Source: Suspicious0bservers.org
S0 News | HUGE Coronal Hole, Massive Sunspots, Schumann Resonance | May 26, 2025
Labels
Space Weather,
Sun,
Suspicious0bservers
/
Paul Stonehill | House of the Thirteen Heavens: Enigmas of Mesoamerica | May 26, 2025
Source: Paul Stonehill youtube
Description:
...Nineteen skeletons were found at the site, including a female skeleton atop the House of the Thirteen Heavens. At first, the skeleton was mistaken for the remains of a man: a hunter or a warrior. But the latest DNA analysis showed that it was a woman. Even more surprisingly...It is the tallest pyramid with a rectangular base, sloping sides and a staircase leading to a flat platform top about 15 meters high. Two smaller buildings...
Description:
...Nineteen skeletons were found at the site, including a female skeleton atop the House of the Thirteen Heavens. At first, the skeleton was mistaken for the remains of a man: a hunter or a warrior. But the latest DNA analysis showed that it was a woman. Even more surprisingly...It is the tallest pyramid with a rectangular base, sloping sides and a staircase leading to a flat platform top about 15 meters high. Two smaller buildings...
Align Podcast with Aaron Alexander and guest Tom Campbell | May 25, 2025
Labels
Consciousness,
Non-Local Consciousness,
Tom Campbell
/
Source: alignpodcast.com, my-big-toe.com
Description:
Could our reality be a simulation?
Tom Campbell, a Physicist, lecturer, and author, joins us today to challenge the notion of reality as we perceive it, explaining his groundbreaking Theory of Everything (“My Big T.O.E”) and how our perception of the world may be part of a vast simulation.
Get ready to explore the nature of free will, entropy, our connection to a larger consciousness system, and how this gives purpose and meaning to our existence. Aaron
Timestamps:
Description:
Could our reality be a simulation?
Tom Campbell, a Physicist, lecturer, and author, joins us today to challenge the notion of reality as we perceive it, explaining his groundbreaking Theory of Everything (“My Big T.O.E”) and how our perception of the world may be part of a vast simulation.
Get ready to explore the nature of free will, entropy, our connection to a larger consciousness system, and how this gives purpose and meaning to our existence. Aaron
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
02:03 Is Reality A Simulation?
06:12 The Real Purpose of Consciousness
09:11 How Our Choices Shape Reality
12:30 The Evolution of Consciousness
16:08 The Physics of Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics
20:34 How Our Thoughts Impact the World Around Us
24:00 The Role of Meditation and Intuition in Understanding Reality
28:40 How To Change Our Future
02:03 Is Reality A Simulation?
06:12 The Real Purpose of Consciousness
09:11 How Our Choices Shape Reality
12:30 The Evolution of Consciousness
16:08 The Physics of Consciousness and Quantum Mechanics
20:34 How Our Thoughts Impact the World Around Us
24:00 The Role of Meditation and Intuition in Understanding Reality
28:40 How To Change Our Future
Loyd Auerbach | Dreams and Psychic Dreams (4K Reboot)
Labels
Dreams,
Loyd Auerbach
/
Source: New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove youtube, loydauerbach.com
Description:
Loyd Auerbach, MS, received his masters' degree in parapsychology from John F. Kennedy University. He is author of Mind Over Matter; ESP, Hauntings, and Poltergeists: A Parapsychologist's Handbook; Psychic Dreaming: Dreamworking, Reincarnation, Out-of-Body Experiences & Clairvoyance; and Ghost Hunting: How to Investigate the Paranormal. He is co-author (with Ed May, Joseph McMoneagle, and Victor Rubel) of ESP Wars: East and West. He is the Director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Rhine Research Center.
In this interview, rebooted for 2019, he points out that disagreement still exists among researchers as to whether or not dreams are meaningful. Psychic dreams typically feel different than other dreams. They are frequently described as "more real than real". Nuances concerning precognitive dreams are presented. Such dreams can be life-changing – usually, but not always, in positive ways. The discussion focuses on the relationship between dream states, hypnotic states, and meditative states – leading to questions about the nature of consciousness itself.
(Recorded on June 11, 2019)
Description:
Loyd Auerbach, MS, received his masters' degree in parapsychology from John F. Kennedy University. He is author of Mind Over Matter; ESP, Hauntings, and Poltergeists: A Parapsychologist's Handbook; Psychic Dreaming: Dreamworking, Reincarnation, Out-of-Body Experiences & Clairvoyance; and Ghost Hunting: How to Investigate the Paranormal. He is co-author (with Ed May, Joseph McMoneagle, and Victor Rubel) of ESP Wars: East and West. He is the Director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Rhine Research Center.
