Sun gazing

[weboflife]

In the old lessons sungazing was one of the techniques suggested to help open awareness to the spiritual eye. I remember it really helped me and within a short time I got the first look at the spiritual eye in its full glory. I regularly saw the spiritual eye after that. Over time, however I got sick and my practice of the techniques suffered and eventually the spiritual eye stopped becoming visible.

Years later, with health restored, and my practice stronger than ever, the spiritual eye doesn't appear in its full glory any longer. I see the tunnel to eternity regularly but not in the way it is portrayed and as I used to see it. I no longer practice sungazing, and when I checked the new lessons I noticed it is no longer a technique included. I imagine worry over how strong the sun now is to be the reason.

I'm tempted to return to sungazing in the first and last hour of the sun rising and setting but I'm also cautious. I'll speak to a monastic first though, and wonder if anyone else has persisted with this technique?

[Jitendra Hydonus]

In the old lessons sungazing was one of the techniques suggested to help open awareness to the spiritual eye. I remember it really helped me and within a short time I got the first look at the spiritual eye in its full glory. I regularly saw the spiritual eye after that. Over time, however I got sick and my practice of the techniques suffered and eventually the spiritual eye stopped becoming visible.

Years later, with health restored, and my practice stronger than ever, the spiritual eye doesn't appear in its full glory any longer. I see the tunnel to eternity regularly but not in the way it is portrayed and as I used to see it. I no longer practice sungazing, and when I checked the new lessons I noticed it is no longer a technique included. I imagine worry over how strong the sun now is to be the reason.

I'm tempted to return to sungazing in the first and last hour of the sun rising and setting but I'm also cautious. I'll speak to a monastic first though, and wonder if anyone else has persisted with this technique?

Yes I never gave up the technique. But when the Sun is out I’ve only been on the side where I can see the Sun setting in the west because I was on the East side of Lake Michigan and the east side of the Pacific Ocean. I have not been on the west side of any large body of water to any extent to be able to practice it from that vantage point. And the Sun is usually blocked in the Midwest U.S. by trees in the Midwest and mountains in the far west. Given the fact that in the original lessons it was recommended to practice Sun gazing only fifteen minutes in the morning or evening when the sun was setting and rising in presents quite a few limitations on when it is even possible. The golden hour itself is enough reason to get out and experience it.

You have brought up other topics here that are side effects of the Sun gazing techniques; one of them is changing the lessons and the other is getting advice from Mother Center. Both of them have issues involved that I am not sure about discussing. However if more is mentioned on these topics I will respond.

I confess that though I’ve had some experiences with the third eye 👁️ I do not see them as vivid as you have detailed. I believe i have seen the colors of the chakras more often and at other times the radiance of the outer glow of the third eye.

I remember once listening to a lecture of Brother Anandamoy and hearing him say that he had some spiritual experiences when he was younger and then they were not forthcoming. He said that then the work comes on ourselves. I do not know what his state of consciousness was later in life. But his explanation of spiritual experiences when first starting to make attempts at meditation and then the results later made an impression on me. I suppose it is because I also had some stirring experiences that later were subdued. He explained it as a sot if ‘come on’ of the divine to precipitate the work involved in dissolving the ego and our misconceptions that may need life times to resolve.

[mccoy]

I practiced some sungazing before reading the lessons, but that was in full light and it made me very photosensitive later in life.

This practice has been removed from the lessons probably because it may be dangerous, people can overdo it, as it happened in my case.

[weboflife]

In the old lessons sungazing was one of the techniques suggested to help open awareness to the spiritual eye. I remember it really helped me and within a short time I got the first look at the spiritual eye in its full glory. I regularly saw the spiritual eye after that. Over time, however I got sick and my practice of the techniques suffered and eventually the spiritual eye stopped becoming visible.

Years later, with health restored, and my practice stronger than ever, the spiritual eye doesn't appear in its full glory any longer. I see the tunnel to eternity regularly but not in the way it is portrayed and as I used to see it. I no longer practice sungazing, and when I checked the new lessons I noticed it is no longer a technique included. I imagine worry over how strong the sun now is to be the reason.

I'm tempted to return to sungazing in the first and last hour of the sun rising and setting but I'm also cautious. I'll speak to a monastic first though, and wonder if anyone else has persisted with this technique?

Yes I never gave up the technique. But when the Sun is out I’ve only been on the side where I can see the Sun setting in the west because I was on the East side of Lake Michigan and the east side of the Pacific Ocean. I have not been on the west side of any large body of water to any extent to be able to practice it from that vantage point. And the Sun is usually blocked in the Midwest U.S. by trees in the Midwest and mountains in the far west. Given the fact that in the original lessons it was recommended to practice Sun gazing only fifteen minutes in the morning or evening when the sun was setting and rising in presents quite a few limitations on when it is even possible. The golden hour itself is enough reason to get out and experience it.

You have brought up other topics here that are side effects of the Sun gazing techniques; one of them is changing the lessons and the other is getting advice from Mother Center. Both of them have issues involved that I am not sure about discussing. However if more is mentioned on these topics I will respond.

