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Holy Spirit and Kundalini: Are they the same thing?

Started by Brian Young76 · · 👁 4 views · 127 replies

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Participants Brian Young76Paul Rogers94frozenstag9Benjamin Taylor6Ryan Wilson2hiddenpuma75bluemason3Maria Parker77rowdyeagle3Joseph Bailey41Dana Davis5Paul Jones7Kevin Ruiz36David Vaughn75Keith Lopez6Sandra Murphy33neoncranesilentseal4casualtiger2dustystag14Thomas Nelson25Mark Martin10
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#1 ·
To begin, I suppose I should quote my own post from July 9, 2020, regarding the topic of Kundalini:

'To give a brief overview of my spiritual journey—I’ve been playing music for about 40 years now, out of my 47 years of life, and through music, I’ve experienced quite a few spiritual moments (specifically, those instances of deep inspiration where it felt as though the "little me"—the ego—simply vanished, which was an incredibly liberating and beautiful sensation). I experienced something somewhat similar when I would lose myself deeply in mathematics or physics; it felt like a moment of enlightenment where that "little me" just wasn't there anymore.'

I had some brief episodes where I read the Bible and a book on Buddhism, but nothing really struck a chord with me at first.

About seven or eight years ago, I felt this growing need to explore spirituality more profoundly. I started by picking up Houston Smith's 'World's Religions' (in English, which feels almost like my native tongue since I've been communicating primarily in writing and speech in English for the last 20 years or so) because I wanted a solid, high-quality overview of global faiths to hopefully find my own path. After that, I began reading the Bible more seriously and studying what the Catholic Church teaches, but I just couldn't connect with it. So, I moved on to reading the Quran, but that didn't quite sit right with me either. Then I turned to books on Buddhism, and for a while, I actually thought I might have found my way... I found so much to love there; Buddha and his teachings felt very dear and close to my heart. I spent two or three years meditating regularly, reading, and refining my practice... but as time went on, I kept getting this nagging sense that something was still missing. I even tried reading the Bhagavad Gita, which is truly a magnificent book, yet again, it didn't quite click. Finally, I kept searching and came across 'A Course in Miracles'—ACIM—and suddenly, everything just clicked. I won't go into too much detail about the book here since there's a separate thread for it, but for over a year now, my spiritual path has been centered on the teachings described in ACIM. In short, ACIM offers a spiritual path toward God by teaching and explaining how to view the world through Christ's eyes (and, according to the teaching, one who sees the world through Christ's eyes eventually becomes Christ themselves). That said, I have continued my breathwork meditation practices, as I've come to believe that meditation simply purifies and clears the mind; it isn't necessarily tied to one specific path.'

I’ve also continued playing music and reading physics texts, both of which remain integral parts of my spiritual walk. The latest findings in physics—things like dark energy, dark matter, string theory, and so on—are absolutely fascinating to me, and I see a profound spiritual connection in all of it, though I won't delve into the details here.

On a personal note, it's important to mention that for the last 20 years, I’ve been in a very harmonious marriage and we have three wonderful children, which provides me with a great deal of stability and happiness.

Ever since the whole pandemic situation kicked off back in mid-March, I've started meditating more intensely (for the last two or three months, I've been doing about four hours a day) and focusing on reading ACIM and practicing its exercises.

The reason I'm writing this now is... about three weeks ago (specifically, Saturday, June 27th), early in the morning as I sat down in a meditative posture, I felt this warmth and a sense of bliss in my lower back—a strange sensation that I might best describe as pure ecstasy. Since then, that feeling has intensified; I feel it throughout the day, and for the last three days, I've had episodes where this sensation of bliss completely overwhelms me, traveling up my entire spine and reaching my head. I haven't experienced any negative side effects (at least not yet), but I have noticed that I've started looking at the people around me with a certain "softness," characterized by more understanding and compassion. It’s not that I feel a need to convince anyone of anything, especially not through logic or verbal explanations. Also, in the last month or two, I don't recall ever being overcome by anger, greed, fear, or anything of that nature; whenever such a feeling did arise, I found myself able to observe it from a sufficient distance so that it would simply fade away on its own.'

Anyway, I became curious about this feeling of bliss, so I did some Googling and discovered that it is allegedly called Kundalini, and that it has connections to chakras and things like that... which is something I had never studied before and hadn't particularly been interested in.'

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So, here is the post from July 14th:

I’ve decided that I’m going to start using this space to document my own experiences regarding this particular sensation—though, to be honest, I’m still quite unsure whether what I'm feeling is actually Kundalini, perhaps the Holy Spirit, or maybe something else entirely... I really don't know just yet. I suppose I'm doing this for two main reasons. First off, since this is all still incredibly new to me, I thought it might be helpful to connect with those who might be more experienced and would be willing to share their own insights. Secondly, I was thinking that, if I'm lucky, maybe my own reflections could somehow offer a bit of help or perspective to someone else navigating similar waters.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading through almost every single post on this thread, and I have to say, I’ve also combed through various texts online. One theme that seems to keep popping up everywhere—almost like a recurring warning—is the idea that Kundalini can be a dangerous force, and that one really ought to approach its awakening only under the watchful guidance of a legitimate teacher. As for myself, I don't currently have a physical teacher guiding my path—at least nothing in the flesh—though the spiritual principles I strive to live by are rooted in the teachings of Buddha and Christ. For the time being, I don't feel much of a need to seek out a formal mentor. What I have experienced, more or less continuously since that first sensation emerged back in June of 2020, is a gentle sense of warmth and pleasantness centered in my lower back. When I engage in spiritual practices or certain physical exercises, that feeling tends to expand, spreading upward through my entire spine and into my head. In my specific experience, it hasn't felt aggressive at all; there hasn't been a single instance where I felt overwhelmed or lost control of the sensation. So, I suppose I feel reasonably secure in where I am right now.

Over the weekend, my family and I headed out for a hike—something we tend to do quite frequently—and we ended up trekking for about five or six hours straight. Throughout the entire walk, I found myself staying deeply focused on that specific sensation, and I actually made a conscious effort to expand that feeling down into my legs as well. It was quite remarkable, really, because even after all that walking, I didn't experience that heavy, dragging exhaustion you'd typically expect to feel. Instead, I felt this sort of calm, steady surge of energy, almost as if I could have kept going indefinitely without any trouble at all—though, I suppose, I didn't want to push my luck too far or test exactly where my physical limits might lie.

Yesterday, I decided to spend a bit more time with my practice than I usually do—I spent about half an hour just really immersing myself in that sensation. It was quite something; the feeling seemed to ripple through my entire body multiple times, growing steadily more intense as I went along. Honestly, I’d say it was easily one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had, perhaps even surpassing anything physical like a sexual orgasm. Since then, I’ve been carrying this gentle, lingering sense of bliss in two specific spots—one in my lower back and another right around the crown of my head. I haven't actually sat down to do the exercises to expand on it yet today, so I suppose we'll just have to see how things develop.

I guess I should mention that after finishing my exercises yesterday, I was left with this incredibly strange sensation—it felt as though my entire head had just... well, cleared out and become completely lucid. It was almost like a mental fog had suddenly lifted. Driven by this unexpected clarity, I decided to pick up a book on theoretical physics that I usually struggle with; it’s one of those dense, heavy texts that typically moves at a snail's pace because of all the complex formulas and technical jargon. But strangely enough, everything seemed to click into place almost effortlessly. It was as if, just for a little while, I had become significantly sharper—maybe even more intelligent? It was a profound sense of heightened cognition, though I suppose it was only temporary, as things eventually drifted back to my usual baseline.

It’s certainly an intriguing perspective to consider, all things considered.
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Pa post od 16.7.:

I was meditating yesterday evening, and I actually managed to hold a full lotus position for quite a while—about twenty minutes, which, if I’m being honest, felt like absolute science fiction to me just a week or two ago. It felt incredibly good for that specific Kundalini energy; I mean, where are you, Della? It just seemed to spread all the way down through my legs...

It’s honestly just hit me... there is no such thing as "mundane." The work I do, well, it’s actually entirely spiritual in nature; I’ve started to view it as something of a profound spiritual experiment. I suppose the only way to truly do a job correctly is to place spirituality right at the very heart of everything we do. I mean, how else could you possibly awaken all that latent creative energy within people? How else could you motivate them to truly give their absolute best, or foster that deep sense of mutual trust that is so vital for teamwork to even function? Without that trust, nothing works. I guess you have to ask yourself: how can you reach a point where every single person on the team—and I mean absolutely everyone—arrives at work feeling genuinely happy and fulfilled? Because if they feel that way, then, I imagine, those real, meaningful results will just naturally follow.