In this interview, rebooted for 2019, he points out that disagreement still exists among researchers as to whether or not dreams are meaningful. Psychic dreams typically feel different than other dreams. They are frequently described as "more real than real". Nuances concerning precognitive dreams are presented. Such dreams can be life-changing – usually, but not always, in positive ways. The discussion focuses on the relationship between dream states, hypnotic states, and meditative states – leading to questions about the nature of consciousness itself.
(Recorded on June 11, 2019)
The Art Of Self Mastery - Shaolin Monk Shi Heng Yi | May 24, 2025
Labels
Chris Williamson,
Shi Heng Yi
/
Source: Chris Williamson youtube
Description:
Shi Heng Yi is a Shaolin master, headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe, and teacher of Kung Fu and Chan Buddhism
What can the Shaolin lifestyle teach us in a world full of distractions? In the rush of modern life, learning to pause, breathe, and reflect can be the difference between a good day and a bad one. So what other timeless principles can monks offer that still hold power today?
Expect to learn what self mastery means and how to master yourself, the Shaolin monk approach to mental clarity and breath work, what to do if you feel like something is missing from your life, how people can better deal with regret, how you can be more present, the Shaolin training method to overcome modern distractions, how to build mental resilience and much more…
-
00:31 The Meaning of Self-Mastery
03:01 The Areas People Neglect the Most
06:20 How Much Control Can We Have Over Our Minds?
15:23 Preparing for Difficult Times During Times of Comfort
19:39 Why Become a Monk?
22:28 How to Begin Finding Your Purpose
28:45 Interrupting the Cycle of Pursuing Things
33:26 Balancing Self-Improvement & Self-Love
37:49 Dealing With Regret
41:56 Where Do Discipline & Focus Come From?
46:17 How Being a Monk Changes the Texture of Your Mind
51:02 Calming Our Unprocessed Trauma
55:52 The Courage to Face Our Own Pain
Description:
Shi Heng Yi is a Shaolin master, headmaster of Shaolin Temple Europe, and teacher of Kung Fu and Chan Buddhism
What can the Shaolin lifestyle teach us in a world full of distractions? In the rush of modern life, learning to pause, breathe, and reflect can be the difference between a good day and a bad one. So what other timeless principles can monks offer that still hold power today?
Expect to learn what self mastery means and how to master yourself, the Shaolin monk approach to mental clarity and breath work, what to do if you feel like something is missing from your life, how people can better deal with regret, how you can be more present, the Shaolin training method to overcome modern distractions, how to build mental resilience and much more…
-
00:31 The Meaning of Self-Mastery
03:01 The Areas People Neglect the Most
06:20 How Much Control Can We Have Over Our Minds?
15:23 Preparing for Difficult Times During Times of Comfort
19:39 Why Become a Monk?
22:28 How to Begin Finding Your Purpose
28:45 Interrupting the Cycle of Pursuing Things
33:26 Balancing Self-Improvement & Self-Love
37:49 Dealing With Regret
41:56 Where Do Discipline & Focus Come From?
46:17 How Being a Monk Changes the Texture of Your Mind
51:02 Calming Our Unprocessed Trauma
55:52 The Courage to Face Our Own Pain
Larry C. Johnson & Col. Larry Wilkerson | Iran Draws a Red Line | Putin Stuns Trump W/ Bombshell | May 23, 2025
Labels
Col. Larry Wilkerson,
Iran,
Larry C. Johnson,
NATO,
Russia,
Trump,
Ukraine,
Vladimir Putin
/
New World Next Week | Running Squid Man Hunger Games for Everyone! | May 23, 2025
Source: NewWorldNextWeek.com, corbettreport.com, mediamonarchy.com
Description:
This week on New World Next Week: the WHOsters adopt the new scamdemic treaty at the World Health Assembly as the US withdraws; Canadians clamour for mature minors to kill themselves; and the DHS considers the running squid man hunger games for America's Next Top Refugee.
Story #1: WHO Members Adopt Global Pandemic Accord, But US Absence Casts Doubts
RFK Jr. Address World Health Assembly In Fiery Video Explaining US’ Withdrawal From WHO
After US Cuts Funding, WHO Chief Defends $2.1B Budget Request By Comparing It With Cost Of War
The Who Fire Drummer Zak Starkey For Second Time In Month
The Strange But True Story of How Smoking Bans Paved the Way for Global Government
Story #2: Canada Sparks Outrage Over Push to Expand Euthanasia Access to “Mature Minors” Without Parental Consent
Description:
This week on New World Next Week: the WHOsters adopt the new scamdemic treaty at the World Health Assembly as the US withdraws; Canadians clamour for mature minors to kill themselves; and the DHS considers the running squid man hunger games for America's Next Top Refugee.
