In several of the awakening interviews on Buddha at the Gas Pump, they mention the role of Waking Down to Mutuality. Where their long practice of meditation brought them close to waking, but their process seemed to have stalled. Then they did the emotional clearing of Waking Down and within a couple of years had “switched.”
My own process was much like this. At a certain point, it became apparent that I was being held back by what I was holding on to. While meditation had helped clear much of it, the stuff that was active needed more conscious attention.
Waking Down is a reference to Embodied awakening, full in-body awakening rather than early Self awareness. Where Self descends into the body, a later stage of Adyashanti’s description of head, heart, gut.
I reviewed their web site and read some of the articles. All of their teachers are apparently awake – it’s a required qualification. They use “gazing“, a “transmission” technique for visual connection to enliven Self within the student. (this is different but related to Shaktipat) And “Sittings”, what are typically called satsangs.
One article suggested they were more Tantric than the more impersonal Advaita. The approach also seems to be more organic. Rather than using traditional models of awakening, they are building their own, based on direct experience.
They have a section on the site where some of the teachers describe their own awakening.
Their approach appears to help tackle the residual active issues long meditators are carrying, thus enabling them to awaken. Looking and allowing can be very potent techniques for purifying the path. And the last barriers are much easier to see with the help of someone who has passed them. Without that, it’s easy to go in circles, the ego trying to see through itself.
They also have a general model of the awakening process.
CC Leigh’s description of “loss of Being” in early life is what I describe as the gaining of the shadow story. “Illuminations” are non-abiding experiences. The “core wound” seems to be what I call the core fear or identity. The “Deconstruction” and “rot” are part of the process of purification. This peaks with what Loch Kelly calls the BBQ.
Realization Part 1 is typically what is described as Self Realization or Cosmic consciousness. Part 2 or embodied, as early Unity. Not using these terms does avoid the burden of concepts that can come with them from long study. I had to shake out a lot of the old chaff myself. Like Rick’s comments on BatGap, long meditators can become jaded to the idea someone has actually switched as there are so many unmet concepts.
I agree that people will initially experience several primary ways (“Awareness, Being, and Heart“). These are all aspects of the greater wholeness that follows, sat chit ananda. I talk about them here as the Gyan, Hatha and Bhakti yoga paths.
She goes on to touch on aspects of more advanced stages like God Realization but I would not say there is a full picture here. But I love the organic, experiential approach. It is clearly not based on some conceptual or theoretical position.
Some of the teachers have very strong presence, even in the photos, so they’re doing something right. I’ll be interested to see how they evolve.
Davidya
[UPDATE – see new Caveat in comments]
Last Updated on April 27, 2018 by Davidya
My ego was taking me for a ride in circles for a while and then You, Kaushik, and Takuin appeared.
Hi Masi
Yes, that’s when my teachers appeared. When I became aware it was just ego telling ego stories about ego. Sometimes even pretending to be Self. I really got that there was no way out. At least, not that way.
Update – while this is second hand, I’ve heard a few things from friends who have been involved in Waking Down. You may want to check before you go further.
– the Bonders (founders) are no longer involved. (they’re now described as “guest teachers”)
– the local groups can be too focused on the crud, not enough on the light.
– teachers are getting into hallucinogens.
The last is a very big red flag as drugs can distort the physiology, creating a barrier to progress. While there is the possibility of a flashy experience, the cost can be much higher.
Interesting to come upon you, David. But–incorrect on us Bonders. Yes, we’re not involved with the Trillium Awakening organization and work. We are however very involved in our ongoing work through Human Sun Institute, where our primary teachings remain Waking Down® (or Waking Down in Mutuality®) and The White-Hot Yoga of the Heart™. I’ll be happy to bring you up to date and glad to share with you some of our writings and other offerings. Great place to start if you’re interested is our 2-hr. intro video “The Heart and Waking Down in Mutuality.” http://www.humansuninstitute.com/the-heart-and-wakingdown/ Thank you for your good work!
Hi Saniel
Ah good point organizationally. Waking Down is still under your care and is just you and your wife now. The other teachers who used to teach under that banner created a new umbrella org called Trillium Awakening that is distinct.