some residual tension which is more than the exertion that was caused due to the act of making a tight fist.

"Never distracted" and "never non-meditating" are good descriptions of just sitting/doing nothing. I think that there would be room for improvement for ever and a day.

I know that it is very hard to just sit/do nothing and that is the reason why I choose it to gauge my progress and that is why I asked you for this.

About the relationship of liberation to the physical body, I think I read it in one of Chogyam Trungpa's (if I remember correctly) book where he says that enlightenment is progressive relaxation of the body. If there is still tension that is held in the body, then the enlightenment is not complete. Exhaustion from physical exertion is different than tension that is held in the body (see the above example about making a fist). I have mentioned about enlightenment being progressive relaxation of the body earlier on this forum. I don't think Ingram has mentioned about it or thinks about it the same way but I think his model is a limited way model.

If the situation that I saw in your face was different, I wouldn't have pointed it out.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 10:07 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 10:07 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

Posts: 709 Join Date: 2/5/13 Recent Posts
Change A.:
It is basically meditating while stretching and breathing at the same time. Stretching helps to release the tension in all of the body by doing various poses which in turn can bring out something in the mind which I then use the meditation experience to release it.

If the same tension starts to build up in the body, I then know what to do with it before it progresses further. Eventually it just subsides and doesn't build up.

This I consider to be completion stage practice, taking the practice beyond the mind to the body itself using the breath. Breathing itself can cause tension in the body if there is misalignment of the spine and the muscles are not contracting evenly. Muscles can remain contracted even after they are released and that can cause some suffering. Or the muscles that are not needed to be contracted for certain activity get contracted. For eg. if you are to make a fist, it is not just your muscles in the hand/arm that are getting contracted but even beyond and when you release the fist, you can still feel some residual tension which is more than the exertion that was caused due to the act of making a tight fist.

"Never distracted" and "never non-meditating" are good descriptions of just sitting/doing nothing. I think that there would be room for improvement for ever and a day.

I know that it is very hard to just sit/do nothing and that is the reason why I choose it to gauge my progress and that is why I asked you for this.

About the relationship of liberation to the physical body, I think I read it in one of Chogyam Trungpa's (if I remember correctly) book where he says that enlightenment is progressive relaxation of the body. If there is still tension that is held in the body, then the enlightenment is not complete. Exhaustion from physical exertion is different than tension that is held in the body (see the above example about making a fist). I have mentioned about enlightenment being progressive relaxation of the body earlier on this forum. I don't think Ingram has mentioned about it or thinks about it the same way but I think his model is a limited way model.

If the situation that I saw in your face was different, I wouldn't have pointed it out.
Is that all you do as your practice? Could you post a video of you just sitting? Are you able to just sit?

During the successive years of my training I became able to zoom in and out in the body space and be able to feel subtler and subtler subconscious/karmic tensions there. I guess most meditators gain this ability to feel their degree of mind's/karmic purity, or not, I don't know. These subtle subconscious knots are different to tensions I've had in my body lately. So, what Trungpa says is somewhat oversimplified statement in my view.

I remember this one Indian yogi whom I knew whose body was very very soft but eventually he turned out to be a dishonest cheater, despite of everything. In some sense relaxation of the body is right but it doesn't tell everything.
I friend of mine is a TRE/Trauma Release Exercise-teacher and a professional inner martial art teacher. When I first went to TRE-sessions where an inbuilt ability of trauma/stress release of the body is used, my body shook really forcefully and heavily. In TRE they always seem to think that if there is shaking taking place then automatically there is also mental-emotional stress. I can testify that it is not always so.

>If the situation that I saw in your face was different, I wouldn't have pointed it out.

I didn't get what you mean by this. Could you clarify, please.

Oh yeah and in case Daniel I. is reading this: Could you post a just sitting video of yourself? emoticon
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 10:51 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 10:51 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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First and foremost, I don't claim to be jivanmukta/arahat. If and when I do make such claim, I would post a video and let people think what they do and their negative impressions of me still having subconscious/karmic tensions would not bother me.

You asked for my "Comments? Some analysis? Critisism? Advice?" and I let you know what I thought although only after you asked for it specifically, otherwise I would have left it there.

Because you are asking me to clarify what I mean when I say that if the situation I saw in your face was different, I wouldn't have pointed it out is that I still see subconscious/karmic tensions in your face.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 11:31 AM
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RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Change A.:
First and foremost, I don't claim to be jivanmukta/arahat. If and when I do make such claim, I would post a video and let people think what they do and their negative impressions of me still having subconscious/karmic tensions would not bother me.

You asked for my "Comments? Some analysis? Critisism? Advice?" and I let you know what I thought although only after you asked for it specifically, otherwise I would have left it there.