Story #1: WHO Members Adopt Global Pandemic Accord, But US Absence Casts Doubts
RFK Jr. Address World Health Assembly In Fiery Video Explaining US’ Withdrawal From WHO
After US Cuts Funding, WHO Chief Defends $2.1B Budget Request By Comparing It With Cost Of War
The Who Fire Drummer Zak Starkey For Second Time In Month
The Strange But True Story of How Smoking Bans Paved the Way for Global Government
Story #2: Canada Sparks Outrage Over Push to Expand Euthanasia Access to “Mature Minors” Without Parental Consent
Tweet From Jamin Laine Showing MAiD Brochure
“Mature Minors”
NWNW Flashback: MAiD In Canada (Dec. 9, 2022)
Paralympian Claims Canada Offered to Euthanise Her When She Asked For Stairlift (Dec. 4, 2022)
Canadian Indian Residential School System
Story #3: DHS Considers Reality Show Pitting Immigrants Against One Another For Citizenship
Citizen Kane – FLNWO #14
DHS: ‘No Plans’ For Immigration Reality Show
Real Life ‘The Purge’? Republican Mayor Since 2008 Wants ‘One Night of Legal Crime’ to Clear Homeless Off Streets Of Lancaster, California
‘The Running Man’: Colman Domingo Lands Game-Show Host Role In Edgar Wright’s Reimagining At Paramount
Squid Game Experience NYC: “A fully immersive experience based on Netflix global phenomenon. Play iconic Squid Game challenges in real life.”
‘Simulacra and Simulation’ by Jean Baudrillard
“Mature Minors”
NWNW Flashback: MAiD In Canada (Dec. 9, 2022)
Paralympian Claims Canada Offered to Euthanise Her When She Asked For Stairlift (Dec. 4, 2022)
Canadian Indian Residential School System
Story #3: DHS Considers Reality Show Pitting Immigrants Against One Another For Citizenship
Citizen Kane – FLNWO #14
DHS: ‘No Plans’ For Immigration Reality Show
Real Life ‘The Purge’? Republican Mayor Since 2008 Wants ‘One Night of Legal Crime’ to Clear Homeless Off Streets Of Lancaster, California
‘The Running Man’: Colman Domingo Lands Game-Show Host Role In Edgar Wright’s Reimagining At Paramount
Squid Game Experience NYC: “A fully immersive experience based on Netflix global phenomenon. Play iconic Squid Game challenges in real life.”
‘Simulacra and Simulation’ by Jean Baudrillard
Prof. Aleksandr Dugin | No one wins in the Russia-Ukraine War | Exclusive interview | May 23, 2025
Labels
Aleksandr Dugin,
NATO,
Russia,
Ukraine
/
Healing and the Nature of Self with Karl Friston | May 23, 2025
Labels
Karl Friston,
Nature of Self,
The Healing Path
/
Source: New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove youtube
Description:
Karl Friston is widely regarded as one of the most influential neuroscientists of our time. Some peers consider him the foremost neuroscientist in history. As a professor at University College London, Friston has made groundbreaking contributions to neuroimaging and theoretical neuroscience. His most significant contribution is the Free Energy Principle, a foundational framework in neuroscience stating that biological systems minimize surprise (or uncertainty) by continuously updating their internal models to predict and adapt to their environment.
From predictive coding and attachment theory to affective neuroscience, meditation, and nonduality, Friston explores how the brain builds models of the world—and how those models shape our experience of suffering and liberation. He discusses early developmental imprinting, the SEEKING system in affective neuroscience, and the possibility of parapsychological phenomena, all through the lens of self-organization and synchrony. This conversation bridges science and spirit, offering insights into healing, transformation, and a return to the ground of Being.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:06:19 Exploring existence and beingness
00:11:13 Dual aspect monism and the embodied brain
00:19:08 Safety, uncertainty, and development
00:27:36 Resilience and coping with change
00:31:17 Yoga, meditation, and uncertainty
00:38:28 Consilience across disciplines
00:49:13 Optimizing human systems through education
01:04:26 Parapsychology and synchronization of chaos
01:08:20 Final thoughts
Description:
Karl Friston is widely regarded as one of the most influential neuroscientists of our time. Some peers consider him the foremost neuroscientist in history. As a professor at University College London, Friston has made groundbreaking contributions to neuroimaging and theoretical neuroscience. His most significant contribution is the Free Energy Principle, a foundational framework in neuroscience stating that biological systems minimize surprise (or uncertainty) by continuously updating their internal models to predict and adapt to their environment.
