Recently, I saw a talk on rising vs descending awakening. They classified a lot of religious and spiritual approaches as rising awakening – up and out. This is more masculine and mental. Heaven & God is above and the devil below. This is very attractive for those who wish to escape the world.
The talk put shamanic and indigenous practices as more down, in (embodied), and feminine. They also mentioned Adyashanti’s “head, heart, gut” here, but this is a distinct thing.
As Kundalini Vidya describes, there is the rising, where kundalini Shakti rises up the spine to join Shiva in the crown at awakening (Self Realization). Then they descend together. This is the part Adyashanti was describing – a post-awakening descent of head, heart, & gut. There is a rising up, then a coming down in higher stages.
Also distinct is the embodiment process – awakening to the Self, then to Brahman, and Divinity, then bringing each of those down into the life. Trillium Awakening places a big emphasis on this embodiment process, hence “waking down.” The stages of enlightenment focus on the initial shifts but we don’t fully live them until they’re embodied. It’s not about living them in some abstraction but here in the human life.
And finally, we have the different styles of practice that can indeed emphasize a more natural, earthy approach or a more airy, transcendent approach like I do.
These processes are all intertwined, but it’s important to recognize the distinctions between the overall process, embodiment in life, and styles of practice. Otherwise, you can unintentionally resist what is being called for as you develop a habit of a certain way of being.
For example, a fuller process includes a post-awakening descent and a process of embodiment that may move us into more somatic or shamanic work. Grounding becomes key. Staying up and out will not support your human life.
Or we may start on the shamanic side, then add in transcending practices to complete the process. There are many variations in how the path unfolds for each apparent person.
Davidya
Hi David!
What a fascinating subject.
I don’t see it overtly in many traditions, but (as you know), the final ox-herding picture in Zen points beautifully to the “down and in” stage.
You mentioned Kundalini Vidya.
I heard Joan Harrigan is adding about 100 pages to a new, updated version of Kundalini Vidya, should be very interesting to see.
Hi Chris,
Yes, a lot of focus is on making the shifts but leaving out embodiment. Enlightenment is described as some perfected state rather than as a human living a greater range.
Ah, interesting to hear about the book. Thanks.