Sivason's Dream Yoga Introduction Thread. Read This First.

[Sivason]

Sivason's Dream Yoga Introduction Thread. Read This First. What is Yoga? Strictly speaking it is any system where exercise or practice can lead to improvement in that area. It is what we may call a discipline or an art. The modern and deeper concept is that this exercise is of a nature to help bring spiritual awareness in the practitioner. Is this stuff a religion? NO! Not in the form I will present it. The authors of many of the reference materials are from eastern religions and cultures. However, the skills that you will learn are just skills and deeper self awareness, they should fit nicely into any members religion. In the advanced topic section, open minded topics may not be some peoples style. If religious and intense topics like astral dreams bother anyone, just skip the particular advanced topic. All other threads will be non offensive to any religion. What is Dream Yoga? Any system of training that develops the skills of the yogi (you) while asleep. WILD is an example. This is a Dream Yogi Trance. I am not planning on teaching WILD here. It is a classic Dream Yoga skill, so all of you should also take Sageous' class that focuses on WILD. I will explore other aspects of the dream yoga art. In my mind it should advance your self awareness, and increase your LD skills in the same way exercise improves an athlete. Dream yoga can be simply how you master LDs or you can take it much further into self exploration and deep emotional experiences.How do I get started? Start a thread to use as your note book in DVA forum. Include the word "yoga" and your user name in the title. You can have fun with the name. For example: Sivason's What the Heck is Yoga Book. The first lesson will be posted on Wed 05/09/12. I will offer 3 courses. Each will have a few lessons. You should understand now that this stuff takes a long time to get good at. I will spread the lessons out so that there is time to practice each skill. Here is a break down of how I plan on organizing the Dream Yoga Class: 1) Review of Literature Course In each lesson I will introduce a text that would be hard for many people to read. Many of the mystical texts and related books on this subject are confusing and dry. The intent of these lessons is that the student receive the important ideas from each text, in a clear and reduced manner. The required home work will be to post in your notebook. I will either have you make any general observation that comes to you, or I will have you comment on a basic related concept. An on going discussion of the ideas each book covers can take place on the lesson thread, as long as it stays to what the individual book has in it. Deeper exploration of most topics will be reserved for the Select Topics Course.Each book will be one lesson, but it will likely be broken up into digestible portions. This material can be heavy. The first lesson will cover "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep" and will be divided into about 3 parts. I just received this book from Amazon because at least 6 members said they have it. I think starting with a book many of you already own is the best idea. It was recommended as the easiest to read. Oh my God! I could fall asleep in a few minutes if I was listening to someone read it to me! Do not get me wrong. The author is a Rinpoche, a very powerful and astounding thing. They are a clan of Yogi who can retain their rank and friends lifetime after lifetime. They go out and find the reincarnation of each Rinpoche; the Dali Lama is the head of the Rinpoche. So I respect him as a powerful being. However, he has to write a whole book in a non-native language on a topic that is already hard to explain. The next lessons will cover books that either I will choose or books that I receive a request for. To complete the course the student must complete the home work for at least 3 of the lessons. 2) Basic Understanding Course. In each lesson I will introduce a few basic concepts of Yoga and eastern mystic traditions. The lesson thread may then be used for on going basic questions on each concept. I reserve in depth discussions for the Select Topic Course. The intent of these lessons is for the student to understand all the standard and basic references that are used when discussing this topic. To complete the course, the student will post in their workbooks, for every lesson to date. I will have you post on a general idea or ask for you to relate an idea as you see it in regards to your own life. Lesson #1 will cover Yoga, Mudras, Chakras, and Mantra. 3) Basic Skills Course Each lesson will teach a yogic skill to the student. Home work will be more intense for this section. You will be expected to practice these skills and comment on your progress. Lesson #1 will be Sensory Awareness Meditation. 4) Select Topics These lessons will be ongoing group discussions on a wide range of topics. I will explain how to use the information and skills you have learned in the first 3 courses. I will not be releasing any of these lessons at first. I want to see a little commitment by a few students first. I am not that strict, so the first lesson won't be to far off. To complete the lesson the student must have posted on the thread some thing that will convince me to 'like' your post. I do not want posts that are designed to agree with me. I will 'like' any reasonable attempt to express your own thoughts on the topic. 5) Advanced Yoga If a student has completed most of the homework up to date for each course above, they can participate in these lessons. Lesson #1 will be Kundalini: Part 1. This first lesson will become available after I have had members post in three select topics.