From predictive coding and attachment theory to affective neuroscience, meditation, and nonduality, Friston explores how the brain builds models of the world—and how those models shape our experience of suffering and liberation. He discusses early developmental imprinting, the SEEKING system in affective neuroscience, and the possibility of parapsychological phenomena, all through the lens of self-organization and synchrony. This conversation bridges science and spirit, offering insights into healing, transformation, and a return to the ground of Being.
Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:06:19 Exploring existence and beingness
00:11:13 Dual aspect monism and the embodied brain
00:19:08 Safety, uncertainty, and development
00:27:36 Resilience and coping with change
00:31:17 Yoga, meditation, and uncertainty
00:38:28 Consilience across disciplines
00:49:13 Optimizing human systems through education
01:04:26 Parapsychology and synchronization of chaos
01:08:20 Final thoughts
Definitions:
Free Energy:
Free energy is the difference between what we expect and what we actually experience—it measures surprise or uncertainty in a system.
Markov Blanket:
A Markov blanket is like an invisible boundary that separates a system (like a living being) from its environment, allowing it to sense and act while maintaining its own integrity.
Bayes Optimal:
Being Bayes optimal means making the best possible decisions based on all available information and past experience, continuously updating beliefs as new information comes in.
Active Inference:
Active inference is the process of taking actions that reduce uncertainty—constantly adjusting what we perceive and how we behave to better match the world around us.
Epistemic Motivation:
Epistemic motivation is the deep drive to seek information and reduce uncertainty, like a built-in curiosity that helps systems learn, adapt, and survive.
(Recorded on March 12, 2025)
---
Free Energy:
Free energy is the difference between what we expect and what we actually experience—it measures surprise or uncertainty in a system.
Markov Blanket:
A Markov blanket is like an invisible boundary that separates a system (like a living being) from its environment, allowing it to sense and act while maintaining its own integrity.
Bayes Optimal:
Being Bayes optimal means making the best possible decisions based on all available information and past experience, continuously updating beliefs as new information comes in.
Active Inference:
Active inference is the process of taking actions that reduce uncertainty—constantly adjusting what we perceive and how we behave to better match the world around us.
Epistemic Motivation:
Epistemic motivation is the deep drive to seek information and reduce uncertainty, like a built-in curiosity that helps systems learn, adapt, and survive.
(Recorded on March 12, 2025)
---
Summmary:
In this episode of New Thinking Allowed, guest host Leanne Whitney interviews Karl Friston, a renowned neuroscientist, about the nature of self, consciousness, attachment theory, affective neuroscience, and the implications of his free energy principle. The discussion explores how humans synchronize with their environment, manage uncertainty, and develop selfhood, with connections to psychology, physics, and cultural phenomena.
• Friston’s Background: Karl Friston, a leading neuroscientist, blends physics, psychology, and psychiatry, with 266,000 citations for his work, notably the free energy principle, which posits that biological systems minimize surprise by updating internal models to predict and adapt to environments.
• Free Energy Principle: This framework explains how organisms, including humans, reduce uncertainty through predictive modeling, forming the basis for understanding selfhood and consciousness.
• Selfhood and Markov Blankets: Friston uses Markov blankets to mathematically distinguish self from non-self, crucial for defining existence and self-awareness.
• Dual Aspect Monism: Friston aligns with this philosophy, viewing brain states as encoding beliefs about the external world, synchronizing internal and external realities.
• Attachment and Safety: Early attachment shapes world models; insecure attachment (affecting ~50% of the population) leads to persistent uncertainty, impacting mental health.
• Affective Neuroscience: Emotions like curiosity and play drive exploration, reducing uncertainty, while fear or grief can stunt this, leading to suffering.
• Social Media Risks: Seeking likes mimics addictive behaviors, prioritizing utility over epistemic exploration, potentially isolating individuals from real-world learning.
• Actionable Insight: Foster curiosity and play in education to enhance emotional resilience and self-awareness, countering the isolating effects of technology.
• Cultural Implications: Overreliance on abstract values (e.g., digital currency, social media) disconnects us from embodied, natural interactions essential for survival.
