Author: krodha
Date: Sat May 19, 2012 12:56 am
Title: Haunted Areas and Localized Entities, Ghosts, Energy
Content:
I've always had a natural proclivity for sensing presences (seen or unseen) ever since I was young and
it's always intrigued me. There's been times in the past (prior to my relationship with the dharma)
when it's really plagued my peace of mind. When I was old enough to live away from home it started
to become increasingly apparent because it would always be conditional on where I was living at the
time. The first two places I lived were ok, but the third a house in alameda I could not be there alone
at night. The fourth place was fine I could be there alone at anytime no problem. The fifth was an
apartment in southern California which was horrendous, one of the most heavy and evil presences
I've ever felt, I could not sleep there at night and would have to stay awake until the morning when I
could finally sleep. The janitor at that apartment even said he hated to go in there to clean and
would do it as fast possible. The next place back in san francisco was absolutely fine and that was the
time I discovered the dharma.
Presently where I live is fine, my sensitivity has increased with meditation and I'll have entities come
into my room at night but they don't bother me I just know they're there. Same anytime a person
comes into my room, if I'm sleeping I'll immediately awake.
I do go running at night probably 4 or 5 nights a week and there is an entity which lives in the creek
near my place. It's incredibly intense and powerful, seems very territorial. If I run directly on the
sidewalk next to it, it will essentially blast me with intense energy which arises as profound fear I can
feel throughout my body. There's been times when I've skipped running for awhile and after
returning to it the first night back I'll be running and not be paying attention to the creek where upon
getting too close, with no expectation I will literally be almost knocked off my feet. So it isn't a
consciously induced manifestation created through an accumulation of fear towards that area. And I
feel that now that it knows that I know it's there it messes with me even more. Needless to say after
months of this I just run in the middle of the street when I get to that spot. The same creek connects
to the road a quarter mile down the road and this thing will manifest again there and engage me.
Whatever it is it's extremely powerful.
Now getting to the point, I understand the emptiness of phenomena in relation to my pseudo
subjective being. I usually am able to rationalize the emptiness of fear except for cases like this creek
entity. I know that in chod it's said that these perceived negative entities are attached to our own
continuum due to karmic debts etc... But what I don't understand is how are these projections
confined to certain perceived areas? Why can't that energy in the creek leave the creek? Why is it so
hostile? And what can be done to deal with energy/entities of that nature? If as I understand, it's an
empty projection of mind, why is it localized to this certain area? I know that facing the fear and
breaking down the projections like in chod is the correct route. Seeing the emptiness of the entity in
relation to the fear. Emptiness of the fear in relation to deluded perception mistaken as "me". I've
gotten to the point where integration has corrected most of these erroneous projections except for
instances of direct hostile engagement like this creek thing. I rationalize that it's only a sensation
interpreted as "fear" which is utterly empty, but that's easy to do when it's not breathing down my
neck.
I'm sure others here must have instances/occurrences like this? Any advice? Suggestions? Personal
stories?
Author: krodha
Date: Sun May 20, 2012 4:12 am
Title: Re: Haunted Areas and Localized Entities, Ghosts, Energy
Content:
There's no secondary effects, just the confrontation itself.
Author: krodha
Date: Sun May 20, 2012 5:19 am
Title: Re: Haunted Areas and Localized Entities, Ghosts, Energy
Content:
Right that's what my inquiry was centered around; since it's a projection, why is it confined to that
projected location? Why is it there sometimes (and very prevalent) and not present at all other times?
Some nights it's not there at all. Sometimes I expect it and it's there. Sometimes I expect it and it's
nowhere to be found. Sometimes don't expect it and it's there. There's been a couple times I've been
able to jack my own energy up to such an extreme level that when it engages me I outshine it. So
how are these projections able to manifest that way? It does manifest as fear yet the animalistic and
territorial anger behind it is undeniable. It uses the energy like a bubble to push with. So I'm curious
since it can't be other than a projection how such behavior is exhibited. It's actually not a problem
really, it's fully confined to that area, if it was something in my experience all the time and causing
lots of issues that'd be one thing. But since the projection is only associated with that area it's more
intriguing than anything.
I get that it's only fear. It's just the behaviorial and circumstantial characteristics that are interesting.
Author: krodha
Date: Sun May 20, 2012 8:35 am
Title: Re: Haunted Areas and Localized Entities, Ghosts, Energy
Content:
I'm well aware of the emptiness of duration and location, emptiness of self and other (beyond the
pale of intellectual constructs). I get that the expression is being imputed as a sensation which is
further conceived to be fear and then posited to be "my" fear in an erroneous chain of ignorance, yet
it doesn't fail to be intriguing. Cutting through is not so much a contrived act of severing
identification with certain aspects of ignorance (such as duration/location), but involves setting up
correct view (and abiding in that) so that it sets itself right. Afterall how could I cut through ignorance?
Author: krodha
Date: Sun May 20, 2012 4:35 pm
Title: Re: Haunted Areas and Localized Entities, Ghosts, Energy
Content:
That was meant to be rhetorical but yes you're right, the contradictory conundrum being that the
very I which seeks to cut (through ignorance) is the cornerstone of ignorance itself.
Author: krodha
Date: Sun May 20, 2012 5:36 pm
Title: Re: Haunted Areas and Localized Entities, Ghosts, Energy
Content:
Anattā is the catalyst and cause of stream entry (I'm sure you know), which is more of an
instantaneous occurrence. I'm not sure if stream entry can happen gradually... the gradual aspect
would seem to be the cultivation of right view. The cultivation allows the seed to grow which may
lead to the dawning of anattā. Right view involves skillful means though, because again, giving up the
idea of personality is the idea of personality attempting to give itself up. I suppose the fetters can be
weakened with right view, but they certainly are instantly obliterated in anattā.