Yoga and Hinduism

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

I am finding it very interesting that it seems pretty impossible to disassociate from its greater Indian religious heritage. I had no intention of adopting any Hindu principles etc when I first started doing yoga. Now I am taking up veganism for example. My awareness of my relationship to the planet has deepened more than I would have ever dreamed. I am far more peaceful in my realtionships with virtually everybody…and far more peaceful in my life. A certain greedy quality continues to leave me…the desire for certain material possessions for example, that even in the short run…won’t find me anymore happiness. My realtionship with my wife (which was never bad at all) has become even better, and my love for my daughter continues to blossom in a way that I would have never expected…and whatever blessings I have to give go out to them.
All of this is under the bigger umbrella of conscienciously practicing being content in all my circumstances. I am a pretty intense person, and for my whole life has always had this wanderlust…a desire to go and do new things, etc. This can be a fine trait. However, in my case, I have basically just been wandering from thing to thing for my whole life. So somehow it just started to happen bit by bit until now I am just really blown away by the personal changes in my life. That is all I guess. Take Care.

Sean Clark

#2

i started yoga in 1999 with a back problem medically referred as spondolysthesis at L5S1.since then life has changed so much.It is almost seven years i have been doing yoga.I am an indian and a hindu.Slowly with yoga i got interested in vedas and with gods grace have found a guru. The teachings of vedas are for human race not for sects unlike present day religions.The mantras were heard and seen by ancient seers in meditation and higher stages of conciousness.Ancient seers used to follow vedas, recite hymns and used to do hard practice of astang yoga, austerities and tapas with appropriate yajnas.There life style was in accordance with vedas.The hymns and mantras are in vedic sanskrit in vedas with heavy symbolism and similes.the literal meaning of words does not apply here they all have deep hidden meanings which traditionally was taught to all disciples orally by gurus from generations to generation.About 50023 years bach Mharshi Vyas compiled and wrote it in bhoj patras.When press came it was printed the copies of which are in market .Each mantra was seen by sages, the sages name is also mentioned in vedas.All the upnishads,mimansas, patanjali sutras gita are based on this.It is beutiful to read and understand these hymns which are power ful. Vedas talk of one omnipotent formless god and give worldly knowledge, science, maths in addition to describig the path how to realise god. All the upnishads talk of sanatan dharma i.e eternal laws of nature not hinduism .this term is in use by invaders after so many invasion of india by arabs,portugeese,greeks,britishers etc.Generally in india idol is worshipped like of Lord Rama (who has taken birth and whose biography was written by rishi Valmiki), Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva/rudra(Rudra word is mentioned in veda) similarly lord hanuman (taken birth during ramas time and so on), Goddess durga nad other forms of divine mother.if you visit India do visit to these sacred places, in temples only hindus are allowed.The spiritual vibrations are strongest here especially kashi/banaras,haridwar etc.If you want to read authentic information about vedas and hinduism please read articles written by realised yogis,souls and timely published articles by maths in india unlike foreign authors instead of interpretations lot of mis representations have come.Please read these web sites :
Vedmandir :: www.vedmandir.com
www.divinelifesociety.org
ATMA JYOTI ASHRAM - Meditation, Monastic Life, Spiritual Writings, and More
www.indiadivine,com
.:SAKSI: Home:.
The True History and the Religion of India

#3

Namaste Sean and Rashmi,
I want to thank you both for these two posts. I hope you know that sharing of yourselves in this way means so much to the rest of us.

Sean: Your sentiment is palpable and so lovely. It is the fruit of sincere Yoga practice. This is the gorgeous, juicy Yoga that connects us with the grace of God. This is being Yoga, not doing Yoga.

Thank you,

#4

Can prayer be separated from Christianity?
Can bowing be separated from the Muslim faith?
Can keeping kosher be separated from Judaism?

Is prayer exclusive to Christianity? Bowing exclusive to Muslims? Kashrut exclusive to Jews?

Can one keep kosher, pray, bow without being Christian, Muslim, or Jewish?

