Messages

Hello all,
Just had a question/concern about the solar plexus chakra, the point where your rib cage meets.  For me it seems the most active chakra, which I find a little unusual as it isn't even one of the major seven, located between the third and forth.  Anyways, when I've raised energy up to it, it starts pulsating quite noticably, not just energetically(like with the other chakras), but physically I can watch it move in and out.  I'm kinda skinny so that might be why it moves so much (it creeps one of my friends out...), but I was wondering if this was normal and/or if anyone else has any similar experience.
Any input would be appreciated,
Nate

"The world is like a ride in an amusement park. And when you choose to go on it you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills and it's very brightly coloured and it's very loud and it's fun, for a while. Some people have been on the ride for a long time and they begin to question: "Is this real, or is this just a ride?" And other people have remembered, and they come back to us, they say, "Hey, don't worry, don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride." And we kill those people"
well this isn't my quote, it's from Bill Hicks, doesn't really go along with life is like the sea, but it's comparable

I can't really recommend much as far as Tai Chi books go, but as for yoga "The Spiritual Science of Kriya Yoga" by Goswami Kriyananda, is my favorite book I've read on the subject.  The author seems very knowledgable and writes in an easy to understand non-americanized style.  It covers just about everything you could want to know from prerequesites to samadhi, and everything in between.

In my opinion, healing works sort of like jumpstarting a dead car.  Take a person with a fully charged spiritual "battery"(think chakras).  They lay there hands/focus awareness(the cables...) on the other person, energizing their energy system.  It doesn't instantly heal broken limbs(though I'm not claiming anything to be impossible), but it does provide relaxation and help speed up the bodies own healing process. It can be used to introduce/attune people into some of the lesser known aspects of life.
Nate

From my experience, when meditating in front of a mirror I can usually see my third eye as a little ball of energy between and extending slightly above my eyebrows, more distinct then all the other "colors, energy, or just hallucinations" that tend to pop up when meditating/vegetating.  I not a full blown clairvoyant, I don't see chakras as spinning discs, but tend to see masses of rainbowy color along the center of my body.  I'm sure with more developement, especially in the auric vision department, it will become more distinct and noticiable.

I've always been attracted to Buddhism/Hinduism and have found that the best way to meditate(for me) is to clear my mind and do deep breathing/pranayama.  I also found at first that clearing my mind was not something that I could do very effectively.  Following the breath the most basic meditative technique around is effective, but I found by adding a mantra to my breathing in and out it gave me something better to focus on.  Mantras being something you repeat mentally or aloud if you feel so inclined.  Some examples being:
Om mani padme hum
Allaha allah elohim aba
Adonai, make me an instrument of thy peace
Ram ramaya namah
Om nama shiva ya
I'd recommend trying all of them until you find one that feels right/works for you.  As you get good at this trying increasing the space after you inhale, but before you exhale, where you just rest in mental silence as best you can.  Doing the same after the exhale can be more difficult, but it brings good results.  I try to get my breathing as rhythmic as possible trying for a X:4X:2X:X type pattern .  So if I inhale for 5 seconds, I'd hold for 20, breath out for 10, and then wait 5 before inhaling again.  I'd recommend starting without holds until you're comfortable with it.  Sorry to rant for so long, I hope this helps you along your Path.
Ish