ago
@ Tristan ~ yes, if a practice is to be engaged in, if the aspirant feels the need to do so, then I agree a gradual build up is optimal. In fact, in early days magnetic heat builds up, which can become uncomfortable. We may feel that some nerve will burst or even worse, which is when the practice (if any) should be stopped for a month or so and if we are doing no practice (as in my case), then simply requesting universal consciousness/God/kundalini to taper off works too. We are always free to choose our own pace. Slow is better, in my view. In time we learn to trust the supreme intelligence of kundalini and do not interfere. Purification of heart and surrender are crucial before we begin our search for the truth, however this essential preparation is often ignored.
About entering silence, it is a crucial point actually on which it is worth pondering. Sans thought, we are in silence as pure awareness minus ego. However, thoughts seem to arise without reason and always interfere with our meditation. What I sort of self-discovered long, long back is if we choose to look at thought as an abstract object external to our innate pristine presence, we relinquish ownership over the thought and so do not feed it with our attention. Mindfully observing this, thought ripples recede and then cease altogether. Mind then becomes an instrument, a limb, used when needed, otherwise not. Then silence becomes our ever present flowing orientation.
To relinquish ownership over thought, we also need to examine the content of thought, which is more or less centred around fears and desires, both rooted in attachments, to identification with the body-mind apparatus. So, the very first affirmation has necessarily to be, ‘I am not the body-mind but rather eternal presence dwelling in it’. So, ego and spirit are separated. We can then discern, distinguish between impulses arising from ego vs our true being, which we can call what we like, soul, self, spirit, whatever. Then if we indulge in a body centred desire, we may do so without guilt if we wish but knowing that we are just feeding or pampering the horse we are riding. We are the rider, not the horse ~ that we always know.
There is in fact nothing new in what I’m saying actually. All this is well known. However, to slow down vasanas (past tendencies) we have to be continuously attentive.
God bless.