Ecstatic radiance?

[Christi]

Dear Yogani,

I have a question regarding ecstatic radiance. Over the last 6 months people around me have started experiencing strange energy movements in their bodies whenever they have been close to my physical body. Obviously these energies are not strange for me, they are strange for them. People have told me that they experience strong sexual energy, heart openings and overwhelming feelings of love. Some people experience these things so strongly that they feel uncomfortable, although nobody seems to be actually avoiding me because of this[], in fact I would say that the opposite is true. People have told me that they experience these energies purely due to the distance between myself and them, in other words it does not matter if I am facing them, looking at them, or talking with them. Having said this, it does seem to me that people are more likely to experience love if I am looking at them (or maybe they are just more likely to tell me this if I am looking at them!). It's hard to say sometimes.  Is this the beginnings of ecstatic radiance that you talk about in the green book on spinal breathing? For the most part I have felt that it is a natural process, and just shows that some people are more in tune with the energies around them than others (I experience huge waves of ecstacy and love a lot of the time). I started to become concerned recently though when someone told me that they were experiencing an energy build up in their head and particularly in their forehead whilst I was speaking with them. I didn't mind the sexual energies and love energies, but I don't want to give anyone a headache! More importantly, I don't want to cause energy imbalances in anyone, just by sitting or standing too close to them. So my real question is, do we need to be careful in this respect?

Christi

[Shanti]

Hi Christi,
I know you have asked Yogani for an answer here. But I hope you don't mind me butting in.
I had asked Yogani this question awhile back.. (ummm.. not about giving others a headache.. when that happens I am sure it's not my ecstatic radiance that is causing it.. )... and this is a part of the reply.. hope it helps.
 

quote:With power comes responsibility. With ongoing progress in yoga, we get plenty of both. The good news is that it is no challenge at all in the long run, because we come to know without a doubt what is real and what is not. We are That.
 
I suggest just favoring the practice. In the case of sexual energy, apply the principles of tantra. That does not mean engaging in sexual diversions, but it does mean recognizing the energy for what it is -- expansion upward through the nervous system. And yes, it will elevate others on a much higher level than sex. This is what the rise of ecstatic conductivity and divine love are.

If others become unduly distracted, then just turn it off in those moments as necessary. They will get the message. Over time, you will gravitate toward a lifestyle that accommodates all the good that is happening in you, without attracting the lower energies.  

[yogani]

Hi Christi:

Yes, we can regulate how our energy (ecstatic radiance) affects others. Then what happens is mainly a function of their bhakti -- always the case anyway. If there is a warm stove in the room, everyone makes their own choice on how to relate to that. We too can make a choice on how much we radiate in any given circumstance -- the other extreme is that we can choose to become essentially invisible. It is the management of energy on a higher level. Self-pacing for the benefit of everyone. Our practice is not only about us. It is about everyone! This becomes increasingly clear as we move along our path. Unity...

Thanks for chiming in Shanti with the rest of it.

I will be a bit scarce around here in the coming weeks due to a pressing family commitment, so it will be best to ask questions more openly to whoever can answer. That is also the ongoing policy -- these forums are for everyone to be helping each other. I will put in my two cents whenever able.

All the best!

The guru is in you.

[VIL]

I hope that all goes well with your family, yogani.  You will be missed in the subsequent weeks:



VIL

[Jim and His Karma]

Yogani, so far as I can see, this is an entirely new strand. Can you or anyone else point to a resource explaining how one can regulate radiance....or become invisible (yes, I know you don't mean it literally!)

[jillatay]

Yes, I would like this information too.  How I wish I knew about this 30 years ago when I first had an opening.  It would have saved me so much trouble.

Jill

[emc]

On the invisible part... I just had a conversation with a friend on this, since I experience quite often on the train (I travel a lot on trains) that people don't seem to notice my sometimes very odd behavior. It is as if I am totally invisible. When automatic yoga sets in (which it does more and more seldom, but it still happens) and I do lots of strange movements, there is absolutely no reaction from those around me. Usually people at least give you an eye, or even check with you if you are OK if you start behaving oddly, but it is as if I am in a bubble and could scream without them hearing me.

I remember my ex telling me about this being a result of being at another energy level, and thereby becoming "invisible". Before I started to feel energies, I did not think they existed - I could not pick up higher energy frequences. This is the same thing. Before others can pick up the energy, they won't notice what's going on on that frequence.

If this is correct - can you become "invisible" with others who are also on a higher frequence? Probably not.

My friend told me the most amazing story of how he could control his radiance. (He comes from a non-yoga tradition, so this explanation is not very yogic.) I am not 100% sure I remember all the steps, but the main technique was something like this: When he wanted to become invisible he first stopped thinking, (getting into stillness from what I could understand) and then he  - by will - "sucked  his aura in", into his body. And how he did this he could not explain. I guess it was through strong visualization?!

