The Siddhis- a Brief introduction from www.askjeeves.com entered siddhis

01-05-2002, 12:03 PM

The Siddhis - A Brief Introduction
A siddhi defined as "a magickal or spiritual power for the control of
self, others and the forces of nature" by a Tantrik Glossary. The
siddhis described by occultists and yogis are in actuality
supernormal perceptual states available to all human beings. These
are absolutely natural abilities that can be explained in highly
rational terms. There is nothing mysterious or magical about the
siddhis. Just like any other natural human ability, different people
display differing abilities towards learning and/or spontaneously
displaying siddhis. Some people are born with siddhis that they
exercise without being aware that their particular psychic gift is
unusual. In such cases, it may come as a traumatic event to the
individual when they learn that their ability is not common and that
they are considered a "misfit" by other people not possessing the
psychic ability. In other cases, one can practice yoga and actively
develop siddhis. According to occult theory, this is the rational and
desirable way to go about achieving siddhis. Another means to trigger
off siddhis in an unexpected and uncontrolled manner is by the use of
certain drugs. Hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, mescaline, peyote and
others stimulate siddhis in an uncontrolled fashion. This is a very
dangerous way to evoke siddhis and can lead to great psychological
trauma. As well, a variety of other stimuli may cause siddhis
spontaneously, such as a fall or a blow to the head. However the
siddhis are produced, the fact is that they exist. The existence of
the siddhis is doubted by most people because they have no experience
with them. However, the act of dreaming is considered a siddhi. Thus,
any one who has dreamed has utilized a siddhi. Our so-called normal
psychological attributes bleed imperceptibly into the perceptual
realms (the Planes of Nature) opened up by the awakening of the
siddhis, thus it is not clear cut at all as to where "normal"
psychological behaviors end, and siddhis begin. And to further
complicate the situation, though academic psychologists see many
cases of people experiencing siddhis, the academic psychology
community, on the whole, is completely unaware of the nature and
existence of the siddhis. Often this leads to the psychologist or
psychiatrist treating individuals who are experiencing siddhis in an
inappropriate and damaging fashion. Often, cases of so-called
insanity or psychosis are cases of people experiencing siddhis who
are scared and confused, in which case the individual may be given
completely inappropriate treatment that only worsens the individual's
condition. Of course there are valid forms of psychosis in which
confinement or institutionalization are required. Again, however, the
borderline between such cases and cases of people experiencing siddhis
is ambiguous and ill defined presently. In the future, Western
academic science will be forced to accept the realities of the
siddhis as their nature becomes better understood. In conclusion, it
must be strongly and thoroughly stressed that the siddhis are
absolutely natural abilities latent in all humans. If one takes the
time to learn and practice the correct yoga exercises, then it is
inevitable that one will directly experience the awakening of their
own siddhis. Again, there is nothing magical or mysterious going on
here, and all claims put forth regarding the siddhis stand open to
any type of test of their validity that anyone wishes to pose.
However, those skeptical of the siddhis and who wish to challenge the
claim to the existence of the siddhis must be prepared to recognize
that the nature of the siddhis will not fit easily into biased
misconceptions. One who experiences siddhis operates in a greater,
more expanded psychological reality than one who does not and
therefore the skeptic must be prepared to expand his or her
understanding in an attempt to either prove or disprove the existence
of the siddhis.

***Lynette***

Heart to heart we meet with words, Apart we walk
our ways Forever immortal Our
stories told Enchantment From all
our days.

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01-05-2002, 12:45 PM

--- In HarshaSatsangh@y..., "Lynette" wrote:
> The Siddhis - A Brief Introduction

[snip]

Personally, I wouldn't consider anything culled from "Ask Jeeves"
to be a reliable treatment on anything, let alone something as
undocumented and subjective as the subject of siddhis.

This was obviously written by someone who either believes they
have siddhis, or believes in siddhis or wants to believe in them.

> However, those skeptical of the siddhis and who wish to challenge
> the claim to the existence of the siddhis must be prepared to
> recognize that the nature of the siddhis will not fit easily into
> biased misconceptions. One who experiences siddhis operates in a
> greater, more expanded psychological reality than one who does not
> and therefore the skeptic must be prepared to expand his or her
> understanding in an attempt to either prove or disprove the
> existence of the siddhis.

That is the standard boilerplate one encounters when dealing with
those who make extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence.

But this discussion isn't about the existence of siddhis. This
discussion is about claiming to have siddhis in the context of
a discussion of jnana yoga. The sages have been exceedingly clear
on this point. Siddhis have nothing to do with jnana yoga.
Siddhis are phenomena that exist in the context of Maya, and just
like everything else that is encountered in Maya, they are to
be dismissed as being essentially unreal from the regard of
the Self.

I would add that those who claim to have siddhis without being
able to prove them are attempting to present themselves as
something more than they are, especially when they go to great
lengths to convince us in the continued absence of evidence,
and especially when they resort to condenscendingly turning
the tables using psychobabble.

If you have siddhis, keep them to yourself in the context of
a discussion of jnana yoga. If you want to talk about them,
go to another list where such things are discussed.

01-05-2002, 12:54 PM

On Sat, 05 Jan 2002 22:45:34 -0000 "jodyrrr" writes:
> --- In HarshaSatsangh@y..., "Lynette" wrote:
> > The Siddhis - A Brief Introduction
>
> [snip]
>
[more snippage]
>
> That is the standard boilerplate one encounters when dealing with
> those who make extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence.
>
> But this discussion isn't about the existence of siddhis. This
> discussion is about claiming to have siddhis in the context of
> a discussion of jnana yoga. The sages have been exceedingly clear
> on this point. Siddhis have nothing to do with jnana yoga.
> Siddhis are phenomena that exist in the context of Maya, and just
> like everything else that is encountered in Maya, they are to
> be dismissed as being essentially unreal from the regard of
> the Self.
>
> I would add that those who claim to have siddhis without being
> able to prove them are attempting to present themselves as
> something more than they are, especially when they go to great
> lengths to convince us in the continued absence of evidence,
> and especially when they resort to condenscendingly turning
> the tables using psychobabble.
>
> If you have siddhis, keep them to yourself in the context of
> a discussion of jnana yoga. If you want to talk about them,
> go to another list where such things are discussed.
>
Alternatively, Wim could easily
found his own list. The
moderators would have no
problem with an announcement
and invitation being posted
here.

__________________________________________________
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