darrellmc09/13/02 at 04:32:50#1Just wanted to start a topic. What are the varieties of spiritual response?
What is spiritual response?
I used to get questions like, "How will I know?" and "How will I know that it is genuine, and not just coincidence or wishful thinking?"
Some input........?
Lyciss09/13/02 at 15:48:29#2Re: What is spiritual response?Darrell,
you will know when you have a response or not... there wont be any doubt... there are levels to responses too, i think it comes down to affinity and how strong you cultivate... when you perform mudras you can sense the energy, this is a response... when you recite mantras you can feel them rotate within you for me i feel like a rattle... this is a response... but im sure it can be different for each person... i think the most important part is not to expect to have responses, just cultivate with a pure heart and clear thoughts and they will be there... if they arnt dont worry about it... just keep cultivating... dont get discouraged if you dont have a response because you can be having a response but you arnt recognizing it as one... this would be a bad reason to stop cultivating because you are only expecting to have responses... i know that since i started, my visualizations were very scattered, over time they do seem to become refined day by day... i think your inner light is the same way... before you started cultivation your light is scattered and as you progress daily it becomes more focussed... your whole being becomes centered and your life begins to follow right behind...
om mani padme hum
celestialmaiden09/13/02 at 18:47:38#3Re: What is spiritual response?There are many types of spiritual responses. From my experience, sometimes I feel a strong presence of light, so strong that I can actually feel what color it is. I remember one time I was at the Hong Kong Kalachakra Ceremony and I could feel the strong presence of red light. Immediately after I closed my eyes, I felt as if my body was taken to another realm. Later in GM's dharma talk, he said that there indeed was red light everywhere. This is my experience with "light" spiritual response.
Another type of spiritual response is a real definite physical response. For example, a long time ago when I first started practising Buddhism Master Samantha gave me some homework to do. Upon completing the homework I entered into Samadhi and immediately I felt my body being pulled up at a fast speed into the sky! I was actually breathing really heavy and I could feel the wind on my body and then I saw some clouds when my body stopped moving. These responses you can actually feel with your physical body. Recently, I finished my seventh practice of the Red Jambhala magnetization practice. On the final day, I could feel a strong pressure on my head. I could feel someone slicing the top of my head in pieces going back and forth, left and right. After 3-4 minutes, it ceased and I felt as if a huge amount of karma had been expelled. I felt lightheaded. This is my experience with a physical-feeling type of response.
Another type of response I have had is in Samadhi. I would contemplate about any problem or worry I was having and then I would hear a voice from my inner heart. This voice is the voice of my own and comes from my inner heart, but the words of wisdom spoken are not my own. I feel that this is how Grandmaster communicates to me...through the depths of my very own heart.
I feel that the best way to determine if the spiritual response is genuine it to observe your heart. You will know the answer from deep within and you will have no doubt. Another way to determine the genuiness of a response is to use one's wisdom. For example, if the voice of my heart is saying something, I observe if the advice I am receiving is harmful to me, or beneficial to me. Obviously, if the advice is harmful then I know that it is not true. Often times, I will receive words of wisdom and the following day, things really work out for themselves!!
And last, I feel another type of spiritual response are those we see and feel in our daily lives. For example, when I run into trouble or problems I go to the temple and pray and the next day, my problems will be solved. When I was told to perform the magnetization practice, I asked the lama for instruction. He said, "Aren't you already practising the magnetizatio practice?" I said, "No." Then the lama says, "I have observed that all the offerings you bring to the temple are red!" I said, "That is just coincidence." Then the lama said, "You have already received a spiritual response. (that is no coincidence)" After this event, I realized that these things are spiritual responses too!
It is best to always observe one's heart and keep one's mind calm, then one can determine the genuiness of the response!
Om Mani Padme Hom
Buddhafly09/13/02 at 20:31:02#4Re: What is spiritual response?
One thing I have noticed when dealing with something, I have noticed "sign posts".
Like commercials, or actual billboards of what I am suppose to be dealing with.
If it is a spiritual response..I have not a clue.
Many times my answer lies in a dharma talk or an article I have just read by Grand Master Lu.
Of course there have been the occasions when a whiff of incence comes from seemingly nowhere.
