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What is taking place in such
breathing exercises is that energy centers are connected and there is a sublime
recognition of the synchronicity of different levels of energy. The energy movements in
the cell, throughout the body and in the Universe have the same implicate order and
structure. The movement of energy within the body that has the sensation of integration
denotes steps in awakening. Yet for something to awaken in this manner, something has to
die, or more correctly, be transcended. Ego attachments and afflictive emotions are the
targets of transcendence, as they dissolve in the experience of integration. Enlightenment
rather than entropy then becomes your experience. |
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The psychological death of ego attachments may be enhanced by Tibetan Buddhist
contemplations on physical death. In their Tantric practice, Tibetan Buddhist Lamas have
an intricate knowledge of inner channels of energy that shut down as an individual
physically dies. Among the thousands of known channels, three are considered to have
exceptional importance. The first is a channel connecting the brow center to the crown
center. The second and third channels run from the crown center down to the base of the
spine on the right and left sides, connecting at the bottom of the spine. These three
channels denote a particular movement in focus and energy.
The first movement from forehead to crown connects Chakra 6 to Chakra 7, spiritual insight to transcendence. The left and right channels down the length of the spine take energy through all the major Chakras in the body. To observe the physical phenomenology of death through Tantric focus is one thing; but that is not what we do, for this practice is translated into a meditation on the death (viz. transcendence) of obstructions to the experience of awakening.
Quietly prepare for meditation. With the spine erect, breathe gently in and out ten times, with focus and concentration on the in-breath and on the out-breath. As you breathe in and out, become aware of the three channels, from the forehead to the crown and then splitting into two channels on either side of the spine, joining together at the base of the spinal column. Contemplate the three channels as one complete unit. Sense its emptiness. Once this registers in the body and mind, after ten breaths - breathe in through the heart center, and on the out-breath feel expansiveness of energy throughout the body from the heart.
On the next in-breath take the energy from the heart center up to the forehead - the third eye. On the out-breath feel the energy rapidly fill the empty channels between forehead, crown and the base of the spine. Feel this as a golden electrification, a total flow from Insight to Transcendence, to your entire central nervous system. Do this for ten breaths.
In-breath - take energy from the heart center to the center in the middle of your forehead. Out-breath - take energy to the crown and through the two channels running down either side of the spine, flowing into each other at the bottom of the spine.
Then breathe normally in and out with awareness of breath, and of the mantle of new energy that lies within you as a golden cloak. This new energy is akin to the synergy of constellations merging. Synergy refers to a massive synthesis, the experience of which is difficult to describe in words. It is available when one chooses to show up for life without fear, desire, ego attachments or afflictive emotions.
The physical death of Buddhist Tantric practice and the psychological death of ego attachments in this meditation are different levels of the same energy. It may appear to be advanced yet it is simple, as the central nervous system is electrified and connected to centers of higher insight and transcendence through the heart center. All of this is through awareness of breath and focus.
The three channel meditation is quite a debris remover, as negative patterns and habit energies are cleared out. This allows for an extraordinary integration of energy centers to penetrate into the body.