It’s pretty clear to me that I have an incredibly long road ahead of me, and honestly, if I’m being completely truthful, I don't even know what I've gotten myself into.

Something else just occurred to me... I’ve been reflecting on why exactly I find myself drawn to ACIM. I think there are three key reasons that stand out to me right now:
So, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how we actually identify the fruits—you know, those tangible signs that indicate whether a tree is truly thriving or just putting on a show. In my own experience, if I look back at everything that has unfolded recently, I would say the results have been overwhelmingly positive. It’s showing up in almost every corner of my life, really. My relationships with my family—not just my immediate circle, but even my in-laws—seem to be in such a good place. Even my professional life feels more aligned, and on a much more personal level, I’ve been experiencing this deep sense of inner peace and genuine happiness. I’ve even noticed improvements in things like my physical fitness and my overall mental clarity, which feels like a significant win. And, perhaps most importantly, the awakening of the Kundalini—if that’s even the right way to describe it—feels like one of the most profound fruits of this entire journey.

I suppose ACIM suggests that there isn't such a thing as a single, universal theology, yet I feel that a universal experience is not only possible, but perhaps even absolutely necessary. It reminds me a bit of what Sri Ramakrishna used to say—he essentially arrived at God through Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, believing that they all lead back to the same God. So, I think there is a profound value in showing complete respect for every possible theological path out there. However... I have to say that out of all the spiritual texts I’ve ever encountered, ACIM seems to be the only one that aligns perfectly with the findings of modern physics. Apparently, its foundations are rooted in something called Advaita Vedanta, which is something I haven't had the chance to study deeply just yet (I mean, there are only twenty-four hours in a day, right?). I might be able to explain how those pieces fit together if anyone is actually interested, but I won't go into it here since it would probably turn into quite a long-winded explanation.

3) I've always felt that ACIM is structured quite perfectly into three distinct segments: a) the theoretical foundation, b) the practical exercises, and c) the guidance intended for teachers. It’s truly a self-contained system, which means you don't necessarily need any other books or even a formal teacher to get started. However, I can't stress enough how vital those practical exercises are; without them, I suppose all that deep theory just turns into dry, academic philosophizing. As someone who has been playing music for forty years, the necessity of daily practice is basically hardwired into my subconscious. I've actually tested this principle across all sorts of disciplines—whether it was diving into physics, sketching, sports, or even when I tried some specific exercises to improve my sex life (and honestly, they really do work)—and the results have consistently proven me right. While having a mentor is certainly convenient, it isn't strictly essential. If someone, say, starting at age 40, picked up an instrument and committed to practicing ten hours every single day, I'd bet anything that in ten or twenty years, they would be a world-class musician. Ultimately, I think it all boils down to one's own desire and willpower.
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Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#2 ·
Post from July 17th:

'Just another little postcard following last night's meditation session...

ACIM suggests that God didn't actually create this world (this entire universe). The idea is that everything God creates shares His very essence—meaning, among other things, it exists outside of time and space and is defined by Love. It isn't subject to death, nor does it perceive the distinction between good and evil the way we do, living as physical beings. There are several exercises in ACIM that touch on this concept in different ways; for instance, one specific exercise asks us to repeatedly affirm that God did not create the horrors we see in this world. When you perform the exercise independently, you're free to choose whichever horrors weigh most heavily on your heart—whether it’s global wars, famine, disease, the passing of newborn infants, natural disasters, or even something as extreme as an alien invasion and the extinction of the human race...

So, if He didn't do it, what created this universe? According to ACIM, the creation of the universe is the result of a cosmic thought regarding separation from God and the existence of a separate consciousness. What God actually created (the Son of God) somehow—though ACIM doesn't offer a concrete explanation for the "why" (it suggests the reason lies on the "other side" and simply cannot be expressed in human language)—"thought" of separation. This is essentially the Biblical story of Adam, Eve, and the serpent and the original sin (or rather, the original error, which, as a professor I once knew at a Catholic Theological Seminary confirmed, is actually the original Greek word used in the Bible before we translated it as "sin"). That thought of separation, that error, resulted in the creation of this kind of universe, and simultaneously gave birth to the cosmic ego—this illusion of separation. This cosmic ego manifests as the individual ego within every conscious being, creating the illusion of being apart (both from God and from one another). God reacted to this error immediately (in a timeless sense!) by "speaking" the Word that corrected the mistake instantly. The error no longer exists (honestly, it never truly did) because it was fixed the moment it happened. That Word is the Holy Spirit, who exists within this universe and can be heard. When the cosmic consciousness, which is still trapped in this universe and time (which is itself an illusion), hears the Holy Spirit—when it awakens—the universe will vanish. ACIM teaches us how to hear the Spirit at the level of individual consciousness, how to wake up, and how to then pass that awakening on to other individual minds to help them wake up too. The only way is to recognize Love, listen to the Word, and share that with others.

To make a long story short and get to why I'm writing... all of this was a bit hard for me to digest at first (even though ACIM drew me in initially, not that I started believing every single word right away), but slowly, it began to click. I started to intuitively grasp the internal logic of the narrative. Everything that theoretical physicists have uncovered—and they've found that the universe is waaaaay more complicated than they thought just twenty years ago, perhaps even suggesting that the fundamental laws of physics are intentionally set up so the human mind can never fully unravel them...—actually aligns with this logic. And yesterday, it finally hit me.

God didn't create this world! He isn't responsible for all the terrors and horrors happening out there! He isn't to blame! HE IS NOT TO BLAME!!!

Anyway, I've made peace with God. It was an incredibly liberating experience.'
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So, let me get to the main point.

In the meantime, that feeling/experience has stabilized; it’s been present in my lower back all day, and I’ve realized I can actually control it, expanding it to my whole body or specific parts whenever I want. I honestly pray for the Holy Spirit to come and assist me. Every time I call upon the Spirit, the intensity of the sensation is so powerful—a feeling of bliss that is incomparably stronger than a sexual orgasm or anything else I've ever experienced (and no, I've never tried drugs and I certainly don't intend to 🙂).

And this morning, while I was reading an exercise in ACIM that says 'God is the Mind with which I think'—meaning my mind is God's mind—something extraordinary happened to me. It felt like being struck by lightning... my mind is God's mind... everyone's mind is God's mind... OUR COLLECTIVE MIND IS GOD'S MIND! Suddenly, everything opened up and became crystal clear. I sat in this state of physical stillness but pure spiritual clarity for about ten minutes before my phone rang and pulled me back into this world. I've been under its spell all day; the sense of clarity has faded somewhat, but I am certain it was real.

Anyway, I was mostly wondering if anyone else here on the forum has ever stumbled upon a similar sensation or had a comparable experience through their own spiritual journey.

The sense of pure bliss I’m describing feels deeply connected to the Holy Spirit for me—and just to clarify, I haven't actually studied Kundalini at all, though I have been doing some light reading since this feeling first surfaced. I suppose I'm just curious to know if these things are essentially the same thing or if they are fundamentally different. You see, when you look online, the information is all over the place; you have one group practicing Kundalini who will tell you it’s the only true path, while on the other hand, those who strictly advocate for Catholicism might argue that the Holy Spirit is the only legitimate source and that Kundalini is something darker, perhaps even coming from Satan... 😵
Paul Rogers94 Paul Rogers94 Active Member
235 messages
joined Apr 2022
#3 ·
For a beginner, trying to force spiritual experiences into some rigid framework is a mistake—just as obsessing over labels is. Is it the Holy Spirit and Kundalini? Is it divine, or is it something darker? Is it all just different names for the same thing? Honestly, it’ll just leave you completely bewildered. There’s no need for that. Once you’ve actually progressed as a seeker, you can afford the luxury of "contextualizing" things—not because the systems matter, but because most of those labels are really just conceptual guardrails for people who need a map to find their own feet. At the end of the day, if you have an intense experience, just follow the path wherever it leads... everything else will settle itself out eventually. There is a higher wisdom within you that you’re handing the wheel to, and that wisdom knows what you need far better than your ego does. Your only job is to stay out of the way. You’re inevitably going to hit some sort of serious crisis sooner or later; it's part of the deal. My mentor used to have this little formula for spiritual crises: whatever brought you into the crisis is exactly what will pull you through it. A spiritual crisis is essentially a threshold to a more concrete experience, and moving through that darkness is what triggers a true awakening. The problem is, most self-proclaimed seekers bail the second they see the first signs of trouble. Just a few scattered thoughts on the subject
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#4 ·
Paul Rogers94 said:For a beginner, trying to force spiritual experiences into some rigid framework is a mistake—just as obsessing over labels is. Is it the Holy Spirit and Kundalini? Is it divine, or is it something darker? Is it all just different names for the same thing? Honestly, it’ll just leave you completely bewildered. There’s no need for that. Once you’ve actually progressed as a seeker, you can afford the luxury of "contextualizing" things—not because the systems matter, but because most of those labels are really just conceptual guardrails for people who need a map to find their own feet. At the end of the day, if you have an intense experience, just follow the path wherever it leads... everything else will settle itself out eventually. There is a higher wisdom within you that you’re handing the wheel to, and that wisdom knows what you need far better than your ego does. Your only job is to stay out of the way. You’re inevitably going to hit some sort of serious crisis sooner or later; it's part of the deal. My mentor used to have this little formula for spiritual crises: whatever brought you into the crisis is exactly what will pull you through it. A spiritual crisis is essentially a threshold to a more concrete experience, and moving through that darkness is what triggers a true awakening. The problem is, most self-proclaimed seekers bail the second they see the first signs of trouble. Just a few scattered thoughts on the subject

