How to move into the 3rd jhana?

[Alexander]

For the past 2 weeks I've been doing a pretty rigorous meditation practice, as I have been wanting to experience some of the deeper contemplative states more notable than the quiet mind. The first week I more or less moved from a layperson's head into a relatively still mind (the 2nd jhana), and also developed tinnitus which I have been using as a meditation object, along with breath. So far though I have not been able to progress further (and IIRC I had thought I experienced the third jhana, at least once before). Some of these meditations I let myself move about and keep my eyes open, as if I restrain the body completely then I tend to get more thoughts coming to me. The more disciplined sessions I've gotten a scratchiness over the body (and twitches mostly confined to the left side of my face), but I haven't been able to move deeper. Should I just buckle down with time and self-discipline?

[Jhanananda]

aglorincz, the scratchiness over the body and twitches or itches on the face are common for the hypersensitive phase which immediately precedes the 3rd stage of absorption (3rd jhana).  I found I had to just sit through all of the itches and twitches to get into the 3rd jhana. When the 3rd jhana arises then all of the distractions will no longer distract you, the itches and twitches will go, and the sneezing and squirming of people around you will not distract you.

Sadly, I have seen so-called "meditation masters" squirm and itch constantly during their meditation sessions, so we can conclude those so-called "meditation masters" have not made it to the 3rd jhana.

[Michael Hawkins]

Knowing that the "gulf" between 2nd jhana and 3rd jhana is symbolized by the Dark Night of the Soul, I think it's important to persist -- to keep going forward in our meditation, no matter how difficult things become.  At some point we emerge into a clearing, when we realize that all the distraction was just unconscious resistance as we stood at the threshold of bliss, joy and ecstasy.

[Alexander]

Thanks for the responses guys, without exaggeration they probably save me years trying to figure all this out on my own. It becomes so much easier when you have a roadmap to guide you.

[Jhanananda]

Knowing that the "gulf" between 2nd jhana and 3rd jhana is symbolized by the Dark Night of the Soul, I think it's important to persist -- to keep going forward in our meditation, no matter how difficult things become.  At some point we emerge into a clearing, when we realize that all the distraction was just unconscious resistance as we stood at the threshold of bliss, joy and ecstasy.

Well put Michael.  Yes, aglorincz, if I had some guidance it would have saved me decades of blundering.  I just kept reading the mystics, even though I knew in my heart there were some serious translation errors, I just learned to filter out the differences and focused upon the similarities.

[Alexander]

Alright. Finishing the third week now of rigorous practice. Had some regression over the past 3 days, maybe due to dealing with too much in daily life, but probably from my own negligence as well. Had the internal dialogue come back, though so far I still have tinnitus. Getting somewhat fatigued & frustrated from lack of progress, though if this is a crisis it's very different from the earlier crises (which were emotional & personal).

Took yesterday off work to try to order my internal world a bit; spent most of the day sitting though not quite what I'd call meditating. Did have several proper meditations, most around 20 minutes but a few for closer to an hour. Ended up dizzy after some of them, probably from sitting upright for so long.

Going to keep at it.

[Jhanananda]

Thank-you aglorincz, for keeping us posted.  Since you have developed the charismatic sound (tinnitus), then you have achieved considerable success.  Some religions (Sant Matt) consider it enough attainment for millions of devotees to flock at your feet.

The dizziness that you recently developed is most probably the kinesthetic charism.  I experience it as dizziness as well, but after 12 years of continuous kinesthetic charism I have gotten used to it to the point that I can walk on the crowded roof of my van, which will bob as I walk, around crates of gear.  So, be careful as this new charism manifests.

The key thing to get is the charisms are deep holiness manifesting in you, so if you can treat them as the presence of whatever you hold as most holy, then you will gain considerably from their manifestations, and they will deepen greatly.

[Alexander]

Finishing up another month of meditation. Starting to see jhana as a bit more graduated than I did before, as a sort of a life-process that isn't tied to meditation practice in itself (if that makes any sense).

Gotten very easy to make the mind 100% silent. Generally able to keep it still or quiet for the whole of the day. Starting last week I also developed another charism, a regular warmth in my chest or heart, something I'd experienced ~3 years ago but not connected with meditation. Pops up almost every time I meditate, and sometimes follows me during the day. I do not feel like a seraphim, but I think I understand where religious authors get the fire metaphor from. =)

Going to keep working with the sound & heart charisms (especially the latter now), and see if I can use them to move into contemplation proper.

[Jhanananda]

Finishing up another month of meditation. Starting to see jhana as a bit more graduated than I did before, as a sort of a life-process that isn't tied to meditation practice in itself (if that makes any sense).

One of the most common misconceptions I find regarding enlightenment is a belief that it is a single event after which the person is "enlightened."  Most of the time when we have an individual who claims such an enlightenment they have none of the charisms that many of us here are reporting.  Instead, I agree, enlightenment is a process and has many grades or shades, and requires a lifelong commitment to a lifestyle that supports it.

Gotten very easy to make the mind 100% silent. Generally able to keep it still or quiet for the whole of the day. Starting last week I also developed another charism, a regular warmth in my chest or heart, something I'd experienced ~3 years ago but not connected with meditation. Pops up almost every time I meditate, and sometimes follows me during the day. I do not feel like a seraphim, but I think I understand where religious authors get the fire metaphor from. =)

Going to keep working with the sound & heart charisms (especially the latter now), and see if I can use them to move into contemplation proper.

According to St John of the Cross, "contemplation" begins when the mind is still.  However, it is our experience here that contemplation has many shades and nuances.  The opening of the heart chakra, or regular "warmth" in you chest or heart is one of those nuances.

You did not mention the charism of sound, or kinesthetic charisms, but as you are reporting deeper meditations and more success with stilling the mind, then we should assume that those charisms persist, nonetheless.

Yes, fire as a metaphor for the religious experience is common between mystics of many cultures.  Since they did not have electricity; whereas we do, then past mystics commonly used the metaphor of fire; whereas, mystics today commonly use electricity as a metaphor for the experience of energy and warmth associated with the charisms.

[bodhimind]

Very interesting thread. I also find that I get very dizzy. Also, when someone was cooking and the vapor came into my room, I felt so insanely itchy I had to get out of meditation if not I would have some kind of allergic reaction. This was especially when I made it into this stage of high equanimity anf the joy already reduced from second jhana. This might also explain why when I focus on the third eye chakra it kind of increases the dizzy spell as they seem linked.

[Jhanananda]

I found the dizziness from depth of meditation is more a characteristic of the 4th jhana.  So, either you have been meditating to the 4th jhana, and did not know it, or you have genuine vertigo.