Once he found himself walking on a pedestrian path toward a big arena. Behind him he suddenly heard masses of huligans coming on their way to a match. He happened to have the same kind of clothes as they had, so when they came up behind him, wild and shouting, he just melted in with the crowd and was sort of pushed in front of them. Coming out of a tunnel, he saw that the police in full armour was waiting for the crowd, standing in a line in front of him with shields up. He understood he was the one who would be the first target, so he quickly made himself "invisible". Yet, he was pushed up against one police shield, but the police didn't seem to notice him, but hit OVER him on the guy behind! He could just side step calmly along the shields and get out on the side without any police touching him!

It would be interesting to hear if anyone could add info on this topic!

[Richard]

quote:My friend told me the most amazing story of how he could control his radiance. (He comes from a non-yoga tradition, so this explanation is not very yogic.) I am not 100% sure I remember all the steps, but the main technique was something like this: When he wanted to become invisible he first stopped thinking, (getting into stillness from what I could understand) and then he - by will - "sucked his aura in", into his body. And how he did this he could not explain. I guess it was through strong visualization?!

Hi EMC I just read your post and I have realised I have been doing something like this for ages it seemed so natural that I never thought about it before.

 Faced with threatening situations or in circumstances where I don’t want to talk to someone, I consciously go into a mode rather like Samyama, I sort of look right past them think of nothing and they don’t seem to notice me. I have always done this and I thought everyone did but I just talked to someone and they said they never have, so you have got me thinking now.


If I ever meditate in public I try and consciously control automatic Yoga, Mine can be quite extreme with head  and neck movements and even arms and hands sometimes I don't think I could make that invisible

[jongler]

Hi Christi
There are stories about Yogis who threw stones over people which came to meet them in their remote solitude places, they knew that those people are not on the same level (energetically speaking) as they were and didn't want that any harm would happen to them.
Never the less, the yogis solitude behavior, some say, came from the public-safety and responsibility to others.

[Christi]

Hi Yogani,
Thanks for the reply.
 

quote:I will be a bit scarce around here in the coming weeks due to a pressing family commitment, so it will be best to ask questions more openly to whoever can answer. That is also the ongoing policy -- these forums are for everyone to be helping each other. I will put in my two cents whenever able.  

Hope all is well with your family. Sorry to direct the question to you, but you were the only forum member that I knew of that had mentioned ecstatic radiance, or anything like it.
Of course I am happy for anyone to help out with advice etc. that's why I put the question on the forum.
 

quote:Yes, we can regulate how our energy (ecstatic radiance) affects others. Then what happens is mainly a function of their bhakti -- always the case anyway. If there is a warm stove in the room, everyone makes their own choice on how to relate to that. We too can make a choice on how much we radiate in any given circumstance

This is good to know, although it raises the obvious question of how we can regulate the energy. I have been aware that this effect is real for a long time, as I have felt this kind of radiance coming from Higher (invisible) Beings, and also from Gurus in India. These Gurus are Enlightened Beings, and I had thought that the radiance of energy was limited to these two classes of being (Higher Beings and Enlightened Beings). So I have been very surprised to find it happening to me, as I am sure you can understand.
I am aware that I change the energy. Actually it is more like, if I am talking with someone, or praying with them, then I feel the silence descend. If I surrender into the silence, and allow the energy to rise, then it gets stronger, and more expansive. This is what was happening in the case of the person that I mentioned above, who I was talking to, and they felt a build up of energy in the head. So in a sense, I was in control of the situation. Maybee if I had been a bit more sensitive, I wouldn't have let the energy get so high.
But this doesn't work for people arround me who I am unaware of. If someone is sitting behind me for example, and they feel the energy rising and expanding inside themselves, I could have no awareness of the process. Again, maybe if I was more sensitive (psychic) then I would? I have been watching the process since my last post, and it doesn't feel so much like a radiance, in the sense of something going out from me. It is more like the energy goes up in me, especially in my core (central channel), and my mind expands because of the energy. Everything and everyone arround me is being continuously energetically drawn up by this energy as well. It is a bit like the electrical field around a motor. Some people are more susceptible to this process than others, and many seem to feel (or notice) nothing at all.
So in the case of people who are within my auric field, but whom I am unaware of, I guess the analogy of the stove works the best? It is up to them to work out that something is happening, and to regulate the time they spend physically close to me accordingly?
I must admit though, I am a little worried about my two daughters. I can feel the energy affecting them in various ways, but I have to spend a lot of time close to them to take care of them.
As for becoming invisible, I feel that I can dampen down the energy to a certain extent, by thinking thoughts that are not related to God or Love, but there is a limit to how far down I can bring the energy. It always seems to be rising with a certain force, at all times whatever I do. Is this something that comes in time?
I have to confess that I am slightly daunted by this and any input from you or anyone else would be very welcome.