Thank you for your response; I truly appreciate 🙂
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I really am a beginner on this spiritual path in the sense of what I’ve been describing... though I wouldn't call myself a beginner when it comes to playing music (forty years is certainly not a small amount of time 🙂). As I draw some parallels between my musical journey and this spiritual one—since, in a way, it has all started to merge into one single thing for me—I’ve realized that the only way I can truly play well is to enter that state of 'beginner's mind' (or whatever it is Zen describes) every single time I pick up my instrument. Lately, I’ve been playing by simply surrendering to the Spirit and asking it to play through me, and the results have been quite remarkable. I actually record myself while I'm playing so I can analyze it later; it is definitely a much higher level of performance than my 'little self' (that’s the ego, as I affectionately call it) could ever hope to achieve 🙂
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As for the crisis... it is mentioned in A Course in Miracles that a crisis will eventually catch up with me; I don't see any signs of it on the horizon right now, but I suppose we shall see. I am trying to listen to the Spirit, though it isn't always clear in terms of actual words... perhaps I am listening incorrectly, or maybe it won't ever be words, but rather intuitive flashes, similar to that moment when I was struck by lightning
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Anyway, for the time being, my intuition (perhaps the Spirit?) is telling me to continue on this path by staying exactly where I am and focusing on being a perfect husband to my wife, a perfect father to my children, a perfect colleague at work, a perfect neighbor... that makes complete sense to me. I wonder if this is all just a preparatory phase for something larger, followed by that crisis you mentioned... I don't know, I guess we will see
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Right now, I'm dealing with things like this: yesterday at work, I had a rather difficult conversation with a colleague of mine. He is brilliant intellectually and incredibly skilled at his job, but he doesn't seem to have developed that higher intuition that guides a person toward their goal. To use a sports analogy, the man is one of the best midfielders in the world, but he can never quite find the back of the net (well, at least regarding work; he keeps his private life quite guarded, and whenever I've tried to ask him about it, his answers are very brief and reserved, and I've never wanted to be pushy, so those conversations always end in mere politeness). And understandably, it frustrates him. For some reason, he tends to blame me for a lot of things. Yesterday, after a long time, we finally had a real talk—I felt a need to encourage him to open up a bit—and he ended up saying some quite hurtful things to me. He accused me of lying or suggested I had completely lost my grip on reality... and honestly, that threw me totally off balance because I started questioning myself (since I am a beginner!). I wondered, what if he's right? What if this spiritual path is leading me toward losing my sense of 'reality' in a way that is detrimental to my professional success? So, I responded to him—not harshly, but by stating certain facts that contradicted his claims. That caused the conversation to spiral even further downhill as he began to dispute those facts... in that moment, I realized I couldn't accomplish anything by continuing that way, so I asked the Spirit for help. I received an intuitive response to tell the man that I loved him, but I didn't think it would be particularly wise to say that directly, so instead, I told him I was sorry for all the mistakes I had made and the ways I had wronged him. But it didn't seem to land; he didn't really accept the apology. I could see in his eyes that he thought I was just trying to manipulate him, wondering what kind of trick I was playing next...

I suppose, all things considered, I am still just waaaaaay too far from reaching the level of Buddha or Jesus—or any of those other great teachers who seemingly possessed the uncanny ability to say exactly what a person needed to hear, in precisely the right way, at precisely the right moment 🙂
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#5 ·
I just wrapped up my workout this morning, and I have to say, I found myself sticking to the exact same routine I followed yesterday.

I feel like I really need to post the text of this exercise here, and since it was originally written in English, I’m hesitant to try translating it myself because I’m worried I won't be able to preserve the intended impact. If you haven't seen them already, I suppose the results of my training sessions have been shared in some of my previous posts within this thread.

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I have often found myself reflecting on the profound nature of consciousness, and I sometimes find that my thoughts drift toward the idea that God is essentially the very Mind through which I process existence. It is perhaps a bit of an abstract way to put it, but I suppose there is a certain sincerity in suggesting that the divine isn't just some distant entity watching from above, but rather the fundamental cognitive framework—the very essence of thought itself—that allows me to perceive and reason. I guess it’s more of a deeply personal, internal connection than anything else, though I realize how much that might challenge traditional views held by many Americans. Still, I feel quite strongly that if we are to truly understand the spiritual, we might have to look inward at the mechanics of our own awareness.

I have been reflecting on today's concept, and I truly believe it serves as a vital window into the core of your actual perceptions. It seems to me—and please correct me if I'm wrong here—that there is almost no connection between what we imagine our thoughts to be and what those thoughts actually represent in their purest form. It's a bit disorienting, I suppose, to realize that what we perceive as our inner monologue might bear absolutely no resemblance to our true cognitive essence. In much the same way, I suspect that what we believe we are seeing through our eyes isn't really an accurate reflection of sight itself. It feels as though there is this profound, perhaps even overwhelming, disconnect between the reality of our internal experiences and the filtered versions we mistakenly claim to understand.

Perhaps we might consider the idea that we are essentially thinking with the Mind of God itself. If that’s true—and I suppose it must be—then it follows that we are constantly sharing our deepest reflections with Him, just as He is perpetually sharing His with us. It seems to me that these thoughts are actually one and the same, simply because they originate from that single, unified Mind. When we talk about "sharing," maybe what we really mean is the act of becoming similar, or even becoming one. I would also venture to suggest that these divine thoughts never truly depart from our own consciousness, since a thought can't really ever leave its original source, right? So, in a very real sense, our thoughts exist within the Mind of God, just as we ourselves exist there. And since we are an integral part of His Mind, it feels only natural that our thoughts are an inseparable part of His as well.

So, where exactly do your true, unvarnished thoughts reside? I suppose today we ought to make an honest attempt to actually locate them. It feels like we’ll have to go searching deep within the recesses of your own mind, simply because that is the only place they could possibly be. I imagine they must still be tucked away in there somewhere, given that it seems impossible for them to have ever truly departed from their primary source. After all, if we consider that what is conceived by the Divine Mind is eternal—existing as an intrinsic part of the very fabric of creation itself—then those thoughts are surely still waiting to be found.

For our three five-minute practice sessions scheduled for today, I think we should probably follow a similar structure to the approach we took when we were working through yesterday’s concept. My intention, if I can express it clearly, is that we might attempt to step away from everything that feels superficial or illusory in order to search for what is truly substantial. It seems to me that we ought to set aside the distractions of the material world in favor of seeking out the actual truth. I suppose we shouldn't allow the noisy, frantic thoughts of the outside world to impede our progress, nor should we let the prevailing beliefs of society convince us that following a divine path is somehow an impossible feat. Rather, I feel it might be more helpful to try and recognize the possibility that perhaps only what is aligned with the Divine is actually achievable at all.

I suppose we should also strive to grasp the idea that our true desires will eventually align perfectly with what God intends for us to accomplish. It feels like a necessary realization, though perhaps a difficult one to hold onto at times. Along those same lines, I think it’s important for us to remember that if we are truly walking the path He has laid out, failure isn't really an option in the way we typically perceive it. There is, I believe, every possible reason to approach today with a sense of quiet confidence and steady resolve, simply because we are moving in accordance with His Will.

To begin today's exercises, I find it helpful to start by simply repeating the core concept to myself, perhaps even closing my eyes to really settle into it. Once that's done, I suggest spending a brief moment just letting your own mind wander around the subject; I mean, try to cultivate a few of your own related reflections while keeping that central idea firmly at the forefront of your consciousness. After you feel like you've woven about four or five of those personal observations into the fabric of the thought, go ahead and repeat the idea once more, perhaps adding a gentle, quiet affirmation to yourself as you finish.