Last edited 09/13/02 at 20:32:22 by Buddhafly
Lyciss09/13/02 at 22:23:08#5Re: What is spiritual response?Bren,
oh yea... when im driving i recite Grandmaster's mantra and there have been times when i smell incense... sometimes when im at the computer and im editing or reading over some posts ill smell incense too... at first i thought it was only in my head, something psychological but then it happened again and again... it doesnt happen all the time so i do think its a type of response...
om mani padme hum
^tAn^TyWuI^-^09/16/02 at 02:05:14#6Re: What is spiritual response?For me, sometimes during practice, especially when practising samadhi, I would feel that I am suddenly empty with in and with out, like the whole universe in pouring out of me. Then there are times when I am immersed in light, and a cooling electical impulse would radiate from my head, down my spine and throughout my body.
Then there is the other time when I saw, for a split second, Grandmaster in the form of Amithabha Buddha. Very beautiful scene. You guys should have seen it.
I guess there is no boundary to which you can limit a spiritual response. It all comes from the heart. You will know it when it comes.
Last edited 09/16/02 at 19:33:29 by Buddhafly
Buddhafly09/16/02 at 22:18:55#7Re: What is spiritual response?
THE PHENOMENA OF HAVING PSYCHIC RESPONSES
Dharma Talk on 8/2/91
(Page 250-251 Achievement of Rainbow Light Body volume two)
Translated by Yuan Zheng Tang
What is "psychic response"? After cultivating the "four fundamental rituals" for a while, some cultivators may dream that they are eating white stuff and vomiting black stuff. This is a sign of having a minor psychic response, watching their unwholesome karma being eradicated. Other minor psychic responses may include seeing worms crawling out of our bodies, being radiated by the sun light and moon light, bathing in the sea and flying in the sky freely.
The following five types of psychic responses are considered significant:
1. We feel like we are Buddhas. In Tantrayana, we must always visualize spiritual union with our personal deities, if we can do so our Qi, blood, will and behavior will be one and the same as that of Buddhas. This feeling is known as "Yi Wei Jue Hai" in Chinese. Once we have it, we are sure to experience psychic responses.
2. We can control our dreams and not be led by the dreams. We can also control the subject of our dreams and get out of the nightmare immediately. And we can recall the dreams vividly. If we are unable to control our dreams or worse still, have all kinds of funny dreams, we will not have any psychic response.
3. We never feel tired, as we have adequate Qi (vital energy) in our bodies. We can energize ourselves by regulating our breathing.
4. Our head chakra is no longer closed, and shows all kinds of auspicious signs.
5. We can see our own bright senses in deep meditation, Our "star-light-body" - i.e. Buddha nature will emerge. We are able to perform "out-of-body" feats day and night, without need for much effort.
The above-mentioned are all considered major psychic responses.
PSYCHIC RESPONSE (1)
Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 19/08/97
(Page 135-140)
Today I shall talk about Psychic response, a term that is always mentioned in Tantrayana teachings.
Generally speaking, there are many levels of Psychic response. The Psychic responses that I am going to talk about are authentic that you can verify for yourselves.
For instance if your personal deity is Amitabha Buddha, and you feel that he is not close to you and is not with you all the time, then you have not reached the level of Psychic response yet. You can see Amitabha Buddha in your cultivation sessions if you have a Psychic response with him.
If you see Amitabha Buddha in your dream after you have cultivated meditative stabilization and Rainbow Light Great Attainment Dharma, you will feel excited. This can be considered an elementary level of Psychic response, as what you see in the dream may not be true - or Amitabha Buddha just appear in your dream to make you happy.
What about seeing him in your meditative stabilization? This is different from seeing him in a dream. You can have a very deep and lasting impression on him. It would be a real Psychic response if you were able to see him when you just open your eyes.
A real Psychic response will entail authentic experiences. You will be surrounded by a rainbow, and your body will radiate lights and brightness. You will feel that you are your personal deity; he will not be at a distance from you.
The solemnized image of a Buddha is known as "Fo Man" in Tantrayana. If you are able to have unions with your personal deity all the time, a "Fo Man" is formed. You will speak and act like a Buddha. - This is a real Psychic response.
Many people have claimed that they have experienced Psychic responses.
