Thanks ED. Of course, I know about the jhana states, but I didn't know they were associated with the chakras and/or kundalini. I'll take a look and
see if the research matches my experience. Mike ________________________________ From: ED <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, 13 April, 2011 1:45:38 Subject: [Zen] Re: Does Zen contain spirituality? Mike, The jhana states are known in Zen practice, and are usually experienced after the makyo states and before the kensho-satori states. In the Theravada scriptures, the Buddha is reported to have experienced jhana states at his enlightenment and on his death-bed. Jhana states are known to be a consequence of intensive concentration meditation. Jhana states are known to be associated with the chakras and kundalini. Google[ jhana (chakra OR kundalini) ] to get 63,700 results. --ED --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > Bill!, Actually, it's difficult to find a place where to begin. If you remember, I recently wrote about an experience that was responsible for me discovering Zen. Just to recap, I had a very lucid and long-lasting kensho followed by another long-lasting period of intense bliss and kundalini type phenonema. Of course, I wasn't concerned with the latter experience so much and intuitively grasped the importance of the insight gained thru kensho (hence falling into Zen and not kundalini or mysticism etc). I've had a number of such experiences (both kinds) since, but this weekend was quite different altogether. The first day of the retreat was rather so-so as I couldn't quite get into the 'groove' and I was also missing my girlfriend quite acutely: being 'in the moment' was hell as it made me even more aware of the separation (please don't anyone tell me what I should or shouldn't do - I know full well what was happening). Anyway, from about midday until lights out, I was aware of a kind of 'fluttering' in my solar plexus area (which I put down to maybe being a mild emotional reaction to being separated from my girlfriend). The morning of the second day everything changed. I could sit very comfortably and found myself going into samadhi effortlessly. The fluttering in the solar plexus had now taken on a yellowish-green colour in my mind's eye and seemed to be rotating. Then after about 6 or 7 hours meditating (remember that there are 11 hours of meditating a day on a Vipassana retreat) my heart stopped (as an actual fact, I don't know), my breathing was suspended (I really thought for a split second I was going to die right there on the cushion!) and an explosion of green and yellow filled my chest and shot up my throat and exploded in a white firework that filled my head cavity. At the same time my body/mind felt like it was vibrating like it was a struck gong. All pain and discomfort vanished (I'd been sitting motionless for almost an hour when this occured) and an intense bliss took over. Now, I've had many experiences on the cushion that could easily be put down to visual/audial hallucinations from meditating, but this was quite different because I've never had much regard for things like chi and chakras before. After doing a little bit of research since I got home I've discovered that the solar plexus chakra is indeed symbolised as green and yellow and an irregular heart rhythm is a precursor to its opening. Also, when it does open the event I just described (travelling up the spine and 'flowering' in the head - or 'ajna' chakra) occurs. I've only discovered this information after the event. So, what to do about it? Part of me still has that 'just move on with it - it's just more makyo', but another part of me is thinking that it couldn't just be a coincidence that I had the exact same sensations described in kundalini literature. Well, if anyone's still reading this far, there you go. I'd love to hear some feedback about this (but please, I know about makyo and its pitfalls). Thanks. Mike
