Question Regarding Experience During Asana
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During Asana, towards the end, I tried to think "no-thought". However, I don't think I was thinking "no-thought". I remember that I was trying to focus in on a point and then it felt like that point absorbed me in a sense - in other words it became Everything. I had previously been thinking about how proper Asana must have many layers that work at different frequencies, but concurrently . One being to control the body and will it not to budge. Another being to control the mind and will it to focus on specific things. The idea I gather from this is to exert and strengthen the will and also to bring a self awareness and consciousness that is not native to everyday life as I think most people know it. Possibly the combination of this and other things concurrently helps to elevate consciousness. Just my thoughts in progress...
When I tried to think "no-thought" and I was able to bring myself to self-awareness (hard to describe, but almost like myself feeling like my own hands are a stranger's hands) while focusing in on a single point. The combination of this seemed to automatically make the my focus grow and it felt like the point consumed me and wrapped me in itself. I felt exhilerated in my body in a very specific way - a sort of warmth and a feeling of a presence. It reminded me of some events in my life I consider quite sacred. They have a common thread of occurence as well as this bodily sensation at times of a heighted "crisis" (if thats the right word).
Now this all lasted about 10 seconds towards the end of 15 minutes of Asana (which is on the longer end for me). Also, completley by accident, which I'd like to be able to control. **My question is **- is this type of focus needed to raise awareness to another plane - like from Assiah to Yetzirah? Any other comments or thoughts would be great.
Edit*
The "no-thought" to me is what I think the Qabalistic Zero is, like the babe in the egg. However, the effect on my consciousness didn't seem like what I would think that would be. How would I know though - I guess thats why I'm posting? Yoga means Union though - so my focus on a point or object was done in a certain way where I felt the point became everything around me. That sounds to me like Union. In Union I think there is One and None - the old ceases to exist in a certain manner thus becomes None while the One is the result of the Union. I need some refinement here, but it felt it worth jotting down my thoughts. -
I am starting to re-read Crowley's "Eight Lectures on Yoga" and came accross this quote from the 4th lecture:
"We are to unite the subject and object of consciousness in the ecstasy which soon turns, as we shall find later on, into the more sublime state of indifference, and then annihilate both the party of the first part aforesaid and the party of the second part aforesaid. This evidently results in further parties-one might almost say cocktail parties-constantly increasing until we reach infinity, and annihilate that, thereby recovering our original Nothing. Yet is that identical with the original Nothing? Yes-and No! No! No! A thousand times no! For, having fulfilled all the possibilities of that original Nothing to manifest in positive terms, we have thereby killed for ever all its possibilities of mischief."
It almost seems like a formula of YHVH, however on a lower plan than what Crowley writes of it in Book 4. Or also like the Oedipal Complex. I don't think I accomplished the above by any means, but maybe just a slight glimpse (very slight) - enough to push me in the right direction. Furthermore, nothing is mastered or even done completely correctly until one can control and will the occurence - in my opinon.
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@mojorisin44 said
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It almost seems like a formula of YHVH, however on a lower plan than what Crowley writes of it in Book 4. Or also like the Oedipal Complex. I don't think I accomplished the above by any means, but maybe just a slight glimpse (very slight) - enough to push me in the right direction. Furthermore, nothing is mastered or even done completely correctly until one can control and will the occurence - in my opinon."I suppose anything is possible. Eight Lectures on Yoga is a great book, imo. And based on the analysis in that book of the process, if you are still working on mastering Asana, there is another way to view your experience. Basically, it's a distraction.
I'm not judging what you experienced because I don't know what it is, but the fist thing I would be concerned about if I had any unusual experience would be the degree to which it is helping or hurting my progress. Asana practice is notoriously boring, so much so that the risk of generating drama to alleviate the boredom is very high.
Imagining you are experiencing advanced trances while you are still only practicing fifteen minutes of Asana a pop is probably not a good sign, though I didn't have the experience, you did, so you should take my warning with a grain of salt as well.
Love and Will
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Thanks. Reading on in 8 lectures the whole goal of Asana, as is proposed there, is to cut the body off from sending messages to the brain to distract it with thoughts etc. I think now that what I experienced at best was a sensation because I definatley wasn't practicing Asana in this manner. It felt good and made me feel good, but it in itself didn't do anything for me. I suppose I can drink a 6 pack and get similar body sensations, although with a different set and setting. I'm probably reaching a bit inside my mind with the all encompassing sin of the lust of result.
However, just going through it makes me aware of what I should do and what I shouldn't do - or at the very least what I'd like to explorer. It is experience in itself and in the beginning thats what my main goal is or at least what I think it should be.
Now the whole goal of this as I read into it is to be able to sharpen the will to an extent where focus can be placed on a desired object/result/etc and with the whole consciousness of the Wielder of the will a Union can be made. Ultmatley, the ability to do such a thing would make one better fit to reach the higher states of consciousness that are necessary for the progressive K&C of the HGA. That is my goal as I see it - I'm just reaching out a bit, thanks for your perspective.
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If you're trying to think of no-thought, then think of that, and give a can of beer to God if he comes and tries to distract you.
Just keep on with the basics. There are going to be very many experiences, almost all of them distractions. "When you hear your inner voice, forget it." A Zen koan.