Because you are asking me to clarify what I mean when I say that if the situation I saw in your face was different, I wouldn't have pointed it out is that I still see subconscious/karmic tensions in your face.
Ok, good. Finally I got your point. All along the conversation I wasn't sure if there was criticism or not. I don't always get English right.

Sure, it is all the same to me whether you praise or critisize me. Just fine. When I wrote "Comments? Advice?" it was just for the sake of conversation and also in case there is a fully blown Buddha here who could give his advice. A bit of humour there.

I believe I explained my points of exhaustion and karmic tensions in relation to physical body clearly enough.

Thanks for your comments Change A.

Cheers,
Baba
Change A, modified 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 3:09 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 4/30/15 3:09 PM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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I wouldn't give a name to what you have achieved but looking at the various videos that you have posted, I think that you have made a tremendous improvement within a short time.

Cheers!
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 6:53 AM
Created 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 6:50 AM

RE: Stages of karmic purification in 10 video clips

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Hi folks,

Several added videos on the playlist as well as a text about the bhumis. I added the information of which bhumi is going on in the name of the video.

I present here a unique documentation of my own mind purification during the last 3 years (2/2013-11/2015), starting from a bit over a year after the initial awakening (bhumi 1, stream entry) and several videos later at bhumi 8 in 2015. I am not aware that anyone else has done such documentation where you can observe clearly the changes taking place. It is very demonstrative of "gradual enlightenment" or "karmic purification" which in my case has happened through Tibetan Heart Yoga and Guru Yoga taught by my masters. I hope this is of use to you.

Please read "Stages of spiritual attainment" from the Open Heart-blog before seeing the videos so you will have a better picture about what bhumis are: http://openheartopenheart.blogspot.fi/2016/02/stages-of-spiritual-attainment.html

And then watch all the 14 videos, the whole playlist, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-Ulm8dH7A&list=PLqTm9fV9DGhtMC0mMJXwEytpxTVbpX2Q-&index=1

Please note that the bhumi model used here is not the same as in mahayana buddhism, though there might be similarities.

Cheers,
Baba

Open Heart,
openheart.fi
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Noah, modified 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 1:20 PM
Created 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 1:20 PM

RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

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Hey Kim,

Cool article on your map of awakening.  Do you think this person is lying about her years with Amma?  This question is coming from someone who also used to think Amma was fully cooked.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 2:27 PM
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RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

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NoahHey Kim,

Cool article on your map of awakening.  Do you think this person is lying about her years with Amma?  This question is coming from someone who also used to think Amma was fully cooked.


Hi Noah,

And thank you. I am doing a series of study on bhumis. Stay tuned. 

I haven't read this book. And even if I had I couldn't say whether she is lying or not. Before saying anything else I wish to make sure that I am not involved with Amma's organization and neither I am her follower/disciple.

I spent two weeks at Amma's ashram in India just two months ago. I have been there before for 2 months six years ago. I've met Amma (darshan/hug) perhaps 20-30 times since 2003. I've sat in her presence for roughly 100-200 hours, during 2003-2015.

Yea. It's pretty clear to me that she is "fully cooked". Her actions speak for themselves. Last November she sat down giving hugs continuously for 26 hours, it was reported at the official Facebook group of her ashram. I have never seen any of the people who received a hug from her leave in the state of mind they came. There are numerous stories of this from all kinds of people from all over the world. She has given her darshan to 35 million people during the last thirty years. So that's one. Then there's the huge volunteer work that has been going on for years on numerous areas over the world. That's two. And three, there are eye witness stories of her doing miracles. Healing a leper and turning water into milk. As I haven't myself seen her doing those and many other miracles I don't know if all that is true but to me a bigger miracle is to transfrom the minds and heartaches of thousands and thousands of people while not getting up. I assume the karmic energy hit of that is so great that a body of an ordinary person or even that of an adept yogi couldn't probably take it but for a short period of time like an hour or two tops.  

I never merely believed what she has said or what any of my teachers said. I have investigated and tested myself what I was told while doing numerous hours of practice out of which I'd give a special mention to Guru Yoga here. I mention tantric guru yoga especially because I have done it with mahasiddhas such as Machig Labdron, Vimalamitra and other masters of the same caliber. Based on all that I say that Amma is in a state of "no arising and no cessation*" as that of a living buddha. 

