[Censored],
While there is a great deal to be learned from various kinds of teachings, I prefer to not immerse myself in words, ideas, visualizations that have no meaning to me because I am not a believer in any religious system, and am cautious with conscious/subconscious connections and altered states of consciousness.
As an example, I do not wish to wear a crown of five wisdoms on my head, nor engage in that sort of imagery. I don’t want to have my heart become a lion king. If I take on an animal identity, which is part of me expressed, it does not arise from this sort of formulation. It just happens, and behaves naturally, without direction of this sort. Specifically, it has happened with forms practice, specifically single unit repetitions, and establishing an emotional connection with it. With experimenting with the energy associated with a given motion. I don’t think it would be good for me, or honest, to follow something else. I do have an interest in the use of sound to resonate with different energies in the body, something I have little experience with. The little I have done did not involve imagery or words, just a Kung Fu move accompanied by a specific sound. I didn’t concentrate on any body part or goal, the motion and sound led me there.
While some martial arts moves and sounds are associated with certain animals, and one finds that within the self to the extent that it is there in order to discover, become aware of, and act with the more primitive mind. I would not hold the image of that animal within my mind. Rather, my self as it naturally transforms. True, the seeing of an animal or a particular picture, or even a piece of sculpture can have a transforming effect, where you discover a connection to it within the self. A catalyst, if you will. Once that is accomplished, I would not return to the outside source to visualize it and bring about a state in myself. This is not what I want to do.
I’m not saying it is wrong for anyone else, especially for a believer, educated in the religious symbolism. But, it would not be right for me to become one with a “Wrathful Meditational Deity” in which I have no belief. Rather, I would find my own face without seeking to become one with anything else. While it can be said that it might eventually amount to the same thing, it doesn’t mean this for me. I had a teacher who taught me a face of ferocity. He stood in front of me and did it and encouraged me to “answer” with my own. There was no other imagery or example. I am comfortable with this.
I don’t know as much as I would like, and I would like to know more. But, I would need a different mental climate in order to accomplish this honestly and to feel safe in the learning process.
Cody
