Is enlightenment elitist?

The concept of the chakras, or energy wheels within the body, is common to both Chinese and Indo-Tibetan subtle body theoretical frameworks. The Chinese describe the energy as moving in circular patterns in the body. The Indo-Tibetan systems describe a central channel with a solar and lunar set of parallel meridians, which must be united to fully open the central channel. When these energies are integrated, there is said to be realization. Similarly, the kundalini theory describes the energy as traveling from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

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The nihuan point, which corresponds with the pineal gland, represents the third, or wisdom eye. The human body is actually a universe which can be described in alchemical terms as "as above, so below" which sees the human body as both the microcosm of the multiverse and the fundamental source of the design of the cosmos.

According to Taoist alchemical theory, the pineal gland of the enlightened adept becomes equivalent to the North Star because everything between heaven and earth has become one being. The mind and body of the adept is identical to the mind and body of the universe simultaneously. This idea that the inner dimensions are actually more real than our conventional third-dimensional reality is based upon the ability of advanced practitioners who travel between inner worlds. The other basic idea is that the reproductive energy of the lower body can be taken to the head to activate the brain and increase the luminosity of the mind. 

Chinese alchemy is based on the idea that aging can be dramatically reduced if the original pre-birth energy of the body is restarted by natural breathing practices. The basis of Taoism is that embryonic breathing results in a kundalini activation, the Golden Flower, or the union of the individual with heaven and earth, the higher and lower dimensions of reality being unified into a single whole. This single whole is the Tao or universal void. 

The goal of meditation is for the individual to open the third eye by systematically cultivating the mind and body, using variations of heat yoga. All of these alchemical systems describe the human body as a crucible, which can be heated by specific practices, both internal and external, which greatly increase the overall luminosity of the mind/body continuum.

Is enlightenment elitist? To get good at something one must study and practice. There is more access to information about the various practices used to achieve enlightenment through the globalization of our information systems. The nirvana meme has gone into the advertising industry, as well as commercial sports, which use Zen concepts like the Zone or Peak Performance to enhance an athlete's psychological condition. The end result is that a spiritual, non-religious dimension is recognized in Western science as normal. What do you think?

 

 

The Fourth Yoga of Naropa: Clear Light Yoga

The idea of clear light and the experiences associated with practitioners who have had luminous meditation experiences is probably the most important theme in the Tibetan yogic worldview; experiences of luminosity are common to many other meditation practices as well. It is believed in the Tibetan view that at the time of death there is a universal experience of seeing a brilliant white radiance, which is considered to be the underlying reality itself. The belief is that an unprepared person is terrified by the brilliance of the void in its luminous form and flees, preventing true liberation; liberation results when the practitioner can unite with the clear light of the void without fear.

Almost all Tibetan practices are said to be preparation for navigating the death experience successfully. The Dalai Lama describes meditation as a means for the practitioner to achieve deeper and deeper levels of clear light during his or her lifetime. In China, Bodhidharma (470-543 A.D.), the founder of Zen, describes a number of clear light experiences in his famous Bloodstream Sermon. He says these experiences occur prior to complete enlightenment, which he describes as seeing your true nature or Original Face.