Category Archives: Tantra/Kundalini

Ann Mathie

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Ann MathieAnn has been practising yoga and meditation for nearly 20 years and has since completed her Masters in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS University with ongoing Sanskrit training. Ann was inspired from an early age by her father’s anecdotal experiences with Kuṇḍalinī and his involvement in experiments with Zen priest and transpersonal scientist, Dr Motoyama. Her own experiences have pointed her towards a phenomenological investigation of the parallels between spontaneous Kuṇḍalinī awakenings and Buddhist paths to enlightenment. Her previous research focuses on the phenomenology of Buddhist and Yogic experiences through practice.

Ann is currently researching spontaneous Kuṇḍalinī arousals and how these experiences map onto the path of realisation within Indian Buddhist and Yogic traditions as well as cutting-edge consciousness theory. Her mission is to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological processes that can arise from spontaneous transpersonal experiences or deep meditation practice and how we can safely support others walking this path towards greater wholeness.

Website: annmathie.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded October 8, 2022

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction and Background
  • 00:04:25 – Kundalini and Theosophy
  • 00:08:29 – Questioning Mainstream Sanity
  • 00:11:53 – Exploring Different Religious Practices
  • 00:16:02 – The Complexity of Traditions and Spiritual Paths
  • 00:19:48 – The Path of Compassion and Moral Behavior
  • 00:23:46 – The Three Components: Rajasic, Sattvic, Tamasic
  • 00:27:39 – Breakthroughs and Trauma in Spiritual Experiences
  • 00:31:07 – The Arhat and Enlightenment in Buddhism
  • 00:34:34 – The Four Stages to Arhant-hood
  • 00:38:12 – The Power of Insight in Teaching and Evaluation of Teachers
  • 00:41:58 – The Importance of a Healthy Guru-Student Relationship
  • 00:45:47 – Spiritual Integrity and Money in Modern Society
  • 00:49:19 – Contrasting skillful means and direct realization
  • 00:53:05 – The Benefits of Meditation Practice
  • 00:56:57 – Dissolving the Illusion of Self-Personality
  • 01:00:27 – Awakening Without Practice
  • 01:04:25 – The Manifestation of Kundalini Energy
  • 01:08:35 – Spontaneous Body Movements and Kriyas
  • 01:12:06 – Letting Go of Stored Emotions
  • 01:15:40 – The Relationship Between Shaking and Psychological Processes
  • 01:19:28 – Managing Kundalini Energy for Individuals with Weak Neural Networks or Trauma
  • 01:23:07 – The Consequences of Mind-Shattering Experiences
  • 01:27:04 – The Challenges of Running a Marathon
  • 01:30:51 – The Path to Enlightenment and Psychological Health
  • 01:34:49 – The 10 Impurities of Insight
  • 01:38:41 – The Importance of the Whole Path
  • 01:42:18 – Finding Balance on the Spiritual Path
  • 01:46:27 – Importance of Cultivating Right Intention
  • 01:50:29 – The Importance of Compassion and Kindness
  • 01:54:14 – A Conversation with Ann Mathie

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603. Tara Springett

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Tara SpringettFrom her teenage years onwards Tara has been deeply interested in personal growth and self-development and has dedicated her life to this quest.

Tara holds an M.A. in Education and has post-graduate qualifications in gestalt therapy, body awareness therapy, and transpersonal therapy. She is a fully qualified and licensed psychotherapist and counselor. Tara has worked as a drug counselor, counselor for adolescents, and general psychotherapist since 1988.

Tara has been a dedicated Buddhist practitioner since 1986. In 1997 she received encouragement from her Buddhist teacher Rigdzin Shikpo to teach meditation to others. In 2002 her Buddhist teacher Venerable Garchen Rinpoche also encouraged her to teach.

Tara has since taught ongoing meditation groups and combines Buddhist wisdom and her experience in counseling when assisting her clients with their personal growth, self-development, and improvement.

Since 2011 Tara has specialized in helping people suffering from kundalini syndrome.

Tara is the author of several self-help books. She has been featured in numerous publications and has appeared on various radio and television shows in Europe and the US. Tara is a regular contributor to beliefnet.com.

Tara (born 1960) lives in the beautiful countryside of Devon in England where she also works in her private counseling (Skype) practice together with her husband Nigel. In her free time, Tara loves to walk in nature, visit old-fashioned English tea rooms, and lavish many hours of work on her flower garden.

Websites

Books

Some points covered in this conversation:

  • Kundalini can be scary if you don’t know what it is: consciousness expansion.
  • ‘Higher consciousness healing’ to facilitate the process of kundalini awakening.
  • Kriyas (involuntary movements) may happen in the beginning phase of kundalini awakening. We shouldn’t repress or encourage them.
  • Traumas get stored in specific parts of the body. The physical body is permeated by an energy body, in which we feel our thoughts and emotions, including our ‘unconscious’ thoughts.
  • How different traumas reside in different chakras.
  • Kundalini is a subtle psycho-spiritual process.
  • Four levels of spiritual practice.
  • For balanced development, it’s important to continue working with the chakras, particularly the lower ones, even after reaching a high state of consciousness.
  • The importance of infusing bliss into all the chakras and purging them of negativity.
  • The foundational importance of morality and ‘loving kindnesses.’
  • Being authentic and honest, even if the world doesn’t appreciate it.
  • According to Buddhism, evolution continues on subtler levels after enlightenment.
  • Deification in Tibetan Buddhism.
  • Mental health issues and kundalini symptoms can coexist.
  • Kundalini awakenings are always accompanied by a strong spiritual motivation.
  • The importance of regular routines.
  • It’s extremely rare for kundalini to cause mental health issues, and only then if one has a disposition for that.
  • Psychedelic drugs can cause problematic kundalini awakenings.
  • The importance of preparedness before pursuing advanced teachings.
  • Love and forgiveness indicate you’re on the right path.
  • Profound inner changes usually result in corresponding changes in outer life.
  •  A ‘tantric relationship’ can accelerate your mutual development.
  • Long retreats vs. daily practice.
  • The middle path between extremes: surrender vs. control, caution vs. trust, rational thinking vs. intuition, judging vs. accepting.
  • Kundalini awakenings are conducive to good health.
  • A kundalini awakening begun in a past life can continue in this one.
  • Nine stages of consciousness.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded June 19, 2021.