"Ayah, I have a Psychic response! I am feel cold right now." (Maybe just after an ice cream treat).
"Ayah, I have a Psychic response today, as I feel cool, great and relaxed now!"
"Ayah, I finally experience what a Psychic response is!"
But come tomorrow. All the endless troubles seem to come back to haunt them, and they still feel life is miserable. The above-mentioned are not Psychic responses.
When there is a union, lights and rainbow will surround you, and your Dharma protector will be there to protect you.
Whenever I take my meal, I will cup my palms and offer the food to my protectors. I know for sure that they are there to enjoy my offering. In fact, this is not a feeling; I can see them in person. I can ask them to run errands for me.
"Ayah, something is bothering me, my dear protector, please help me!" My protector will solve my problem immediately. I don't have to worry about the problem anymore, all my wishes will be granted.
The phrase "Please help me" seems to have the same power as the Taoist decree "This decree must be carried out immediately".
If you are a real Vajra-guru, what you say will become a decree. Once your Dharma protector receives your instructions, he will complete the task immediately.
Once I wanted a Dragon vest badly. After my thought, my Dharma protectors went into my disciples' minds and told them: "Wai, hurry up, go and make a Dragon vest and give it to your Grandmaster!"
All of them went to order the Dragon vests at once. I have more than two hundred pieces of Dragon vests now. I get to change a new one everyday.
"Making a wish" is very important. A Vajra-Guru accomplishes whatever he wants to do by making a wish.
If you are able to see your Dharma protector whenever you close your eyes, you are experiencing Psychic responses. A "Fo Man" will appear once you have unions with your personal deity. You are no longer considered an ordinary man; you can be considered a permanent Buddha.
Some of you may argue that what happens when you want to go to the toilet? Don't tell me Buddha also ----does likewise --- There is nothing wrong with this. As long as you see it as - Buddha is eating, when you eat. Buddha is sitting on a lotus flower, when you visit the toilet. These are dignified acts.<
If you can visualize them this way, a "Fo man" will appear. Once you have a union with your deity, you cannot be separated from him.
When you start to cultivate "Unrivalled Tantra" in Tantrayana, you will be considered a permanent Buddha who has experienced many levels of Psychic responses.
Well, that's all for today.
Om Mani Padme Hum
PSYCHIC RESPONSE (2)
Dharma Talk by Living Buddha Lian Sheng on 19/08/96
(Page 141-146)
Well, let us talk about Psychic response again. A Psychic response is also known as "Yoga". The "Vajra" in the word Vajrayana (Tantrayana) could be interpreted as indestructible. It is a solidified and powerful force. The Vajra can be used to destroy everything including our unwholesome karma.
The level of Psychic response is the same as that of Vajrayana. It is not subject to change.
As all of you know, gold is beautiful and has a dignified color. Its form will not change. If you don't believe put a piece of gold with me. After a few years, the weight will remain the same, the color the same, the shape the same. Once you have experienced Psychic response, you will be the same as a Vajra, and will not be subjected to change.
Just like all other human beings, many Buddhists change their minds constantly.
Many disciples have said to me: "Ayah, I have Psychic responses with my Guru, Grandmaster and personal deity!"
I wish them well since they have reached such a high spiritual level.
But alas! Not long later, they returned their initiation certificates to me. There must be something wrong, those who have experienced Psychic responses will not change and do this to me.
What is Psychic response? To tell the truth, it is an immovable mind - a mind that is not subjected to change. After cultivating Guru Yoga, a disciple's mind will be the same as that of his Guru. Since their Guru - I am still propagating Buddhadharma and succor living being; they should follow my footsteps. If they have really experienced Psychic responses with me, they will never change their minds. Couples, who love each other very much do not ask for divorce, do they? (Grandmaster used English to stress this point) There are many people in the western countries who have filed for divorce. Why? Because they don't love each other!
If they have mastered Guru Yoga, they will never divorce their grandmaster. Since their minds are supposed to be as indestructible as a piece of steel. They will never say such thing as: "Ayah, after my Psychic response, I must find another new Psychic response!" If you and I are in love with each other, and yet you want to have Psychic response with another person, something must be wrong. You must be having an affair!
There are many disciples who have extra marital affairs. When they see beautiful girls or handsome boys they run away from me. How can they claim to have experienced Psychic response?