• Parapsychology: Friston suggests phenomena like telepathy could be explained as synchronization of chaos between minds, fitting within his mathematical models.
Crucial Statistic: Approximately 50% of people may have insecure attachment, contributing to widespread feelings of unsafety and mental health challenges.
Main Argument: Human well-being hinges on synchronizing internal models with the environment, fostering curiosity, and balancing technology use to maintain embodied, relational existence.
In this episode of New Thinking Allowed, guest host Leanne Whitney interviews Karl Friston, a renowned neuroscientist, about the nature of self, consciousness, attachment theory, affective neuroscience, and the implications of his free energy principle. The discussion explores how humans synchronize with their environment, manage uncertainty, and develop selfhood, with connections to psychology, physics, and cultural phenomena.
• Friston’s Background: Karl Friston, a leading neuroscientist, blends physics, psychology, and psychiatry, with 266,000 citations for his work, notably the free energy principle, which posits that biological systems minimize surprise by updating internal models to predict and adapt to environments.
• Free Energy Principle: This framework explains how organisms, including humans, reduce uncertainty through predictive modeling, forming the basis for understanding selfhood and consciousness.
• Selfhood and Markov Blankets: Friston uses Markov blankets to mathematically distinguish self from non-self, crucial for defining existence and self-awareness.
• Dual Aspect Monism: Friston aligns with this philosophy, viewing brain states as encoding beliefs about the external world, synchronizing internal and external realities.
• Attachment and Safety: Early attachment shapes world models; insecure attachment (affecting ~50% of the population) leads to persistent uncertainty, impacting mental health.
• Affective Neuroscience: Emotions like curiosity and play drive exploration, reducing uncertainty, while fear or grief can stunt this, leading to suffering.
• Social Media Risks: Seeking likes mimics addictive behaviors, prioritizing utility over epistemic exploration, potentially isolating individuals from real-world learning.
• Actionable Insight: Foster curiosity and play in education to enhance emotional resilience and self-awareness, countering the isolating effects of technology.
• Cultural Implications: Overreliance on abstract values (e.g., digital currency, social media) disconnects us from embodied, natural interactions essential for survival.
• Parapsychology: Friston suggests phenomena like telepathy could be explained as synchronization of chaos between minds, fitting within his mathematical models.
Crucial Statistic: Approximately 50% of people may have insecure attachment, contributing to widespread feelings of unsafety and mental health challenges.
Main Argument: Human well-being hinges on synchronizing internal models with the environment, fostering curiosity, and balancing technology use to maintain embodied, relational existence.
Andrei Martyanov | What does an offensive look like on a modern battlefield? | May 22, 2025
Labels
Andrei Martyanov,
Garland Nixon,
NATO,
Russia,
Ukraine
/
Joseph P. Farrell | News and Views from the Nefarium | May 22, 2025
Labels
China,
Joseph P. Farrell
/
Source: gizadeathstar.com
Description:
Something is up in the "Peoples'" "Republic" of China, and it has some people speculating that there is a slow moving coup going on, or a purge...
Description:
Something is up in the "Peoples'" "Republic" of China, and it has some people speculating that there is a slow moving coup going on, or a purge...
The Siddhis or Powers of Yoga with Debashish Banerji (4K Reboot) | May 22, 2025
Labels
Ancient Civilisations,
Debashish Banerji,
Siddhis,
Yoga
/
Source: New Thinking Allowed with Jeffrey Mishlove youtube
Debashish Banerji, PhD, is Haridas Chaudhuri Professor of Indian Philosophies and Cultures and Chairman of the East West Psychology Department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. He is author of Seven Quartets of Becoming: A Transformative Yoga Psychology Based on the Diaries of Sri Aurobindo and also The Alternatate Nation of Abanindranath Tagore, a book about his great grandfather. He edited an anthology about his great uncle, Rabindranath Tagore in the Twenty-First Century. His newest anthology is titled Critical Posthumanism and Planetary Futures.
In this interview, rebooted from 2019, he discusses the different approaches toward the siddhis in Tantra and Vedanta. He argues for a balance between these; and notes that, in the yoga system of Aurobindo, balance itself is considered one of the siddhis. He describes the cultural impact of colonization and eventual liberation of India as it influenced and, conversely, was influenced by the long tradition of yoga. He points out the enormous, potential social utility of the siddhis -- such as the ability to convert pain into pleasure.
