Ecstatic Meditation (Accessing the Spiritual Ecstasies)

[Jhanon]

As a born and raised mediator (yes, mediator), I think it's my duty to mediate what we know to the western public in a way that makes it most accessible to as many minds as possible.

This is to be the place where I intend to collect and write the contents of a hopefully small and succinct booklet on instructing meditative absorption for westerners. The goal of the book is to be straight-to-the-point and as airtight as possible, thus leading a westerner who is ready to quickly discover and establish themselves in meditative absorption.

I wonder if it would be wise to keep this thread private to the GWV, if possible.

Oh my, oh my; that feeling you get when inspiration, vision, confidence, and commitment merge in your heart into the strong drive to create something noble. Every hair and cell suddenly stands at attention as if to say "Let's do this."

Oh, how I love thee.

[Michel]

This is Ground Control to Major Tom. You have our permission to blast off.

[Jhanon]

A Very Rough Initial Draft of Introduction, just to get inspiration rolling.

There seems to be so many books and other business related to meditation, mindfulness, and other practices generally considered to be of eastern spiritual descent. I've read piles and piles of books and other information about meditation and mindfulness. About 90 percent of what I read helped the practitioner produce superficial results, but less than 5 percent knew the depth of meditation, how to get there, what it is like, and made it clear for a Western audience to more easily understand through use of native terms like "absorption" and "non-physical sensation."

But of that less-than-5 percent, there wasn't a single book, whether popular or not. And so, this is that book. I have had the pleasure to meet some of the most wise and enlightened humans on the planet, who freely offered evidence and counsel. To them, and most importantly, the unofficial teacher, origin, guide of the group I owe the most gratitude to. This book is written for him, and the rest of the GWV. The reader will note I am a straight-forward writer, aiming to produce the greatest resulting benefit possible for you. I won't waste my time explaining why this popular notion is incorrect, or why something is true. I'm going to tell it like it is, and leave it up to your discernment. If you're reading this, you've probably already begun to discern and feel everything I've just said. And it seems you've put the causes in place to come across this book.

Meditation is a common word, and for westerners, it mean anything from thinking about something, to clearing the mind and developing qualities of mindfulness. But this is like the leaf of a great tree filled with abdunant fruit and treasured heartwood. As a leaf, it has some qualities of the tree. But it is by no means the tree. What we'll be treating here is meditative absorption not "meditation" as most westerners are familiar with. It goes by many names like jhana, samadhi, and ______. And within its realm consists every reasonably treated phenomena of the past, like "astral projection", knowing the thoughts of others, ecstasy, and clairvoyance to name a few of the more popular in western society.

What's important for you to know is that meditative absorption is so, so, so much more than this or popular notion of "meditation." It is, by far, the most skillful, satisfying, profound, and life-changing practice a human can endeavor in. You can argue against this, or you could put the following guide to the test. Once you experience the mind-blowing ecstasy, insight, fulfillment, and powers of meditative absorption, I would be shocked if anyone didn't change their tune. To put it bluntly; this is "it." And a good percentage of you will experience this before finishing the book.

Remember, it's just a rough draft. I see many opportunities for improvement, but this is how I roll. I let come organically, get everything down, organize and optimize, then rewrite the final draft. I don't do outlines. In the best words I can put it right now, I write until inspiration hits, and begins surging energy through the body and putting all hairs on end. That's when the real magic happens.

[Michel]

It is, by far, the most skillful, satisfying, profound, and life-changing practice a human can endeavor in. You can argue against this, or you could put the following guide to the test. Once you experience the mind-blowing ecstasy, insight, fulfillment, and powers of meditative absorption, I would be shocked if anyone didn't change their tune. To put it bluntly; this is "it." And a good percentage of you will experience this before finishing the book.

Good intro. You've seduced your readers. You promise them the moon, hopefully the book will deliver the goods.

[Jhanon]

I feel confident that it will. When I first had that crazy experience while reading Eckhart Tolle's book, I did some research and found I was by no means in a minority. There were many others who experienced the same quality of experience in the same way. Since then, about 80 percent of those who I've been fortunate enough to guide into discovering the charisms has had experiences during the guiding that they described as I just did. And it was almost always through text communication.

