Reading Norman Paulsen’s “Sacred Science,” a book Yogani said at least partially inspired the technique of SBP, I found a variation on sambhavi (that’s the best way I can think to describe it, though maybe it’s technically something else) that creates a very intense sensation for me and an increase sense of the inner space and extension of the sushumna beyond the body.
Roughly, instead of looking up, he seems to prescribe looking at a point about six inches out in front of the space between the two eyebrows. Then, while trying to hold the eyes in that position and state of focus, close your eyes.
For me, this has helped create the sensation that my vision is shifting from the outer dimension to the inner dimension. There is a pleasurable sensation of being pulled out and forward while also going more “in” to the sushumna. That is, focusing the eyes on this single point outside the body and corresponding with the extension of the sushumna from the ajna chakra, but then closing the eyes to shut out visual focus on the external world seems to give me a much better sense of this kind of “inner vision” and of the existence of the sushumna as well.
Just thought I’d mention this experience in case it might be helpful to anyone.
Sambhavi has evolved for me these past few years, in early AYP there was a strong intentionality; in the conductive years since, the flywheel effect means the simple thought of the mudra could engage it, and in DM always automatic in the surrender. My thoughts in your regards is you know the basics of the mudra and the practice of DM, inner guru always has the influence to experiment from there. My lovely takeaway on my journey so far is “gently favoring” (mudras, bandas, the mantra, your attention, your grip on a strap, pranayama, release of a sutra) produces opening. Soon you may not be measuring at all.
Yes, I think things change over time for sure. A common phenomenon I’ve noticed is that I’ll read an idea or practice and think about it or give it a try with little result and then find it again years later with a strong impact.
In this case, I have had Norman Paulsen’s book for years and probably read this technique before as well, but it did not have much impact.
Also, reading this book recently a diagram in it made a big impact it had not before. It looks like this. Seeing it recently I felt a strong connection to it through the third eye by way of the little dot in the center of the Star of David-like image (the image has just a dot there in the book “Sacred Science”). I guess this is like the star at the end of the sushumna (“light at the end of the tunnel”?) with the rainbow road being the interior of the sushumna.
As this transformation continues, we also begin to see beyond the body. We find that the spinal nerve doesn’t stop at the point between the eyebrows, but extends out far beyond it. As we observe this, our spinal breathing takes on a new dimension. The third eye opens!
[Yogani]
So, good things are happening
When I first tried Sambhavi mudra after discovering AYP, I felt immediately a lot of pleasant sensations during SBP when I simply did the first component of Sambhavi that Yogani describes in the same lesson:
There are two main components to sambhavi. First is a gentle furrowing of the brow, the point between the eyebrows. It is bringing the two eyebrows slightly toward the center. This is barely physical, mostly just an intention. It is only physical enough to allow feedback for a habit to form. Under normal circumstances it will not be visible to an outside observer.
[Yogani]
The second component, the raising of the eyes, took me much longer to develop a habit for. But over the years the whole body mudra has started to develop which makes it quite difficult (but also unnecessary of course) to do any of these mudras and bandhas purely in isolation.
It’s a wonderful journey and I trust that it’s going to get better and better
