Spiritual quest for Siddhas

[deLord]

Hey guys

A friend and me are currently planing an adventure to India. Our rough sketch is to visit the Isha ashram, attend a few programs and then head out to find Siddhas (people who attained Siddhis). Timespan: 1,5~3months
Although I did experience quite a lot of basic-level telepathy and other paranormal stuff, I want to totally eradicate the last pieces of doubt in my mind questioning the master-level siddhis. I want to experience these things for myself, I want to see them, learn how to -at least in theory- achieve them and generally ask the people who obviously achieved higher understanding than me a few questions about the nature of reality. Since I cannot gauge my current level of understanding in relation to siddhis, I leave open whether or not I want to stay there to achieve some of them myself. First and most important step: experience these things with my own eyes.

The big question is only: how can I find these Siddhas (that also speak English)? I totally do not intend to waste my time on people who just talk. I know there is a general attitude to not exhibit these skills in public and most definately I do not want to meet a black magician or someone with low (e.g. money) intentions. Are you aware of areas which are said to have a lot of siddhas?

If any of you could help me finding the real masters, that would be most appreciated

[deLord]

no replies? .__.

[Apakhana Akshobhya]

Hey there!

Lol well you can meet my teacher and see Or you can follow a teacher's instruction and attain during your own path too if you so chose. Sometimes you might develop siddhis on your own depending on where you're at on the path. I'm unsure if there is a specific area in which any multitude congregate.

I can attest these things exist, if that helps to know, and in the beginning allot like yourself I wanted to approach it in a way not only to see if I could unravel the mysteries but also get some sort of evidence.

Safe to say I myself have 100% absolute veridical proof in my own sadhana but wanted to reitterate that this itself isn't the point. We prove to our self these things are real but then never take up the actual path of self realization by asking "who am I?" or "what am I?" What are we to these secret powers that seem so tantalizing to the part of our mind that isn't the real us?

Most siddhis can be learned at a specific juncture in the spiritual path, after breaking through a certain point. This very special point MUST be reached first. To seek it out just to see if it's real, I do totally understand as well as urge people to lol, but to continue chasing them will absolutely send one off on a huge tangent and cost someone potentially many many lifetimes of reincarnation and suffering they could have cut allot shorter. The grace I've personally earned was the kind which kept me from doing this very thing.

This among other reasons are the reason why nobody shouts it from the rooftop "hey guess what!" lol. But should you find what you're looking for I assure you the siddha will likely be compassionate towards your query and should it be the case that they oblige you I strongly suggest have something with you to offer back. Do not EVER go to someone like that empty handed ever.

[deLord]

Originally Posted by Apakhana Akshobhya

Hey there!

1) Lol well you can meet my teacher and see

2) I can attest these things exist, if that helps to know

3) Safe to say I myself have 100% absolute veridical proof in my own sadhana but wanted to reitterate that this itself isn't the point. We prove to our self these things are real but then never take up the actual path of self realization by asking "who am I?" or "what am I?" What are we to these secret powers that seem so tantalizing to the part of our mind that isn't the real us?

4) Most siddhis can be learned at a specific juncture in the spiritual path, after breaking through a certain point. This very special point MUST be reached first. To seek it out just to see if it's real, I do totally understand as well as urge people to lol, but to continue chasing them will absolutely send one off on a huge tangent and cost someone potentially many many lifetimes of reincarnation and suffering they could have cut allot shorter. The grace I've personally earned was the kind which kept me from doing this very thing.

5) This among other reasons are the reason why nobody shouts it from the rooftop "hey guess what!" lol. But should you find what you're looking for I assure you the siddha will likely be compassionate towards your query and should it be the case that they oblige you I strongly suggest have something with you to offer back. Do not EVER go to someone like that empty handed ever.

Thanks, a lot of useful content.
1) yes maybe - who is he and where is he situated?
2) yes, that helps :)
3) I did not understand the meaning of your last sentence there
4) can you elaborate a bit more on this juncture point and how I might be able to estimate how far I am from this point or how to reach it?
5) "hey guess what" yes, I hope the Siddha would understand that I am not searching these things to brag about them or stuff. This truely is more about understanding the nature of reality. Plus I would never use a siddhi to cause suffering. What do you deem reasonable in terms of "not empty handed"?

@BigJohn
oh yes, definately. My meditation sucks most of the time. If I am lucky, I get a few minutes per week of absolute stillness during my meditation. This may be the hardest thing I ever worked on

@Aditi
as mentioned already, I am far from getting stuck with them for lower reasons. The most important thing is just to know without the shadow of a doubt that these things can be achieved - and then also to understand why nobody seems to use them. What I mean is: there is so much good that could be done with siddhis - but why is nobody (?) doing it? Politicians and corporate greed destroy our planet and it would be rather easy for a siddha to change something about that.
I know the story of the two friends and the ferryman :) but to fully understand I think one has to experience the "this is better than what you did"-part. Because without having reached it, how can anyone know that attaining enlightenment if far far better than "just" attaining a siddhi? I imagine someone who never fell in love. How are you gonna describe to him what he misses? I think it's impossible. It's like describing colors to a (color-)blind.

@BlueElephant
Why should one not be proud that one has achieved this stage? What's wrong with being happy that all the hard work has finally paid off?

@all
Which siddhis did you experience? Please tell me

[BigJohn]

Originally Posted by deLord

Thanks, a lot of useful content.
1) yes maybe - who is he and where is he situated?
2) yes, that helps :)
3) I did not understand the meaning of your last sentence there
4) can you elaborate a bit more on this juncture point and how I might be able to estimate how far I am from this point or how to reach it?
5) "hey guess what" yes, I hope the Siddha would understand that I am not searching these things to brag about them or stuff. This truely is more about understanding the nature of reality. Plus I would never use a siddhi to cause suffering. What do you deem reasonable in terms of "not empty handed"?

