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Originally posted by Alvin Chan

Thanks for your sharing, Kirtanman. It seems to me that you're very excited when you typed. Is that related to your practices?

I think that may qualify as the ultimate straight line of all time ....!



Er, yeah ..... you could say that ......!



Semi-seriously, though - honestly -- Yes. The emotion, the bhakti, the joyous gratitude -- that's all absolutely, directly, related to all of the practices I have referenced.

I'm beginning to experience more and more that this is how bhakti works, from an evolutionary standpoint, like this:

1. We feel bhakti, even if it's kind of a subtle push to practice, or to find out more about what is real or true.

2. We get some results, even if it's just enjoying ourselves.

3. We're motivated to continue.

4. The bhakti increases.

5. IMPORTANT PART - Steps 1-4 repeat a few times, until there's a neurophysiological shift, where we feel an increase in our energy, well-being, bliss, peace of mind, and love (among other things). I've described it as "my entire physical, mental and emotional landscape has shifted." (Expanded, Enhanced, Evolved).

6. From this new, higher "platform", we experience that our _capacity_ for bhakti has increased, and is experienced more powerfully and profoundly, which ............ increases our bhakti!!

Steps 3-6 begin to cycle, usually (in my experience, anyway) much more rapidly than 1-4 did ..... a VERY positive snowball effect!



I know it (practices) is not about seeking a payoff -- but joy is clearly meant to be _en_joyed, y'know?

THE POINT IS:

I essentially waited _years_ for my first major .... what would you even call it ..... Mahabhaktananda (the Great Bliss of Bhakti), maybe?

I literally thought that all that stuff about "bliss" and "ecstasy" was poetic, illustrative, and quite possibly a bit exaggerated.

In the words of Sri Sri Adi Shankaracharya:

"Nope. Ain't."

(Okay, so I'm paraphrasing a little ... that's very much the essence of what he said. Somewhere. I'm pretty sure.)



And very, very seriously: my point in sharing ALL this stuff is to say, "If *I* can experience this level of ecstasy and bliss .... anyone can!"

It's happening for me _exactly_ as the lessons outline.

I experience more bliss just sitting around, currently, than I even realized was _possible_ a few months ago.

Has it changed my life?

You BET it has!!!

Has it made EVERY moment heavenly?

Nope. Not even.

Has it helped every moment be better / more peaceful than it otherwise would be?

100%.

My guess is: by the time most of us start to experience this level of bliss, we've realized the ego-trap of thinking that any state - whether yogic bliss, or the rush of great sex, or getting a lot of money, or prestige, or romantic love -- will be the "end all, be all" or "ultimate pay-off" for us.

IT'S NOT ABOUT STATES, NO MATTER HOW GOOD A GIVEN STATE MAY FEEL.

If there's any way to put it into words: it's about the freedom from attachment to states -- which, in my experience --- is a large part of the bliss-filled evolution that we experience via practices.

I used to wonder, "HOW will I *ever* become detached?!"

I'd be like, "I am witness consciousness, AAUUMMMMM ..." - and then two seconds later, be like, "My life sucks!" or "My heart is broken .... Waahhhh!" -- and be quite sure that the Enlightenment Gene (or at least the "Detachment Gene", had passed me by.

Jai Jai Shiva Shambo Maheshwara that that's NOT the case!!



When we're taught - whether here, in AYP, or by other, similar (yogic / tantric / eastern) paths that all we need to do is *practice* and it will all fall into place ....... we're being told the TRUTH.



THAT'S the HUGELY COOL part about what I'm trying to convey, here:

I didn't TRY to get to this level of ecstasy experience, and I didn't TRY to attain this peace (which passeth any understanding *I* ever had, lemme tell ya!!) -- both those things just HAPPENED .... QUITE UNEXPECTEDLY .... PURELY as a RESULT of my practices (all of them; I have no idea which practices facilitated which results).

"Yoga doesn't ask me to believe; yoga asks me to practice."
-- Dave Stringer

By the way, as I still have only very little (if any) estatic conductivity, I would like to know more about your time line. When did you start your practices?

Sporadic meditation in 1999, more frequent in 2002, daily in 2005, springtime.

And when did you start the tantric techniques?

2002. I had a girlfriend who was a tantric practitioner. She and I took Tantra Teacher Training together, and practiced Tantra (sexual, and otherwise) daily.

When did you start to ejaculate that infrequently?

Roughly the last six months. Over the last year and a half or so, I'd say my average (time between ejaculation) has been about once per month -- which a couple periods of more ejaculation (several times in a week --- until I really understood that I was setting myself back, yogically, by doing that -- and that realization occured about 14-15 months ago.)


And how long after that did you start to feel such a strong flow of estatic conductivity?

Let's see - imagine Ecstatic Conductivity on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being where most people live ... 1 is the first taste of true, yogic, ecstatic conductivity (i.e. it is a result of our nervous system evolving, which stems from our AYP or other yogic practices).

I lived at zero for most of my life, and tasted maybe .5 or so, at a spiritual retreat in 1999. Tasting that changed my life. In 2002, at Tantra Teacher training, I got up to about 1 ... but for several days, off and on. Changed my life even more.

I dropped back to zero ... and continued my path ... tasting "peak" experiences of .5 to 1 maybe once every few months -- and started hitting roughly .75 to 1 in group kirtans, or when attending satsang with Adyashanti, or another awakened teacher.

