Beginners Jhana

[Jhanananda]

Jeffrey, I just put 2 and 2 together about anxiety.

When we're camping together, do you feel my anxiety? If so, thanks for making the sacrifice.

Overall, I'm just curious. I figured if if bothered you too much, you'd do something about it. But it was just something that I wondered about while re-reading this thread.

Be well.
[/quote]

Yes, of course I feel your anxiety.  Stu also says he feels the anxiety of others.  He once commented about how difficult it is for him to walk into a WalMart. 

Once one becomes fully established in equanimity, then one can walk into a crowded place and not be bothered by it.  The third stage of samadhi is where we develop equanimity.  When we regularly meditate at that depth or greater, then the anxiety of others does not bother us; however, we may still choose not to be immersed in the anxiety of others.

Hey, I know you're not one for retreats, but I'd love to meet you.

I have thought about it after I posted my comment. But it will take some planing to get there.

Our retreats are a cooperative venture, so when someone is interested, then we start some planning.  The spring and fall here in Prescott are best.  Winters are a bit cold, and can be very cold; and the summers are a bit warm, to hot.

Wickenburg, where we retreated last winter, was quite pleasant for a winter holidays retreat.  I plan to winter there again this winter, if all goes well.

My van is about dead, so I am presently working on my truck to see if I can get it running reliably again.  I will keep all posted here on my progress.

[jhananimitta]

Our retreats are a cooperative venture, so when someone is interested, then we start some planning.

It would be a treat to meet you and others who are contemplative. Its just that I'm 9000 plus mi away. I'm sure there are others that travel that far.

[Jhanananda]

There is no need to go to a lot of trouble to attend our retreats.  Sometimes people are not far away, so we invite those who came make it.

[jhananimitta]

Work has taken priority over my practice and I need to find balance.

Lately I have been experiencing a second presence always behind my right side. I keep looking back to see who it is. I have read about this phenomenon when sailors get hypothermia or freezing to death at the arctic tundra. They also report this second presence but in more detail.

[Frederick]

How is the presence? Neutral, good or malevolent.

[jhananimitta]

My dog sits behind my right side when I'm working at my desk. I made a metal note not to push the chair out as it has rollers. So there you have it. I think this metal note manifested itself as an automatic check. Even when his not there.

Not mysterious at all...

[jhananimitta]

I've being seeing various colors and a few objects.

Colors in order are orange and yellow or gold. I don't see them sequentially but one at a time when I sit to the next sit. The orange I've seen twice but the yellow or gold is new.

The first object was blue opaque like stone but in a pendent lying flat clasped in sliver. The second is grey squared like stone.

Does this mean jhana-nimitta?

[Jhanananda]

Does this mean jhana-nimitta?

This is a very difficult question to answer, because the mind can project an infinity of apparent objects to confuse us.  So, first we must learn to still the mind.  Once the mind is still, then the charisms (jhana-nimittas) arise.  The charisms occur in every sensory filed, and have their own unique expressions, but they all have one thing in common.  The mind is not needed to manifest them.

[jhananimitta]

I have experienced many things when sitting. Just questioned what I'm seeing. I see what I see but don't entertain what is being looked at. Absorption is the state of mind yes? 

[Jhanananda]

If your mind is still, then you are in absorption, which means whatever arises is a quality of that absorption, or altered state of mind.  Some phenomena is unique to a particular session. Whatever is a consistent quality of that altered state of mind, then one could call it a charism (jhana-nimitta).  When we see these phenomena arise, then we can use them as a vehicle to take us to the next level deeper in absorption.  If the phenomena works to take us deeper into absorption, then it is a charism (jhana-nimitta), because they are sign posts along the way that direct us deeper, and this is why we use them as a meditation object, which replaces the cognitive meditation object that we use to get to the first level of absorption.

[jhananimitta]

I've lost the ability to drop into an altered state of mind or any state. These past months have been and still are well, useless.

When It started I had the feeling to quit the world. Nothing has real meaning if I can't get out of this shit hole. I'm running on replay and everyday its the same hole staring me in the face. There are days that have glimmers but most are dark and far between.


I've been meaning to write but this is all that I can squeeze.

