#siddhis

[imaginal-ai]

"Spiritual Adept" (0001)

(The Mystery School Series)

[rrcraft-and-lore]

Random art/history/spirituality/pop culture thread.

Finished a rewatch recently of A:TLA and Korra as well.

Avatar itself is a South Asian concept that in Sanskrit means Descent, as in descended from - signifying the incarnation/material appearance of a powerful deity or spirit.

Aang and Korra are literally that - the new incarnations of a long tradition of the Avatar being reborn to save/aid/guide a world.

The concept under the name, Avatar, didn't exist in Vedic literature, though, but post-Vedic (again by name, reincarnation and the meaning/point/mythic use did exist, as did a doctrine about the idea of avatars, but again, not the term used as such in some of the original texts).

Instead, terms like "from/of divine descent" - 19th century rising Western interest in Hinduism at the time led to Avatar being yoinked as a loanword to English. But what else?

Well, specifically in the rewatch, something I thought was rather sweet: The mention of Guru Laghima.

This happens in Korra where one of the villains (I shouldn't say no spoilers so far long after the show's ended but...polite?) when a big villain reveals their interest in the writings of this Guru and...it leads to this villain being able to fly.

Well, let's look into Laghima.

Now, there was no Guru Laghima in real life, obviously. But the last name here? It's really a word -- a concept.

Oooooo. A reference.

So, what is Laghima?

In a nutshell. "Lightness." It is "The Absence of Weight."

It is one of the 8 major Siddhis - the spiritual or supernatural abilities achieved by those who've reached the heights of spiritual mastery/divine arts, ascetism/ascetic arts.

If one mastered Laghima one in theory could attain a level of lightness so light in fact, you are truly weightless and can fly.

Don't recommend trying this. But, it was just something I wanted to nerd out about, share, and the nicety of seeing in a major IP.

It is still weird there's like only one Indian guy in the shows though and he's the "guru" monk in the mountains who shows up for one short tight moment to teach Aang about chakras (which btw...he did a damn good job on that though, real talk).

There's a huge thing with art here where a whole host of South Asian stuff is yoinked/altered/coopted more. And there's like...no south asians behind/with it?

To end on a wholesome positive cooperative and comparative note?

If this feels familiar and you're a martial arts film buff, or read wuxia, well, it's because it might strike similar to the use of "lightness" with Qinggong for martial artists to gain the lightness to leap like they in wuxia flicks. Run on water or up on walls. I might do a detailed thread on the 8 major Siddhis though when my brain is better.

[aerofvther]

CYBERsEQUENCE

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CYBERspace GIRL

[sspacegodd]

Bhaanu grabs a quick float before siddhi class.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

The great Tantric master (mahasiddha) Virupa, who is said to have lived in the seventh century, became a wandering yogi after being an abbot of India’s greatest Buddhist monastery.

This painting shows him seated with a raised hand forming a gesture of subjugation. Virupa’s gesture—a raised hand with a finger pointing up to the sun—refers to an episode when he was on an epic drinking spree and agreed with the tavern proprietor to settle the bill at sunset. He then used his great meditative powers to stop the sun in its course until after several days without night the local ruler, fearful of a possible drought, paid his tab. This story emphasizes the magical abilities Virupa gained from tantric practices, which he transmitted to his students.

We hope you celebrate today by remembering Virupa and enjoying the sunshine! ________ Mahasiddha Virupa; Gongkar Chode Monastery, U Province, Central Tibet; ca. 1659-1671; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; C2004.14.1 (HAR 65340)

[Rubin Museum of Art]

* * * *

“36. The intellect and the Puruṣa (Ātman, Self) are totally different, the intellect existing for the sake of the Puruṣa, while the Puruṣa exists for its own sake. Not distinguishing this is the cause of all experiences; and by saṁyama on the distinction, knowledge of the Puruṣa is gained.

37. From this knowledge arises superphysical hearing, touching, seeing, tasting and smelling through spontaneous

38. These [superphysical senses] are obstacles to [nirbija] samādhi but are siddhis (powers or accomplishments) in the worldly pursuits.”

― Satchidananda , The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

[radheshyamsahu]

[turiyatitta]

To Reach Beyond the Luminous

A Contemplation on Enlightenment and Distractions Along the PathIn our intrinsic pursuit of enlightenment, myriad entities, experiences, and spiritual phenomena often unveil themselves, presenting a paradoxical tapestry where understanding and distraction intertwine. When such entities or guides emerge along our path, they necessitate neither fixation nor rejection. For if they come, let them…

[imaginal-ai]

"Spiritual Adept" (0002)

(More of The Mystery School Series)

0001

[rrcraft-and-lore]

I recently mentioned the 8 Siddhis from South Asian spirituality and in the epics and Vedic to Hindu practices and in Buddhism as well.

What are they?

Narratively, most popularly to many, they are powers associated with Lord Hanuman.

But others can possess them as well and have, and in the ascetic arts, it's said you too can pursue and possess these abilities. So, what are they?

1: Aṇimā: the ability to reduce one's body to the size of an atom. NOTE: Your strength is not diminished here. So...think Ant Man potential.

You're a damn hyper mobile bullet at that point if you think about it. That's POWERFUL.

