Lesson 104 - Q&A – Stubborn energy blockages

From: Yogani
Date: Tue Feb 3, 2004 4:33pm

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the web
archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first
lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: I have a couple of questions I'd appreciate your feedback on... if
someone is having some rough kundalini energy experiences, do you
think it would help to go see a healer that works on the energetic
level, like a reiki master or something, or is this cheating or like
taking a shortcut that won't really pay off in the long run? Assuming
that one continues with the practices of course, just looking for a
little outside assistance in removing blockages.

When I meditate I do get a fairly intense pain in my back, which
could be posture related but it could also be a blockage (my
suspicion) - I have tried all sorts of support and leaning on things
and props but I haven't found anything that works yet. I can meditate
while lying on my back, I get enough rest that I can stay for half an
hour and not fall asleep, but intuitively it feels like there is
something special about the vertical position, something about the
up/down relationship that feels important and that I'll miss out on
if I do it in a horizontal position. What do you think?

Also, I’d like to know if mulabandha, sambhavi and siddhasana can be carried over from pranayama into meditation. Is that ok?

A: If there are rough kundalini experiences, chronic blockages, or
anything like that, whatever means that can be found to relieve them
are okay. We'd like our journey to be as comfortable as possible, or
we may not wish to continue it. So if reiki, massage, energy healing,
chiropractic, tai chi, or any other means are available that can help
relieve a stubborn energy blockage, by all means go for it. You may
want to go back and review the lesson on kundalini remedies from a
few weeks ago. Don't forget yoga asanas. These are particularly good
for spinal blockages, assuming there is no medical problem. If you
think there could be a medical problem, be sure to seek medical
advice.

Of course, we can also manage our practices to mitigate discomfort if
it is energy related. This is really the first place we look to make
adjustments if our energy is running into an uncomfortable wall. The
evolutionary energy comes from within, loosening and pushing
obstructions out, and there is much we can do to accelerate or temper
this process in practices. It is the whole game, really. Each of us
is different in how we respond to spiritual practices. We'd like to
be chipping away at those obstructions in our nervous system with
gentle nudges each day, rather than with a sledgehammer. So gauge
your practices to accommodate your experiences. What we do here
is "experience-based."

If you are meditating more than twenty minutes, that is too much.
Sometimes less than twenty minutes is necessary when lots of
obstructions are coming loose.

As for posture in meditation, yes, vertical is better than lying
down, but we are not fanatic about it here in the lessons. Meditation
should be comfortable first, otherwise why bother with it? So, until
the back situation eases up, lean back as much as you have to. But
have the goal to work your way gradually up straight. Maybe add one
pillow this week, two next week, three the week after. See if you can
gradually inch your way up to a comfortable sitting position with
back support. If the back pain is an energy blockage, it should clear
up sooner or later.

As for what to let carry over from pranayama to meditation, only the
things that do not divide the attention to do them. At this stage,
that is only siddhasana, because it takes no extra attention to sit
in it. Of course, it can be distracting in the beginning stages with
the stimulation at the perineum, so leaving it out of meditation is
okay until it becomes a familiar and easy habit in pranayama. It is
your call. Mulabandha and sambhavi require attention to maintain at
this stage, so we don't try and do those in meditation. The idea is
to keep our attention free to follow the simple procedure of
meditation. This is very important.

As time goes on various yogic things will spontaneously occur during
meditation as the processes of yoga become more fluid in our nervous
system. Some may be familiar to us. Others may be brand new. We don't
encourage such things, but we do not resist them either. If we find
ourselves standing on our head in the middle of meditation, what do
we do? Yes, we easily go back to the mantra.

Well, we probably won't find ourselves standing on our head
spontaneously very often, but other unusual things can and do happen.
It is all part of the connectedness of yoga. The nervous system knows
what to do if we give it the opportunity to open up. The nervous
system is the source of all yoga. We are just lending a helping hand
here and there. Facilitating the automatic process of enlightenment,
you know.

The guru is in you.

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