Bliss
What is bliss? We have been discussing the mystical experiences we experience when we experience depth in meditation. The suttas use terms such as Piti and sukha to describe the 8 stages of samma-samadhi, and those terms are commonly translated as bliss and joy respectively. So, what is bliss? In my experience of these altered states of consciousness is bliss is the experience of love, and in each of the 8 stages of samma-samadhi bliss is felt progressively more intensely.
First stage of ecstasy
So, our personal history of love is we often experience it from our parents as children. Then we go through puberty and begin to experience love of an individual. Perhaps we get married, and have children, then we experience love toward and from our children. And, these human experiences of love tend to be joyful experiences. One could argue this interpersonal love is the beginning of the ecstasies. And, often we spend our whole life pursuing human love, but it often comes with disappointments because all humans are flawed.
Second stage of ecstasy
So, since human life also has a great deal of suffering, then we look around for, and create, experiences that make us happy. Hunter-gatherer societies are known for seasonal rituals which the entire community participates in. Observers of these events record a general sense of happiness expressed by those people who are attending these events. We can argue that these primitive social events produced a level of ecstasy in the attendees. These events were most commonly expressed during foraging abundance which was often fermented into a low-alcohol content beverage which was drunk abundantly by the attendees to enhance the ecstasies they were experiencing.
As civilizations grew these seasonal events became ritualized and elaborated upon, which is the birth of religion. Other events also became ritualized, such as sporting events. And, secular theater was also born. So, we could argue that religion, theater and spectator sports are all venues of entertainment that are intended to get people’s attention off of the often grinding misery of birth, disease, injuries, work and death that pervades life. We could thus argue that ritualized human events are vehicles for the second stage of ecstasy.
Third stage of ecstasy
Bliss within the set and setting of a religious event we could argue is the third stage of ecstasy. The typical set and setting in many religious events is a place that is perceived of as sacred, such as a church or temple, which is arranged in such a way as to enhance the perception of sacredness, which might include images and/or sculptures, or icons of or suggesting a religious context, such as candles, a point of reference into a sanctuary often containing an alter, and a flame. An officiating priest is often included, and he or she will have some kind of sacred performance, which might include an inspiring discourse. Music is often part of these religious rituals which tends to enhance the religious experience for those attending.
Fourth stage of ecstasy
When I took up a contemplative life 50 years ago I created a sacred space in my home, which was a small room, where I placed a simple alter, with objects that suggested to me sacredness. I included whatever sacred book I was reading at the time, which might have been the Bible, New Testament, Pali Canon, etc. Before sitting in meditation I might play some calming and inspiring music, then read a paragraph or page from an inspiring religious text, then meditate. Then the first thing I do when I begin a meditation session is to recall a previous experience of depth in meditation, in the same way Siddhartha Gautama did in his night of enlightenment as expressed in the...
Mahaasaccaka sutta (MN 36) “I recalled the experience under the shade of the rose apple tree near my father’s field: Secluded from sensual thoughts and secluded from thoughts of demerit, with applied and sustained attention (vitakka and vicára) and with joy (sukha) and pleasure (piiti) born of seclusion, I attained to the first jhana. Then the awareness arose this is the path to enlightenment. I thought, why should I fear this pleasantness, which is other than sensual pleasure and away from thoughts of demerit.”
In this way a contemplative creates an interior set and setting by recalling a previous experience of depth in meditation. Consequently my meditations were never limited to time. I would instead sit until I felt a sacred experience had occurred, which was pleasant, blissful, joyful and peaceful. This is the pattern of my twice daily contemplative practice for 50 years, which has born the fruit of bliss, joy and ecstasy. This would be understood as Siddhartha Gautama’s first stage of samma-samadhi, which he termed as the first jhana. We have discussed many times before the 8 stages of samma-samadhi, so I am arguing that we could recognize 12 stages of ecstasy, four of which lead up to the genuine mystical experiences and understand the larger picture of human behavior as a pursuit of the 12 stages of bliss, joy and ecstasy.