(Recorded on May 24, 2019)
Key Takeaways from "The Siddhis or Powers of Yoga with Debashish Banerji (4K Reboot)"
Debashish Banerji, PhD, is Haridas Chaudhuri Professor of Indian Philosophies and Cultures and Chairman of the East West Psychology Department at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. He is author of Seven Quartets of Becoming: A Transformative Yoga Psychology Based on the Diaries of Sri Aurobindo and also The Alternatate Nation of Abanindranath Tagore, a book about his great grandfather. He edited an anthology about his great uncle, Rabindranath Tagore in the Twenty-First Century. His newest anthology is titled Critical Posthumanism and Planetary Futures.
In this interview, rebooted from 2019, he discusses the different approaches toward the siddhis in Tantra and Vedanta. He argues for a balance between these; and notes that, in the yoga system of Aurobindo, balance itself is considered one of the siddhis. He describes the cultural impact of colonization and eventual liberation of India as it influenced and, conversely, was influenced by the long tradition of yoga. He points out the enormous, potential social utility of the siddhis -- such as the ability to convert pain into pleasure.
(Recorded on May 24, 2019)
Key Takeaways from "The Siddhis or Powers of Yoga with Debashish Banerji (4K Reboot)"
The following is a comprehensive summary featuring a discussion between Jeffrey Mishlove and Professor Debashish Banerji. The conversation explores the siddhis (spiritual powers) of yoga, particularly through Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga system, emphasizing philosophical, historical, and modern contexts. Below are key takeaways, main arguments, crucial statistics, and actionable insights for practitioners and enthusiasts.
- Definition of Siddhis: Siddhis are spiritual powers attained through disciplined yoga practice.
- Ancient Texts: Siddhis are detailed in the Yoga Sutras (circa 4th-5th century CE).
- Eight Primary Siddhis: By the Yoga Sutras era, eight ashta siddhis were widely recognized.
- Sri Aurobindo’s System: Sri Aurobindo organizes siddhis into seven quartets, totaling 28 powers.
- Integral Yoga Framework: Seven quartets integrate Vedantic and Tantric philosophies.
- Vedanta’s View: Vedanta de-emphasizes siddhis to focus on transcendence, avoiding ego traps.
- Tantra’s Perspective: Tantra sees siddhis as legitimate for maximizing human potential.
- Risk of Intoxication: Siddhis can be intoxicating, fostering ego attachment if misused.
- Balancing Drives: Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga balances transcendence and power.
- Yantra Structure: Seven quartets form a yantra, a geometric engine for practice.
- Geometric Dynamics: Yantra uses triangles and squares to represent energy dynamics.
- Discipline Categories: Quartets split into three general and four specific disciplines.
- General Disciplines: Include Brahma (being), Karma (action), and Siddhi/Yoga (fulfillment).
- Specific Disciplines: Include Shanti (peace), Vijnana (knowledge), Shakti (power), Sharira (body).
- Four Fulfillments: Each quartet has four goals or attainments.
- Brahma Quartet: Focuses on achieving Brahman, the ultimate reality.
- Karma Quartet: Emphasizes purposive action from divine consciousness.
- Siddhi/Yoga Quartet: Acts as a fulcrum connecting Vedantic and Tantric poles.
- Shanti Quartet: Targets peace and balance as spiritual goals.
- Vijnana Quartet: Seeks knowledge by identity with consciousness.
- Shakti Quartet: Develops embodiment of divine power.
- Sharira Quartet: Focuses on body-related spiritual powers.
- Yoga Quartet Goals: Includes shuddhi (purification) and mukti (liberation).
- Additional Yoga Goals: Also includes bhukti (enjoyment) and siddhi (fulfillment).
- Vedantic Goals: Purification and liberation align with Vedantic transcendence.
- Tantric Goals: Enjoyment and siddhis align with Tantric aims.
- Dynamic Tension: Exists between Vedantic being and Tantric doing.
- Primordial Drives: Sri Aurobindo identifies transcendence and power as core human drives.
- Transcendence Drive: Maps to Vedanta’s spiritual aspirations.
- Power Drive: Aligns with Tantra’s pursuit of bliss and control.
- Unity of Drives: Integral yoga seeks to unify these drives.
- Vidya vs. Avidya: Vedanta contrasts vidya (knowledge) with avidya (ignorance).
- Sankhya Dualism: Separates purusha (consciousness) and prakriti (nature).
- Purusha Defined: Purusha is free consciousness, gendered male in Sankhya.
- Prakriti Defined: Prakriti is nature, bound by laws, gendered female.
- Sankhya Goal: Aims to free purusha from prakriti’s conditioning.
- Aurobindo’s Synthesis: Relates purusha and prakriti for unity.