[Michel]

If you're going to mention the GWV, then maybe you should define the mission of the GWV. Maybe you might consider putting it into your own words.

This is how I understand the mission of the GWV. Maybe you could write something like this:

The Great Western Vehicle is an evolving entity, not dead and restricted by rigid dogma. Its goal is to seek out gnosis wherever it is to be found by unpacking and examining all belief systems of any of the religious traditions and the teachings of all the known mystics and putting this gnosis into practice made available to everyone.

(I know I'm a dreadful writer. I feel sorry for anyone who has to read my posts.)

Jhananda puts it this way:

"If the mission of the Great Western Vehicle (Mahaparacakkayana) is to be a 4th wheel (Catutthayana), ecumenical, engaged, ecstatic western contemplative tradition that is equally informed by Eastern religions, such as Hinduism and Buddhism, and Western religions such as the Abrahamic religions; and it is dedicated to the cultivation, study and education of contemplative practices that produce gnosis; and our activities are to engage in support and education of individuals in contemplative practices that lead to gnosis; then we must express that mission."

See here: http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/gwvmissions.htm

[Michel]

I feel confident that it will. When I first had that crazy experience while reading Eckhart Tolle's book, I did some research and found I was by no means in a minority. There were many others who experienced the same quality of experience in the same way. Since then, about 80 percent of those who I've been fortunate enough to guide into discovering the charisms has had experiences during the guiding that they described as I just did. And it was almost always through text communication.

That's interesting.

[Jhanon]

Yes, I think it is the only course of action to mention the GWV. I agree with including a mission statement, but it needs to be simplified. Jhananda's is very difficult for a non-genius to interpret. I think this is part of the reason that more seekers don't flood the GWV. Look at Eckhart's books. The Power of Now was painfully elucidating, at least of what attainment he could draw from. And yet I know people who consider themselves intelligent whom couldn't finish the book because it was "too much."

There needs to be an impeccable balance between precision, broadness, energy inspired simplicity. Like, the paraphrased treatise you wrote. THAT is what the introduction needs to have. Preferably, the whole book will have that divine energy behind it, as was so clearly in Eckhart's books.

So, I do not ye know how I will describe the GWV's mission without watering it down or leaving most people confused. I think the mission statement will be one of the last things to be incorporated into the booklet, which is not to imply it will necessary be at the conclusion of the book.

[Jhanon]

With that said, I think your version is good. Words like "gnosis" will likely be replaced, as it is too obscure to the western mind.

[Michel]

I agree with that. Gnosis = spiritual knowledge.

My favorite spiritual writer, as for clarity of expression, has got to be Eckhart Tolle. He's a genius. He writes in a simple straightforward language everyone can understand. They should teach his style in schools.

At the bottom of the list of the spiritual teachers who are opaque writers, I would have to put Thanissaro Bhikkhu who has you running all over the place, and Bhikkhu Bodhi for his complex sentence structure and heavy archaic vocabulary. J Krishnamurti takes forever to make his point, if he ever does. Ramana Maharshi is full of spiritual terminology that over complicates his writings.

[Jhanon]

I agree with you, Michel. Thanissaro intellectualizes far too much. However, I did find his book on meditation to be helpful. But it required great discernment.

I have often been told I am a good teacher. I'm not great. That will hopefully come with time, and further saturation in the charisms.

But, I don't care about all that. I know if I can get this up for the GWV to assist me in editing, we can come up with a beautiful end product. Consider all the greatest books on mysticism of the past. Written usually by one individual channeling God/Energy/You-know-what-i'm-talking-about.

Alexander is a beautiful writer. I really enjoy his writings. He has a special gift. And you, Michel, when I read that paraphrase, A PARAPHRASE, of your inspired treatise, I was thoroughly impressed and so thankful. You gifted me a sublime experience of the divine.