@BigJohn
oh yes, definately. My meditation sucks most of the time. If I am lucky, I get a few minutes per week of absolute stillness during my meditation. This may be the hardest thing I ever worked on

@Aditi
as mentioned already, I am far from getting stuck with them for lower reasons. The most important thing is just to know without the shadow of a doubt that these things can be achieved - and then also to understand why nobody seems to use them. What I mean is: there is so much good that could be done with siddhis - but why is nobody (?) doing it? Politicians and corporate greed destroy our planet and it would be rather easy for a siddha to change something about that.
I know the story of the two friends and the ferryman :) but to fully understand I think one has to experience the "this is better than what you did"-part. Because without having reached it, how can anyone know that attaining enlightenment if far far better than "just" attaining a siddhi? I imagine someone who never fell in love. How are you gonna describe to him what he misses? I think it's impossible. It's like describing colors to a (color-)blind.

@BlueElephant
Why should one not be proud that one has achieved this stage? What's wrong with being happy that all the hard work has finally paid off?

@all
Which siddhis did you experience? Please tell me

I was able to bi-locate twice.

............ and a few other things.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

I was able to bi-locate twice.

............ and a few other things.

Siddhis manifest quite naturally for the "pure of heart" when the situation commands it.

Having met many siddhas at the Khumba Mela in India as well as at other places, I realized that virtually anything is possible. I also realized that siddhis are rarely displayed without a trace of ego.

[deLord]

Originally Posted by BigJohn

I was able to bi-locate twice.

............ and a few other things.

Can you say something about the circumstances of that? How long did it last, did you have control over it, why did it happen? Bi-locate as in really physically being in two places at the same time? That's hard just to imagine how that would be.

I've still not completely come to terms with the duality of "do nothing - universe will do/give everything necessary" vs "you have to do some work / sadhana". So --- which one is it? Why not play computer all day? Or completey ignore the spiritual way? If nothing can be achieved but only given by grace or surrender (I do not yet completely understand this concept).

If siddhis have nothing to do with enlightenment, then why is it that some people say siddhis come under way anyway so it's no use to strife for them? Why will only so little people have siddhis? For example what about Baba Lokenath who used to fulfill every wish he was asked for? He certainly did not hold back his powers as most people pray; and from what I read he was the most advanced embodied being I can imagine and that I heard of.

[BlueElephant]

Originally Posted by deLord

@BlueElephant
Why should one not be proud that one has achieved this stage? What's wrong with being happy that all the hard work has finally paid off?

Like I said - it is considered a trap and can easily block one from attaining the True Goal - whatever form of Liberated Realization the Tradition or Holy person has to offer, and where you might take it beyond that, or along side of that.

Otherwise, of course you have choices in what you do or not do, once that lower level has been accomplished by you. (Happy Face).

Originally Posted by deLord

@Aditi
as mentioned already, I am far from getting stuck with them for lower reasons. The most important thing is just to know without the shadow of a doubt that these things can be achieved - and then also to understand why nobody seems to use them. What I mean is: there is so much good that could be done with siddhis - but why is nobody (?) doing it? Politicians and corporate greed destroy our planet and it would be rather easy for a siddha to change something about that.
I know the story of the two friends and the ferryman :) but to fully understand I think one has to experience the "this is better than what you did"-part. Because without having reached it, how can anyone know that attaining enlightenment if far far better than "just" attaining a siddhi? I imagine someone who never fell in love. How are you gonna describe to him what he misses? I think it's impossible. It's like describing colors to a (color-)blind.

I don't think siddhis have anything to do with enlightenment, but I can see that you do and I am happy to agree to disagree. It's not like I know what it's like to be enlightened.

In regards to changing things, I can relate to the spirit of what you are saying. I can't stand unfairness either. But it might come back to whether you believe in something like divine order or not. If I had powers, I would not change the things you mention because I am very aware that I don't know enough to know what, if anything, needs to be changed. If you believe in karma, all kinds of unpleasantness are necessary because they help us learn what we need to in order to get through our own karma-induced messes and our general immaturity. The ideal would be that we outgrow the dualistic viewpoint altogether (in this case - wanting life to be pleasant and not unpleasant) and experience the world with an equal mind.

So, I wouldn't think of it so much in terms of how a person could use powers to do things. I think it should be about whether God wishes to work through that person.

More than anything, I actually don't think it's possible to love God with all your heart, and at the same time reject how the world works. Devi is my only constant. If she wants to destroy something, it should be destroyed. If she wants to change something, she has infinite ways to change it. She responds favourably to surrender, and I would not like to have to tell her what to do. I think the best thing anyone can do is try to live by their own basic dharma.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by Aditi

I don't think siddhis have anything to do with enlightenment.

So, I wouldn't think of it so much in terms of how a person could use powers to do things. I think it should be about whether God wishes to work through that person.

I agree with you completely on both of the above points. My impressions are also that siddhis most assuredly do not imply enlightenment. As a matter of fact, it has been my experience that, more often than not, the display of siddhis are rarely done without a trace of ego.

As in your second point, I simply surrender to that which lies beyond it all and it guides me unerringly in the best interests of all with no expectation of a reward. If siddhis are necessary, they simply manifest when appropriate with one simply being an instrument with no ego whatsoever (or as little ego as possible ). One eventually completely avoids the attention that siddhis inevitably attract and, if some people ask how certain "miraculous" things happen, I simply respond as my teacher used to respond, "I don't know".