I confess that though I’ve had some experiences with the third eye 👁️ I do not see them as vivid as you have detailed. I believe i have seen the colors of the chakras more often and at other times the radiance of the outer glow of the third eye.

I remember once listening to a lecture of Brother Anandamoy and hearing him say that he had some spiritual experiences when he was younger and then they were not forthcoming. He said that then the work comes on ourselves. I do not know what his state of consciousness was later in life. But his explanation of spiritual experiences when first starting to make attempts at meditation and then the results later made an impression on me. I suppose it is because I also had some stirring experiences that later were subdued. He explained it as a sot if ‘come on’ of the divine to precipitate the work involved in dissolving the ego and our misconceptions that may need life times to resolve.

Should you move this topic to members only? To me the new lessons are more structured and a lot of thought has gone into how to better present the vast array of Master's knowledge. I went to a satsang with Brother Chidananda here in Australia on the weekend, first time a president has been here. The love was very tangible when he entered the room. The vibration was very high.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

In the old lessons sungazing was one of the techniques suggested to help open awareness to the spiritual eye. I remember it really helped me and within a short time I got the first look at the spiritual eye in its full glory. I regularly saw the spiritual eye after that. Over time, however I got sick and my practice of the techniques suffered and eventually the spiritual eye stopped becoming visible.

Years later, with health restored, and my practice stronger than ever, the spiritual eye doesn't appear in its full glory any longer. I see the tunnel to eternity regularly but not in the way it is portrayed and as I used to see it. I no longer practice sungazing, and when I checked the new lessons I noticed it is no longer a technique included. I imagine worry over how strong the sun now is to be the reason.

I'm tempted to return to sungazing in the first and last hour of the sun rising and setting but I'm also cautious. I'll speak to a monastic first though, and wonder if anyone else has persisted with this technique?

Yes I never gave up the technique. But when the Sun is out I’ve only been on the side where I can see the Sun setting in the west because I was on the East side of Lake Michigan and the east side of the Pacific Ocean. I have not been on the west side of any large body of water to any extent to be able to practice it from that vantage point. And the Sun is usually blocked in the Midwest U.S. by trees in the Midwest and mountains in the far west. Given the fact that in the original lessons it was recommended to practice Sun gazing only fifteen minutes in the morning or evening when the sun was setting and rising in presents quite a few limitations on when it is even possible. The golden hour itself is enough reason to get out and experience it.

You have brought up other topics here that are side effects of the Sun gazing techniques; one of them is changing the lessons and the other is getting advice from Mother Center. Both of them have issues involved that I am not sure about discussing. However if more is mentioned on these topics I will respond.

I confess that though I’ve had some experiences with the third eye 👁️ I do not see them as vivid as you have detailed. I believe i have seen the colors of the chakras more often and at other times the radiance of the outer glow of the third eye.

I remember once listening to a lecture of Brother Anandamoy and hearing him say that he had some spiritual experiences when he was younger and then they were not forthcoming. He said that then the work comes on ourselves. I do not know what his state of consciousness was later in life. But his explanation of spiritual experiences when first starting to make attempts at meditation and then the results later made an impression on me. I suppose it is because I also had some stirring experiences that later were subdued. He explained it as a sot if ‘come on’ of the divine to precipitate the work involved in dissolving the ego and our misconceptions that may need life times to resolve.

Should you move this topic to members only? To me the new lessons are more structured and a lot of thought has gone into how to better present the vast array of Master's knowledge. I went to a satsang with Brother Chidananda here in Australia on the weekend, first time a president has been here. The love was very tangible when he entered the room. The vibration was very high.

My thought on this is that we are asked not to reveal the various sacred techniques as in Kriya yoga and the Om technique. I think the Sun gazing routine is not a meditation technique that we need to hide 🙈 from the public and perhaps guests may become more interested in meditation if we discuss general meditation here without withholding it.

This brings up another point Web. In the old lessons we were given permission to even help other students with some of the basic techniques. This has all changed and there is a bit of what I see as secret cult like appearance to some of SRF. As you may know the Ananda society put the Autobiography free on the internet and my understanding is that SRF attempted to stop it with unsuccessful law suits.

I am not saying I know what is ethically correct but I sincerely appreciate Kriyananda’s efforts to have the Autobiography of a Yogi assessable on the internet as the Bible is. This is a topic I could elaborate on however I do not know that it is relevant at this point. Suffice it to say Paramahansa Yogananda was in the body and alive at the first printing of the lessons; how much revising would he have approved?

[weboflife]

I'm sorry but I know nothing of the organization becoming secret and cult like, perhaps too far removed here in Oz? But from here it seems to me to be opening up more to the world with Youtube, online meditations and numbers growing like never before in history. Brother Chidananda is a progressive from what I can see and he talks of millions of members in the coming years. 

I don't know much about Kriyananda, I read his autobiography years ago and was taken aback by the presence of a fairly prevalent ego singing from the pages. I dumped the book at local opp shop shortly after finishing it, and was even reluctant to do that. It was afterwards when I learned of his betrayal and other matters and did regret that I didn't just trash the book.

