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Advanced Yoga Practices Note: For the Original Internet Lessons with additions, see the AYP Easy Lessons Books. For the Expanded and Interactive Internet Lessons, AYP Online Books, Audiobooks and more, see AYP Plus. Lesson 127 - Siddhasana or Padmasana? (Audio)
AYP Plus Additions: From: Yogani New Visitors: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"
A: Padmasana is a very good seat
with its own benefits, though not many can sit in it comfortably for long.
Siddhasana in the simplified form given in the lessons is an easier seat to
stay in, once achieved. Its effects can also be achieved using a prosthetic
at the perineum. See lessons
#33 and
#75 for
details.
Which is best? It depends on
your preference and approach to achieving your goals in yoga. If you are not
inclined to directly stimulate sexual energy to raise kundalini, then
siddhasana is not something to rush into. On the other hand, if you are
inclined bring up sexual energy by direct means, then siddhasana is very
desirable, more desirable than padmasana.
It is a matter of where we fall
on the "tantra scale" at a point in time. Siddhasana is left of center on
this scale, while padmasana is right of center. Left is working more with
sensuality in practices, and right is working less with sensuality. As you
know, we go far left in the tantra group. Siddhasana is in that direction.
How inclined we are to go into siddhasana is a function of our bhakti, which
is related to how much purification we have in our nervous system. It is
interesting that more purification encourages us to be more involved in
directly cultivating sexual energy upward in spiritual practices.
In yoga it is not possible to
avoid dealing with sexual energy indefinitely, because sooner or later the
nervous system becomes activated by the rise of kundalini, and inner ecstasy
explodes inside. There is nothing more sensual than that. All of the
advanced yoga practices are designed to promote ecstasy's natural rise in
the nervous system. Even meditation is ultimately for that, coming from deep
inner silence to union in ecstatic bliss everywhere in the body and beyond.
That is why we call advancedyogapractices, "easy lessons for ecstatic
living."
Yet, everyone has their own inclinations in yoga practice, and honoring each
person's tendencies is much more important than giving everyone the same
"cookie cutter" approach to enlightenment. A technology is good only if it
is flexible enough so anyone can use it. That is why we keep all the
practices as simple and direct as possible, and talk a lot about
self-pacing. Each must travel their own way, at their own speed. The tool
kit is here to be used, or not used, as you see fit. If we don't need a tool
now, maybe we will need it later. Like that.
Given your interest, perhaps
what you should consider doing is developing siddhasana. Work your way into
it gradually, and see if it works for you energy-wise. If it doesn't, you
can go back to padmasana. It won't hurt to know both seats. I went though a
similar testing phase many years ago, and ended up in siddhasana for the
long haul. I have stayed a bit left of center because, experientially, it
has made perfect sense to do so. Whatever it is for you will be fully
respected.
The guru is in you.
Discuss this Lesson in the AYP Plus Support Forum
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