Please remember that when I say ".5 to 1", I am talking about states of physical, emotional, mental and spiritual ecstasy FAR more intense, deep and powerful than most people EVER experience. The world's best orgasms (for a man, anyway .... ) are maybe a .3) --- the .5 to 1 realm is more _subtle_ than orgasm .... but to me, at least ... feels _better_.

Several months ago, I hit 2 for the first time ... but it lasted for well over 24 hours. I was _amazed_. I was driving around, feeling genuine ecstasy coursing through my entire body ... I (jokingly, of course) said to people, "It's wild ... it's like a shot of freakin' heroin!" --- but far better, because I was _more_ conscious, alert, aware, genuinely happy, etc. (and I've never had heroin - but have had high doses of morphine, in the hospital - and it's allegedly similar).

Then, a couple of months ago, I hit 3 .... standing in my bathroom, at the sink.

My eyes went up, tongue went up, lights went on, thoughts went ... somewhere non-near-by ... and any feelings / sensations /sense of well-being I had EVER had in my life paled by comparison.

I started to think, "Oh My God, This is Samadhi!" ... but only got about 1/3 of the thought "out" before all thought ceased -- and there was only ............ only .......... only ..........

Acutya

Acutya is the Sanskrit word for "no words are possible" -- and I'm *very* glad there's a word for that in some language, because that's exactly what it was --- it quite literally can't be expressed.

As Adyashanti points out, words can point TO the truth, but no words can BE the truth, or reality -- because as soon as we express / define something, we box / border / limit it.

In some way I don't pretend to understand, and certainly can't articulate (per the above, and also just .... don't have the ability ...) -- it is largely the boundlessness, and "inexpressibility" of bliss that makes it SO awesome.

It just IS, and what IS, is infinitely wonderful.

When really experiencing ecstatic conductivity, our awareness of this - of ourselves (for what else is there, or indeed, could there be?) unlocks / unleashes -- and the magnificence of Ananda - Bliss - is lived.

Do I always feel this ("... what else is there, or indeed, could there be? [than ourSELF]")?

Not currently - but when the bliss starts up (as it is, a bit, now) - that awareness comes with it.

(And I have no words at all for how MARVELOUS it is!!)

THEN, a couple of weeks later, I had a "Mahapiphani" (Maha-Epiphany - "Great Epiphany" -- a newly famous term in pure Sanskritlish ...) -- I hit a solid 3.5 (the only sounds possible, for me to utter, initially, were moans of pure delight) AND I realized that I _knew how to replicate it_!!

I had the keys to Chez Ecstasy!!

And I thank Shivashakti that I didn't get them a moment sooner ... because I would've driven right off the cliff, I assure you.

So, I was able to visit Chez Ecstasy _every single day_.

THAT'S life-changing!

If I have a rough day at work, I pop into the Men's Room, do a little A, a bit of B, and a dash of C for about 15 seconds, and A-Blissing I Do Go!

I had no idea, until very, very recently that reviewing plans for the fall segment of core product marketing campaigns could be so unutterably glorious.

But it can -- with managers and colleagues none the wiser (except for wondering why I'm always so "good natured").

!!

(They would be, too .... and I hope with all my heart that some day, they will be ....!)



Which brings me to a few weeks ago -- I burst forth into 4-land.

One of the "roads" by which 4-land is entered, involves a degree of ecstasy so high, that if one is lying down, one finds that one's heels, elbows and the crown of one's head are all that is touching the bed, as the body arcs and arches in utter, highly energetic ecstasy.

It subsides a bit, of course -- but the ongoing, subtle form of it is still an order of magnitude beyond even 3.

IMPORTANT NOTE: And please understand -- this is NOT about labeling or quantify ecstatic states (as much as it may seem like it is) -- it is about _communicating_ the relative magnitude of the ecastasy, and when it happened, in answer to Alan's question. My "4" may be your "2" or your "15" ---- I don't know (how much experiences compare) -- and it doesn't matter .... it's just about conveying the magnitude. Hopefully.



A couple of weeks ago, I expanded into, I'd say .... 4.25 -- which is, relatively speaking .... where I am now.

I just tested it, while sitting here at the computer - I close my eyes, and relax -- and feel .... expansion, and pleasure ... and light. A little involuntary gasp / exhale of pure pleasure escapes, as does a little shiver of ecstasy.

When I had that moment of thinking, "Oh My God, This is Samadhi!" -- and the thought went away -- and I submerged / expanded / died / birthed into infinite ecstasy ..... that was maybe 1/3 of the power and magnitude of the little test I just did (and I've got to keep a "handle" on it, so I can finish this message ..... and yes, I'm still amazed / speechless / grateful beyond words).

WOW.



If you've ever seen Eckhart Tolle on DVD -- pay attention to when he imitates a person experiencing deep pleasure -- and you'll see (unless I'm talking out of my blissed-out butt, of course .... ) that it's more than an imitation! Eckhart is going into a state of very real ecstasy .... for about two seconds ... and then coming back to his talk -- presumably with the ecstasy coursing through his system at a more subtle level (as I'm doing right now -- and other than that, I'm *not* comparing myself to Eckhart).



(I think he's awesome, and love his teachings --- I just want to be clear that I'm genuinely not making a comparison ---- just sharing an illustration that seems fitting).

I have stopped ejaculation for a month now, again. But like before, not much is happening. Just want to know if it's helping me much on cultivating estatic conductivity.....

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