Now, note. This is not a GIGANTISM ability. ONLY SHRINKING. Narratively, Lord Hanuman uses this ability to shrink and hide from demons while searching Lanka for Mata Sita (mother Sita)

2: Mahimā: the ability to expand one's body to an infinitely large size. INFINITELY. Once, Lord Hanuman used this ability to become large enough (and his strength grew with him) to be able to carry a whole fucking mountain.

With this Siddhi, one can grow large enough to become celestial sized Vamana, also known as "Three step," the "milk-dwarf", and the "binder," is the 5th avatar of the God Lord Vishnu (the Preserver), in his dwarf avatar existence he uses Mahimā to grow large enough to take three steps in which he covers ALL of existence, and on the third step striding toward his enemy, the demon (really an Asura) king Mahabali, and shove him into the underworld.

3: Laghimā: the ability to become weightless or lighter than air. This is the example I talked about yesterday in where even Avatar: The Legend of Korra, in where they tied the Siddhi to a fictional Guru in the story for a really cool moment. And, yes, just like in the show, in the South Asian epics and myths, characters used this ability to become light enough to fly (even some demons who learned this Siddhi).

4: Garimā: the ability to become heavy or dense.

Note: You cannot alter your weight HOWEVER YOU WANT. You can increase it (not mass - weight) to the point of becoming literally immovable by anyone else.

5: Prāpti: the ability to realize whatever one desires. I wish, right? Well...okay, kinda that's what it is. It's the ability to create/grant anything. Just like that. Or achieve it. Gods, demons, and more do this throughout the epics. Some gods will snap up a boon right there. I've managed a tablet at best through wishy wishy magic powers.

...look, I have work to do, and practice, okay? In essence, it's the ability to get your desires.

6: Prākāmya: This one's complicated. This Siddhi allows one to adapt amazingly to circumstances around them. One can travel - adapt to distance, teleport, increase the length of their live -- longevity, live under water, or on top of freezing mountains.

7: Īśitva: the ability to control all material elements or natural forces. You can make it rain, storm, earthquake, or...something subtler, move the ground around you as you wish.

It's pretty godly.

8: Vaśitva: the ability to influence minds. This applies to creatures as well - not just humanoid, demon, gods and other beings of that nature. You can tame wild beasts, calm the angered, and more.

[doingthedirtydishes]

#allthingsforareason #nomistakesinlife #gratitude #everythingisalesson #everyoneisateacher #sakti #doingthedirtydishespodcast #samskarasamsara #unbreakablemindbook #satundermaya #siddhis #sohamchakraborty #conscioussakti #samsara Doing The Dirty Dishes Instagram link: www.instagram.com/doingthedirtydishesdaily https://www.instagram.com/p/CpDWZFbO3b4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sspacegodd]

It's nothing new. People have been weaseling their way into blissful states like samadhi for years (see Ramakrishna).

But then there's also the true stuff.

[natty373]

Reading into gene keys is a fav past time for me over the past year - reading into mine & others #shadows & how we can turn them into gifts & #siddhis. Such beautiful #concepts to work with as they give such #insight into our #patterns that sometimes we #delude our cells to thinking they are #personality traits … if anyone would like to learn more about their gene keys - send me a message & I’d be more than happy to share so depths with you - as it’s fun to work with #personaldevelopment #charting #iching #edutaining #learningismysuperpower #liferefinementtherapies #dothework #playthegame #lifebeinit #love https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnvy8fqvgnz/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mahayanapilgrim]

The Secret of a Full Life

The secret of a full life is to live and relate to others as if they might not be there tomorrow, as if you might not be there tomorrow. It eliminates the vice of procrastination, the sin of postponement, failed communications, failed communions. This thought has made me more and more attentive to all encounters. meetings, introductions, which might contain the seed of depth that might be carelessly overlooked. This feeling has become a rarity, and rarer every day now that we have reached a hastier and more superficial rhythm, now that we believe we are in touch with a greater amount of people, more people, more countries. This is the illusion which might cheat us of being in touch deeply with the one breathing next to us.

The dangerous time when mechanical voices, radios, telephones, take the place of human intimacies, and the concept of being in touch with millions brings a greater and greater poverty in intimacy and human vision.

~ Anais Nin

The Diary of Anaïs Nin

[tsalala]

This was the last time in June 2020 that I saw all three together. I haven’t been going to the park regularly since then and I don’t really have regular pictures of them to tell the story after that. But they live separately and their mother has another litter of two cubs.

Arrowhead and her twin daughters Ranthambore National Park, India Photographed by Aditya Singh

[watrwords]

Okay but what about this

Lucius follows Ravi home, because he has nothing left, because what did they want? For him to take on the mantel? Live in the home his mother did with the man that killed arishat? Lucius was not little lucius nor was he Hanno, he was a mix of both now and the only constant in this Lucius/Hanno’s life was Ravi

So he follows Ravi, who takes it in stride, guides him with firm but gentle hands, introduces Lucius to his daughter and wife, both who like Ravi take things in stride

Lil Siddhi, wants to hear all kinds of stories, and wants him to twirl her around and did he really bite a monkey?

And Ceinwen understands exactly what has Lucius besotted because she too loves Ravi with all of her heart, so she finds commonality, her and lucius sharing looks that is just like how is he real and perfect? And idk if they fall in love too, maybe probably with time, they fall into a love, a rhythm, different from what they feel for ravi and different to what lucius felt for arishat but no less real and no less important and its okay