#5

Dear friends,
hello,
i am pasting one mantra from vedas with full meaning for your knowledge.Actually i want to initiate a thread but don’t know how to do it, always fail at that in this forum.If possible please guide me.Dear friend if you are christian just do not ignore this message because Lord Jesus was a great yogi , if you read patanjali yogasutras you will understand how miracles as per law of nature can be performed by any yogi, which were performed in all the yugas by great saints and yogis in India.Jesus certainly was a yogi, his teachings was misinterpreted .Please read autobiography of a yogi by Swami paramhansa Yogananda.This mantra is taught by my guru i am putting for every pure soul
[B]Yajurvaveda mantra 36/24
[/B]“TACHAKSHURDEVHITAM PURASTACHCHUKRAMUCHCHARAT, PASHYEM SHARDAHA SHATAM JEEVAIM SHARDAHA SHATAM SHRUNNYAM SHARDAHA SHATAM PRABRAVAAM SHARDAHA SHATAM DEENAHA SYAM SHARDAHA SHATAM BHOOYASHCH SHARDAHA SHATAAT.”

[B]Meaning:[/B] Oh! God you are " Devhitam" beneficial to the learned persons" Shukram" the purest and “Chakshuhu” like the eye you see everybody and “Purustat” right from the eternal period “Uchcharat” You know everything being omniscient. “Tat” therefore we pray"Pashyem" to see you for “Shatam” hundred" Shurdaha" winters and “Jeevaim” may we remain alive “Shatam shurdaha” till hundred winters. " Shrunnyam" may we listen the Vedas and the pious preach for “Shardaha shatam” hundred winters. “Prabravaam” may we study and teach the truth and Vedas for “Shardaha Shatam” hundred winters" Adeenaha Syam" may we be alive as unpitiable “Shardaha shatam” till 100 winters i.e., till 100 years “Shataat” hundred “Shardaha” winters “Bhooyahacha” and more i.e., may we live even for more than 100 winters and may we be listening, preaching and remaining as unpitiable.

[B]Meaning:[/B] Oh! God you are beneficial to the learned persons, you are the purest and like the eye you see everybody and right from the eternal period you know everything being omniscient. Therefore we pray to see you for 100 winters and may we remain alive till hundred winters. May we listen the Vedas and the pious preach for hundred winters. May we study and teach the truth and Vedas for 100 winters. May we be alive as unpitiable till 100 winters i.e., till 100 years and more i.e., may we live even for more then 100 winters and may we be listening, preaching and remaining as unpitiable.

[B]Idea:[/B] In this mantra, the knowledge to pray God has been given. If we follow the Vedic path and attain the preach of Vedas in life then we will maintain Brahamcharya, good qualities, hard working, honesty, progress in spiritualism as well as in science and in other worldly matters etc. Then while discharging the moral duties for self, family, society and nation, we will get salvation. Also as a result of study of Vedas and Ashtang yoga practice, we may be able to attain ill free, long life with all healthy senses, perceptions, mind and intellect etc., for 100 years and even more.

[B]Rjigveda mantra 6/9/4[/B]
Rigveda mantra 6/9/4 states that God as well as soul reside within human body.

AYAM HOTA PRATHMAH PASHYATEMAMIDAM JYOTIRAMRITAM MARTYESHU.
AYAM SA JAJYEN DHRUVA AA NISHATTOAMRITAYASTANVA VARDHMANAHA.

Words Meaning:- Oh! Learned (Pashyat) see (imam) this - God, who is (Dhruvaha) firm- unchangeable cannot be deshaped, cannot be broken into pieces(Nishataha) exists (Prathamaha) the first (Hota) giver (Ayam) this and (Martyeshu) in the destructible bodies (Idam) this-God (Amritam) immortal (Jyotihi) self-enlightened God and (Ayam) this (Amartayahatanva) by human body (Vardhmanaha) seems to be increasing (aa) from all sides(Jajyen) appears (saha) he is soul.

Meaning:- Oh! Learned see this God, who is firm -unchangeable, can not be deshaped, cannot be broken into pieces and exists everywhere. He is the first giver of all matters to us. The God resides in the destructible/perishable bodies. The God who is immortal is like a light of sun i.e., He is self-enlightened. Secondly, the immortal soul also resides in the human body, appears to be increasing from all sides in the shape of human body.

Idea:- In the human body there are two live matters. One is God and second is soul. Both are eternal and self-existing. Of the two one is soul who possesses limited knowledge, and occupies limited place, known when he takes body otherwise remains unknown, faces the result of previous lives deeds- pious deeds or sins.

Second is Almighty, Omnipresent God having unlimited qualities. He is firm, can’t be deshaped, knows all about the universe etc., never faces the result of any deeds. Human body is meant to realize soul and God.

