Michel's Case History

[Michel]

I have a method when I was just starting out meditation. In order to still my mind, not only do I do meditation but I use whatever free time by reciting a mantra internally all day to focus and keep out all unwanted thoughts. It works for me and I think it would work for anyone...

Hello Sam. Thank-you very much for pointing this out. This is really good practical advise! As a result of your suggestion, I have been experimenting with using a mantra both in meditation and in my daily practice outside of meditation. A mantra helps to avoid useless thoughts while keeping the mind focused and still. Today I was speaking with my mother, who is a master of small talk, and I used a mantra while listening to her. Focusing partially on the mantra while listening to her, instead of the impatient thoughts and irritation that usually arise, made the conversation bearable.

PS - I've very much enjoyed reading your health blog.

[Michel]

I am experiencing new sensations during my meditations: Whereas usually in my meditations I have felt strong energies and bliss swirling about and confined to my head, now, in addition to what I've been experiencing in the head, I'm experiencing sensations throughout the entire body. There are mild burning sensations in the forearms, and back of hands, as well as burning sensations inside my nostrils. Often there are tingling sensations in forehead, crown, back of hands, and shoulders. Overall mild feelings of very pleasant bliss throughout the body. And there are sensations of heat throughout the entire body with faint perspiration. The burning sensations continue after the meditation as well. I hope I don't catch on fire?

[Jhanananda]

Congratulations, Michel, you are a stream-winner.  Now your job, as a contemplative who wishes to be a mystic, is to get there every day, several times a day, and to maintain all of those sensations within your awareness throughout the day.

Just a note: the Pali term, jhana is derived from the Pali term to burn.

[Jhanon]

This does sound like significant progress, Michel. The way you describe these "burning" sensations was a bit concerning at first. And I'm also not familiar with nostril "burning". However, jhana does mean "to burn" as Jhananda reminded us. And I can certainly see how the sensations could be interpreted as a burning, especially if the experience is paired with anxiety or trauma response, as I will explain.

The sweating may be an anxiety response. When I first began accessing a jhana, I believe it was my "fight or flight" or anxiety response would kick in, and I would begin to perspire. To the best of my knowledge, this has happened in the first 5-10 experiences of each stage of samadhi. But eventually I got accustomed to that level of charismatic activity, and now I only have anxiety response for intense kundalini and 4th samadhi and above (which I still have less than 5-10 experiences with.)

So my preliminary conclusion is that the sweating will go away as you grow accustomed to the increase in charismatic activity Can you tell us what you perhaps did differently this time, or what you might attribute to the new development?

I must say that congratulations are in order, Michel I celebrate your perseverance!   

[Michel]

The sweating may be an anxiety response...

So my preliminary conclusion is that the sweating will go away as you grow accustomed to the increase in charismatic activity Can you tell us what you perhaps did differently this time, or what you might attribute to the new development?

I must say that congratulations are in order, Michel I celebrate your perseverance!

Thank-you Jhanon, and Jhananda.

There is no anxiety at all, none, just heat. It's as if the temperature increased a couple degrees in the room.

What I did differently was I placed my attention on the subtle sensations of bliss that arose from my upper body instead of focusing on the sensations going on in my head.

[Jhanon]

Well bravo on two accounts. If you're not experiencing any fight-or-flight, I think that's pretty significant.

Looks like we can add another case history to the "watch the charisms in your hands, feet, chakras" meditation method group. Was it tingling, or euphoria, or warmth/heat that you settled on for your charismatic object?

I was at the monastery on a retreat just before I found the GWV and began to know what I was doing, and I was just brushing 1st jhana here and there when I asked a monk about their experiences. He said his first few experiences involved a lot of heat, and so did mine. I also know that aglorincz says that spiritual development results in friction-causing heat.

Randomness. I hope this is an encouraging development for you.

[Michel]

...Was it tingling, or euphoria, or warmth/heat that you settled on for your charismatic object?

It was the bliss that I used as charismatic object. But I've got a lot of experimenting to do before I nail it.

[rougeleader115]

The sweating may be an anxiety response. When I first began accessing a jhana, I believe it was my "fight or flight" or anxiety response would kick in, and I would begin to perspire. To the best of my knowledge, this has happened in the first 5-10 experiences of each stage of samadhi. But eventually I got accustomed to that level of charismatic activity, and now I only have anxiety response for intense kundalini and 4th samadhi and above (which I still have less than 5-10 experiences with.)

This matches my experience. For a few months it felt like my "flight or flight" was on 24-7. It was something I said I would warn others about if they experienced the same and felt worried. I certainly still find myself getting warm in meditation, as if I were a heating pad on low, but it is not as intense as when I first started, and it is not every time. The fear I feel about "intense kundalini" is certainly something I cannot wait to get over.

Michel I am very very happy to see you have found blissful sensations in meditation. I hope things keep progressing well for you .

[Michel]

Michel I am very very happy to see you have found blissful sensations in meditation. I hope things keep progressing well for you .

Thank you, rougeleader, for your kind thoughts.

[Jhanon]

The sweating may be an anxiety response. When I first began accessing a jhana, I believe it was my "fight or flight" or anxiety response would kick in, and I would begin to perspire. To the best of my knowledge, this has happened in the first 5-10 experiences of each stage of samadhi. But eventually I got accustomed to that level of charismatic activity, and now I only have anxiety response for intense kundalini and 4th samadhi and above (which I still have less than 5-10 experiences with.)

This matches my experience. For a few months it felt like my "flight or flight" was on 24-7. It was something I said I would warn others about if they experienced the same and felt worried. I certainly still find myself getting warm in meditation, as if I were a heating pad on low, but it is not as intense as when I first started, and it is not every time. The fear I feel about "intense kundalini" is certainly something I cannot wait to get over.

Michel I am very very happy to see you have found blissful sensations in meditation. I hope things keep progressing well for you .

I'm glad my observation resonated with you, Rougeleader. It's good to know you're no the only one. Definitely remind anyone else who has similar experience. It could potentially scare them away from samadhi. And that would be a tragedy.

And yeah, I also can't wait to get over the fear of intense kundalini. I keep missing out because of it. The only times I've experienced it is when there was very little build up, as it just took over fast--therefor only lasting a short time. At least mild kundalini isn't a problem, though.