[Jhanananda]

I've lost the ability to drop into an altered state of mind or any state. These past months have been and still are well, useless.

In the beginning of arriving at jhana it typically is a random experience, and most often it is during a retreat.  Those who develop skill with the attainment of jhana learn to make a number of lifestyle changes that make it possible to experience jhana, eventually every time they meditate.  So, if you had better access to jhana in the past, then look to see what has changed about your life that makes it difficult for you now.

When It started I had the feeling to quit the world.

The mystics of the past generally quit the world, and just focused upon fine tuning the altered states of consciousness which we call jhana here.  So, I am not surprised that you have considered this.

Nothing has real meaning if I can't get out of this shit hole. I'm running on replay and everyday its the same hole staring me in the face. There are days that have glimmers but most are dark and far between.


I've been meaning to write but this is all that I can squeeze.

For those who have had at least one experience of deep meditation, the world begins to have little meaning for them.  This state I call a spiritual crisis, or dark night of the soul.  As long as we find our self outside of the rarefied environment of the deep states we feel as if we have been thrown out of paradise.  Well, we have been.  We begin to thirst for our return to Paradise, and eventually we become wholly obsessed with that return, and once we have that return we rarely are willing to leave it.  Keeping Paradise with us 24/7 becomes a 24/7 occupation.

[Frederick]

I've lost the ability to drop into an altered state of mind or any state. These past months have been and still are well, useless.

In the beginning of arriving at jhana it typically is a random experience, and most often it is during a retreat.  Those who develop skill with the attainment of jhana learn to make a number of lifestyle changes that make it possible to experience jhana, eventually every time they meditate.  So, if you had better access to jhana in the past, then look to see what has changed about your life that makes it difficult for you now.

When It started I had the feeling to quit the world.

The mystics of the past generally quit the world, and just focused upon fine tuning the altered states of consciousness which we call jhana here.  So, I am not surprised that you have considered this.

Nothing has real meaning if I can't get out of this shit hole. I'm running on replay and everyday its the same hole staring me in the face. There are days that have glimmers but most are dark and far between.


I've been meaning to write but this is all that I can squeeze.

For those who have had at least one experience of deep meditation, the world begins to have little meaning for them.  This state I call a spiritual crisis, or dark night of the soul.  As long as we find our self outside of the rarefied environment of the deep states we feel as if we have been thrown out of paradise.  Well, we have been.  We begin to thirst for our return to Paradise, and eventually we become wholly obsessed with that return, and once we have that return we rarely are willing to leave it.  Keeping Paradise with us 24/7 becomes a 24/7 occupation.

Praying for you. Please be well. I hope you get some meditation in, at least.

[jhananimitta]

For those who have had at least one experience of deep meditation, the world begins to have little meaning for them.  This state I call a spiritual crisis, or dark night of the soul.  As long as we find our self outside of the rarefied environment of the deep states we feel as if we have been thrown out of paradise.  Well, we have been.  We begin to thirst for our return to Paradise, and eventually we become wholly obsessed with that return, and once we have that return we rarely are willing to leave it.  Keeping Paradise with us 24/7 becomes a 24/7 occupation.

I've been locked out of Paradise! She was so quick to welcome me and yet I sailed alone through the dark. The experiences I've had while locked are indescribable. No mere mortal would comprehend. Unless we both understand the subscription.

The difficult part is this mundane existence I'm dealing with right now. What changed? Everything! I've tasted some of the fruits, which left me changed forever. There's no turning back. If I do I will be obliterated. If I continue I will be obliterated. The question is? which way? Sit for the path is straight and narrow is the gate.

Yes I will strive to attain Paradise once more..

Praying for you. Please be well. I hope you get some meditation in, at least.

Thanks.. I try and meditate but its useless for now. When I fell off, all I wanted to do was banish it for good.

[jhananimitta]

They say never mix money with family or friends.. Well I did just that. With a friend. I bankrolled a small business venture and it flopped.

With having little experience with Jhana has taught me is, to forgive the mistakes of others as well as myself. For we are all lost on some point within this timeline. I'm still broken and locked out of Paradise. But I can use what I've learnt and apply the experiences to cut through the veil of this illusion.

Happy to grope my way through the dark...