- Rising Above Maya: Maximizing both leads to unity beyond maya (illusion).
- Maya’s Veil: Maya separates vidya from avidya.
- Body Quartet Goals: Sharira quartet includes four body-related siddhis.
- Arogya Siddhi: Freedom from disease, potentially physical immortality.
- Utthapana Siddhi: Levitation, representing paranormal body powers.
- Saundarya Siddhi: Beauty, expressing the soul’s unique essence.
- Universal Beauty: Sri Aurobindo views all beings as inherently beautiful.
- Bliss as Goal: Fifth body goal includes five forms of physical bliss.
- Raudrananda Bliss: Transforming intense pain into bliss.
- Kamananda Bliss: Constant erotic or sexual bliss in the body.
- Vaidyutananda Bliss: Electric-like bliss coursing through the body.
- Thriraananda Bliss: Thrill causing hair to stand on end.
- Vishayananda Bliss: Bliss from contact with material objects.
- Pain Transformation: Yogic practice can convert pain into bliss.
- Scorpion Bite Example: Sri Aurobindo experienced raudrananda after a scorpion bite.
- Divine Contact: Described pain as a lover’s divine touch.
- Ashta Siddhis: Eight traditional siddhis from Yoga Sutras.
- Telepathy Powers: Include pramya and vyapti for mind-to-mind communication.
- Achievement Powers: Aishwarya, ishita, and vashita for conscious influence.
- Being Powers: Anima, laghima, and mahima relate to physical presence.
- Anima Power: Becoming small or invisible at will.
- Laghima Power: Lightness, enabling levitation.
- Mahima Power: Projecting an aura of greatness.
- Mapping Siddhis: Body and knowledge quartets include ashta siddhis.
- Immortality Goal: Pursued in archaic systems like alchemy.
- Siddha Yogis: Southern Indian tradition aimed for physical immortality.
- Babaji Legend: Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi describes immortal Babaji.
- Western Accounts: Sondra Ray documented encounters with Babaji.
- Christ as Yogi: Christ’s life likened to a yogi achieving immortality.
- Astral vs. Physical: Distinction between astral and physical bodies unclear.
- Imaginal Realm: Henri Corbin’s term for an ontologically real non-physical realm.
- Subtle and Gross Body: Indian systems view body as sthula (gross) and sukshma (subtle).
- Probability Distribution: Body exists as a continuum from subtle to gross.
- Yoga Diary: Sri Aurobindo tracked successes and failures in a journal.
- Radical Empiricism: Diary reflects William James’ empirical approach.
- Actionable Insight: Keep a journal to explore paranormal experiences.
- Modern Yogi: Sri Aurobindo engaged traditions with a modern outlook.
- Amma’s Practice: Amritananda Mayi (Amma) embodies divine goddess power.
- Divine Hugging: Amma’s hugging reflects Tantric divine possession.
- Tantric Goal: Central aim is embodying the goddess.
- Chandi Bhava: Sri Aurobindo’s term for becoming a divine mother’s vessel.
- Cellular Radiation: Divine possession radiates through body cells.
- Constant Bliss: Amma reportedly experiences orgasmic bliss continuously.
- Bliss Continuity: Five forms of bliss can be constant with possession.
- Cultural Openness: Growing up in India fosters siddhi acceptance.
- Modernity’s Impact: Materialistic views limit openness to siddhis.
- Urban India Shift: Modern urbanites less exposed to yogic traditions.
- Dakshineshwar Change: Once a yogi hub, now a middle-class pilgrimage site.
- Colonial Resistance: Yogis used siddhis to resist British rule.
- Aurobindo’s Motivation: Entered yoga to aid India’s liberation.
- Malaria Cure: Witnessed a yogi cure malaria with mantra-charged water.
- Freedom Question: Explored siddhis for anti-colonial purposes.
- Hatha Yoga Origins: Emerged as resistance to colonial oppression.
- Body Politics: Hatha yoga built endurance against beatings.
- Yoga Studio Roots: Modern yoga stems from anti-colonial movement.
- Consumer Paradox: Yoga now a consumerist, not political, practice.
- Anglophilia Effect: Colonization led some, like Aurobindo’s father, to anglophilia.
- Tradition Revival: Others modernized yogic traditions.
- Western Scholars: Sir John Woodruff studied yoga and Tantra.
- Orientalizing Distortion: Western study sometimes oversimplified yoga.
- Actionable Insight: Study yoga’s historical roots for deeper practice.
