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?

 

 

Lucid Dreaming: Part 2

Although Nobel prize-winning scientists often describe their creative leap as a fundamental dream-like insight, the fear of mysticism, which pervades science, prevents the true integration of unconscious levels of reality with the physical world. Similarly, science is based upon theoretical or mathematical descriptions of reality, which can be used for technological gain, whereas real meditation or dream practice results in the direct experience of the truth body at the completion stage.

In many shamanic cultures, the waking state is considered to be an illusion and the inner dimensions are considered to be real. These states can be accessed through dreams, or visions using hallucinogenic plants.

Indeed, in many shamanic cultures, a shaman is chosen by the spirits. It is not taken on as a job title or a vocational skill or even a career. Often the future shaman is felled by a mysterious disease and lies in a deep coma-like state for some time, being refashioned and restructured internally. When he or she awakes they have the option to go into deeper training, both with an older shaman and in the dreamworld.

Unfortunately, the majority of modern scientific interpretations have described luminous or visionary phenomenon as symptoms of a malfunctioning brain, schizophrenia or temporal lobe epilepsy. From a shamanic viewpoint, the well-being of both the individual and the tribe is largely determined by skill in dreaming. The Tibetan emphasis on lucid dreaming as a means of understanding the nature of reality is a remarkable example of a shamanic culture that unites yogic and alchemical theories into an organized cultural framework.

In many of these cultures, skill in dreaming results from a greater activation of the original energy of the body, using a variety of techniques, which range from breathing exercises to sensory deprivation. Many of the Himalayan lineages, which result in Nirvana Without Remainder, emphasize using extended periods of darkness to unlock the original energy of the body. Taoism also has the tradition of extended periods of meditation deep within caves. It is believed that by immersing oneself in the extreme yin environment of the dark cave the practitioner is better able to communicate with the world of dreams and visions. The chief characteristic of the dark retreat is that the dreams of the individual become the only reality that the practitioner can observe consciously. Many of the greatest adepts have actually spent years in total darkness; although this is an extreme model, it demonstrates the importance of the integration of the world of dreaming with the conscious mind.