Hi Shanti
Thanks for the input. I tried to find the thread where you took that quote from so I could read the context, but nothing came up from a search. It seems very relevant. Was it a private email, or can you give the link?

Christi

[emc]

azaz - cool that you recognize it!

If you ever would meditate in public and let the automatic neck, head and arm movements come, I would guess: noone will notice! That's exactly what I am doing. I can sit in front of someone who is looking right by me out the window, I must be right in their sight. I can make strong ujjaji-sounds while my neck is bent 90 degrees backwards, my mouth opens and I make the longest hssssssssssssss. I prepare to meet their look and come up with an explanation and excuse myself. I would expect a glimpse from them and perhaps a little discomfort signal - you know, that kind of subtle signal people send when they want to be polite and not mind others business, but still notice there is something very odd going on, they usually plock with their handbag, change their sitting a bit or give a quick glance and look a bit suspicious... None of this happens. They treat me like air.

[Jack]

Please keep in mind sometimes people will do anything (or nothing!) to avoid weirdness. That includes completely ignoring it.

[Christi]

Hi Jongler,
 

quote:Hi Christi
There are stories about Yogis who threw stones over people which came to meet them in their remote solitude places, they knew that those people are not on the same level (energetically speaking) as they were and didn't want that any harm would happen to them.
Never the less, the yogis solitude behavior, some say, came from the public-safety and responsibility to others.

Actually I carry a small bag of rocks around with me at all times for this very purpose. Fortunately I have not needed it yet!

Christi

[yogani]

Hi All:

The reason I haven't addressed the energy effect on others question very much yet is because it is largely a matter of experience and intention.

It is like when we learn to walk, at the same time we learn not to walk into walls or over cliffs. So it is less about "technique" than it is about becoming familiar with our own capabilities via direct experience in our environment, and adjusting our intentions and actions accordingly.

Obviously, we don't want to be frying ourselves or anyone else with our spiritual energy, so we develop our intentions in relation to that, let them go, and the rest is samyama. It is a form of self-pacing. At least that is how I have viewed it for a long time. Perhaps we will develop more definitive methods for energy regulation as time goes on, with more people coming into that realm of experience.

But, as I have mentioned before, much of this is organic development that comes naturally from stillness in action. We can trust that process.

What we don't want to be doing is laboring excessively over (or against) the energy scenery, especially if we are not even seeing it fully yet. We are in transition, and it is a natural process, like learning to walk. There will be no abyss of energy (or ego) disaster as long as we are operating from inner silence. Everything will work out just fine as long as we favor our practices over our experiences, and self-pace as needed.

If some find this to be an over-simplification of a complex process, well, I am happy for that, because it opens the door for more folks to unfold their own destiny. That is the whole game around here -- maximizing access for everyone. We can deal with it. Somehow we have managed, for the most part, to master kitchen knives, automobiles, airplanes and nuclear energy. I'm quite sure we can master spiritual energy also. Call me an optimist.

May the research and development of applied spiritual science continue indefinitely. All the answers are within us.

The guru is in you.

[Doc]

quote:Originally posted by yogani:

"We too can make a choice on how much we radiate in any given circumstance.....we can choose to become essentially invisible. It is the management of energy on a higher level."

Greetings everyone!

Yogani's comment quoted above beautifully summarizes the matter, IMO. By simply stating the obvious, he reminds us that Yoga has always been about the self-discipline and self-regulation of our mental activities and our energetic vibrations.

It is probably quite obvious to most longtime yoga practitioners that the regular practice of genuine yogic methods, and the incorporation of yogic principles into everday life and activities, usually results in a dramatic increase of vital force and personal 'presence' which impacts virtually everyone we come into contact with. This 'radiance' or 'presence' is both dynamic and magnetic, and thus attracts or repels others for various reasons and with varying degrees of intensity.  It reflects the personal resonance of our outgoing energy....and the transmission of spiritual vibration, IMO.

The other half of the equation reflects the practices from which this increased volume and intensity of intrinsic energy and spiritual vibration develops.  Specifically, I am referring to the withdrawal of outgoing mental attention and energy, and the increasingly profound experiences of inner silence and blissful peace found in states of deep meditation.

A common result of such training is to gradually become so quiet and so still, both mentally and physically, that we literally become invisible whenever or wherever that state of consciousness is maintained. There simply may not be enough brain wave modifications or mental vibrations emanating outward for others to take notice of...sort of like flying under the radar...and so our 'presence' becomes invisible.  When maintained during daily physical activities, it can be rather like operating in a completely invisible 'stealth mode'.  This is a very interesting phenomenon, wouldn't you agree?

Hari OM!

Doc