Ecopsychology

Basic Methods

Basic methods are those which allow one to attain such level of purification and development of energy structures of the organism, which would enable one to feel God, to learn how to attain Samadhi (the emotional states of intense Bliss that occur during contacts of the consciousness with the Holy Spirit).

These preparatory methods ensure further growth of the refined consciousness and develop its power — in order to come at the subsequent highest stages of work to the final Victory — Mergence with the Creator in His Abode.

In Hindu and Buddhist traditions these methods are known as Raja Yoga. Their variations were developed in Chinese Taoism and Muslim Sufism. They existed on the territory of Russia before its “christening”, which is clear from the high spiritual status of those who developed here spiritually [11, 14]. But the only spiritual practice of this level that is widely known in Christianity is the Jesus Prayer¹⁰.

Raja Yoga is based on working with the chakras, main meridians and the cocoon. The purpose of this work is to “cleanse” them to transparency and to develop them — in order to connect through them with the Divine level of subtlety.

Hence it becomes obvious that techniques of “coloring” the chakras practiced in some schools are harmful, and using them is a consequence of tremendous spiritual incompetence of the leaders of those schools. For the subtlest color is white with tender goldish hue, and any other color is obviously farther from the level of the subtlety of the Creator.

Another typical mistake that people may make when working with the chakras is placing the emphasis on the development of the ajna chakra and its “window” (“trikutta”), which, ostensibly, results in the attainment of clairvoyance. This tendency has a long history and originates in the incorrect interpretation of Krishna’s words in the Bhagavad Gita [11] (8:10), where He recommends channeling energy through the head. But from the next verses of Gita (8:12) it is clear that He meant the energy of Atman. However, in numerous schools, whose leaders have not cognized Atman yet, attempts are made to perform this with regular bioenergies; this results in activation of one of the coarsest (originally) chakras and as a consequence in coarsening of the entire consciousness. Such people develop, in particular, a “piercing”, sharp, unpleasant gaze. A tendency like this halts them for a long time in their spiritual development.

But the clairvoyance, which some seekers gain as a result of such practice, is of no real value, because it enables them to see only emotional auras around the heads of other people and is good only for “spying” upon their emotional states.

The truly significant clairvoyance is exercised by the structures of the lower bubble of perception (see below). Possessing it enables one to see energies of different levels of coarseness-subtlety scale in multidimensional space. As a result of gaining this kind of clairvoyance, one becomes able to observe directly various subtlest Manifestations of the non-incarnate Consciousness of God.

Work on the development of the chakras and other fine structures of the organism is incompatible with taking alcohol (even in the form of kvass or alcohol-containing milk products), since alcohol destroys those subtle structures. Breaking this rule causes serious diseases.

* * *

Work with fine energy structures as well as meditative trainings cannot be effective if the room in which they are performed is illumined with fluorescent lighting, since it produces a coarse energy impact on the organism.

One also must not wear synthetic clothes, because they block a significant part of the spectrum of bioenergies and distort the energy processes inside the body. (The latter instruction does not relate to raincoats, which we put on only in case of rain).

Watches and other metal objects should be taken off during the classes: bioenergetic work makes watches magnetize and go out of order, while all metal objects create energy interference.

We have already talked about the incompatibility of psycho-energetic trainings with eating “killed” food. If this rule is not obeyed the energy structures of the organism get constructed of coarse energies.

Practice at this stage of work is better performed in a group. The size of the practice room should correspond to the size of the group. Too big of a hall would be unfavorable, since the group energy will get dissipated in it.

* * *

The first serious information (of that which is known to us) about the role and functioning of the chakras and about the methods of working with them was presented in the books of our School. The fantasies of Aurobindo Ghosh regarding this subject, which were set out in his books, are completely baseless; they deceived many readers, while there was a shortage of written esoteric information in Russia before Perestroika.

Let us get down to specific information about working at this stage of spiritual advancement. The suggested exercises have been published several times. They have been tested by many years of teaching them to great numbers of people and proved to be highly effective.

Cross of Buddha

It is good to start each practice session with emotional attunement and purification of the energy of the surrounding space. For this purpose there exists a wonderful technique known as the Cross of Buddha. It is performed in the following way.

For the best performance of this exercise we have to accept the so-called student posture: we sit down on the heels holding the spine straight, toes looking backward, and the palms of our hands resting upon the thighs. Then we send waves of our benevolence and love from the chest forward, saying mentally:

“May all beings have peace! May all beings be calm! May all beings feel bliss!”

We produce each of these three states inside the chest first and then radiate them forward. Then we repeat this to the right, to the left, backward, up, and down. This is a powerful technique that allows us to bring harmony to ourselves, to the surrounding space, and to the living beings around us.