I often find myself feeling as though my true, unvarnished thoughts are drifting somewhere just out of reach, tucked away in the quietest corners of my own mind. It’s a strange sensation, isn't it? I suppose I have this deep, persistent longing to actually track them down—to truly locate and understand those genuine reflections that seem to elude me whenever I try to grasp them. I guess I am searching for a way to bridge that gap between what I feel internally and what I can actually articulate.

Perhaps if you could just attempt to push past those fleeting, superficial distractions that tend to cloud your inner perception—those illusions that seem to shroud the actual truth within your own mind—you might finally be able to reach for something truly eternal.

Beneath all those chaotic, frantic impulses and the sheer clutter of irrationality we tend to pile into our minds, I suspect there exists a deeper layer—the primordial truths we once shared with the Divine at the very start of everything. Even now, amidst the noise, I believe those foundational thoughts remain tucked away within us, entirely untouched by the passing years. It seems to me that while every fleeting opinion or wandering idea we’ve ever had will inevitably shift and fade, that core bedrock upon which our entire existence is built remains absolutely, beautifully constant.

Everything we’ve been working toward leads directly to this specific Foundation. In these exercises, you aren't just meditating alone; you are essentially merging your own consciousness with the Divine Mind. Your very thoughts begin to align and flow as one with His. I suppose if there is one thing you truly need to keep in mind to make this work, it’s this: you ought to approach this practice with the same profound reverence you would show when standing before a sacred altar in a great cathedral. That is the spiritual altitude you are aiming for. To be honest, you might not even fully grasp just how incredibly high you are attempting to climb right now. But, even with the modest understanding you’ve managed to gather so far, I really think you should remind yourself that this isn't some trivial pastime or a casual mental game. This is a serious pursuit of holiness—a genuine, heartfelt attempt to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

During those brief windows when you manage to squeeze in a workout or a quick break today, I think it might be helpful to hold onto this one specific intention: please, try to remember just how profoundly sacred your own mind truly is—specifically, that incredible capacity to think in alignment with the Divine. If you can find even just a minute or two throughout your day, perhaps while you're repeating this thought to yourself, I would encourage you to really sit with that realization and appreciate the inherent holiness within your own consciousness. It might be worth trying to step back, even if only for a fleeting moment, from any stray or unworthy thoughts that don't quite honor the One you serve. And, if it feels right, maybe take a second to simply offer up a word of thanks for the higher thoughts He is inviting you to share in.
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frozenstag9 frozenstag9 Member
45 messages
joined Oct 2019
#6 ·
Over in New Zealand, there’s this one family that’s been passing down the tradition of teaching people about Kundalini through the generations.
People travel from all over the globe just to seek them out—honestly, my own wife actually gave me some free instructions for a few days once, but I didn't really have the heart to pursue it further back then; I was still carrying a bit of that old-school Catholic skepticism, you know?
The practice supposedly kicks off with this first step involving contracting the muscles between the perineum and the anus—you apparently have to strengthen that area quite a bit if you ever want to master the "serpent" in that region.
Personally, I managed to pull it off without any actual exercises—I just mentally relax those muscles and the serpent slides right up, which completely bypasses the orgasm. I could probably spend hours theorizing about how that works!
At least, that’s what they say is the prerequisite for gaining control over the Kundalini serpent.
As for what happens next, I haven't a clue—it probably involves guiding that energy all the way up to the head.
Paul Rogers94 Paul Rogers94 Active Member
235 messages
joined Apr 2022
#7 ·
frozenstag9 said:Over in New Zealand, there’s this one family that’s been passing down the tradition of teaching people about Kundalini through the generations.
People travel from all over the globe just to seek them out—honestly, my own wife actually gave me some free instructions for a few days once, but I didn't really have the heart to pursue it further back then; I was still carrying a bit of that old-school Catholic skepticism, you know?
The practice supposedly kicks off with this first step involving contracting the muscles between the perineum and the anus—you apparently have to strengthen that area quite a bit if you ever want to master the "serpent" in that region.
Personally, I managed to pull it off without any actual exercises—I just mentally relax those muscles and the serpent slides right up, which completely bypasses the orgasm. I could probably spend hours theorizing about how that works!
At least, that’s what they say is the prerequisite for gaining control over the Kundalini serpent.
As for what happens next, I haven't a clue—it probably involves guiding that energy all the way up to the head.

Exactly. The "technical" term is Mula bandha. Also, the Vajroli mudra—essentially contracting the penis while urinating—is highly recommended. I won't bore everyone with a deep dive into the mechanics or the benefits since explaining it here is pretty much a waste of breath... anyone actually interested can just Google it.
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#8 ·
frozenstag9 said:Over in New Zealand, there’s this one family that’s been passing down the tradition of teaching people about Kundalini through the generations.
People travel from all over the globe just to seek them out—honestly, my own wife actually gave me some free instructions for a few days once, but I didn't really have the heart to pursue it further back then; I was still carrying a bit of that old-school Catholic skepticism, you know?
The practice supposedly kicks off with this first step involving contracting the muscles between the perineum and the anus—you apparently have to strengthen that area quite a bit if you ever want to master the "serpent" in that region.
Personally, I managed to pull it off without any actual exercises—I just mentally relax those muscles and the serpent slides right up, which completely bypasses the orgasm. I could probably spend hours theorizing about how that works!
At least, that’s what they say is the prerequisite for gaining control over the Kundalini serpent.
As for what happens next, I haven't a clue—it probably involves guiding that energy all the way up to the head.

Thanks, 😉

I have to say, what you’re describing doesn't quite align with what I experience. I haven't ever actually attempted those specific physical exercises, and if I'm understanding correctly, the 'serpent' is supposed to manifest first in that exact spot where you contract the muscles (between the anus and the genitals 😁). For me, it seems to emerge in my lower back, specifically around the sacrum, and it stays settled there throughout the entire day. Then, whenever I decide to let it spread through my whole body, it flows quite easily; I've realized that I can actually direct it wherever I want, like sending it just into my legs, though it always seems to return to that lower back area, almost as if that serves as its primary base.
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#9 ·
Paul Rogers94 said:Exactly. The "technical" term is Mula bandha. Also, the Vajroli mudra—essentially contracting the penis while urinating—is highly recommended. I won't bore everyone with a deep dive into the mechanics or the benefits since explaining it here is pretty much a waste of breath... anyone actually interested can just Google it.

Alright, I suppose I'll do a little searching online, but for the time being, I don't really feel any pressing need or desire to start practicing those kinds of exercises. Right now, focusing on invoking the Holy Spirit and working through the practices from A Course in Miracles seems to be more than enough to meet my needs. I don't particularly want to try mixing that with anything else; I have this intuitive feeling, maybe just a hunch, that attempting to combine them might lead to some unnecessary complications.
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#10 ·
Paul Rogers94 said:For a beginner, trying to force spiritual experiences into some rigid framework is a mistake—just as obsessing over labels is. Is it the Holy Spirit and Kundalini? Is it divine, or is it something darker? Is it all just different names for the same thing? Honestly, it’ll just leave you completely bewildered. There’s no need for that. Once you’ve actually progressed as a seeker, you can afford the luxury of "contextualizing" things—not because the systems matter, but because most of those labels are really just conceptual guardrails for people who need a map to find their own feet. At the end of the day, if you have an intense experience, just follow the path wherever it leads... everything else will settle itself out eventually. There is a higher wisdom within you that you’re handing the wheel to, and that wisdom knows what you need far better than your ego does. Your only job is to stay out of the way. You’re inevitably going to hit some sort of serious crisis sooner or later; it's part of the deal. My mentor used to have this little formula for spiritual crises: whatever brought you into the crisis is exactly what will pull you through it. A spiritual crisis is essentially a threshold to a more concrete experience, and moving through that darkness is what triggers a true awakening. The problem is, most self-proclaimed seekers bail the second they see the first signs of trouble. Just a few scattered thoughts on the subject

I just wanted to take a moment to look back at this, specifically regarding exercise number 24 in A Course in Miracles: 'I do not perceive my own best interests.'

So, I suppose what you're saying is precisely that 😉
frozenstag9 frozenstag9 Member
45 messages
joined Oct 2019
#11 ·
Brian Young76 said:Thanks, 😉

I have to say, what you’re describing doesn't quite align with what I experience. I haven't ever actually attempted those specific physical exercises, and if I'm understanding correctly, the 'serpent' is supposed to manifest first in that exact spot where you contract the muscles (between the anus and the genitals 😁). For me, it seems to emerge in my lower back, specifically around the sacrum, and it stays settled there throughout the entire day. Then, whenever I decide to let it spread through my whole body, it flows quite easily; I've realized that I can actually direct it wherever I want, like sending it just into my legs, though it always seems to return to that lower back area, almost as if that serves as its primary base.