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:04:41 – Managing Negative Emotions and Scary Energy Movements
  • 00:09:08 – The Process of Kundalini Awakening and Kriyas
  • 00:13:32 – Storing Traumas in the Body
  • 00:18:08 – The Correlation Between Chinese Medicine and Subtle Body
  • 00:22:26 – Four Levels of Spiritual Practice
  • 00:26:59 – The Experience of Being the Deity
  • 00:31:26 – The Levels of Development in Dzogchen Teaching
  • 00:35:24 – Working with the Chakras for Awakening Kundalini
  • 00:39:21 – Speaking the Truth with Diplomacy
  • 00:43:37 – Kundalini Awakening and Clearing Deep-Seated Issues
  • 00:48:03 – Becoming a Deity in Tibetan Buddhism
  • 00:52:21 – Contradictions in Buddhist Teachings
  • 00:56:55 – Coexistence of Mental Health and Kundalini Symptoms
  • 01:01:45 – The Relationship between Kundalini Awakening and Mental Disorders
  • 01:06:28 – The Dangers of Kundalini Awakening via Drugs
  • 01:10:27 – Deflected Kundalini Rising and its Consequences
  • 01:14:52 – Kundalini awakening and its accessibility through the internet
  • 01:19:15 – The Starting Point: Kundalini Awakening
  • 01:23:26 – Signs of Progress in Meditation
  • 01:27:47 – The Evolution of Relationships and the Tantric Relationship
  • 01:32:18 – Managing Sensitivity
  • 01:36:47 – Pacing Yourself in the Enlightenment Process
  • 01:41:19 – Dzogrim and the Fusion of Control, Surrender, and Love
  • 01:45:30 – Balancing Judgment and Acceptance
  • 01:49:31 – Balancing Bliss States and Family Life
  • 01:53:50 – The Health Benefits of Kundalini Awakening
  • 01:58:06 – Kundalini Awakening and Prophetic Dreams
  • 02:02:14 – Stages of Consciousness
  • 02:06:35 – The Stages of Consciousness Development
  • 02:10:49 – Books on Kundalini Symptoms and Awakening

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589. Raymond Schumann

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Raymond SchumannRaymond Schumann is a fifth-generation carpenter with a high school education. A Roman Catholic upbringing left him sexually repressed. Adolescence left him a Soldier of Christ gone AWOL.

In his twenties, he learned about dissociative disorder. The theory explained much. Help was not thick on the ground and ripe in the pod. Not in those days. A shrink who claimed to treat multiple personalities endangered his career. Schumann was on his own. He named the self who thwarted his desires Holdfast.

Schumann knew spiritual consciousness was essential to healing. That only made things worse. He’d watched guru after roshi disgrace themselves. There was nothing to trust there. The more he sought healing, the worse Holdfast trashed him.

Eventually, Schumann was desperate enough to say, “This has to get better. I don’t care what it costs. This has to get better.” At that instant, he suffered a Kundalini awakening. Never trust a Goddess. She opened the door to a year of hell. A year leading to ego death. A year leading to nondual awareness.

Things only got worse from there.

If you would like to contact Raymond, here’s his email address.

Transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded February 28, 2021

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:02:46 – The Self and Spiritual Consciousness
  • 00:05:20 – Exploring Spiritual Interests in Youth
  • 00:08:29 – The Self that Thwarted Desires
  • 00:12:35 – The Impact of Kundalini Awakening on Daily Life
  • 00:17:07 – Naming the Inner Drives “Holdfast”
  • 00:21:35 – The Wrecking Ball of Kundalini
  • 00:27:27 – Losing the Ego and Sense of Self
  • 00:32:18 – The localized quality of experience and the ego construction
  • 00:36:35 – The Role of Language in Human Existence
  • 00:41:06 – The Evolution and Development of Ego
  • 00:45:43 – The Complexity of the Ego and Ego Death
  • 00:51:52 – The experience of self-recognition
  • 00:56:25 – Liberation from Ego Holons
  • 01:02:41 – Lack of Free Will
  • 01:07:01 – First Do No Harm and Meeting Swami Muktananda
  • 01:10:35 – Variables and the Flow of Shakti
  • 01:13:39 – Meeting Bubastis
  • 01:16:20 – The Cat with Psychic Inflation
  • 01:19:10 – The Wisdom Download and Preparation
  • 01:22:36 – Understanding the Clue
  • 01:25:55 – The Risks of Playing with Powers
  • 01:29:24 – The Chakra System and Ego Death
  • 01:33:50 – The Importance of Writing Things Down
  • 01:37:08 – The Power of Journaling and Meditation
  • 01:41:30 – The Torture of Holdfast
  • 01:45:30 – The Presence of God in Our Lives
  • 01:48:39 – The meaning of “beyond the PALE”
  • 01:53:53 – The Potential Impact of Spiritual Awakening and Transformation
  • 01:58:18 – Closing Remarks and Contact Information
  • 02:00:46 – Farewell and Thank You

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