This post is not about those techniques per se, but, as I work through these, much as I did with Lobsang Rampa's description of Tibetan group rescues (see here), I am thinking about ways of developing pagan - or pagan-friendly - versions of these.
One of the first admonishments in the training materials for these "Six Yogas" is to be focused on (amongst other matters) compassion, on the suffering of other humans. Some techniques are given to build that (built around the technique of thinking of all sentient beings you met as having been, or potentially having been, your mother in a previous life - which is OK unless your mother was abusive), but what could be a more pagan friendly version of this?
Well, paganism is - in part - about working with Deity, so what I came up with is as follows.
First, consider that some deities, such as Cerridwen or Brigid, are known for the gifts that they gave to humanity, gifts, such as the various Cauldrons of Cerridwen of Bridget's gifts of weaving etc, which are of benefit to humanity. Why would one do so? Well, perhaps it was at least partly out of a sense of caring - compassion. And on compassion, Kwan Yin is the Goddess who I consider one of the leading proponents of that ...
So, the technique.
Basically, this aims to invoke the compassion and caring of Kwan Yin, Cerridwen (pronounced with a hard C - i.e. Kerrid-wen), and Brigid (I use the version of her name "Bride", pronounced for this Bri-day), bring it in to one's heart chajra, let it build there (and maybe transform from pagan version to more generic, or be transformed from higher level to levels that more people can understand or access?), and then let it overflow to the world.
So, standing or sitting as is comfortable:
- chant Kwan Yin, Cerridweb, Bride as your scoop your arms around in a big circle, which I find comfortable just slightly above horizontal, which helps me with the thought that I am gathering compassion to me, and bring your hands in to your heart chakra;
- pause briefly to allow the compassion and love to fill you, which should help with some self healing as well (the [true] Christians' Christ had the message "love your neighbour as yourself"), and then
- allow your hands to gesture out and slightly downwards as you chant "Aum" (not "Om"!), which is a carrier that allows this love and compassion to be taken out into the world.
I have found this so far useful for generating positive energy (e.g., before giving a channelled energy healing), dealing with compassion fatigue, and dealing with any tendency towards "hard love". Hopefully others will find it also useful, although the deities may need to be varied to suit others. Sure, it's highly eclectic, but I think that is what the world needs now. Others may need to adapt the deities used etc.
As I come up with other pagan adaptations of the "Six Yogas of Naropa", I may post them :)
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
Tags: Tibet, Buddhism, yoga, Naropa, Celts, chant, mudra,
First published: Sunnudagr, 26th June, 2011
Last edited: Sunday, 26th June, 2011
