tdiggy t diggy:
When the wave of increased pleasure finished, I'd be back at the plain old tingling in my palms. All this was nice.
While this was happening, I did not think the pulses were the 1st Jhana. Then while really fixing my resolve/focus, I felt one sort of bound out in a very different way. The best I can explain is I felt like I was lifted up, and my whole sense of self expanded into a much more spacious area. A very nice feeling spread throughout my body. It was remarkably different from the nice "pulses" described above. Certainly a unique experience for me. I stayed in this sensation for a few minutes most likely and then opened my eyes (as my knees were starting to give out and I didn't want to push them).
I'm writing this writeup just a few minutes after my session to try to capture the experience in the best fidelity possible.
Any thoughts or comments from experienced folks would be very much appreciated.
Hi Tommy,
Welcome to the DhO.
Experiences like the one highlighted in red, though interesting, should not be accepted as relevant to the onset of samatha jhana; the event described was more closely related to vipassana (insight) jhana. There's a very fine difference between the two, but one which until you become more experienced with jhana will likely not be fully understood or appreciated. Jhana involves an increase in the mind's ability to concentrate, to remain focused without disturbance on an object. This can occur under numerous circumstances and events.
No doubt, you are searching to achieve the classic stock description of jhana: the first, second, third, and fourth jhanas, yes? The problem with this description is: that one can achieve samadhi concentration without having undergone this sequence. When you know that your mind is unshakably fixed on an object, then you
know you are in jhana concentration.
I know, this is all somewhat complicated and confusing when you are just beginning to learn concentration. But once you remove all the whiz-bang experiences from the equation, what remains is the unshakable experience of rock solid mental concentration on an object, nothing more nor nothing less. This is why it is best to work directly with someone (in person) with some experience in order to properly learn this.
tdiggy t diggy:
I suppose one corollary question: [1.] the 1st time you hit the 1st Jhana, was it clear as day what happened to you? [2.] Is it possible to go through the 1st Jhana and onto the other ones without knowing what happened to you?
Answering your first question, no, it is not always clear as day what was occurring to you, especially if you are inexperienced and working without a guide.
The answer to your second question is: Yes. Because these processes can occur very quickly, and until your concentration improves to the point where you are able to follow them, the whole process may seem quite mysterious.
This is the best that anyone can do on the Internet to provide you with some kind of guidance. As I mentioned above, you are better off working with someone directly when attempting to learn about this practice. And hopefully, someone who isn't too screwed up themselves about the process, such that they end up passing on their aberrations about it to you.
In peace,
Ian