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Chakras

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 8:20 pm
by Tom
I don't specifically know if chakras exist or not, however if they do exist, I'd like to learn more about them and work on keeping them healthy. Does anyone here know any teachers that have a good amount of experience with chakras (or other "energy work") and could possibly help me work with them?

Re: Chakras

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:08 pm
by befriend
thats more tibetan buddhism, taoism, and yoga. chi gong and yoga build up ones chi (energy) virtue is vital for accumulation of healthy energy.

Re: Chakras

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:18 pm
by daverupa
Chakras are an Indian structure; in China, the meridians and qi are described altogether differently (Tibet's esoteric systems are different again from both of these, involving red and white drops in some cases rather than qi or prana). There can be some overlap, but always in a New Age context.

If you are interested in chakras, you are going to become distracted from the Dhamma, but to each their own.

To really dive into this stuff in a Buddhist context (and to get up to your eyes in mummy dust and crazy ideas), have a look at The Bodhisattva Warriors: The Origin, Inner Philosophy, History and Symbolism of the Buddhist Martial Art Within India and China.

For a modern approach which sees a Western empiricist practicing Chinese exercises and seeing Hindu gods, try reading Path Notes.

(It takes me back about 15 years; these are some old neurons firing to call up these titles; the single tattoo I have is related to Path Notes adventures...)

Re: Chakras

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:35 pm
by Tom
"Chakras" or "energy systems" don't seem to me to be directly related to the path supposedly expounded by the Buddha. However, if modern western medicine (although not discussed in the Pali Canon) helps us maintain a healthy physical body, can working with these "energy systems" help me maintain a healthy "energy body", "chakra system", etc.?

Re: Chakras

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 9:41 pm
by Kim OHara
daverupa wrote:For a modern approach which sees a Western empiricist practicing Chinese exercises and seeing Hindu gods, try reading Path Notes.

(It takes me back about 15 years; these are some old neurons firing to call up these titles; the single tattoo I have is related to Path Notes adventures...)
Hi, Dave,
I never came across Path Notes but it looks like it might be an Asian equivalent of Carlos Castaneda's fascinating but increasingly weird adventure into meso-american witchcraft. Is it?

:namaste:
Kim

Re: Chakras

Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:19 pm
by daverupa
In a way; the upshot of Path Notes and the rest of the books by Dr. Morris is Hoshinroshiryu, an esoteric offshoot of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, aka Ninjutsu (taught by Masaaki Hatsumi).

Re: Chakras

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 12:15 am
by Modus.Ponens
Are we talking about Naruto?

Sorry, couldn't resist. :mrgreen: :focus:

Re: Chakras

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:12 pm
by DAWN
Chakras practice is interesting for concentration training.

But actualy chakras practice can be seen like a wrong wiev (DN 1), because there is contact.

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 2:37 pm
by DAWN
To complete,

It would be more helpfull to go beyond thoughts and form if you will not work with one of chakras, but with the whoole body consciosness. When you develop the consciosness on all part of your body at the same moment, when all your body become some kind of big chakra or enlight body, and detache from it, loose the contact.

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 3:39 pm
by DAWN
Read DN2 : Samaññaphala Sutta: The Fruits of the Contemplative Life I dont know if translation of Ven. Thanissaro Bhikkhu is good, but there is what i mean.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:49 pm
by Tom
If one has unbalanced chakras, or overactive, closed, or weak chakras (if these even exist), would Dhamma practice alone lead them to become healthy and balanced? Should one seek out a teacher that deals with them?

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:51 pm
by daverupa
Dhamma is for the cessation of dukkha, not the healing and balance of chakras. Whether they are affected or not matters not one whit. Attaining a body which is suitable for practice does not require the weight of esoteric theories.

:heart:

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 2:25 am
by Tom
Thank you all for your responses. I was just wondering if that can be a side effect of Dhamma practice. Could any of you suggest any beneficial systems of "energy work", if any?

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 3:08 am
by daverupa
ccharles wrote:I don't know which systems are effective.
Indeed!

Asatru Rune Magick, Ceremonial Magick, Qigong, Kundalini, Pranayama, Haitian Vodou, Rosicrucianism, Alchemy, Shugendo... it's a difficult question isn't it?

Re: Chakras

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 4:16 am
by Tom
I'm not suggesting that they're all valid necessarily, but I'm curious to know if anyone here has personally benefited from any specific "energy work" system or from working with "chakras".