Just to be clear, what I'm talking about here is intended for adults.
frozenstag9 frozenstag9 Member
45 messages
joined Oct 2019
#12 ·
Paul Rogers94 said:Exactly. The "technical" term is Mula bandha. Also, the Vajroli mudra—essentially contracting the penis while urinating—is highly recommended. I won't bore everyone with a deep dive into the mechanics or the benefits since explaining it here is pretty much a waste of breath... anyone actually interested can just Google it.

And besides, this isn't something meant for the public eye—it really needs to stay somewhat low-key.
If people are genuinely interested, they can go pay for a session somewhere in New Zealand or just look it up online.
There's absolutely no point in giving a peek behind the curtain to certain people who might just take it out of context or make a mockery of it.
It just doesn't make sense to do that, obviously.
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#13 ·
frozenstag9 said:Just to be clear, what I'm talking about here is intended for adults.

Peace be with you.🙂
Benjamin Taylor6 Benjamin Taylor6 Regular
577 messages
joined Apr 2017
#14 ·
Here are my experiences regarding Kundalini:

Ever since I took up yoga-shaking, I’ve been getting these Kundalini sensations in some pretty bizarre ways. It isn't like there’s a set rule where the same scenario always triggers the same response—honestly, most of the time, nothing happens at all. But, just to give you an idea of when it *does* show up:
So, there I am, sitting out in the backyard late at night, sipping on some Jack Daniel’s mixed with Coke and having a smoke. Everything is chill. I’m just looking up at the stars, lost in thought about them and the sheer scale of how the universe began. Then, the thought hits me—that the entire cosmos was once just a single, infinitesimal point. And if that’s true, then I was part of that point, too; everything surged from that one spot. I start trying to visualize myself as that primordial singularity, that very first dot of the universe. As I get deeper into that headspace, this intense sensation starts surging around my neck—exactly like that yoga-shaking feeling—except instead of making me want to jump around, it just makes me want to spin my head and writhe uncontrollably ( 😲)
It lasts for maybe thirty seconds, and then it's gone.
The thing is, this intense kind of "writhing" can pop up in totally weird situations that have absolutely nothing to do with "sacred" spirituality. For instance, a few days ago, I found myself thinking about this one colleague of mine—a guy who is a hardcore Transcendental Meditation devotee. He does everything strictly by the book, religiously. I started playing this little mental game, imagining that I had reached enlightenment while he hadn't. I even had this dark, petty thought that he’d be incredibly envious of my success. Right in the middle of those morbid little musings, I felt this massive surge concentrated in my neck and head, almost like I was trying to leap over some sort of "spiritual" abyss that separates us from enlightenment. The writhing was incredibly intense. But, unfortunately, I didn't quite manage to leap across the chasm.
Ryan Wilson2 Ryan Wilson2 Regular
387 messages
joined Dec 2002
#15 ·
Brian Young76 said:I just wrapped up my workout this morning, and I have to say, I found myself sticking to the exact same routine I followed yesterday.

I feel like I really need to post the text of this exercise here, and since it was originally written in English, I’m hesitant to try translating it myself because I’m worried I won't be able to preserve the intended impact. If you haven't seen them already, I suppose the results of my training sessions have been shared in some of my previous posts within this thread.

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I have often found myself reflecting on the profound nature of consciousness, and I sometimes find that my thoughts drift toward the idea that God is essentially the very Mind through which I process existence. It is perhaps a bit of an abstract way to put it, but I suppose there is a certain sincerity in suggesting that the divine isn't just some distant entity watching from above, but rather the fundamental cognitive framework—the very essence of thought itself—that allows me to perceive and reason. I guess it’s more of a deeply personal, internal connection than anything else, though I realize how much that might challenge traditional views held by many Americans. Still, I feel quite strongly that if we are to truly understand the spiritual, we might have to look inward at the mechanics of our own awareness.

I have been reflecting on today's concept, and I truly believe it serves as a vital window into the core of your actual perceptions. It seems to me—and please correct me if I'm wrong here—that there is almost no connection between what we imagine our thoughts to be and what those thoughts actually represent in their purest form. It's a bit disorienting, I suppose, to realize that what we perceive as our inner monologue might bear absolutely no resemblance to our true cognitive essence. In much the same way, I suspect that what we believe we are seeing through our eyes isn't really an accurate reflection of sight itself. It feels as though there is this profound, perhaps even overwhelming, disconnect between the reality of our internal experiences and the filtered versions we mistakenly claim to understand.

Perhaps we might consider the idea that we are essentially thinking with the Mind of God itself. If that’s true—and I suppose it must be—then it follows that we are constantly sharing our deepest reflections with Him, just as He is perpetually sharing His with us. It seems to me that these thoughts are actually one and the same, simply because they originate from that single, unified Mind. When we talk about "sharing," maybe what we really mean is the act of becoming similar, or even becoming one. I would also venture to suggest that these divine thoughts never truly depart from our own consciousness, since a thought can't really ever leave its original source, right? So, in a very real sense, our thoughts exist within the Mind of God, just as we ourselves exist there. And since we are an integral part of His Mind, it feels only natural that our thoughts are an inseparable part of His as well.

So, where exactly do your true, unvarnished thoughts reside? I suppose today we ought to make an honest attempt to actually locate them. It feels like we’ll have to go searching deep within the recesses of your own mind, simply because that is the only place they could possibly be. I imagine they must still be tucked away in there somewhere, given that it seems impossible for them to have ever truly departed from their primary source. After all, if we consider that what is conceived by the Divine Mind is eternal—existing as an intrinsic part of the very fabric of creation itself—then those thoughts are surely still waiting to be found.

For our three five-minute practice sessions scheduled for today, I think we should probably follow a similar structure to the approach we took when we were working through yesterday’s concept. My intention, if I can express it clearly, is that we might attempt to step away from everything that feels superficial or illusory in order to search for what is truly substantial. It seems to me that we ought to set aside the distractions of the material world in favor of seeking out the actual truth. I suppose we shouldn't allow the noisy, frantic thoughts of the outside world to impede our progress, nor should we let the prevailing beliefs of society convince us that following a divine path is somehow an impossible feat. Rather, I feel it might be more helpful to try and recognize the possibility that perhaps only what is aligned with the Divine is actually achievable at all.

I suppose we should also strive to grasp the idea that our true desires will eventually align perfectly with what God intends for us to accomplish. It feels like a necessary realization, though perhaps a difficult one to hold onto at times. Along those same lines, I think it’s important for us to remember that if we are truly walking the path He has laid out, failure isn't really an option in the way we typically perceive it. There is, I believe, every possible reason to approach today with a sense of quiet confidence and steady resolve, simply because we are moving in accordance with His Will.

To begin today's exercises, I find it helpful to start by simply repeating the core concept to myself, perhaps even closing my eyes to really settle into it. Once that's done, I suggest spending a brief moment just letting your own mind wander around the subject; I mean, try to cultivate a few of your own related reflections while keeping that central idea firmly at the forefront of your consciousness. After you feel like you've woven about four or five of those personal observations into the fabric of the thought, go ahead and repeat the idea once more, perhaps adding a gentle, quiet affirmation to yourself as you finish.

I often find myself feeling as though my true, unvarnished thoughts are drifting somewhere just out of reach, tucked away in the quietest corners of my own mind. It’s a strange sensation, isn't it? I suppose I have this deep, persistent longing to actually track them down—to truly locate and understand those genuine reflections that seem to elude me whenever I try to grasp them. I guess I am searching for a way to bridge that gap between what I feel internally and what I can actually articulate.

Perhaps if you could just attempt to push past those fleeting, superficial distractions that tend to cloud your inner perception—those illusions that seem to shroud the actual truth within your own mind—you might finally be able to reach for something truly eternal.

Beneath all those chaotic, frantic impulses and the sheer clutter of irrationality we tend to pile into our minds, I suspect there exists a deeper layer—the primordial truths we once shared with the Divine at the very start of everything. Even now, amidst the noise, I believe those foundational thoughts remain tucked away within us, entirely untouched by the passing years. It seems to me that while every fleeting opinion or wandering idea we’ve ever had will inevitably shift and fade, that core bedrock upon which our entire existence is built remains absolutely, beautifully constant.

