An Experience

[Guest guest]

Tonight I had an experience in meditation that's difficult to describe. I

began by taking my regular position (the "corpse" position, lying down with

arms and legs spread on a hard surface). I then chanted "OM" seven times.

On the seventh repetition, I detected multiple harmonics in the sound.

After this, I continued to chant "OM" mentally, concentrating on the

harmonics I had heard, and gently on the crown chakra.

 

Between this point and my return, I can't describe what happened. I

remember being in some sort of vast lightless space, very similar to the

feeling of being asleep. I saw a clear white light, small but utterly

clear, slightly to the left of the "visual" field. Then something "pulled

me back" to normal consciousness. I had obviously been in an utterly

different state of consciousness. The body felt completely warm, relaxed,

limp and at peace upon return.

 

I was unable to repeat the experience because I started thinking about it

and TRYING to repeat it... *sigh*... Perhaps I will attempt it again

tonight.

 

Can someone tell me where I was and what happened, in the context of the

classical religions? Was this Nirvikalpa Samadhi? Salvikalpa Samadhi?

 

OM OM Shanti,

 

Tim

 

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[Guest guest]

> Tim Gerchmez <fewtch

>

>

> Tonight I had an experience in meditation that's difficult to describe. I

> began by taking my regular position (the "corpse" position, lying

> down with

> arms and legs spread on a hard surface). I then chanted "OM" seven times.

> On the seventh repetition, I detected multiple harmonics in the sound.

> After this, I continued to chant "OM" mentally, concentrating on the

> harmonics I had heard, and gently on the crown chakra.

>

> Between this point and my return, I can't describe what happened. I

> remember being in some sort of vast lightless space, very similar to the

> feeling of being asleep. I saw a clear white light, small but utterly

> clear, slightly to the left of the "visual" field. Then something "pulled

> me back" to normal consciousness. I had obviously been in an utterly

> different state of consciousness. The body felt completely warm, relaxed,

> limp and at peace upon return.

>

> I was unable to repeat the experience because I started thinking about it

> and TRYING to repeat it... *sigh*... Perhaps I will attempt it again

> tonight.

>

> Can someone tell me where I was and what happened, in the context of the

> classical religions? Was this Nirvikalpa Samadhi? Salvikalpa Samadhi?

>

> OM OM Shanti,

>

> Tim

 

Dear Tim,

 

The samadhi wasn't Nirvikalpa - it cannot be described as there is only

+you+, no witness, nothing to perceive. Once I answered a similar issue on

the K. list:

 

Savikalpa samadhi is the Vedanta equivalent of samprajnata-samadhi in

classical yoga. Its principal forms are:

vitarka (cogitation) = vitarka+vicara+ananda+asmita

vicara (reflexion) = vicara+ananda+asmita

ananda (bliss) = ananda+asmita

asmita (I-am-ness) = asmita

The I-am-ness is the I-am-as-an-individual or consciousness-of-personality

experience, one of the five causes of affliction. Because of this, these

types of samadhi can pose a few pitfalls. Three of them are:

1) the idea of having achieved the goal or being near to it

2) desire for repetition of the ecstasy some of these states can produce

3) false interpretation of perceived phenomena (because personality,

influenced by ecstasy is involved)

Regarding the second, as in nature everything is balanced, one will

experience an alternation of periods of ecstasy and depression (when ecstasy

and visions are absent). Depression will feed the desire for ecstasy so the

circle is closed. The longer this situation continues, the less likely one's

escape from it. It is even possible that one interprets the perceived

phenomena / knowledge as coming directly from God, with the predictable

result of a turbo boost for the personality-experience, creating desire for

more. When one finally succeeds in finding a more or less coherent

explanation for the perceived phenomena, they are sometimes used to fill

books. Not too long ago, anthroposophists in Holland had an argument with

authorities over race-discrimination. Despite his inspired visions, Rudolf

Steiner had no knowledge of the fact, that K. was known in ancient Africa.

If he would be alive, he could be forced to rewrite several parts of his

books. As personality is the core of Western culture, it comes as no

surprise that Westerners are very easily trapped in the savikalpa samadhis.

Take care...

 

Jan