Then there is Jhananda, which I feel is supremely gifted at beating the intellect into submission. LOL (I'm just being animated by saying "beating")

My point is that I am going to write this book. But when it is published, it will not be written by me. It will be written by the divine, channeled through all of us. That includes you, Michel. If you suddenly "go manic", please, please, come to this thread and let yourself freely express

Damn, I am feeling an amazing amount of love today. It feels so good. It drives me mad that I am not more adequate in helping others feel this way, too. If "psychic" healing is possible (which I know it is, because I've done it numerous times), then it must be possible for Shakti-Pat. In other words, it MUST be possible for me to touch someone or be in their presence and induce ecstatic communion with the divine. In fact, I think I did my first one with Cal--merely through words. I want him to offer his opinion on that.

But, I remember a moment in our discussion when I suddenly felt "different." I felt a special energy that said "Let go. Let me handle this. Give yourself entirely to the words which are about to come." And I did, and what do you know? It worked. THROUGH TEXT!

[Jhanon]

Ecstatic Absorption: Accessing the Ecstasies

A straight-forward guide on how to ACTUALLY access the ecstatic and liberating states.

You can access the YouTube instructional video by clicking here

Part 1: Why Isn't Meditation Blissful?
In most of the world, meditation is practiced and taught like it isn't self-arising. As if it is something you create, or just a stoic exercise. I read so many of these unhelpful books and teachings, I began to wonder if anyone experienced what I had so gratefully come upon. They all missed the point, or failed to explain well. Meditation leads to naturally, self-arising experiences of joy, bliss, and ecstasy. Just as the right conditions will produce fire, so too will ecstatic states of altered consciousness.

To distinguish the following from the meditation most of us know, we will call this "ecstatic absorption." It is jhana, samadhi, and so many other terms, but what it really is, is mostly beyond words. Please follow along with the instructions as you read, and take a moment to re-read anything you might not understand. This is the fastest, most succinct and reliable source of experiencing the spiritual ecstasies I've ever seen or been able to produce through text.

If you are already established in a meditative practice, you might skip down to the next section entitled "Part 3: Accessing the Ecstasies."

Part 2: Pre-Requisite to Ecstatic Absorption
The pre-requisite skill needed to enter these profound states of altered consciousness is very simple. One needs to "take a step back" from the mind, and become the "witness" to all the mind's phenomena. Imagine you are watching a movie you're not so interested in, and therefor, are not immersed in it. The name of this movie is "Life." The mind is the screen where "Life" is projected onto, and experienced as sensations and thoughts. You are the awareness of "Life", of the mind. You are merely the audience.

Test this for yourself. I will state a short phrase, and it is for the reader to stop immediately upon reading it, and let your awareness simply witness the naturally arising thoughts related to the experience of the phrase. The phrase is "I am so tired of ______."

If you were successful, you will know or realize that you are not these thoughts. They arise without you, and they pass away without you. They only stay if you "grab" or "cling" to them with your awareness, just as a butterfly's nature is to fly free unless we grab it with our hand as it passes us. So just let the thoughts (and physical sensations) fly past you.

If you have difficulty, you may use the feeling of breathing in and out as an anchor. Simply rest your awareness on your breathing, and thoughts will eventually arise. When they arise, you return awareness to your breath. Soon the mind will realize.

You only need to realize you are not your thoughts, and that you don't need to be controlled by them. You don't have to be perfect at this. Just realize. It will create space for new sensations to arise.

Part 3: Accessing the Ecstasies
Having established "the witness", the next step is even easier. It is to "absorb" into NON-physical phenomena. Also known as "jhana-nimitta" or "charisms", these non-physical sensations are signs of absorption.

To do this, make sure your body is relaxed and comfortable. Then direct your awareness to the inside of your hands or feet, and rest it there. You will experience sensations. Let your awareness appreciate and subsequently absorb into the pleasant tingling, warmth, "fullness" or fluid movements you experience within. Even if it isn't mind-blowing at first, you must open your heart, and deeply appreciate it as if it were your refuge in the greatest need. Like it is a benevolent, deeply loved friend you've not seen for lifetimes, and now have the chance to embrace.

The more deeply you open up your heart to these sensations, the more you will be showered with tremendous reward. Soon, joy, bliss, and ecstasy will arise. And this is just the beginning.