Everything we’ve been working toward leads directly to this specific Foundation. In these exercises, you aren't just meditating alone; you are essentially merging your own consciousness with the Divine Mind. Your very thoughts begin to align and flow as one with His. I suppose if there is one thing you truly need to keep in mind to make this work, it’s this: you ought to approach this practice with the same profound reverence you would show when standing before a sacred altar in a great cathedral. That is the spiritual altitude you are aiming for. To be honest, you might not even fully grasp just how incredibly high you are attempting to climb right now. But, even with the modest understanding you’ve managed to gather so far, I really think you should remind yourself that this isn't some trivial pastime or a casual mental game. This is a serious pursuit of holiness—a genuine, heartfelt attempt to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

During those brief windows when you manage to squeeze in a workout or a quick break today, I think it might be helpful to hold onto this one specific intention: please, try to remember just how profoundly sacred your own mind truly is—specifically, that incredible capacity to think in alignment with the Divine. If you can find even just a minute or two throughout your day, perhaps while you're repeating this thought to yourself, I would encourage you to really sit with that realization and appreciate the inherent holiness within your own consciousness. It might be worth trying to step back, even if only for a fleeting moment, from any stray or unworthy thoughts that don't quite honor the One you serve. And, if it feels right, maybe take a second to simply offer up a word of thanks for the higher thoughts He is inviting you to share in.
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Oh, please. I’ve been reading through this entire thread up to this point... and frankly, I don't believe a single word you're saying.

Real, lived experience is best described using the very language you're using right now, rather than these vague English outlines.
hiddenpuma75 hiddenpuma75 Regular
376 messages
joined Dec 2002
#16 ·
Brian Young76 said:To begin, I suppose I should quote my own post from July 9, 2020, regarding the topic of Kundalini:

'To give a brief overview of my spiritual journey—I’ve been playing music for about 40 years now, out of my 47 years of life, and through music, I’ve experienced quite a few spiritual moments (specifically, those instances of deep inspiration where it felt as though the "little me"—the ego—simply vanished, which was an incredibly liberating and beautiful sensation). I experienced something somewhat similar when I would lose myself deeply in mathematics or physics; it felt like a moment of enlightenment where that "little me" just wasn't there anymore.'

I had some brief episodes where I read the Bible and a book on Buddhism, but nothing really struck a chord with me at first.

About seven or eight years ago, I felt this growing need to explore spirituality more profoundly. I started by picking up Houston Smith's 'World's Religions' (in English, which feels almost like my native tongue since I've been communicating primarily in writing and speech in English for the last 20 years or so) because I wanted a solid, high-quality overview of global faiths to hopefully find my own path. After that, I began reading the Bible more seriously and studying what the Catholic Church teaches, but I just couldn't connect with it. So, I moved on to reading the Quran, but that didn't quite sit right with me either. Then I turned to books on Buddhism, and for a while, I actually thought I might have found my way... I found so much to love there; Buddha and his teachings felt very dear and close to my heart. I spent two or three years meditating regularly, reading, and refining my practice... but as time went on, I kept getting this nagging sense that something was still missing. I even tried reading the Bhagavad Gita, which is truly a magnificent book, yet again, it didn't quite click. Finally, I kept searching and came across 'A Course in Miracles'—ACIM—and suddenly, everything just clicked. I won't go into too much detail about the book here since there's a separate thread for it, but for over a year now, my spiritual path has been centered on the teachings described in ACIM. In short, ACIM offers a spiritual path toward God by teaching and explaining how to view the world through Christ's eyes (and, according to the teaching, one who sees the world through Christ's eyes eventually becomes Christ themselves). That said, I have continued my breathwork meditation practices, as I've come to believe that meditation simply purifies and clears the mind; it isn't necessarily tied to one specific path.'

I’ve also continued playing music and reading physics texts, both of which remain integral parts of my spiritual walk. The latest findings in physics—things like dark energy, dark matter, string theory, and so on—are absolutely fascinating to me, and I see a profound spiritual connection in all of it, though I won't delve into the details here.

On a personal note, it's important to mention that for the last 20 years, I’ve been in a very harmonious marriage and we have three wonderful children, which provides me with a great deal of stability and happiness.

Ever since the whole pandemic situation kicked off back in mid-March, I've started meditating more intensely (for the last two or three months, I've been doing about four hours a day) and focusing on reading ACIM and practicing its exercises.

The reason I'm writing this now is... about three weeks ago (specifically, Saturday, June 27th), early in the morning as I sat down in a meditative posture, I felt this warmth and a sense of bliss in my lower back—a strange sensation that I might best describe as pure ecstasy. Since then, that feeling has intensified; I feel it throughout the day, and for the last three days, I've had episodes where this sensation of bliss completely overwhelms me, traveling up my entire spine and reaching my head. I haven't experienced any negative side effects (at least not yet), but I have noticed that I've started looking at the people around me with a certain "softness," characterized by more understanding and compassion. It’s not that I feel a need to convince anyone of anything, especially not through logic or verbal explanations. Also, in the last month or two, I don't recall ever being overcome by anger, greed, fear, or anything of that nature; whenever such a feeling did arise, I found myself able to observe it from a sufficient distance so that it would simply fade away on its own.'

Anyway, I became curious about this feeling of bliss, so I did some Googling and discovered that it is allegedly called Kundalini, and that it has connections to chakras and things like that... which is something I had never studied before and hadn't particularly been interested in.'

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So, here is the post from July 14th:

I’ve decided that I’m going to start using this space to document my own experiences regarding this particular sensation—though, to be honest, I’m still quite unsure whether what I'm feeling is actually Kundalini, perhaps the Holy Spirit, or maybe something else entirely... I really don't know just yet. I suppose I'm doing this for two main reasons. First off, since this is all still incredibly new to me, I thought it might be helpful to connect with those who might be more experienced and would be willing to share their own insights. Secondly, I was thinking that, if I'm lucky, maybe my own reflections could somehow offer a bit of help or perspective to someone else navigating similar waters.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time reading through almost every single post on this thread, and I have to say, I’ve also combed through various texts online. One theme that seems to keep popping up everywhere—almost like a recurring warning—is the idea that Kundalini can be a dangerous force, and that one really ought to approach its awakening only under the watchful guidance of a legitimate teacher. As for myself, I don't currently have a physical teacher guiding my path—at least nothing in the flesh—though the spiritual principles I strive to live by are rooted in the teachings of Buddha and Christ. For the time being, I don't feel much of a need to seek out a formal mentor. What I have experienced, more or less continuously since that first sensation emerged back in June of 2020, is a gentle sense of warmth and pleasantness centered in my lower back. When I engage in spiritual practices or certain physical exercises, that feeling tends to expand, spreading upward through my entire spine and into my head. In my specific experience, it hasn't felt aggressive at all; there hasn't been a single instance where I felt overwhelmed or lost control of the sensation. So, I suppose I feel reasonably secure in where I am right now.

Over the weekend, my family and I headed out for a hike—something we tend to do quite frequently—and we ended up trekking for about five or six hours straight. Throughout the entire walk, I found myself staying deeply focused on that specific sensation, and I actually made a conscious effort to expand that feeling down into my legs as well. It was quite remarkable, really, because even after all that walking, I didn't experience that heavy, dragging exhaustion you'd typically expect to feel. Instead, I felt this sort of calm, steady surge of energy, almost as if I could have kept going indefinitely without any trouble at all—though, I suppose, I didn't want to push my luck too far or test exactly where my physical limits might lie.

Yesterday, I decided to spend a bit more time with my practice than I usually do—I spent about half an hour just really immersing myself in that sensation. It was quite something; the feeling seemed to ripple through my entire body multiple times, growing steadily more intense as I went along. Honestly, I’d say it was easily one of the most profound experiences I’ve ever had, perhaps even surpassing anything physical like a sexual orgasm. Since then, I’ve been carrying this gentle, lingering sense of bliss in two specific spots—one in my lower back and another right around the crown of my head. I haven't actually sat down to do the exercises to expand on it yet today, so I suppose we'll just have to see how things develop.

I guess I should mention that after finishing my exercises yesterday, I was left with this incredibly strange sensation—it felt as though my entire head had just... well, cleared out and become completely lucid. It was almost like a mental fog had suddenly lifted. Driven by this unexpected clarity, I decided to pick up a book on theoretical physics that I usually struggle with; it’s one of those dense, heavy texts that typically moves at a snail's pace because of all the complex formulas and technical jargon. But strangely enough, everything seemed to click into place almost effortlessly. It was as if, just for a little while, I had become significantly sharper—maybe even more intelligent? It was a profound sense of heightened cognition, though I suppose it was only temporary, as things eventually drifted back to my usual baseline.

