Spiritual practices

I’ve always found those "High Consciousness" claims totally fascinating and ridiculous. You know the type: "High Consciousness doesn't have this..." or "High Consciousness possesses that..."

Honestly, I find the people who actually buy into that even more amusing. Which specific High Consciousness supposedly returned from the void just to tell us that? 🙂

Everything we try to do with this idea of High Consciousness—whether it's through religion, philosophy, psychology, or whatever—is just pure guesswork and ego. Since we aren't High Consciousness ourselves, any "definition" we throw out is basically just us stabbing blindly at a thorn bush...

What can any regular person actually claim to know about what High Consciousness is supposed to be? We’re all just hunters wandering through some thick fog. Some of us realize that, at least [to an extent!], while others are completely clueless...

Ryan Wilson2 said:It’s mostly just MTRP and MPRH practices—stuff like daily Yi Ying casting, visualization drills, and lucid dreaming. And occasionally, you know, some "bigger" calling.

Baphomete, what exactly are these MTRP and MPRH practices?

I do yoga every single day—meditation, chakra work, pranayama, asanas, and kirtan. That’s basically my spiritual routine with Ananda Marga yoga.

goldeneagle2 said:Baphomete, what exactly are these MTRP and MPRH practices?

They are small pentagram evocation rituals and minor hexagram invocation rites. They serve as excellent tools for clearing a space and sharpening one's focus before diving into the primary ritual.

goldeneagle2 said:I practice yoga daily—meditation, chakra work, pranayama, asanas, and kirtan. That constitutes the spiritual practice of Ananda Marga yoga.

If I am not mistaken, those are elements found in almost every form of yoga. What, then, is it that distinguishes Ananda Marg from all the others?

I mean, I've been let in on the highest IX° secrets, so I spend my time just tantra-ing and doing some alchemy. It’s like... I die and am reborn every single day, I guess. 👋

We are talking about actual practice here, not some form of mental masturbation where you just pour emptiness into a void.

Children, why don't you go run off and celebrate those little "enlightened" mental abilities of yours with John. Once you actually stumble upon something real, then—and only then—can you come back here.

If I'm not mistaken, that's basically standard practice for pretty much any kind of yoga. So, what actually sets Ananda Marga apart from the rest? [/B]

I’d say those MPRH practices show up in plenty of different magic schools too—everyone's got their own little twist on the approach, I guess.

Philosophically speaking, AM leans into that Tantric perspective where the world and God are essentially one and the same. Because of that, the whole point of the practices is to realize that God is right here, right now. On the technical side, the core AM practice breaks down into six specific techniques:

First, there's mantra meditation aimed at reaching savikalpa samadhi. Honestly, I think that part is very similar—if not identical—to what you'll find in other monistic yoga traditions. Second, there's this technique of maintaining an awareness of God's presence during every single action you take. We use a mantra for that during our daily tasks, which I personally feel is a unique hallmark of the AM sadhana from a technical standpoint. Third is working with the elements (earth, water, etc.)—that's old-school Tantra, and I'm pretty sure other schools use it too. Fourth is pranayama, which isn't exactly new territory. Fifth involves cleansing the chakras using a specific mantra application; I think this is another area where AM stands out, since many yoga schools don't really touch it, and while Kriya yoga handles things through breath and mantras, they do it quite differently than we do. Finally, the sixth technique is another form of meditation, but this one targets nirvikalpa samadhi. I'm not entirely sure how much that specific method overlaps with other yoga schools or if they even practice it.

Not sure if I explained all that clearly enough—it's a lot to digest. You should definitely drop by the iskonov forum sometime; we have a whole thread dedicated to religion.

goldeneagle2 said:I'm not sure if I explained that clearly enough. We'd love for you to drop by the iskonov forums sometime; we have a dedicated section for religion.

Your point was perfectly clear.

I have absolutely no intention of frequenting those religious forums. In my experience, they aren't spaces for actual critical dialogue; instead, they serve merely as platforms for people to aggressively try to convince others that their specific religion is "superior."😉

If one is looking for high-quality conversation, you are far more likely to find it within discussions on spirituality.

So tell me, Ryan Wilson2, where did you pick up all these magical practices? Is there some kind of occult organization here in the States, or did you just go the bookworm route? Back in the late 80s, there was an active Aleister Crowley group running around the US—they used to put out a magazine called Toth. I actually managed to snag some bound copies, and honestly, I still find myself flipping through them from time to time. There was also that publisher in New York, Estheria, which started out publishing ABRAHADABRA stuff for the OTO, but they shifted gears later on and now mostly churn out total nonsense. Somehow, your writing style reminds me of how people close to the OTO tend to think. I really dig the quotes you drop in your posts—it’s obvious you’re doing some actual systematic practice and speaking from experience. That’s pretty rare to come across, both on this forum and over at Iskon.

I was fortunate enough to attend university in Ljubljana, where there was this one specific bookstore located right on Čopova street that specialized exclusively in alternative literature and various "spiritual" artifacts.

That’s where it all began for me—diving deep into the works of Slavinski, Aleister Crowley, and Eliphas Levi. Later on, I had the "pleasure" of meeting a certain gentleman who was actually a pioneer in translating and analyzing Crowley's work within our region (P. Vasiljević).

