Telepathy or Knowing Another's Mind

[Jhanon]

I couldn't find the correct category for this. Please feel free to move and educate me for future inquiry of fruits or extrasensory phenomena.

In the past, I have had experiences where the thoughts of others were identified in my own awareness and I seemed to confirm this. It has since been my theory that with a still and quiet mind it is possible to know the thoughts of another (in realtime). Perhaps this is because of the collective aspect to consciousness.

Is it possible to know the thoughts of another, realtime, while both individuals are on the physical plane? If so, how would this be developed?

[Jhanananda]

I couldn't find the correct category for this. Please feel free to move and educate me for future inquiry of fruits or extrasensory phenomena.

In my experience telepathy or knowing another's thoughts is a subset of insight, so I believe starting a thread on this topic under that heading is a good idea.

In the past, I have had experiences where the thoughts of others were identified in my own awareness and I seemed to confirm this. It has since been my theory that with a still and quiet mind it is possible to know the thoughts of another (in realtime). Perhaps this is because of the collective aspect to consciousness.

This is where your psychiatrist would have increased your dose, because in their mind one cannot know another's thoughts, and claiming so is clearly delusional.  However, from the practice of meditation that produces the religious experience I too found I could read the mind of others.

Is it possible to know the thoughts of another, realtime, while both individuals are on the physical plane? If so, how would this be developed?

Yes, in my experience it is possible to read the mind of others in real-time.  It is developed as an aspect of insight, which is born of deep meditation that produces the religious experience; and it is what tends to drive mystics crazy if they do not head off into the wilderness, or a supportive monastery, as quickly as possible.

Once one has developed substantial equanimity, then one can return to the world from time to time.  However, such a sensitive mystic would tend to reside most of the time in the wilderness or small towns.  It just so happens most of the mystics arose in small towns, not major cities.

[Jhanon]

Is it possible to know the thoughts of another, realtime, while both individuals are on the physical plane? If so, how would this be developed?

Yes, in my experience it is possible to read the mind of others in real-time.  It is developed as an aspect of insight, which is born of deep meditation that produces the religious experience; and it is what tends to drive mystics crazy if they do not head off into the wilderness, or a supportive monastery, as quickly as possible.

Once one has developed substantial equanimity, then one can return to the world from time to time.  However, such a sensitive mystic would tend to reside most of the time in the wilderness or small towns.  It just so happens most of the mystics arose in small towns, not major cities.

That makes sense, and now I am wondering if I would even want to be able to know the mind content of others. LOL. I am due to return to what I consider to be my hometown soon. It is not crowded, but more of a quiet, little-known, spread out collection of small cities almost in the middle of nowhere. This is a reassuring thought.

I still feel hesitant to meditate, lately, though. I suppose I always had the assumption that enlightenment and higher attainment would bring ease to daily life. But I am starting to get a different picture.

The ironic part is that less than 3 weeks ago, meditation was not consistently producing jhana, despite spending a considerable amount of daily time on it. Now when I meditate, I can hardly keep FROM entering deep states. It actually made me nervous last time. I began to feel kundalini stirring in my body after only 35 minutes, and despite it being one of the aspects I was most looking forward to, my hands and feet began to sweat.

[Jhanananda]

That makes sense, and now I am wondering if I would even want to be able to know the mind content of others. LOL.

You will not have much choice in the matter, if you continue on.

I am due to return to what I consider to be my hometown soon. It is not crowded, but more of a quiet, little-known, spread out collection of small cities almost in the middle of nowhere. This is a reassuring thought.

I have spent most of the last 10 years either in the wilderness, or in small towns surrounded by wilderness.  It is definitely better.

I still feel hesitant to meditate, lately, though. I suppose I always had the assumption that enlightenment and higher attainment would bring ease to daily life. But I am starting to get a different picture.

The ironic part is that less than 3 weeks ago, meditation was not consistently producing jhana, despite spending a considerable amount of daily time on it. Now when I meditate, I can hardly keep FROM entering deep states. It actually made me nervous last time. I began to feel kundalini stirring in my body after only 35 minutes, and despite it being one of the aspects I was most looking forward to, my hands and feet began to sweat.

Well, the bliss, joy and ecstasy makes it all worth it, so keep going.