It’s certainly an intriguing perspective to consider, all things considered.
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Pa post od 16.7.:

I was meditating yesterday evening, and I actually managed to hold a full lotus position for quite a while—about twenty minutes, which, if I’m being honest, felt like absolute science fiction to me just a week or two ago. It felt incredibly good for that specific Kundalini energy; I mean, where are you, Della? It just seemed to spread all the way down through my legs...

It’s honestly just hit me... there is no such thing as "mundane." The work I do, well, it’s actually entirely spiritual in nature; I’ve started to view it as something of a profound spiritual experiment. I suppose the only way to truly do a job correctly is to place spirituality right at the very heart of everything we do. I mean, how else could you possibly awaken all that latent creative energy within people? How else could you motivate them to truly give their absolute best, or foster that deep sense of mutual trust that is so vital for teamwork to even function? Without that trust, nothing works. I guess you have to ask yourself: how can you reach a point where every single person on the team—and I mean absolutely everyone—arrives at work feeling genuinely happy and fulfilled? Because if they feel that way, then, I imagine, those real, meaningful results will just naturally follow.

It’s pretty clear to me that I have an incredibly long road ahead of me, and honestly, if I’m being completely truthful, I don't even know what I've gotten myself into.

Something else just occurred to me... I’ve been reflecting on why exactly I find myself drawn to ACIM. I think there are three key reasons that stand out to me right now:
So, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how we actually identify the fruits—you know, those tangible signs that indicate whether a tree is truly thriving or just putting on a show. In my own experience, if I look back at everything that has unfolded recently, I would say the results have been overwhelmingly positive. It’s showing up in almost every corner of my life, really. My relationships with my family—not just my immediate circle, but even my in-laws—seem to be in such a good place. Even my professional life feels more aligned, and on a much more personal level, I’ve been experiencing this deep sense of inner peace and genuine happiness. I’ve even noticed improvements in things like my physical fitness and my overall mental clarity, which feels like a significant win. And, perhaps most importantly, the awakening of the Kundalini—if that’s even the right way to describe it—feels like one of the most profound fruits of this entire journey.

I suppose ACIM suggests that there isn't such a thing as a single, universal theology, yet I feel that a universal experience is not only possible, but perhaps even absolutely necessary. It reminds me a bit of what Sri Ramakrishna used to say—he essentially arrived at God through Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, believing that they all lead back to the same God. So, I think there is a profound value in showing complete respect for every possible theological path out there. However... I have to say that out of all the spiritual texts I’ve ever encountered, ACIM seems to be the only one that aligns perfectly with the findings of modern physics. Apparently, its foundations are rooted in something called Advaita Vedanta, which is something I haven't had the chance to study deeply just yet (I mean, there are only twenty-four hours in a day, right?). I might be able to explain how those pieces fit together if anyone is actually interested, but I won't go into it here since it would probably turn into quite a long-winded explanation.

3) I've always felt that ACIM is structured quite perfectly into three distinct segments: a) the theoretical foundation, b) the practical exercises, and c) the guidance intended for teachers. It’s truly a self-contained system, which means you don't necessarily need any other books or even a formal teacher to get started. However, I can't stress enough how vital those practical exercises are; without them, I suppose all that deep theory just turns into dry, academic philosophizing. As someone who has been playing music for forty years, the necessity of daily practice is basically hardwired into my subconscious. I've actually tested this principle across all sorts of disciplines—whether it was diving into physics, sketching, sports, or even when I tried some specific exercises to improve my sex life (and honestly, they really do work)—and the results have consistently proven me right. While having a mentor is certainly convenient, it isn't strictly essential. If someone, say, starting at age 40, picked up an instrument and committed to practicing ten hours every single day, I'd bet anything that in ten or twenty years, they would be a world-class musician. Ultimately, I think it all boils down to one's own desire and willpower.
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Since you have those Christian roots but also love diving deep into all sorts of different spiritual paths, I’d actually recommend something that hits right in that sweet spot for you.

Honestly, I really think this book is exactly what you need right now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...api_tkin_p1_i1

As a Catholic scholar, I found myself caught completely off guard when I experienced a spontaneous Kundalini awakening. Honestly, I had no idea what was happening to me at first, but once the dust settled, I dove headfirst into a deep investigation of the experience. I eventually decided to pull everything I learned together and share that journey with all of you in my book.

2)

This is such an informative, insightful spiritual forum covering just about everything under the sun.

You’ll find plenty of discussions on this page centered around Kundalini, all viewed through a Christian lens. 😉

http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums/a/frm/f/25010765

3) Ahead of those fifteen pages of intense debate under that title you came up with...
The relationship between Kundalini and the Holy Spirit is such a fascinating, deeply layered topic. When you start looking at how these two forces interact within the human experience, it really opens up a whole new dimension of spiritual understanding. It’s not just about one or the other; it’s about how they weave together to create a complete picture of awakening. http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums/a/...765/m/68310806

I actually came across this author because I personally knew him; he used to attend retreats led by Bernadetta Roberts, who is quite literally the only female genius I’ve encountered on my spiritual journey. He wrote about her quite extensively—offering plenty of praise, though he wasn't afraid to voice his criticisms, too.
I find myself being called out on the forum quite often for my lack of knowledge, too.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about our recent discussions regarding the nature of reality versus what we perceive through our senses. It feels like we often get caught up in the "noise" of daily life, forgetting that the physical world is essentially just a projection. I was reading some thoughts on how we can bridge that gap—how to move from being reactive participants in this material drama to becoming more conscious observers. It’s not always easy; I certainly find myself tripping over my own ego more often than I’d like to admit! But there is something profoundly liberating about the idea that our internal state dictates our external experience. A few people have mentioned different approaches to this, and while I don't necessarily agree with every perspective, I think the common thread is the need for deep, intentional inner work. Whether you lean toward certain meditative practices or follow a path like *A Course in Miracles*, the goal remains the same: finding that center where the noise fades away. What do you all think? Are we actually capable of shifting our perception so radically, or are we just kidding ourselves? I'm curious to hear your honest take on whether this kind of mental restructuring is truly attainable for the average person.
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#17 ·
Benjamin Taylor6 said:Here are my experiences regarding Kundalini:

Ever since I took up yoga-shaking, I’ve been getting these Kundalini sensations in some pretty bizarre ways. It isn't like there’s a set rule where the same scenario always triggers the same response—honestly, most of the time, nothing happens at all. But, just to give you an idea of when it *does* show up:
So, there I am, sitting out in the backyard late at night, sipping on some Jack Daniel’s mixed with Coke and having a smoke. Everything is chill. I’m just looking up at the stars, lost in thought about them and the sheer scale of how the universe began. Then, the thought hits me—that the entire cosmos was once just a single, infinitesimal point. And if that’s true, then I was part of that point, too; everything surged from that one spot. I start trying to visualize myself as that primordial singularity, that very first dot of the universe. As I get deeper into that headspace, this intense sensation starts surging around my neck—exactly like that yoga-shaking feeling—except instead of making me want to jump around, it just makes me want to spin my head and writhe uncontrollably ( 😲)
It lasts for maybe thirty seconds, and then it's gone.
The thing is, this intense kind of "writhing" can pop up in totally weird situations that have absolutely nothing to do with "sacred" spirituality. For instance, a few days ago, I found myself thinking about this one colleague of mine—a guy who is a hardcore Transcendental Meditation devotee. He does everything strictly by the book, religiously. I started playing this little mental game, imagining that I had reached enlightenment while he hadn't. I even had this dark, petty thought that he’d be incredibly envious of my success. Right in the middle of those morbid little musings, I felt this massive surge concentrated in my neck and head, almost like I was trying to leap over some sort of "spiritual" abyss that separates us from enlightenment. The writhing was incredibly intense. But, unfortunately, I didn't quite manage to leap across the chasm.

Thanks for responding, but if you had to describe that feeling in just one word, what would it be? Maybe "writhing"? My own way of describing it is pure bliss, even though if someone were watching me while that energy is surging through me, they would probably just conclude that I'm thrashing around wildly. 😁
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#18 ·
Ryan Wilson2 said:Oh, please. I’ve been reading through this entire thread up to this point... and frankly, I don't believe a single word you're saying.

Real, lived experience is best described using the very language you're using right now, rather than these vague English outlines.

Well, it is certainly your right to be skeptical of what I'm writing here; I didn't necessarily expect my words to be convincing to everyone.

The reason I chose to post the text in English is simply because I read A Course in Miracles in English—which, to me, feels almost as natural as my own native tongue—and when I am performing my exercises, I find myself thinking in English. Or, more specifically, the reason is that whenever I tried reading the translated versions, they just didn't feel quite as profound as the original; for me, the impact of reading the original text is just so much more powerful.