*definition by Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

I am not a fan of what she teaches in the sense of mind training, though. She is wonderful in encouraging values and offering a shoulder for people but lousy in getting them awakened. Her talks are usually a mixture of stories from Indian folklore, hindu classics and everyday stories. Here and there there are direct instructions for awakening but they are not emphasized. As a consequence practically none of her followers get awakened. This problem of people not getting awakened (stream entry) puts them into an ongoing circle of searching. They don't realise that what Amma is, is within them as well, although this fact is being repeated all the time. They don't get awakened so they end up having to follow Amma's body. I am sure her followers make progress in the purification of their minds but they will never be able to finish it without awakening. They cannot help but be dualistically confused about everything because they don't awaken. This happens all the while they stick to their bhakti-flavoured practices, reading of texts like Bhagavad Gita and going to satsang and darshan with their guru. It's a weird limbo. Personally, I think this is a huge vaste of potential. When I met her two months ago I asked her that if I moved to the ashram could I offer guidance to awakening/help people get awakened there as my seva/work. "We don't do such practices here", she answered. I admit that I don't understand why.

It's a weird mixture: the greatest individual I've ever (physically) met in the spiritual sense surrounded by a mass of sleeping followers. It's hard to figure out, at least to me. But I also know that she sends people to find more suitable teachers for them than herself. I suppose I am one of them. I am 100% sure I couldn't have gone as far (or near) as I have had I stayed with her when I first met her. I know of other people who found other gurus, lamas or teachers for themselves and to whom Amma gave her blessing.

That's my take on her.

Baba



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Noah, modified 8 Years ago at 2/8/16 3:55 PM
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RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

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Ok thanks.  I've also received darshan from Amma on five seperate occassions since 2005, including a retreat in 2010.  In late 2009, I received a mantra from her at her Manhattan appearance.  I then went to her retreat, a couple weeks later, in upstate NY (if I remember correctly).  At the retreat I requested inwardly to have a powerful experience, and proceeded to do japa for hours.  In one talk, she locked eyes with me in the crowd, and I saw a glimmer of light.  Later, she made a statement about reincarnation in a Q&A session, and I felt a wave of energy hit me, and started sobbing.  I continued sobbing for an hour, and then felt like I was euphorically on LSD for three days, having visual and auditory hallucinations of third-eyes on people's foreheads, and "aum" noises in the distance.  I consider this to be my first A&P.  Thats my Amma story.
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Babs _, modified 8 Years ago at 2/9/16 3:03 AM
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RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

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It is common for people to say things like, "Her energy of love is so huge!", "I am embraced by her powerful presence!", "She is my Mother!" or something along those lines. She certainly has got shakti down emoticon

For me too it was like that for many years. Her nondual energy which is heavily flavoured with peaceful and loving flavour, kept hitting my karmic body, creating strong energetic sensations. Guru Yoga was like that for me for several years too. But it changed when the karmic grooves in the area of my physical body became purified.

After this her darshans have not had that "powerful/energy/loving/wow-effect anymore. This is because at this point of practice one has grown out of it, out of Arising and Passing away, if you will. Instead what happens after the 6th bhumi is that if one is in connection with a master like Amma or some other, the change happens in the clarity of the conscious experience  and not in the energies of the bodymind, although the clarifying effect of the mahasiddha bhumis or higher bodhisattva bhumis is also felt in the body.

When it comes to this clarifying effect after 6th bhumi/arhathood, in my experience one needs specific assistance of either specific deities or a mahasiddha/master to make sense of that. There is a system in this. The bhumis after 6th bhumi up until the 13th (in our system we have 13 bhumis as I have explained in the text "Stages of spiritual attainment" above) are like a row of glass windows next to each other. All glasses are pure (nondual) but there are significant differences in the clarity of the glass, the next glass is brighter than the previous one. To understand this, this needs to be understood and studied in detail with a master or meditate specific deities.

Further casual speculation based on my poor memory which may have mistakes in it. Thinking about this the other day I recalled reading that Kenneth Folk had changed his system adding new levels of subtle experience ( I don't remember what is the technical term for this in theravada,maybe "jhana" but I'm not sure) to his model throughout the years. I also remember him having told that he found one of the subtle spheres by invoking Amitabha. There you have it. This is just speculation and I'd have to check what he has said on this, as well as go through his YouTube-videos on jhanic arc, to make sure but to me all this smells of becoming aware of the higher bhumis. I don't know if they have this information in theravada/Mahasi-lineage or not. They probably something similar but I guess Kenneth Folk would know about it as he is a theravada-specialist, I suppose. When I have time I'll take a look of his vids on this.

Baba
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Noah, modified 8 Years ago at 2/9/16 4:06 PM
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RE: Gradual Enlightenment/Mind Purification on Video Clips

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Kim:

For me too it was like that for many years. Her nondual energy which is heavily flavoured with peaceful and loving flavour, kept hitting my karmic body, creating strong energetic sensations. Guru Yoga was like that for me for several years too. But it changed when the karmic grooves in the area of my physical body became purified.


This makes sense to me as well, as experiences such as the 4th nana have evolved over time.  In general, energetic experiences now feel more integrated, perhaps less rapturous and more familiar.  I'd imagine that Amma's shakti would also be different now.  I am also sure that I have a long way to go.

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