#6

Many think of yoga as just the postures. But they are just a part of yoga. The postures keep the body healthy so you can meditate many hours and become one wiith the oneness. I got into the postures and then read a book on the philosophy. I knew that was the purpose of my life. Yoga means ‘to join’ like in becoming one with the Self, God, or the soul.

Here is a quote from the site below: "[B]Wikipedia says, under Yoga Philosophy, “In all branches of yoga, the ultimate goal is the attainment of an eternal state of perfect consciousness.” [/B]People can reach a state of consciousness which is what they have always been looking for. Read this short article, [B]What is Enlightenment.[/B] It has info from top psychologists, medicine and the science of cosmology on you and feeling perfect peace and limitless happiness. The epilogue (concluding section) of the article has a quote from ancient scriptures talking about the “unitive state.”:slight_smile:

#7

Today by chance i happened to search a wonderful site which gives wonderful information on sanatanaa dharma .Serious spiritual seekers i advise to visit
Hindu Wisdom

may god bless all
rashmi

#8

I had an interesting experience a couple of weeks ago when I went hiking. I went to the Forrest Lakes region in CO and did an eight mile round trip hike. The hike to the lakes has a two thousand foot elevation gain, and is at around ten thousand feet. As I hiked, I was resolute not to stop and take a break. I focused on my belly and resolved to breath through the discomfort and not stop no matter what. I began to experience a bright ball of orange light in my belly and just kept focusing on that for the entire hike. I finally arrived at the top and made it the entire way without stopping. I had eaten a few bananas in the morning, and drank a quart of water before the hike. I didn’t eat or drink anything else until I got back to my car later that afternoon. So the only thing pushing me on was that orange light in my belly, and focused breathing.[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
I got to the top, I enjoyed my own private sub-alpine lake, did some brief meditation (until too many flies landed on me, and I found it too distracting) relaxed for a bit, and then started to head back down. The really amazing thing was the hike back down. it is as though the struggle of so intently focusing on my breathing gave way to a very blessed release as I meandered back down the mountain. The idea of ahimsa became very clear to me. It is nothing that I can put into words. It was only something that I can experience. Ahimsa is infinite, there is no end to the concept. Simply gazing at a blade of grass can be done ahimsa…with total love and respect. It was totally amazing. The whole experience was very ecstatic for several hours basically until I went to bed…in a psychiatrists office, it would probably be considered symptomatic of bipolar disorder. I was basically loopy with total joy[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
The neat thing however, is that while the ecstasy has left me. The experience stays and continues to affect my life. That is what is so neat. It has left me with a profound peace and sense of stability that I didn’t have before. Now, when I do paschimotasana for example, I am able to ‘relax’ into the pose instead of striving for it. That is the best way I can vocalize it. I get why Iyengar says why the belly must become as suptle as dough when doing the asana. When I stopped striving, I was able to place my face onto my legs beyond my knees. It took me a long time to be sure. I had to stay in teh asana for nearly ten minutes, and very slowly extend the length of my stretch so as not to cause another injury. When I got there however, I felt just fabulous. And during the slow lengthening of the asana, I experience a certain unity with the universe around me that I really just simply can’t put into words. I am not claiming to be enlightened…or anything even close to it. I am just saying that the practice of yoga is impacting my life ins a way that I would literally have never imagined when I started. Even tough my bizarre, hellbent desire to do padmasana is only a couple of months removed from me, it feels like an eternity ago. God, I have never been more happy or peaceful in my entire life.[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
At any rate, striving (at least in the manner that most Western sports for example grunt and strive to achieve their goals) just doesn’t work with yoga. The irony (vis-a-vis the western mind at any rate) is that very quickly some of the asanas I have been working on suddenly became very easy with this understanding. Halasana for example is one. I would try and work on it before, and there would be a pain in my upper back that would force me to quit. Now, quite suddenly it is gone. I am able to do the posture with no props for five minutes. It is not perfect to be sure, but I am not in pain. Anyway, that day of hiking was totally amazing. I have been so un at ease for so long…expecially since I have gotten married and had a child as I have struggled to raise my family. I am a musician by trade (a classical guitarist), and that is a pretty hard living. So I am going back to school to become a high school teacher, and have been quite intimidated by the prospect for some reason. Yoga however, has somehow taken the edge off of my life. I feel so much more positive about my future. I don?t know how, but everything is going to be ok. It is great to have that emotional energy to commit towards love for my family instead of worry. [FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
Well, thanks for listening folks. Ciao and Take Care.[FONT=Verdana][/FONT]
Namaste;
Sean

