[Darlene TMember]

Hello Samuel,

Thank you for the links…I’ve checked out the first one and find it quite good…very representative of Buddha Dharma in a very accessible form. Dzogchen, Mahamudra, and Zen, although they are of different lineages point to non dual awareness. In the case of Mahamudra it is the culmination of the trajectory of practices…whereas in Zen or sudden enlightenment schools…the first practice. I still remain somewhat confused about your statement about Dzogchen not ending in in dispassion…No doubt the suttas have been interpreted in a myriad of ways…but I don’t think dispassion has been the intent. Mindfulness yes, Dis-identification yes; Equanimity yes! In non dual awareness there is neither passion nor dispassion…simply the pure potentiality of either…and based on our situation and the wholesome or unwholesome response of the ego function we respond with passion or otherwise….and… if we respond as advised by the eightfold path, chances are we contribute to the down going of distress. The TMI walks us through the terrain of the minds formations with or without passion. In many respects, TMI is pointing to peripheral awareness and attention which brings us right into the present. If while we are peripherally aware, and we try to place the attention on an empty object, we have Zen or Dzogchen. whoa. I may have gotten carried away lol…I’m a bit passionate about the subject 🙂 Any how…once again, the link to the Dzogzen teaching is great. I’ll read some more soon. Thanks!

[Darlene TMember]

Thank you for the question and for the responses. I believe a few different perspectives on the same question can have great value. All I would add is for you to explore other literature, specifically the Attachment work by Ainsworth and or Crittendon. This can help you identify how the particular emotional pattern may have been constructed in the first place, and then, how it might be being triggered and exacerbated in the present time.

Then, use the methods the teachers are giving you to help you identify and differentiate your feeling states…Finally, move and stretch your body and breathe to help release the physiological and energetic component.

Best wishes,
Darlene (teacher in training)

[Darlene TMember]

Hi Bernadette,

Yes. I would certainly say so…This is truly conscious embodiment…

You have expressed this beautifully. I would love to hear at some point how you would then weave mind moments into language within this explanation.

Darlene
(teacher in Training)

[Darlene TMember]

Hello Sanjeev,

I will simply add to Mimi’s suggestions. It seems to me that you might be trying to PLACE ATTENTION on both peripheral awareness and mantra, rather than allowing peripheral awareness to be the natural work of all the senses, with you simply receiving the sensory messages without over focusing on them. The work is in placing attention on the OBJECT in your case the mantra, and just noticing when peripheral awareness fades and intervene by waking up to the sensory information. Remember attention and awareness are from two different brain processes.

N Darlene Tataryn
(Teacher in Training)

[Darlene TMember]

Hello,

The teaching you were given regarding the qi may very well be true, though perhaps not necessary for the meditation practice you have embarked upon. Prior to injury from standing up on a leg that was numb and asleep after a meditation , I was able to sit in a Burmese posture for extended periods of time without or able to be with the impermanence of pain. Unable to return to my prior “very good seat”, it took a year before I felt the same kind of grounded stability while in a a chair (or ergonomic chair which is an excellent seat). I found myself clinging to the seat I had to give up, clinging to the pride of being able to sit as I had and could no longer. In short it provided incredible benefits to root out attitudes lurking in my makeup. Most significantly, what I have learned, it is the ability to come to pacification of body and mind…and to come to this involves every part of us from the pelvis and hip joint and up the spine, with head in right relationship, thus balance to it all. It is in releasing the contractions in our body that contribute to resistance to qi flow and that is where the work is. Open, accept,soften, release which includes acknowledging the possible discomfort of emotional experience as well. Trust in the energy to make its way through these newly opened paths… Unless using pain for specific practice and purpose, to do so may help gather the energy in the centre below the navel, but it will most likely add to the contractions in the musculature…that the collection of energy will have to blast through. Very aggressive. Just sit and soften and float the spine from the lotus of the pelvis and let the head balance and move subtly with the wave of the breath as it moves through the whole body. Thanks for taking this in…I hope you find it of some benefit…Best Wishes!

Darlene Tataryn
(Teacher in training)

[Darlene TMember]

Hello Sheldon,

I am not able to shed light on this bodily/energetic phenomena…Given this doesn’t quite fit the usual piti experiences I am familiar with, I do wonder about purification events such as extreme trauma release…physically and/ or emotionally. How would you describe your general muscle tone…relaxed/taut…released/contracted…that might help us understand… Hopefully your question to us will eventually help with some understanding resolution.

Darlene
Teacher (in training)

[Darlene TMember]

Hello Peter,

I am curious…what has brought you to determine you are not in 1st Jhana? Secondly, do you recognize “whole body breathing” while experiencing the subtle vibrations and pulses? This could be considered a body bliss or piti…moving into “sukkha” or mind bliss…You are doing marvellously in practice…and I suggest continuing as you are; being even more aware of subtle bodily contractions and fleeting mental formations, and wanting to “do” (which is perhaps a sign of contraction and formation) …and allow them all to open into the developing pliancy…attention resting as gently as a butterfly upon a flower.

Darlene
Teacher in training

[Darlene TMember]

Hi Alex,

Interesting questions. I would re state the “turn off” the discriminating mind…to “involve” the discriminating mind toward unifying with the intention… It is through this unification the training bears its fruit so to speak. Re the second question, I believe it is a perception in its own right (of mind moments), however, if not recognized as such and intervention does not take place, we are not as conscious in the following mind moments as the mind begins to slide further into dullness…. and we then have lost the ability to perceive.
As far as the boundary goes…have fun exploring!

Darlene Tataryn
Teacher in Training

[Darlene TMember]

Hello Samuel,
I am most interested in your posts and the helpful responses of the teachers. Looking at the trajectory of your posts, it does seem important that there is some discernment between the wonderful experiences and results of involuntary movements however unusual…in contrast with specific or non specific health conditions that need attention. Overall, in piti experiences, it is quite simply your body’s own energetic opening and clearing internal and energetic pathways that lead to greater well being. Of course many are a bit fearful not knowing what might be happening to them. My practice is to say yes and not bear down on them to stop them…simply receive and experience. As far as your practice of Dzogchen not ending in dispassion…I am very curious should you decide to say more…In particular, what is your practice in the practice of Dzogchen?

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