Lobsang Rampa was a narrow door for me too, part of my parents’ very eclectic reading. I loved them as a child! It was disappointing when I soon discovered he was a fantasising plumber, but they wakened in me the idea that there could be extraordinary things to experience under life’s surface. Thanks for reminding me about him!
Then, the same thing happened with the Lynne Andrews books of the late 1980s - a bunch of shamanic teachers filtered in fictionalizing prose. At least we can agree with his Holiness about Lopsang! I was astounded to find this Russian statue of him with his Fifi cat
A reminder, again, of the many things growing up that didn't fit into what was considered 'normal' life! And how many years later it was 'alright' to explore what I was curious about and being drawn to! So much to thank you for!
As a young child, I had no spiritual mentors, so I grew up as an animist, with the whole world teaching me. It was fortunate that I had such a good grounding in this, that when religious education happened at school, it came secondary to first impressions.
Thank you for another fascinating post! For me Biblical stories my father told me at bedtime were very formative in early years. When I started school it was Gustav Schwab's Greek Myths that opened my eyes to a new world. Also Robert Graves on the same topic was transformative later on.
Ah, you were lucky you had books in the house. My family had only practical books - cookery, child-rearing and engineering books - not very inspirational, I fear!
I’m so delighted by this insight! All my life I wondered what these stars and colours were that I saw with closed eyes and more so I didn’t understand why no one talks about them - especially during mediations! Thank you for giving them a name and a meaning!
Hi Caitlin, I have a question about seeing phosphenes. Since you reminded me of them in this post I have been actively observing them. Yesterday, during an online global meditation, I was watching as usual when my inner eyes "bi-located" (best word I can think of). My right eye still had the phosphenes. My left eye became a panel much like a facebook post where I had put up several pictures, divided into several parts of varying size. There was writing in these panels, laid out like we would write anything, sentences, paragraphs, but I could not read it. As I looked it drew nearer and I could make out many of the letter S and several of the letter T, but that is all. It stayed in my inner vision several minutes, then vanished. I haven't seen anything like that since then. I would really like to know what you think of this.
Since phosphenes only move in patterns and rhythms, I imagine that your imagination with your brain was supplying something that is more like prophetic vision (such as when you turn your mind towards a topic and its unfolding, or the hypnogogic images that appear before sleep.
So that's what they're called! I saw them all the time as a boy. And Massingham (though I only discovered him in the last decade).
Much of it for me started with three things, simultaneously: discovering music, being immersed in nature, and serving as an altar boy.
Ah, those would do it every time! Music, nature and ritual are a potent combo! Maybe we can base our conversation on what set us on our path?
That would be perfect
Lobsang Rampa was a narrow door for me too, part of my parents’ very eclectic reading. I loved them as a child! It was disappointing when I soon discovered he was a fantasising plumber, but they wakened in me the idea that there could be extraordinary things to experience under life’s surface. Thanks for reminding me about him!
Then, the same thing happened with the Lynne Andrews books of the late 1980s - a bunch of shamanic teachers filtered in fictionalizing prose. At least we can agree with his Holiness about Lopsang! I was astounded to find this Russian statue of him with his Fifi cat
If he had a cat called Fifi he must have been OK!
I think it was Lobsang who had Fifi GreyWhiskers, who wrote a book about living with him (translated from Siamese cat language,) Vide: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Lama-Mrs-Fifi-Greywhiskers-P-S-C/dp/B01F9G1JP4
Again, thank you so much for your pieces.
A reminder, again, of the many things growing up that didn't fit into what was considered 'normal' life! And how many years later it was 'alright' to explore what I was curious about and being drawn to! So much to thank you for!
As a young child, I had no spiritual mentors, so I grew up as an animist, with the whole world teaching me. It was fortunate that I had such a good grounding in this, that when religious education happened at school, it came secondary to first impressions.
Thank you for another fascinating post! For me Biblical stories my father told me at bedtime were very formative in early years. When I started school it was Gustav Schwab's Greek Myths that opened my eyes to a new world. Also Robert Graves on the same topic was transformative later on.
Ah, you were lucky you had books in the house. My family had only practical books - cookery, child-rearing and engineering books - not very inspirational, I fear!
I’m so delighted by this insight! All my life I wondered what these stars and colours were that I saw with closed eyes and more so I didn’t understand why no one talks about them - especially during mediations! Thank you for giving them a name and a meaning!
I found so much wisdom from them, I had to name them myself and it wasn't until I grew up that I learned their official name!
Thank you, Caitlin. You are likely right; it was a deep meditation. It was just strange to be seeing different things at the same time.
Hi Caitlin, I have a question about seeing phosphenes. Since you reminded me of them in this post I have been actively observing them. Yesterday, during an online global meditation, I was watching as usual when my inner eyes "bi-located" (best word I can think of). My right eye still had the phosphenes. My left eye became a panel much like a facebook post where I had put up several pictures, divided into several parts of varying size. There was writing in these panels, laid out like we would write anything, sentences, paragraphs, but I could not read it. As I looked it drew nearer and I could make out many of the letter S and several of the letter T, but that is all. It stayed in my inner vision several minutes, then vanished. I haven't seen anything like that since then. I would really like to know what you think of this.
Since phosphenes only move in patterns and rhythms, I imagine that your imagination with your brain was supplying something that is more like prophetic vision (such as when you turn your mind towards a topic and its unfolding, or the hypnogogic images that appear before sleep.