#9

Wow. I wish you the bests, shoney45, your post is very inspiring. How old is your kid ? We have a 7 months old babygirl. :slight_smile:

I also experienced something important yesterday. I was walking aimlessly after a little quarrel with my wife … we are usually peaceful but sometimes, every, three-four months when we are both tired sparks just arise. I use to leave, without saying a word because this creates the necessary space to cool down, and usually after 5 minutes, we change messages that we are OK. Yesterday was a day like this, and after the makeup message I decided to just walk because the dusk was beautiful. I was still heavy with other issues, and I just walked and let my mind wonder. The wind was cold, and I was a wearing just a T-shirt, but I just went on, and felt the fire inside me … long surpressed anger gave birth to violent thoughts, thoughts I used to block because they clearly break ahimsa. Now I could not block them anymore, and let them do their worst, feeling them and getting my satisfaction through them. They came as a storm, and I was carried by them, and I let their energy dissipate into the great cold sky of the dusk … and than it was over. Peace and relief came, and I realized, I needed this for so long.
I remember Jung’s dream and his fight with it for weeks, an obscene dream, where he pictured God’s huge bottom appearing above their church. He was raised in a very religious environment, so this thought tormented him for weeks, until he could not resist imagining a heavenly defecation, what broke the church’s roof. Than suddenly all his quilt disappeared and he felt immense Grace for the first time in his life.

I learned that I am not so pure, no matter if I try to behave like i’d be one. Letting my poison go, in a neutral environment, without actually doing something violent, is the best I can do for now.

#10

Hi Hubert - We also have a daughter that is seven months old. She was born on November 30 last year. I think I am in a similar boat. I have had a pattern for a long time of going along through life, and when the struggles become more intense than at other times, there will inevitably be something that comes along that is especially frustrating, nerve-wracking etc. at which point I completely lose my cool, the profanity flows freely, and any and all good juju I may have had goes right down the toilet. Since I have gotten married about two years ago, those moments have been coming more and more frequently…largely due to financial concerns…but for any number of other reasons as well. Those moments are fading more and more though. I am able to breath through a lot more of them instead of just immediately giving into desparation. Not always though.

The most recent one was myself and my wife (who is Chinese) arrived at DIA airport to go to Singapore to show our baby to her parents, and we were told we couldn’t board the plane because of a minor paperwork glitch. I kept my cool for a while but we kept on running into Northwest Airline employees who basically did little more than laugh right in our face about our misfortune. Well, I finally lost it and gave into hopelessness. In the end we finally found an employee to help us figure out what to do and we got on the plane. We arrived by mistake at the airport three hours early. It turned to be providential however, since it took that long to struggle with NW airlines. To finally get on the plane we did an O.J. running along with our bags, and a baby through the airport…with my wife clenching every muscle in her body to keep her urine inside of her body (since there hadn’t even been a chance to go to the bathroom) and literally made it onto the plane as the steward was reaching out to prepare to close the door. The point is that everything turned out ok and that I never needed to lose my cool. So for me, those are kind of the ultimate test of my character…will I maintain my cool and just breath through my troubles…knowing that somehow things work out…or do I lose it? That is my big struggle.

Namaste;

Sean

#11

BTW - I understood the analogy of Jung’s dream. Since however, I had never heard of that dream, I laughed and laughed. That just sounded very bizarre. LOL.

Namaste;

Sean

#12

Jung’s dream is taken out of context, so it surely sounds funny, though for him it was not. He needed the freedom from his christian raising in order to achive the things he did. I am sure most seekers have sacrilegous visions at a certain point in their spiritual journey.
But this example is funny, nonetheless, so it has a liberating effect on us, too. :slight_smile:

Now this is quite off track from this topic’s subject, but as everything is connected in life, perhaps this is not so bad.

To get back to yoga and hinduism … I am just re-reading Rudolf Steiner’s The east in the light of the west. He is a controversed author, but I think of him as my spiritual master. His books are hard to follow, almost meditation in itself, and I just read them again from time to time.
He states in the book that there were two main courses of human spiritual development throughout history, one where souls have directed their efforts to know the spiritual world behind the veil of the outer, sensorial world, and another where they used introspection to reach the spiritual realities behind their inner life, the inner veil of thoughts, emotions.
There was a single nation what managed to safeguard ancient knowledge of a time where all people were spiritual seers (though this was more instinctual) where both these aspects come into balance, and this is the ancient indian culture of the rishis. “I am That” and “I am Brahman” means finding the sacred both outside and inside.