I think like many spiritual leaders he is very advanced but has some quite large obstacles holding him back. I read something from one of his devotees recently where before he passed on the devotee tried to tell Kriyananda he was the devotees guru. Kriyananda told him it couldn't be as he wasn't a perfected being. To hear of such a candid reply was a positive as I see it.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

I'm sorry but I know nothing of the organization becoming secret and cult like, perhaps too far removed here in Oz? But from here it seems to me to be opening up more to the world with Youtube, online meditations and numbers growing like never before in history. Brother Chidananda is a progressive from what I can see and he talks of millions of members in the coming years. 

I don't know much about Kriyananda, I read his autobiography years ago and was taken aback by the presence of a fairly prevalent ego singing from the pages. I dumped the book at local opp shop shortly after finishing it, and was even reluctant to do that. It was afterwards when I learned of his betrayal and other matters and did regret that I didn't just trash the book.

I think like many spiritual leaders he is very advanced but has some quite large obstacles holding him back. I read something from one of his devotees recently where before he passed on the devotee tried to tell Kriyananda he was the devotees guru. Kriyananda told him it couldn't be as he wasn't a perfected being. To hear of such a candid reply was a positive as I see it.

Thanks so much for your observational reply. I have much to be grateful for with the Self-Realization Fellowship Web. Babaji said; ‘for the imperfections of a few do not judge the whole.’ And so I am reluctant to say much more. If you are interested I will explain. However I think you have a well rounded view of our similar backgrounds in spiritual practice. I would just note here that I’ve been around the presidents, the groups, the monastics and hundreds if not thousands of the members so I had a unique way to experience my life with spiritual organizations and not just ours; that is why this site was created. However like most of us, i yet have much to learn and experience and I’m happy you shared yours with us!

I never remember Kriyananda saying he was a Master so it is no surprise to me that you sensed the presence of ego. My evaluation is quite different than yours because I see that he accomplished what Master wanted and that is to create communities and spiritual colonies. And since I have not seen SRF doing that perhaps he needed to leave the organization to accomplish Masters wish. I have found that his book about the future in many ways is now coming true today. ‘Batrayal’ is a harsh word Web, that I do not associate with him. And once again I will express my gratitude for his making the Autobiography of a Yogi accessible to all. I often go to it on line and copy and paste long lines from it which would take hours to write out.
 🙏

[mccoy]

I don't know much about Kriyananda, I read his autobiography years ago and was taken aback by the presence of a fairly prevalent ego singing from the pages.

Weboflife, I have been a follower of Kriyananda for years and met him personally in a few occasions and am authorized to say that your discrimination was working when you had that intuition.

He had a gigantic ego but tried astutely to conceal it, unsuccessfully.

He really was a traitor, for many reasons I explained at length in this forum as well.  Steve insists that he is a positive figure, or at least had some positive qualities.

I may agree with Steve, but his demonic qualities overwhelmed the spirituality in him.
I won't keep on because this is called a spiritual portal and I won't speak any more about a very unspiritual person, one who betrayed an avatar.

The main benefit of the existence of Kryiananda, in my opinion, is that he has shown that even avatars can make mistakes in this world of cosmic delusion.

The great Yogananda made a big mistake in taking him as a disciple.

[Jitendra Hydonus]

I don't know much about Kriyananda, I read his autobiography years ago and was taken aback by the presence of a fairly prevalent ego singing from the pages.

Weboflife, I have been a follower of Kriyananda for years and met him personally in a few occasions and am authorized to say that your discrimination was working when you had that intuition.

He had a gigantic ego but tried astutely to conceal it, unsuccessfully.

He really was a traitor, for many reasons I explained at length in this forum as well.  Steve insists that he is a positive figure, or at least had some positive qualities.

I may agree with Steve, but his demonic qualities overwhelmed the spirituality in him.
I won't keep on because this is called a spiritual portal and I won't speak any more about a very unspiritual person, one who betrayed an avatar.

The main benefit of the existence of Kryiananda, in my opinion, is that he has shown that even avatars can make mistakes in this world of cosmic delusion.

The great Yogananda made a big mistake in taking him as a disciple.

Mccoy since you have felt that I am obsessed with Trump, is it not fair to say that when ever we talk about Kriyananda you also are obsessed with your indignation towards him as well? I’ve heard nothing but good things he’s had to say about Paramahansa Yogananda.

[mccoy]

Mccoy since you have felt that I am obsessed with Trump, is it not fair to say that when ever we talk about Kriyananda you also are obsessed with your indignation towards him as well? I’ve heard nothing but good things he’s had to say about Paramahansa Yogananda.

No, maybe I was obsessed for a time, I am no longer.
I cannot give importance to such a lowly soul, I cannot even hate him. Can you hate an insect, even though revulsive? No, an awful insect has a role in biology and awful souls have after all their role in creation.

I only mention K when others post about it.

In your case, you are writing unsolicited posts about Mr. Trump all the time, you have been doing it for 8 years. You need it. You need Mr. Trump. It is some psychological mechanism that makes you feel well after you have written all sorts of things against Mr. Trump.

And, what am I, to take you away from this pleasure? I'm going to complain no longer. It is a good reason to be updated about what happens in America and the world.