In Tantrayana, we must follow the cultivation process of progressing from four basic foundations, Guru Yoga and Personal deity Yoga. If you have experienced Psychic response with me, you will never leave me. Obviously when you leave me, you have not experienced any Psychic response. It is not a matter how long you have taken refuge in me. You will still have an equitable mind if you have just taken refuge in me, and have psychic response with me. As a result Yi Wei - one taste will emerge. If I find it sweet, you will find it sweet too. If I find it salty, you will find it salty too. It is a sign of Yi Wei when your Dharma nature is the same as mine.
Once you have psychic response with me - your Grandmaster, or your personal deity, my spiritual accomplishment will be transfer to you. The phenomena of Yi Wei will emerge, and you will never make a spiritual retreat since the lineage of nectar, universe and great void have been passed to you. Remember your personal deity will not desert you and the reverse is also true.
There is a term "Samaya" in Tantrayana, which means the bonds between self, personal deity, Guru, and Dharma Protector. If you go against any of them, you are considered to have transgressed the "Samaya" precept - you have broken the Vajrayana bond. If you have upheld the "Samaya" precept, you will never leave your root guru, personal deity, and protector. For they are united forever.
When you have a psychic response, your personal deity and your Dharma protector will surround you. Even your root guru will sit on your head. All other feelings and experiences are secondary. Once you have experienced a true Psychic response, you will never retreat from your spiritual cultivation. If you have not had a Psychic response in the first place, there is no retreat to talk about.
That is all for today.
Om Mani Padme Hum
Buddhafly09/16/02 at 22:22:28#8Re: What is spiritual response?
When someone has been practicing for a long time and they do not get any spiritual responses what would the reason for that be?
mimosa09/16/02 at 23:32:17#9Re: What is spiritual response?#When someone has been practicing for a long time and they #do not get any spiritual responses what would the reason #for that be?
many reasons
#1 ask for the wrong thing (eg, one wants to marry someone who doesnt love him/her)
#2 karmic hindrance has not been eradicated yet
#3 not practice sincerely
many others..
Mimosa
Buddhafly10/22/02 at 23:30:56#10Re: What is spiritual response?
Taken from 103_The Great Spiritual Response Of Tantrayana
What are the signs of spiritual response?
Yesterday we talked about tell-tale signs after empowerment, which are auspicious signs that appeared after receiving empowerment. Today we are going to talk about the signs of spiritual response. In fact, we have talked about spiritual response on many occasions previously. We consider the root deity appearing in our dream, or meditation to touch our head or radiating lights on us as spiritual response. In the Susiddhi Sutra, signs of spiritual response experienced by cultivators are explained in detail. A cultivator should show a few types of auspicious signs if he is experiencing spiritual response.
1. He should have very few sickness if any.
2. He should have adequate Qi in his body, and be very energetic.
3. He should not feel tired easily. It is a sign that he is not experiencing spiritual response if he always looks tired and fatigued.
4. His body will radiate all kinds of lights. His brightness may be in certain form or even formless.
5. His body will emit a certain kind of nature fragrance; and his body odour is lessened.
6. He himself will actively cultivate the Tantra. He is not compelled to do so, or treat the cultivation as a chore. He will do the cultivation happily, rejoice at doing good deeds, and enjoy dharma bliss.
7. He will recall his root deity at all times not just during cultivation. As a minimum, a cultivator must remember his root deity, guru and space-travelling protectors at three specific periods of time.
Our sect has reduced the cultivation session to once a day, and yet many disciples could not do it. Surely they will not experience any spiritual response.
If a person always falls sick, and looks tired and fatigued all the while. And he does not radiate any light. Or his body odour is very strong, and never recalls his root deity, worse still he forgets to do cultivation. Or he is simply lazy and have many nightmares, in which others wanted to kill him, or he wanted to kill others, or just did bad things in his dream, i.e. he never have any good dream at all. These phenomena will show he is not experiencing any spiritual response.
The true signs of spiritual response are those just mentioned by me. A cultivator will have auspicious signs; be full of dharma bliss; like to do good deeds; and is fond of cultivation. His body will radiate lights and emit fragrance. He will have good dreams. These are mentioned in the Susiddhi Sutra.