Yoga is a spiritual practice but not a religion … something as close to human nature cannot be one. So even if yoga can be fully understood on a mental level only through it’s cultural connections to hinduism, everyone can practice it and advance, because in order to practice it, understanding is not crucial. It is helpful, but not crucial. But this also comes down to what we mean by yoga, because by it I mean any spiritual endeavour, and others might mean only practices labelled with sanskrit names.

What I find lacking (well, not my own reasoning but one I accepted through study of antroposophy) in the philosophy yoga is based on, is the notion of advancement. The universe has it’s birth and dies, in neverending cicles, and the wheel of karma is rolling without purpose, and the only escape from this neverending pain is liberation.
Instead of this, antroposophy teaches perfection through development of souls through reincarnation, and not only, us humans develop bot all spiritual entities, gods, planes, the whole world. Except God Himself of course, Who is Perfect, and Atemporal.
Antroposphy really puts things into another perspective, though it is not a religion. The name means the wisdom regarding man. Antroposphy is an earnest attempt to reconciliate eastern esoteric heritage with western exoteric way of life, and an attempt to apply scientific approach to spiritual searching. Steiner was a seer, who spent his life studying turn of the XX century science in order to make his vision compatible with the society he lived in. His work had respectable effects on the field of agriculture, architecture, education and medicine. Waldorf schools are based on his guidelines to education. But he had to face the impossibility to explain the spiritual world in terms of an inadequate science and language, something all teachers face, so his texts can be interpreted in wrong ways.

#13

It all sounds interesting Hubert. I have to say that the whole spiritual universe that different Eastern religions present (but expecially various Indian traditions, and the tradition of Zen) still seems really overwhelming to me. Not overwhelming in a negative sense…just overwhelming in the sense that there is a hell of a lot out there. I am Eastern Orthodox presently. I have however, been pretty dissatisfied with the Christian tradition in general. Orthodoxy has an amazing hagiographical tradition behind it. In the present day however, there doesn’t seem to be people around who know how to access it. If a person seeks to attain what is called hesychia through traditional methods (i.e. - through the recitation of the Jesus Prayer), you are basically discouraged. The people that really know how to do it are the monks, but unless you are a monk, they keep their holes shut, and lay people can basically go and pound sand. It is a very authoritarian kind of system in that regard. For this and other reasons, I have been growing more and more discontent with the whole trip over the last couple of years maybe.

That brings us to the present. Doing Yoga has really taken me by storm in terms of having some kind of an inner light turned on. In terms however, of where to go from here, that is where the overwhelming part comes in. There are just so many different streams of consciencness out there explicating different ways of doing things. And at this point, I still don’t know what to make of reincarnation. It is of course anathama to any kind of Christian tradition that has any antiquity to it. So for a person like me pretty steeped in that tradition, I really don’t know what to make of it.

This time of like for me however, is a big gigantic paradigm shift. Part of it that I started drinking Ayahuasca a while back. That in itself was a huge eye-opener. In my younger days, I had done plenty of psychedelics…in mass quantities and tiny ones. They occasionally affected me spiritually. Ayahuasca though…man, I don’t even like to call it a drug. I find myself communicating with spirits of every kind when I drink it…and having no doubts as to the veracity of my experience. So now I am seeking some kind of a meditation school that I can glom onto. I am moving slowly however, because I don’t want to get caught up in any latest craze, or faddish trend etc. For that reason, I am lending myself more towards Zen than Indian schools of spirituality. My intuition tells me that because of the trend towards total individuality in the U.S.A. things that come from India are likely to be stylized to fit the personalitys of the practitioners…basically like little Protestant sects of Hinduism.

I’ll finish this later…dinner just arrived. And when you’re in Singapore…dinner waits for no man. Talk to you later.

#14

So at any rate, for the present - I am personally considering Zen as my own personal path of development. I am however, taking it slowly and not just jumping onto anything. A pragmatic reason for me to consider Zen is that there is a Zen center here in Denver with a teacher who comes pretty highly recommended. But for now, I start my day out meditating on my own at home, and then do asana.

