Meditation experiences

[Avni]

Hello

This is my first post - am delighted to have found this site and look forward to discussions and learning more about topics that are important to me at the moment - meditation, spiritual advancement and of course philosophy.

I have dipped in and out of spiritual stuff all my life, with sadly many years of dipping out. But am now resolved to pursue a spiritual path more consistently. This is partly because, thanks to a friend, I have discovered mindfulness meditation techniques emerging from Buddhism, and partly because if I don't now, I fear that I shall soon be too decrepit to do so. Am now past 50, so enough excuses and evasions.

Could I please ask readers to talk about their meditation experiences, particularly at the start of their meditation journey. I find it astonishing that people meditate all their lives - 20, 30, 40 years.. How do experiences change over this vast period? A great deal has been recorded about physiological and subtle body changes that accompany deepening meditation, such as, the changes in brain rhythms - deeper states of meditation result in slower brain rhythms - and the progression of the kundalini up the spinal column and chakras. However, it would be interesting to hear of how people perceive their meditation experiences are changing over time.

I know many people are reluctant to discuss these as it may equate with self aggrandizement but if it serves to support newcomers who may be curious, enthusiastic but mired in self-doubt, it should be more acceptable.

Avni
P.S. I have now posted this request on to another thread - Meditation in the Buddhism section.

[Nobody]

Hi, Avni.

It seems to me that almost every new meditator asks the same questions.

I am no master, and I don't think any of my own meditation experiences would be of benefit to you. To me, though, the practice of meditation is similar to practicing the piano. If you practice just to learn one piece, that is where the development of your skill will stop. Do not get hung up in the "experiences" of meditation, just practice and wait to see what happens. Don't try for anything specific and don't get stuck in jhanas or strange sensations. Those are just tricks of neurochemistry, and they have no special significance. Meditation is an interesting process if you just watch and wait to see what happens without trying to force anything.

As I said, I am no master, but I am far enough along in my practice to know that meditation is beneficial, and that's enough said.

Best wishes,

Nobody (Michael Shea, MD)

[TheCollector]

I meditate in a diffrent way then most people. I do it in my sleep. I can do it because every night I can control my dreams with Lucid dreaming. I doubt it but I could probaly teach someone to do it.