From there, it's just a straight line toward joining organizations like the O.T.O., and so on... but I won't bore you with too many details. 😉

I honestly kind of assumed you were connected with P. Vasiljević. So, you're an OTO member—nice, respect. It’s actually a real treat reading posts from people on this forum who clearly have some actual, hands-on experience under their belts. But anyway, what’s the deal with Esotherija over in New York? That Mandic guy—or whatever his name is—seems to have completely lost the plot... He’s out there publishing books about Saint Sava and whatnot. Honestly, the whole scene has gone downhill lately. It feels like they've totally lost the OTO spirit. And then there was that one guy appearing in the papers in Chicago a year ago claiming to be the OTO leader, but his statements left me feeling pretty skeptical too. It made me wonder where the crew went that used to publish the Toth stuff and those Crowley's books. Your writing and general vibe just reminded me of that classic OTO mainstream energy again.

Let’s just say that, theoretically speaking, I am still a member, even though I haven't had any contact with them for over a year now. From my perspective, OTO isn't particularly active in this part of the US; it feels somewhat sterile and uninspired.

But who truly knows? Perhaps things have shifted in the interim. I assume there are still some members active on this forum, so maybe they can provide more insight than I can.

If you are interested in translations of Crowley's books, there is one specific OTO member who produces high-quality translations of Crowley's work and various other texts. They also publish a quarterly called a k duo, which, in my opinion, is quite excellent and packed with fascinating articles and information.

If you want to reach out, the email address is paralele@email.t-com.hr. Just so we are clear, I don't receive any commission whatsoever. 😉

Is Vasiljevic still around? Was he ever part of General Motors? Thanks again for that address—I'm definitely going to order something. I've got my eye on that essay on yogi specifically. It’s not really about yoga itself, per se, but it's pretty hilarious.

goldeneagle2 said:Is Vasiljevic still around? Was he ever a member of General Motors? Also, thanks for providing that address; I’m planning to order a few things. I’m particularly interested in that essay on yogi. It isn't strictly about yoga techniques, but it is incredibly witty.

I can't speak to his membership status with General Motors. As for whether he is still alive, yes, he was perfectly fine just last month, and we actually stay in touch from time to time.

I find myself quite curious regarding the current state of affairs with General Motors here in America.

I’m actually pretty curious—what’s the latest deal with General Motors over in the States? [/B]

So, I finally reached out to that AlephTaou contact of yours—or whatever they call themselves. They've got a pretty interesting reading list, but I could use a little guidance. I'm looking for more theoretical stuff—essays and things like that. Honestly, technical manuals on how to perform specific rituals are useless to me; I have zero intention of actually practicing them. I was thinking Magik without tears might be a solid bet. If I remember correctly, that's basically Crowley's notes to his students where he breaks down the core principles of Magik and all that. That's more my speed. For instance, the essay on Egyptian tarot (Book of Thoth) is easily Crowley's most profound work.

I'd really appreciate it if you could point me toward more works like that. Sadly, your friend's list doesn't include the essay on yogi—which is a hilarious read, even if it is a bit surface-level when it comes to actual yoga.

goldeneagle2 said:I finally started looking into that AlephTaou collection you mentioned—or whatever the name is. They have quite an intriguing catalog. I was hoping you could offer some guidance? I'm specifically interested in more theoretical works, perhaps some essays and similar pieces.

If you want my opinion, you should look into Magika without Tears or the Book of Wisdom or Madness.

Personally, I find the Book of Wisdom or Madness to be his absolute finest work.

Ryan Wilson2 said:Personally, I’d say his most beloved work is either the book of wisdom or the book of madness.

I actually have the Vasiljevic translation from back in the 80s—it’s decent enough, not bad at all—but honestly, I find the book about tarot much more engaging. On a side note, does anyone happen to know who might be interested in the book of crawling? I’ve got that early Esoteric edition in hardcover from before the war, and it's in mint condition. I'm just not really feeling those Crowley little poems, so I’d be down to trade it for something else if you have anything interesting to offer. Or, if you know someone looking, hit me up at: goldeneagle2@gmail.com

Since we're on the subject of spiritual practice, what exactly do people in Magica consider to be the core daily practices for a student? How are they chosen? Is there some kind of structured system in place, or does everyone just pick whatever technique happens to resonate with them?

goldeneagle2: Since we're talking about spiritual practice—what exactly does everyone consider the "core" daily practices within Magica? How does a student pick them? Is there an actual system in place, or is it just a free-for-all where people grab whatever technique feels right? [/B]

Hey, goldeneagle2. 🙂

I’ve actually spent a lot of time reading your posts over on the Origin forum—really great stuff, learned a ton from you. You might even remember me; I used to go by '' Initiator '' back then. 🙂

Anyway, if you ever have a spare minute, drop by my forum too.

👋

Hey there, Steven Cruz3! Just dropping by to see what’s going on in here... though I don't exactly have much time to hang out on a bunch of different forums. Most of my time is spent over at Origin.👋

Just wanted to send a quick shout-out to Fazlija, Baphomet... and everyone else, obviously.. 🙂)

Solid posts, guys.. really impressive work all around..

Best,

Fazlija said:I’m not really feeling these Crowley's little poems; I’d much rather trade them for something else. If you have anything to offer, or if you know anyone who might be interested, let me know at: fazlija@email.com

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone. My "spiritual" circle is limited to just a handful of people. However, if anything comes up, I will certainly let you know.

Fazlija said:Since we are on the subject of spiritual practice, what exactly does one consider to be the core daily practices within Magic? How does a student select them? Is there a structured system in place, or does everyone simply pick whatever technique resonates with them?

I am no longer involved with Magic, if one can even put it that way😉.

I am pursuing different paths now, but while I was active in it, the daily routine would involve things like tracing pentagrams, performing invocation hexagrams, and perhaps tarot meditation. From there, one moves on to more demanding rituals. A specific training plan was provided following every initiation.