Regarding ecstasy

[Guest guest]

Dear Madhya

 

On Tue, 04 May 1999 06:34:55 Madhya Nandi wrote:

>Ecstasy is a complex subject. One would be ill-advised to use the single

>word 'ecstasy' to name the great variety of ecstatic manifestations.

>Ecstasy can extend from a purely emotional quality of experience to a purely

>spiritual experience.

 

That is very true. There are no definition of the

different exstacies.

>Ecstasy can take many different forms and may have

>many kinds of uses not only regarding the spiritual quest but also for

>reconditioning the body/mind/spirit complex.

 

>With specific regard to ecstatic experience. First, it is essential to

>understand the nature of the ecstasy that one may be experiencing. What are

>its manifestations? To what extent is this ecstasy based upon the emotions?

> This will be difficult to determine, of course, since ecstasy is often the

>mingling of emotional, spiritual and creative factors.

 

But as you say, witnessing the process from within

might give some clues to the process itself.

 

A good advice.

>Second, no more important factor is involved in the cultivation and

>experience of ecstatic states than non-attachment.

Glad to see you're tackling the question of

attachment and ecstacies head on.

 

I've discussed the same question in other fora and it

seems to be one of the most difficult spiritual

questions around, even for experienced students.

>Virtually no limit

>exists for the degree of ecstasy that a person can experience if that person

>has developed the capacity to experience ecstasy while completely

>nonattached to the experience. It is possible to fill the universe with

>one's perception of ecstasy and yet remain nonattached. One must develop

>the capacity to both experience ecstasy as a sensation and also be the

>witness to one's experiencing of ecstasy.

 

Your post gave me a lot to chew on, and a lot to think

about and try out next time ecstacy calls around

(which it usually does... ).

 

I can't say I have very much to add as this is all

new territory. But if you bear with me, I might have

something wise to say about it in the course of the

next 20 years or so...

 

Thank you very much

for sharing of your ideas and experience.

 

Best regards,

 

Amanda.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com

[Guest guest]

Dear List,

 

Thanks for all the new perspectives! To answer Amanda's question

 

<<How do you attain those states without meditating ?(Just curious) >>

 

Hatha Yoga exercises seem to have set this off, and perhaps (since the

energy "compells" me to continue them) have kept it ongoing. The energy is

just "there," especially at night. I wonder if a change in breathing

patterns with Hatha Yoga is at least one factor that is shared with

meditation??

 

It's interesting that Madhya Nandi says <<Virtually no limit exists for the

degree of ecstasy that a person can experience if that person has developed

the capacity to experience ecstasy while completely nonattached to the

experience.>>

 

I recently had two "experiences" that correspond with this--one was a brief

"taste" that there were "infinite" pleasures out there. Because of what I've

already experienced this seemed inconceivable to me--but absolutely

incontestable. The second was that the body could not handle this degree of

ecstasy/bliss/ rapture/joy/deliciousness unless the "self" was NOT part of

the experience. So perhaps there can be no way to "define" these states with

the vocabulary available to "us."

 

Jan's posts have been wonderfully helpful in getting a perspective on all

this. One thing is odd, though, and that is I haven't experienced the

classical rise of Kundalini. Freight train like energy, yes--but not the

"powerful hydogen-flame."

 

Antoine writes <<If no questions remains to be asked, why should there be a

question to ask? And this 'why', is still a question or a wonder.>>

 

)

 

and Jan writes <<one will find out...that ecstasy leads to nothing>>

 

Yes, it's time for me to accept this, enjoy and "move on."

 

Thanks!

 

Love, Hillary