- Tantric Ethics: Emphasize nonviolence (ahimsa) and equality.
- Humanity’s Benefit: Siddhis should serve collective good.
- Gandhi’s Nonviolence: Used yogic endurance for resistance.
- Ahimsa’s Influence: Inspired Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement.
- Pain to Bliss: Converting pain enables nonviolent resilience.
- Actionable Insight: Practice pain transformation for endurance.
- Vipassana Technique: Buddhist meditation detaches consciousness from pain.
- Pain Distancing: Observing pain neutrally reduces its impact.
- Actionable Insight: Meditate to observe pain without attachment.
- Acupuncture Parallel: Numbs pain via energy channels (nadis).
- Internal Control: Yoga achieves pain relief through visualization.
- Actionable Insight: Visualize compassion to transform pain.
- Hypnosis Case: Mishlove’s client reduced pain via compassionate hypnosis.
- Compassion Shift: Loving pain transforms it to tenderness.
- Actionable Insight: Cultivate self-compassion for pain management.
- Painkiller Reliance: Billions spent annually on painkillers.
- Economic Impact: Yogic pain management could reduce costs.
- Huxley’s Vision: Island envisions yoga for utopian society.
- Conditioning Warning: Brave New World cautions against manipulative practices.
- Actionable Insight: Balance external and internal pain relief methods.
- Immortality Stages: Involves conscious death and rebirth processes.
- Buddha’s Birth: Seen as a yogic achievement in Buddhist texts.
- Conscious Transition: Moving between lives consciously is a siddhi.
- Actionable Insight: Explore consciousness in life transitions.
- Cellular Renewal: Body cells replace every seven years.
- Aging Cause: Imperfect cell regeneration leads to aging.
- Regeneration Potential: Conscious regeneration could enable immortality.
- Actionable Insight: Study cellular regeneration through yoga.
- Globalization Effect: Modernity marginalizes siddhi exploration.
- Urban Disconnect: Urban Indians less aware of yogic possibilities.
- Nationalism Revival: Rising nationalism may rekindle tradition interest.
- 2019 Election: Right-wing Hindu party won, promoting yoga.
- National Identity: Party brands yoga as India’s gift.
- Physical Focus: Emphasis remains on physical yoga, not siddhis.
- Actionable Insight: Advocate for holistic yoga education.
- Liberal Skepticism: Liberalism dismisses siddhis as superstition.
- Nationalism Paradox: Stereotypes cultures but revives traditions.
- Actionable Insight: Bridge liberalism and nationalism for universal yoga.
- James’ Influence: William James’ radical empiricism aligns with Aurobindo.
- Actionable Insight: Experiment with siddhis scientifically.
- Superstition Concern: Some traditional beliefs may be superstitious.
- Actionable Insight: Test traditions with critical inquiry.
- Balance Siddhi: Samata (balance) is key in Shanti quartet.
- Shanti Goals: Include samata (balance), shanti (peace).
- Additional Goals: Also sukha (happiness), hasya (laughter).
- Progression Path: Balance leads to peace, happiness, then laughter.
- Actionable Insight: Cultivate balance for peace and joy.
- Vedantic-Tantric Split: Samata and shanti are Vedantic; sukha and hasya Tantric.
- Actionable Insight: Integrate spiritual and material practices.
- Global Need: Balance siddhi needed to heal societal divisions.
- Actionable Insight: Apply yogic balance to personal and global conflicts.
- Human Potential: Sri Aurobindo’s system offers a path to unity and growth.
Main Arguments
- Siddhis represent human potential but require ethical use to avoid ego-driven misuse.
- Sri Aurobindo’s integral yoga synthesizes Vedantic transcendence and Tantric power for holistic growth.
- Historical contexts (e.g., colonialism) and modern forces (e.g., globalization, nationalism) shape siddhi perception.
- Balancing spiritual and material drives fosters personal and societal transformation.
Crucial Statistics
- 28 Siddhis: Organized into seven quartets by Sri Aurobindo.
- Eight Ashta Siddhis: Traditional powers from the Yoga Sutras.
- Five Forms of Bliss: Part of the body quartet’s goals.
Actionable Insights
- Journaling: Keep a yoga diary to track spiritual and paranormal progress.
- Pain Transformation: Practice compassion or meditation to convert pain to bliss.
- Scientific Exploration: Test siddhis using empirical methods inspired by William James.
- Holistic Advocacy: Promote yoga education that includes siddhis, not just physical practice.
- Balance Cultivation: Focus on samata to achieve peace, happiness, and laughter.