So I guess that is a long winded way of saying that I honestly have nothing intelligent or substantive to say as regards the differences between antroposphy’s and Hinduism’s beliefs about reincarnation and the development of the soul. Man, between Singapore, Malaysia, and Bangkok, I have been walking around in the tropical sun way too long. Ciao and take Care.

Namaste;

Sean

#15

Hey, take care. Whatever floats your boat, is it how you americans say it ?

Antroposophy is not exclusivist and encourages the study of all belief systems or philosophies, even myths and legends. Even though what Steiner thaught about christanism is probably seen as heresy by most christian clerics, his teaching made me accept christanism, an though I am not an active roman-catholic, I can appreciate it a lot better. If one keeps his heart open, the Bible, and lives of saints like St Francis of Assisi, or Saint John of The Cross, are remarkable sources of inspiration. (quite a change form my 15 years earlier atheist self)That does not mean I am not interested in hinduism, on the contrary. Something that big and powerful must be known, because it has tremendous value and wisdom in it, just, as with christanism, one must realize that the world is changing, and people today need to approach ancient wisdom differently.
My interest for eastern cultures and yoga led me to antroposophy, and it has a nice sinergy with yoga, while providing insight (even though on a mental level, as a beginner) to what one might find beyond the veils mentioned in my former post.
What you so bravley shared about spirits, I must thank you, being a first hand experience. I have no usable extrasensorial perception yet, and never tried any substances that might provide it, but it is reassuring to know someone who experienced them that there is a spiritual world outhere as I believe.
I am abit reluctant using such substances, and also a bit afraid because I very easily become addicted, and becoming addicted to something you can’t control is a misery I am living right now, so I must say, no thanks. :slight_smile:

PS. I think you can’t miss it with Zen. It is a very earnest approach, clear and neat as everything japanese.

#16

Let me show my ignorance here…

I got into Yoga to get fit to feel good physically…
My passion in Yoga is Iyengar.

I hope you all can understand or relate… But take someone who is not familiar with Yoga throw them into it in where they learn the ropes at their speed. First thing that happens is you grow more in touch with your body. You stretch when your body tells you to blah blah blah… Towards the end of the class when everything starts to calm down your body needs the cool down. The mediation that follows evolves and changes. Now I look forward to it in class. That is Yoga but what is wonderful is that following you out of class. Just like my body telling me to stretch my mind or self knows when to take a breath close my eyes and inhale and exhale. That part has no thought more like a trained reflex. Spiritual I have also evolved when I focus in on what I m doing and why. I have no idea if it is Hindu, Christian, or Nordsk religion of old. However I do think it reflects more of Buddhism than anything but as I say upfront I m ignorant of Hinduism. I know I have a greater sense of peace and that is what I desire.

#17

I know the thread of Ayanhuasca is off the beaten path of Hinduism. Just a word on it though. There isn’t a single Ayahuasca addict in the entire world. Ayahuasca is the traditional way that Amazonian shamans get in touch with the spirit world. While they drink it, they are then able to talk to plants etc. and find out which ones are good for healing etc. The whole thing is pretty amazing. In strong contradistinction to addiction, it actually helps drug addicts overcome addiction. There are actual recovery clinics in Brazil and other places where heroin and cocaine addicts drink South American tobacco, and Ayahuasca for about a week…under the watchful eye of an experienced shaman who helps them through all of the visions. Many come away from the week totally healed of their addiction, and don’t even go through physical withdrawals.

I also found when I was researching Ayahuasca that people who take it to try it out recreationally almost universally have bad experiences and never take it again. It takes the proper intent to make the experience a positive one. When a person takes it, there is always what feels like a long struggle which is in reality about an hour to an hour and a half. I always wind up going through some kind of a battle with my own personal demons until I wind up standing on some kind of a field…trusting in the light of God…and knowing that I am safe and am better for having fought. That usually ends about the time a person has to vomit. The vomiting is called “the purge” by the shamans in the amazon, and more than just vomiting, it is a purging of both physical and psychic toxins. After the purge, then more pleasant visions tend to come.