Troubleshooting:
Like catching a butterfly, we don't squeeze too hard, or loosen too much. Your awareness of the non-physical sensations must be balanced. You must be gentle. If you concentrate too hard, you will experience tension in the body. If you concentrate too little, your awareness will waver. We're not concentrating at all. We're resting our awareness on the sensations, and embracing them with an open heart.

Continue to rest your awareness on this presence, allowing it to spread throughout the body. This takes patience, and one must let go. "Let go", for most people, is what we do when we go to sleep. One must relax into the primary sensations in your awareness. As one does, more sensations will enter the awareness, such as non-physical sensations in other parts of the body, or sounds, which almost always begin at first as a simple ringing or buzzing.

It's like standing in front of a beautiful painting with a flashlight pointed directly at it. When we take steps back, the flashlight illuminates more and more to our amazement. The light of our flashlight is the light of our awareness. The non-physical sensations inside the body is the painting. As our awareness slowly takes steps back at it's own pace--due to our awareness resting on and relaxing into it--we begin to see and experience more and more of the beautiful painting, our heart opens to it, and eventually we experience the totality of our non-physical "body."

Part 4: What is Possible?
For some who have practiced as they have read, they will experience much more than is detailed here. Each physical sense of though, seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, balance, and tactile feeling has a non-physical counterpart, a sign of absorption, which will enter into your awareness as you relax into the non-physical sensations. They will develop, become stronger and more vivid. A ringing in the ear will turn into rushing water or birds. The tactile sensation present within the body will turn in bliss.

It will become clear to the reader they are tapping into an entire non-physical body with it's complete set of senses. Some may even experience an ecstatic surge of Energy rising in waves from the root to the crown of the head. Which will then surge back down with tremendous power, healing, love, insight, and ecstasy--often putting all the hairs of the physical body on end, and tears of relief in the eyes. This is called Kundalini, Energy, Ariya, or the Holy Spirit. It is unforgettable when at it's strongest.

Advanced: What is Possible?
If you go far enough, into the 4th stage, the 4th jhana, you may with the non-physical visual sense experience some kind of pin or light or tunnel or orb or star which will "like a spaceship" take you completely out of your physical body. You are now having an out of body experience. You may fall asleep, or not witness the "spaceship" and yet still have an out of body experience. Most likely you will experience heavenly things. Consider it a vacation, but the real progress is made in the first 4 stages, not the latter 4. If any of this is too much for you, simply open your eyes and walk away. Or to avoid leaving the body, just remain anchored in the tactile feeling sensations or even physical sensations in your background awareness.

This is all normal. Do not be frightened. Like riding a roller coaster for the first time, it is only a bit frightening because it is new to you. Like a child watching a movie at the theater for the first time. Your hands or feet may sweat, but trust that you are interacting with a benevolent process of unfolding. It's just very powerful and "moving" at first. Many of you, like I was the first time, will be too ecstatic for fear to bother you.

Welcome to the path to Enlightenment, to God, to Source, to Union, or whatever term you care to use. It doesn't matter. One simply knows they have come across something beautiful, profound, and it is what so many spiritual teachers have talked about all throughout history.

The fulfillment to be experienced within is far greater than anything to be experienced without.

[Michel]

Thank-you, Jhanon. You did an excellent job. It's very much to the point and nicely succinct. 

Perhaps you might add that it is important not to crave to have jhana. Instead, one should savour the experience and be content with just whatever arises while being in the present moment.


 

[Jhanananda]

Looks good Jhanon, pretty simple and straight forward instructions.

[Jhanon]

Thank you both. I endeavored to make it fit for our 21st century minds of brevity. I wanted it to be as full of value as possible, and I will likely make revisions until it is even more succinct. This is the primary section of the booklet.

Michel, I think it is wise to add that to a "troubleshooting" section that will follow in the next part of the book, or be a separate booklet. Do you disagree? I am concerned about giving too many tips and causing confusion. I wanted instead to impact as many as possible in relation to what I've found to work for most people. Should this be their first time experiencing non-physical sensations, yet a lack of "oomph", I feel that it would be sufficient to cause a further searching and dedication.