Meditation posture...straight arms, 'vulture shoulders'...how common is it ?

[lhaksam.dorje]

I have been instructed to meditate (or to at least have a go) with straight arms and shoulders 'like a vulture' if possible (context is Marpa Kaygu). At first I found it rather uncomfortable and odd, now I like it (a lot).
It seems rare to see images of people (yogis, deities, anyone) in this posture. Is this a fringe Kagyu thing ?

[Tata1]

I have been instructed to meditate (or to at least have a go) with straight arms and shoulders 'like a vulture' if possible (context is Marpa Kaygu). At first I found it rather uncomfortable and odd, now I like it (a lot).
It seems rare to see images of people (yogis, deities, anyone) in this posture. Is this a fringe Kagyu thing ?

Its mostly done for tsa lung practices as far as i know

[Aryjna]

I have been instructed to meditate (or to at least have a go) with straight arms and shoulders 'like a vulture' if possible (context is Marpa Kaygu). At first I found it rather uncomfortable and odd, now I like it (a lot).

The "like a vulture" part is from the seven-point posture: https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?tit ... Vairochana
Straight arms are not one of the seven points, the picture is unrelated. Are you sure it was not "spine straight" instead of arms?

[Malcolm]

It seems rare to see images of people (yogis, deities, anyone) in this posture. Is this a fringe Kagyu thing ?

No, it is not a fringe Kagyu thing. This is common in all schools when doing certain prāṇāyāma practices.

[lhaksam.dorje]

Are you sure it was not "spine straight" instead of arms?

Definitely arms (and spine too)

[lhaksam.dorje]

Thank you all

[yagmort]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

[Johnny Dangerous]

That’s a posture for Tsa Lung, Khumbaka etc. it has specific uses and a few variations. Seems weird to me to hold it for long periods of time, I have never heard of that….which or may not mean anything.

[heart]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

Malcolm said: "This is common in all schools when doing certain prāṇāyāma practices."

/magnus

[lhaksam.dorje]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

Yes a demonstration was given (slightly different to the attached picture, but straight arms are the same), and the context involves tsa lung exercises. I don't have an issue with the posture, more about why there are so few images of yogis utilising it.

[Johnny Dangerous]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

Yes a demonstration was given (slightly different to the attached picture, but straight arms are the same), and the context involves tsa lung exercises. I don't have an issue with the posture, more about why there are so few images of yogis utilising it.

There are just less photos out there of people doing Tsa Lung and whatnot, I think. The postures can be found in some paintings too iirc.

[heart]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

Yes a demonstration was given (slightly different to the attached picture, but straight arms are the same), and the context involves tsa lung exercises. I don't have an issue with the posture, more about why there are so few images of yogis utilising it.

It been considered secret instructions by many lamas.

/magnus

[lhaksam.dorje]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

Yes a demonstration was given (slightly different to the attached picture, but straight arms are the same), and the context involves tsa lung exercises. I don't have an issue with the posture, more about why there are so few images of yogis utilising it.

It been considered secret instructions by many lamas.

/magnus

Ah. (pun intended)
Oops, probably should have thought of that.

[passel]

Looks like a young Togden Amtin.

[Norwegian]

Looks like a young Togden Amtin.

Yes.

[Virgo]

It seems rare to see images of people (yogis, deities, anyone) in this posture. Is this a fringe Kagyu thing ?

I know some vultures that do it, but I am not sure what lineages they belong to.

Virgo

[lhaksam.dorje]

have you been demonstrated this posture by the teacher who instructed you? if not and you rely on oral instruction only, i would double check and ask your teacher again. this posture, like Aryjna and Malcolm said, is not a common meditation posture and is a part of subtle body yoga practices.

Yes a demonstration was given (slightly different to the attached picture, but straight arms are the same), and the context involves tsa lung exercises. I don't have an issue with the posture, more about why there are so few images of yogis utilising it.

There are just less photos out there of people doing Tsa Lung and whatnot, I think. The postures can be found in some paintings too iirc.

I hadn't seen any in paintings, but then I had a proper look and you are indeed correct....
Mahasiddha Lawapa, courtesy of himalayanart.org

[passel]

The vulture wing cue is just meant to indicate that the shoulder blades should be wide and sustainably relaxed, with even energetic extension, like a vulture spending all day on a draft. A really useful cue if you’re meditating all day every day for weeks and months on end.

[lhaksam.dorje]

The vulture wing cue is just meant to indicate that the shoulder blades should be wide and sustainably relaxed, with even energetic extension, like a vulture spending all day on a draft. A really useful cue if you’re meditating all day every day for weeks and months on end.

Thank you. That is useful information
Unless one's arms are really short, then the straight arms can result in raised shoulders....like resting vultures have. I now see that that is likely not the point of the 'vulture shoulders' reference in the 7 point posture, and I had noticed it's probably not actually a critical characteristic of the straight arm posture. Well we live and learn in this game don't we lol