So in summary, drinking Ayahuasca is literally like drinking stomach bile…it tastes just like it. Then a person either fights demons, or else experiences getting eaten by a large spirit snake…or you name it…it is generally very bizarre however, and involves some kind of a great personal fight. Then comes most thorough vomiting you have ever experienced. I mean, you really vomit from like…the infinite center of your being. It is very wild. It is uncomfortable…and at the same time the greatest vomiting you will ever do in your life. Only on Ayahuasca man. Even then though, the visions can be frightening. I once consumed an enormous amount, and felt myself being taken by gray aliens…what most people refer to as the galactic elves. I couldn’t stop it no matter how hard I tried. So I had to jus tlet them do whatever it was they were doing, and I sat there doing asana with my mind to pass the time. Very wierd.

At any rate, that is why there are no addicts. It is not a pleasure drug. It is very visionary. I have drank it fourteen times now, and every time I drink it I am afraid of it. At the same time however, I know that something wonderful awaits me. In fact, contrary to beong something addictive, one of the times that I took it I saw how alchohol really screws up my whole energy field. So while I still drink socially in small amounts when it is offered otme. I don’t get drunk anymore. And I don’t want to either.

In fact, it was my first Ayahuasca journey that inspired me to begin doing asana. After a long night of fighting and just experiencing everything weird that you can imagine, I wound up in my visions standing in a clearing in the mountains. There was a big male goat there who was just eating grass and occasionally looked up to eyeball me. He talked to me…but it was more with his mind. He just kept saying “Yup, I’m a great big goat, and I’m eating grass. I’m waaayyy smarter than you. But hang around for a while and you just might learn something”. So I hung around. I began to experience my body as red and blue tendrils of energy that were out of wack. So the long story made short is that I basically felt that he told me that if I did yoga, then my body would no longer be out of wack. There is a lot more to it, but I am just summing it up. So the next day I started at an Iyengar studio…and now I am thinking about becoming a Zen buddhist. (I had had some prior experience to yoga through a half a dozen classes or so at a Bikram studio several years ago. I grew quickly dissatisfied with it, and wanted something with more attention to detail, and I had heard Iyengar studios offer that. I never got around to it however, and yoga went by the way side until recently.)

God to write about that…it just sounds so wild man! To me though it has been just a natural progression. Far out. At any rate, that is it that I guess. I know it sounds very bizarre and probably like a bunch of bullcrap. But whatever man. At any rate, that is why Ayahuasca isn’t addictive at all.

Actually, now that I am thinking about it. There is a little bit of a potential Hindu link there. I gave a friend of mine some of the tea to drink because he wanted to try it. He believes in ‘something’ but has no defined beliefs whatsoever. He drank the tea, and called me to tell me that there was a female Indian deity waiting for him behind the toilet, and he didn’t know what to do about it. I told him to just hang on and he would figure it out. He didn’t call back because he later said that he was just too incapacitated. But later told me that when it was time for him to vomit, the deity was there behind the toilet waiting for his offering. So he puked with everything that he had and gave it all to her…and that was what she was waiting for. Then she dissapeared.

#18

BTW Hubert - Where are you from? Thanks for the dialogue also. I haven’t yet been able to just have an ongoing talk with anyone on the yoga forum. So this is nice blessing for me to listen to someone elses experiences and struggles, and to be able to share mine. Take Care.

Namaste;

Sean

#19

Balen - That is pretty much the exact way that I feel also…pretty much clueless…but really enjoying what I am experiencing. It is quite life-changing.

#20

[quote=shoney45;6390]BTW Hubert - Where are you from? Thanks for the dialogue also. I haven’t yet been able to just have an ongoing talk with anyone on the yoga forum. So this is nice blessing for me to listen to someone elses experiences and struggles, and to be able to share mine. Take Care.

Namaste;

Sean[/quote]

I’m from Romania. My babygirl was born december the 5th. :slight_smile:
About the forum, I think most members post less as they are well rooted in practice and find their truths by it. I am also trying to refrain myself, but … this forum became like a walking stick, it helps organizing my thoughts, while I know there are under watchful eyes. And it is a good practice in bad english. :slight_smile:

Thx for sharing your detailed experience. Some will just see halucinations there, so I admire your courage. Most events fit to my informations, like the deities accepting our illnesses as offerings, and the fight with demons. This drug creates a split between the vital and the physical bodies, without severing the link (that would mean death) probably that is the cause of the side effects. The vital body than naturally experiences spiritual realities of the etheral world. This must be a terrifying experience people only get in close to death situations.
But I think we are too far from the subject here, and also these things might create confusion and aversion in unprepared minds. I think we better leave it at this. It was nice talking to you. :slight_smile: