Beginners Jhana

[Jhanananda]

I see no problem with funding a small business venture, but one has to keep in mind that investment is a form of gambling.  We of course want to reduce our risks by making informed choices.  My father became quite wealthy through investments.  He made informed choices and he was apparently good at it.

[jhananimitta]

Life is a gamble. The choices we make are dictated by the actions we take whether we hit the ball or miss it completely. The reduced risk was marginalized on the type of product we where going to produce. The planning had been calculated, measured and weighed. All we had to do was execute. But when it comes down to physical people its a whole new story.

I'm not happy or upset that it flopped but see it as a lesson. It teaches me patience. Patience when meditating and knowing I'm on the right path. I like the word patience..

Google search has this to say about patience:

noun
1.
the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
"you can find bargains if you have the patience to sift through the rubbish"
synonyms:   forbearance, tolerance, restraint, self-restraint, resignation, stoicism, fortitude, sufferance, endurance; More
2.
BRITISH
any of various forms of card game for one player, the object of which is to use up all one's cards by forming particular arrangements and sequences.

[Jhanananda]

Yes, patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
synonyms:   forbearance, tolerance, restraint, self-restraint, resignation, stoicism, fortitude, sufferance, endurance.

These are all some of the altruistic mental states that are readily accessible to those who learn to lead a disciplined, righteous, lifestyle that leads to deep meditation states.

[jhananimitta]

These are all some of the altruistic mental states that are readily accessible to those who learn to lead a disciplined, righteous, lifestyle that leads to deep meditation states.

Lets all be altruistic.. We living on borrowed time.

[jhananimitta]

I've clipped the nimitta.. Using the breath. At first it felt like yolk running down my head then covering my body (what felt like my body). I then realized the jhananimitta as bright as a thousand points of light.

I dropped the breath and transcended through time as if time itself accelerated. I differently pierced through what could be the nimitta.. As I arrived I became conscious of my breathing and the structure broke down. Leaving me still and calm.  At that point I knew the experience was over.

This could be the start or just a lucky packed. 

[Frederick]

I can never read enough of these meditation success stories. Thanks for sharing this. Here's to keeping up the good work.

[Jhanananda]

I've clipped the nimitta.. Using the breath. At first it felt like yolk running down my head then covering my body (what felt like my body). I then realized the jhananimitta as bright as a thousand points of light.

I dropped the breath and transcended through time as if time itself accelerated. I differently pierced through what could be the nimitta.. As I arrived I became conscious of my breathing and the structure broke down. Leaving me still and calm.  At that point I knew the experience was over.

This could be the start or just a lucky packed.

I found that if I meditated consistently, and learned from my past experiences, and leaned toward the deep meditation experience, then I would have more of these experiences, until the charisms have become part of my moment-to-moment daily experience.

I can never read enough of these meditation success stories. Thanks for sharing this. Here's to keeping up the good work.

Yes, reading the books by the mystics was a major inspiration for me, so providing a forum for modern day mystics to report on their experiences was my intention to inspire others to meditate deeply.

[jhananimitta]

Somedays I'm angry others I'm extremely happy. But today, I'm swimming in ecstasy.

[jhananimitta]

Would the feeling of ecstasy be considered as one for the charisms?

[Jhanananda]

Somedays I'm angry others I'm extremely happy. But today, I'm swimming in ecstasy.

As you meditate deeper you will develop equanimity so that the roller-coaster of emotions released by deep meditation smooths out.

Would the feeling of ecstasy be considered as one for the charisms?

Yes, I would say that the  feeling of ecstasy experienced in deep meditation should be considered a charism.

[jhananimitta]

Does deeper meditation or experiencing the results of deep meditation have any negative effects on ones life? i.e. The dark knight happens every time when one experiences what you call the religious experience or Jhana?

In the beginning I experienced Jhana a lot. Right after those experiences I fell into the dark knight. I have since overcome this and life returned to an acceptable state. Again I experienced Jhana a few times and again my life is in an unacceptable state.

But this time its different. I feel indifferent. Before it was an emotional attachment fueled by fear. Now its just an experience that needs to run its course. But it also feels like when one experiences Jhana either once or in sessions. The dark knight or not is worse than the previous one.

The first was emotional attachment fueled by fear. This one is random acts occurring of just that. So does having Jhana cause one to go through these events or lets say a need to but lets speed up your dark knight because that's what the doctor prescribe?

[Jhanek]

Does deeper meditation or experiencing the results of deep meditation have any negative effects on ones life? i.e. The dark knight happens every time when one experiences what you call the religious experience or Jhana?

Deeper meditation itself has no negative effects - as you said it is rather rapture, bliss of jhana states. But deeper meditation's aims,or at least one of them, is to move very deep part of mind's habits of reacting to the sensations. This enables you to practice equanimity ( best imho in 4th jhana - you experience state of equanimity but also you can train yourself in remaining balanced while facing 'dark (k)night'. Dark night is the best thing that can happen - this gives you the right condition to meditate with past deeds.

In the beginning I experienced Jhana a lot. Right after those experiences I fell into the dark knight. I have since overcome this and life returned to an acceptable state. Again I experienced Jhana a few times and again my life is in an unacceptable state.

Then equanimity factor of enlightenment and also strong will/right effort are missing. One need to practice them along with samadi so that deep meditation entry has no effect on different than a very positive one.

Deep meditation is in fact not about jhana, but like a purgatory. It is far more advanced hell on the earth for some years of meditation to eliminate all defilements. The second time one experiences Nibanic peace,  Sakrudagami state it is, about 50% of pain and 50% of jhana are present. So abusing the vocabulary we can say one reach balance at this moment.

But this time its different. I feel indifferent. Before it was an emotional attachment fueled by fear. Now its just an experience that needs to run its course. But it also feels like when one experiences Jhana either once or in sessions. The dark knight or not is worse than the previous one.

After eliminating the fetters is gonna be all right. Before that it is all hell.

The first was emotional attachment fueled by fear. This one is random acts occurring of just that. So does having Jhana cause one to go through these events or lets say a need to but lets speed up your dark knight because that's what the doctor prescribe?

Fear is strongest one. It pops out as the first and disappears as the last one...make friendship with him.

Good luck!

[Jhanananda]

Does deeper meditation or experiencing the results of deep meditation have any negative effects on ones life? i.e. The dark knight happens every time when one experiences what you call the religious experience or Jhana?

It depends upon your perspective.  If you consider that almost everyone is deeply delusional, then as one matures as a contemplative in deep meditation, then one sheds the delusions that others have.  This makes the mob nervous when someone in the mob loses their delusions.

In the beginning I experienced Jhana a lot. Right after those experiences I fell into the dark knight. I have since overcome this and life returned to an acceptable state. Again I experienced Jhana a few times and again my life is in an unacceptable state.

Deep meditation tends to bring our attention to the dysfunctions that exist in our life.  This is called the dark night of the soul, which is a good thing, and necessary to overcome the delusions.

But this time its different. I feel indifferent. Before it was an emotional attachment fueled by fear. Now its just an experience that needs to run its course. But it also feels like when one experiences Jhana either once or in sessions. The dark knight or not is worse than the previous one.

When equanimity arises due to deep meditation, then the dark night becomes less, and less.

The first was emotional attachment fueled by fear. This one is random acts occurring of just that. So does having Jhana cause one to go through these events or lets say a need to but lets speed up your dark knight because that's what the doctor prescribe?

Jhana, aka deep meditation, then we want to shed our neuroses.