Theos-Talk Archives (December 1998 Message tt00134)

In a message dated 12/7/98 9:18:45 PM, Jerry S wrote:

>>What is the source for Nicholas' idea about "the form of Jnanamudra is a
>>visualized goddess ie an elemental or deva that is sexually arousing"?
>>
>>And does Jerry agree with this idea of Nicholas?  Reasons?
>>
>
>Yes. It is so described in the literature. BTW this works for women
>too--their jnanamudra would be an ideal man. The jnanamudra
>is said to be more than just a "visualization" although this is how
>it begins. It has to eventually be a psychic projection that is "felt"
>to be real--thus my reference to Jung's anima or animus.

What literature are you talking about?  Please quote the lines describing such
psycho-sexual Tantra practices as being Jnana-yoga or Jnana-mudra.

Jnana-mudra, based on the meaning of the word Jnana and Jnana-yoga (see
Glossary compilations at <A HREF="http://www.blavatsky.net/";>
http://www.blavatsky.net/</A>) has nothing to do with psychism or psychic
practices.   The Sanskrit word Jnana means knowledge or wisdom, and its
practice does not require the use of psychic or other mudras (forms).
Theosophy as taught by HPB, along with its mental practices of gaining
knowledge and wisdom through contemplation and meditation on what is studied
is Jnana-yoga.  The only mudras in Jnana yoga might be considered the mental
forms resulting from visualized products of thought leading to knowledge of
universal truths.  This is meditating with a "seed" according to Patanjali.

Conjuring up sexual images leading to emotional "feelings", dealing with the
psychic astral or "lower nature" is as far from such Jnana yoga as (sexual)
Tantra practices are from Patanjali's (mental) Rajah yoga.  All you are
describing is another form of "mental masturbation".  All the "higher" yogas,
endorsed by theosophical teachings, leave the kamic emotional and psychic
astral nature behind.  The only mudras necessary for these practices are the
pranayama which is closely related to the higher mental visualization field.
Those capable of the higher mental and spiritual initiations, can visualize
the field diagrams that indicate these connections and affinities without any
mystical mumbo Jumbo, as we find in Vajrayana teachings that are distorted by
some into sexual Tantra practices.
>
>>And is Jananmudra as defined by Nicholas the same as what HPB writes
>>about as "carnal commerce with male and female Djins, Elementals, or
>>Demons"?  If not, what is the difference, etc.?
>
>I would hope that the difference between a Djin or elemental and
>one's own anima projection would be obvious. First we visualize.
>Then one's inner psychic feelings are projected into the visualization.
>Then one unites with or assimilated it into oneself. I see the Tibetan
>Jnanamudra exercise as a magical/religious version of Jung's
>psychological recognition, projection, & assimilation of anima or
>animus. Results should be similar except the Tibetans take it some
>steps further by adding the observation of emptiness to it.

You are describing magical psycho-sexual Tantra practices that are exactly
what HPB decries as harmful psychic phenomenal practices dealing with demons
and elementals--which has nothing to do with the Jnana yoga's, mental study,
contemplative and meditative practices that she endorsed, and as is taught in
The Voice of the Silence and in Patanjali's Yoga Aphorisms.  These Jnana
practices lead to much higher initiations than the gross, lower nature Tantra
practices--which lead only to "magical" powers that stick one in the lower
realms, and which, incidentally, use the understanding of "emptiness" only as
the "ground" for their focused psychic energy--to prevent themselves from
being burned to a crisp by the kundelini force they conjure up.

So, let's get back to "real" theosophy and off these kind of self serving
power trip "side issues".  There are plenty of of other forums for this kind
of stuff (and enough of it out in the mundane world)

LHM
>