What is kundalini and how is it related to Zen? ~ with Julian Daizan Skinner

Daizan takes the opportunity to look in some depth at the concept, practice and imagary around kundalini energy and its relationship to yoga and meditation practice as seen from the Zen perspective.
Scroll on the wall: Dragon and Mt Fuji by Kano Tan’yu (17th Century)
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Zenways promotes and encourages activities and practices that enhance human wellbeing, balance and awakening (satori or kensho - the enlightenment of Zen) in the many different situations we find ourselves in. Over many years of strict training, in Japan and the west, Julian Daizan Skinner received dharma transmission and permission to teach in both the Rinzai and Soto lineages of Zen. He now teaches at the Yugagyo Dojo in London, UK. May these recordings help you and those around you to find and realise the truth.
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[@Vince-ml9gw]

🙏 Many thanks Daizan. I really appreciate your heartfelt videos. Guidance. Kindness. Honesty. Humor. Wisdom. Encouragement. I live in a very rural area by choice. Having access to your videos is truly a gift to all. Tusen Takk. 🙏

[@Zenways_zen]

You're very welcome, Vince 🙏

[@danfoxley8684]

How wonderful to again hear your teaching on this journey, Daizan Roshi. You truly helped me so much when this energy blasted off for me those years back now. My gratitude always

[@Zenways_zen]

You're so welcome, Hozan. Hope you're well.

[@lorivessali328]

Exactly what I needed to hear right now. Thank you Daizan. 🙏

[@Zenways_zen]

You're very welcome, Lori 🙏

[@murrik]

2:30 5:15 13:15 is very nice

[@dariuszhieronimstobiecki8237]

That's a very good explanation!

[@Zenways_zen]

Thank you

[@afawux5863]

Even saints get caught by the snake. In reverse, all words could be in reverse, no attachment and the cobra involves neurantomical reflex tuning in the void. Thus, confusion can become clear. The dragon protects the crystal, Shinto canot exist without and the dragon is always before how far back in history a symbolic based memory can reach. Nice videos.

[@jonashjerpe7421]

I had a major kundalini awakening about a decade ago. In Zen it was brushed off by the masters as just another wave in the ocean. But it certainly was not. At that time I had a great capacity to consciously face what the Ego simply strive to avoid. But this energy simply caused the nervous system to resist on a deeply unconscious level. The masters stubbornly refused to acknowledge my experience. Soon I left Zen and found a Hindu teacher that handled the situation with great insight. As it happened I had to leave Zen to fully reveal the Truth that Zen is all about. Nowadays I guide many, many students that have left Zen for very much the same reason. There is clearly a blindspot in the tradition, although this video may be the exception to the rule. Thanks

[@hidetoedwarduno7681]

I don't think it's that simple from the Buddhist perspective, but Ok, I get your perspective as well.

[@renko9067]

I couldn’t agree more. I think there are some fully realized zen teachers but over many years I never met any. I know one guy who’s been ordained and he’s had one simple kensho. Not sure what happened to zen.

[@muddywaterhowlinwolf]

Thank you for this video @Zenways. Like @jonashjerpe7421, I also had a major kundalini experience (won't say awakening!) at a Zen temple in Japan. I completed one 7 day retreat (Osesshin), and it happened during the second one the following month. Shortly after, I also found myself in front of a Hindu teacher (a swami) after traveling to India in part to get some answers about the snake-like energy that had risen up my spine (the idea of looking into "kundalini" experiences randomly occurred to me while I was in Dharamshala). Appropriately, I found, however, that the Hindu tradition had too many easy answers for everything energy related while Zen had too little to say. I didn't leave the Zen tradition. The Zen master I trained with had Buddha knowledge, while the swami I met did not and was quick to ask for money (eventually $10,000 to complete his yoga center) and gifts for his services and pester me to ask everyone in my social network to receive his teachings. I'm grateful to have learned valuable lessons about seeking the truth outside of myself, making something special of spiritual experiences, and appreciating the difficulties and joys and importance of maintaining a 24/7 practice.

[@marciestoddard730]

@@muddywaterhowlinwolf wow this is very informative and my story is somewhat similiar although i had many symptoms at a vupasanna retreat, felt unsafe to even discuss it there.....afterwards i looked for answers and i could scarcely find anything in buddhism although jack kornfield discusses it in some of his talks and books. .i found indian guidance on the matter to be rather rooted in the ethereal mystical, while what i had and have going on internittently is definitely IN the body not in the cosmos. they have so many prescribed rituals and visuals that it ends up making the life force tired and disconnected. or you end up stuck in your upper centers without developing any character. its very hard to get help with this stuff.

[@vajraman2067]

I did as well as and to a certain degree, many Masters and Meditation teachers are derelict in their duty to warn, advise and instruct beginning meditators on this topic. I left because of the experience for the Vajrayana. If you're a Zen student, and provided you're able the Shingon sect of Buddhism in Japan may be able to help.

[@yggdasil]

Very interesting Daizan, thank you for this talk! I recently started dating a person practicing Kundalini stuff who asked me about Zens relation to Kundalini and then this popped up! 🙏

[@Zenways_zen]

You're very welcome 🙏

[@djanitatiana]

🙏

[@Zenways_zen]

🙏

[@fullcircleaudio]

Fascinating. Should I abstain from releasing sexual energy if on Zen path?

[@Zenways_zen]

This might be useful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpWrZHSuqKx0f7s

[@kenjones102]

"It's all good and it's on your side". It was for me outside of a Zen practice, but it hasn't been for everyone, as psychiatric hospitals can attest. I would advise against attempting to raise the kundalini and just allow it to raise if it does. I found I could tell it to calm down if it interfered with a meditation and it would. For a full explanation, one would be best to consult with Hindu traditions.

[@marciestoddard730]

idk seems some of the hindu traditions veer off too much into the third eye, magical mystical realm without emphasizing grounding and development in meditation (not only mantra). gopi krishna wrote very well on his experiences, but i would argue that consulting hindu traditions on the matter might even lead down an even more unnecessary road.

[@1invag]

I usually figured in the Saint George and the dragon example what was being expressed was the dragon serpent symbolising the ouroborus or *the dweller at the threshold* which was being slain. Like the old children's hymn. When a Knight wore his spurs in the stories of old, he was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold. With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand for god and for valour he rode through the land. No charger have I and no sword by my side. Yet still to adventure and battle I ride. Through back into storyland gaints have fled And the Knights are no more and the dragons are dead. Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed, against the dragons of anger and the ogres of greed Let me set free with the sword of my youth From the castle of darkness the power of gods truth Always remembered that since I was a kid that stuck with me. And I wasn't raised religious and am not religious we just had to sing it for assembly in school. And I remembered it. And it think it's deep with symbolism. It's harkening back to a time when giants strode the land overcoming great challenges and though it may seem like those days are gone we still face the exact same challenges today. And while our tools may be different we can still slay the beast and restore peace to the land if we hear the call. Hard to label this is anyone thing though as dragon and serpent mythology from around the world symbolises so many different things. So it can be anything you want it to mean in essence, I know there's a lot of fung shui black dragon white dragon stuff related to mountains and rivers. Really can dive endlessly deeply into this stuff much like anything else. From any perspective you choose

[@Zenways_zen]

Thank you for your interesting comment.