If I may digress for a moment: I wonder, in what language do we actually perform the act of thinking? As I mentioned before, English is practically my first language now, so I can "think" in English quite easily. When I was a child, I used to watch so many cartoons in Italian that I ended up learning the language that way; I remember being so immersed in it that I would even have dreams in Italian. My personal conclusion is that true thought doesn't actually occur within any specific language; rather, language exists "above" that process (in the sense that it follows the actual act of thinking).

The text I shared is just a description of an exercise I’ve been working on for the last two days, which, I must say, had a very intense effect on me.

In any case, my reasons for opening this discussion are essentially these:
1) Pure curiosity, really; I am genuinely interested in hearing what the members here, who have been on this spiritual path much longer than I have, might have to say.
2) Perhaps by sharing my own experiences, I might be able to help someone else (I know, that might not be very realistic, but still...), since ACIM basically teaches that we are all physical manifestations of a single Mind (the Divine), so in that sense, if I am helping another, I am ultimately helping myself. 🙂
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#19 ·
hiddenpuma75 said:Since you have those Christian roots but also love diving deep into all sorts of different spiritual paths, I’d actually recommend something that hits right in that sweet spot for you.

Honestly, I really think this book is exactly what you need right now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...api_tkin_p1_i1

As a Catholic scholar, I found myself caught completely off guard when I experienced a spontaneous Kundalini awakening. Honestly, I had no idea what was happening to me at first, but once the dust settled, I dove headfirst into a deep investigation of the experience. I eventually decided to pull everything I learned together and share that journey with all of you in my book.

2)

This is such an informative, insightful spiritual forum covering just about everything under the sun.

You’ll find plenty of discussions on this page centered around Kundalini, all viewed through a Christian lens. 😉

http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums/a/frm/f/25010765

3) Ahead of those fifteen pages of intense debate under that title you came up with...
The relationship between Kundalini and the Holy Spirit is such a fascinating, deeply layered topic. When you start looking at how these two forces interact within the human experience, it really opens up a whole new dimension of spiritual understanding. It’s not just about one or the other; it’s about how they weave together to create a complete picture of awakening. http://shalomplace.org/eve/forums/a/...765/m/68310806

I actually came across this author because I personally knew him; he used to attend retreats led by Bernadetta Roberts, who is quite literally the only female genius I’ve encountered on my spiritual journey. He wrote about her quite extensively—offering plenty of praise, though he wasn't afraid to voice his criticisms, too.
I find myself being called out on the forum quite often for my lack of knowledge, too.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about our recent discussions regarding the nature of reality versus what we perceive through our senses. It feels like we often get caught up in the "noise" of daily life, forgetting that the physical world is essentially just a projection. I was reading some thoughts on how we can bridge that gap—how to move from being reactive participants in this material drama to becoming more conscious observers. It’s not always easy; I certainly find myself tripping over my own ego more often than I’d like to admit! But there is something profoundly liberating about the idea that our internal state dictates our external experience. A few people have mentioned different approaches to this, and while I don't necessarily agree with every perspective, I think the common thread is the need for deep, intentional inner work. Whether you lean toward certain meditative practices or follow a path like *A Course in Miracles*, the goal remains the same: finding that center where the noise fades away. What do you all think? Are we actually capable of shifting our perception so radically, or are we just kidding ourselves? I'm curious to hear your honest take on whether this kind of mental restructuring is truly attainable for the average person.

Thank you so much for these recommendations! 🙂

I will certainly look through everything, and once I have, I'll get back to you. 😉

Anyway, I am heading off to do my morning practice now; if anything interesting happens, I will be sure to write it down. 🙂
Brian Young76 Brian Young76 Active MemberOP
57 messages
joined Apr 2022
#20 ·
So, I suppose I should probably share my reflections following this morning's practice session.

Exercise No. 46: 'God is the Love in which I forgive.' (Just a quick side note for Baphomet—I went back and re-read your response, and I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding. You seemed to take my previous message as a personal description of my own experience, but that wasn't quite what I intended. What I wrote was actually just a direct copy-paste from the text of the exercise in A Course in Miracles, which happens to be the very thing that led me toward part of that experience. But then again, you certainly don't have to take anything I say as gospel truth.) 😉 ).

In the introduction to the exercise, it suggests that God never actually needs to forgive us, simply because God has never once passed judgment on us in the first place; the whole concept of needing forgiveness only really enters the picture once judgment has already taken hold. It also mentions that the only true way to find forgiveness for ourselves is by extending that same grace to others. This all resonated with me quite deeply right from the start, especially following that intense, lightning-strike experience I mentioned earlier—that sudden moment of clarity I had after working through the "God is the Mind with which I think" practice. If we are all essentially part of one single Mind, then it seems almost inevitable, or at least the only logical conclusion, that the only way I can truly forgive myself is by forgiving someone else.

Well, I suppose that experience has really sent me spiraling back into those deep, existential questions about who I actually am... it’s one of those things where everything just suddenly clicks, you know? It hit me like a bolt of lightning: we are all just physical manifestations of the One, and if that’s true, then I am essentially you. In a very real sense, I am my wife and my children, I am my colleagues at the office, and I am my neighbors... but it goes so much deeper than that, I think. I felt like I was also that bird I was watching while I went through my practice, and the trees standing in the distance, even the metal railing on my patio, and the clouds drifting lazily across the sky above that bird... I felt like I was the entire universe itself! Oh man, it truly just settled into my soul. 🙂

There is just one more thing that has been weighing on my mind lately. I’ve been reflecting on all those spiritual sages and great teachers I’ve spent so much time reading about—figures like Buddha, Jesus, the Prophet Muhammad, and even Bernadette Roberts, whom Brian Young76 mentioned earlier. I actually found myself spending the last twenty minutes or so doing a quick Google search to really wrap my head around her work. It seems to me that every single one of them, without exception, felt this profound necessity to cultivate their spirituality in a way that eventually required them to withdraw from society for extended periods. Whether they called it meditation, deep contemplation, or some other term, they all seemed to seek out that solitude to reach a state of enlightenment.

A Course in Miracles suggests something quite different from the usual narrative. It argues that the true way to achieve real vision is to remain right here among people—to look at everyone else and see them as an extension of yourself. By practicing forgiveness and viewing others as brothers, you eventually begin to perceive them as physical manifestations of the same universal Mind. The text also mentions that the path of withdrawal and isolation (we might take Buddha as an example here) is technically valid and leads to the same destination, though I suppose such a route takes a significantly longer time to navigate. This realization has finally cleared up any lingering doubts I had about whether I needed to retreat somewhere for an extended period just to "reach enlightenment" before returning to my life. Honestly, that seems like a much more arduous and unnecessary detour, at least for me. Staying engaged with society, staying right where I am... well, it’s certainly more complicated. It feels a bit like trying to juggle ten balls at once instead of just one. But then again, looking at the Buddhist traditions I've spent time studying—and I have always felt a deep personal affinity for the Dalai Lama—they suggest that if you're starting out at the beginning of the path, it might take at least a dozen reincarnations to reach enlightenment. I don't think I quite have that kind of time to spare, so I think I'll just stick to the faster route and see where it leads! 😁

And one more thing—though I have to say, this entire exercise we’ve been doing since this morning has actually turned out to be quite productive, I guess. 🙂 As I mentioned back in my opening post, I’ve always felt that diving deep into physics and mathematics is, in its own way, a profound spiritual experience. It’s almost like a ritual, isn't it? You spend hours—maybe even days—wrestling with these incredibly dense, complex equations that just refuse to make sense at first glance. You stare at them, try one approach, fail, try another, and still feel completely lost. But then, after all that mental struggle, there comes this sudden, overwhelming moment where everything finally clicks into place. It’s that pure "AHA!" or "Eureka!" sensation. To me, that flash of clarity feels less like mere logic and more like a genuine spiritual breakthrough.

In the realm of physics, I’ve always felt that the only true yardstick for reality is experimentation. You could potentially construct the most incredibly intricate theory imaginable—something that looks absolutely flawless on paper, brimming with complex equations and all sorts of sophisticated mathematical wizardry—but if the experimental data doesn't align with what you've proposed, then I guess the whole thing is essentially worthless. 😁

Something really struck me after my meditation session this morning, and I can't quite shake the feeling that the same fundamental rules apply to spirituality as they do to everything else. It seems to me that experience is truly the only valid yardstick for truth. I was thinking about how *A Course in Miracles* suggests that while a universal theology doesn't really exist, a universal experience isn't just possible—it’s actually necessary. I guess that realization just finally clicked for me today, and it feels quite profound. 🙂

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