Hey Strangers, it's been a while, but a friend here told me about this discussion. I was born with some powers and the full menu of options appeared to me after a profound nondual shift in orientation.While using mainly pragmatic dharma techniques over the course of 9 years different powers appear in my awareness. Last year I attended the BG after conference session. Emily Horn said she has had shamanic guides appear when she meditates. I have had that happen. I don't have control over their coming and going. If they appear, I observe them. If there's just this, I observe this. This past year in particular, I experienced direct realization of Oneness with Source, while working gary weber's techniques, and consulting him about this stuff. All the powers arose and passed within a three month period. Some I can access at will, but that takes effort and stillness is where it's at. The consensus is "I Am That" from which the all arises, so it's not a huge leap to discover more layers of Self. When you have access to the void--samadhi--that it. Nothing is needed. But, these occurrences arise of their own accord. While they were being known, I consulted with my teachers. One of my teachers is an Advaita guy, one is pragmatic dharma oriented, and one is a qigong master/master healer. They all openly acknowledge the powers and encourage meeting whatever arrises with equanimity. If you feel called to work with them, do it. After all, if you have the ability to smell, you don't spend your life chasing fragrances, but you don't walk around with your nose plugged, either. On the other hand, if you could never smell anything and then one day your olfactory functions came online, you might take up rose or herb gardening. Likewise, when awareness comes through the eyes or taste buds, or nerve endings, nobody says there are only certain kinds of people who see and taste and sense. People with multi sensory perception simply Know what quantum physicists tell us. We are not solid. We are eeking our way through eternity as energy and pure, expanded awareness. Everything that appears solid is illusion. Kinda surprised more folks here don't share that lens. As your consciousness/awareness expands, you might *notice* more or "presence" as not self, which is closer to true Self. Or you might merge directly with Source, which is obviously not a bad gig. You'll quickly learn that Source is Home and you won't want anything nor need anything to be different. The psychic stuff endlessly unfolds in all directions and is not self, but everything is Self. So it is that too. Buddha said, "The Universe is vast, O Monks." He talked about seeing other planetary systems, etc. My preference is to be here now, fully inhabiting my body. There is nothing to seek that will satisfy more than this. Stillness is bliss, simplicity a luxury. Life dances across the screen of awareness all on its own. Sat chit ananda. Chillax. If you find yourself on a far journey, it will probably be as good as a trip to a tropical island in the dead of winter. Come home. Shake the sand out of your pant legs. Let it all go. There's just this. Surrender. It's really nice!
But don't take my word for it. Here's a link to Shinzen's musings on the subject. I have his Science of Enlightenment audio from Sounds True, and found the transcript of chapters 13 & 14 at this link:
www.c4chaos.com/2009/10/the-science-of-e...ate-realms-of-power/
Enjoy!
