Well, here's the results of this thread so far:
Experienced a permanent synchronization of vibrations?
Me: yes.
Dan K: yes.
Bruno: no.
Julius: no?
Tarin: yes (as a consequence of AF).
It seems like there's something to this synchronization stuff, though the big picture is still murky. Anyone else care to chime in? How about Daniel?
Dan K:
Anon Anon:
Well, I'd like to ask you if you can be more specific in describing what the "counter-movement" is. I think we have different ways of describing our phenomenal worlds, so there's a bit of gap-bridging to be done first.
A sensation will occur. The mind will tend to sweep in an engulfing way around the sensation along one axis of rotation. A tiny bit later, the mind sweeps around it the other way along the same axis of rotation. The two motions tend to cancel each other out. I think this sort of thing is happening non-spatially as well, but I'm not able to discern the mechanics.
Can you describe what you mean when the mind "sweeps"? Is it a kinaesthetic phenomenon? I can't say that I know what this corresponds to in my own descriptive language...
Dan K:
Anon Anon:
Instead of attending to the differentials between vibrations within some modality, can you attend to the absolute vibration of that modality? I mean, eg if your entire visual field vibrates in sync with itself, the absolute frequency of the field seems like a good candidate.
I can do this. Is there a point to this other than stilling the mind?
When I do it, it leads me through a review cycle, as any other object for vipassana would (but see below about my post-synchronization state and nanas).
Dan K:
The "problem" isn't that I can't find vibrations, it's that I'm stuck in 4th vipassana jhana so there's nowhere to go with the vibrations, nor does there seem to be any gain from looking at them. There is still plenty of stuff for me to work with, but I would classify them more as waves than vibrations. For example, the process of objectification is seen to be wavelike and makes a good object of inquiry.
OK, got it. Can you explain what you mean by there not being any gain by looking at them? Can you get a fruition (for example) by looking at them?
Dan K:
Anon Anon:
Are you familiar with some other state that you call "rigpa"?
What is it like when "I" fades away? Does it stay that way indefinitely?
There is another state which I associate with "rigpa". It is the perfect understanding that this is all there is and there is nothing else to it. It is a perfectly non-profound (at the time) and non associative state. I don't have much experience with this state and I do not know if there is any relationship between this and what happens when subjectivity starts to fade. It's not something I have worked on for whatever reason. I'll experiment a little and get back to you.
Looking forward to it.
Dan K:
Anon Anon:
How would you assess yourself in terms of the 4-path model? Pre- or post-SE? Pre- or post-SE when you had your synchronization event?
Post SE when I had the event. I interpreted the synchronization event as a path moment. My working hypothesis is 4th path, based on the fact that I'm stuck in 4th vipassana jhana, but it's too early to say.
In case you find it helpful, I'll share my experience with this phenomenon ("stuck in 4th vipassana jhana") insofar as I've experienced something like it. (Perhaps this should be split off into another thread?)
Pre-SE, nanas were experienced as big, obvious shifts in my state of consciousness, with a variety of typical attentional, perceptual, and affective characteristics. Nanas were to be feared, or at least respected, because they could make my life really unpleasant in the right (wrong) circumstances.
Immediately post-SE, nanas (during review) were pretty much like they were pre-SE, but with the attentional width of the 4th jhana superimposed on them somewhat. Also, there was a kind of equanimity garnered from pure insight superimposed as well (like, "oh, I don't exist in the way that I thought I did, so there's less to worry about"). But overall, they presented pretty much as before. One of the most distinctive features of their presentation, dissynchronies that varied based on which nana it was, continued to manifest, and made diagnosing "which nana is this?" somewhat easy.
After synchronization, all nanas except for A&P typically present as a kind of shadow of themselves: not big shifts in states of consciousness, but comparatively small tweaks of a state that is 4th jhana-like and somewhat permanent. The state is characterized by a lot of equanimity, extremely wide attention, a diffused sense of "I", and no within-modality dissynchronies.
Because synchronization occurred soon after SE, at the time I thought to myself "nanas appear to be tempered by SE", and learned to identify them in new ways without thinking much of it. But apparently this isn't the standard experience.
Despite the fact that all nanas now have 4th jhana-like characteristics, the progress of insight continues as before. The amount of insight I had immediately after synchronization seems very limited to me now in retrospect. (Currently I'd put myself down as lost in 3rd path somewhere, using the MCTB definition of it---and I definitely attained this path long *after* synchronization) In fact, I wouldn't say that synchronization bestowed me with any insight at all, at least not any insight of the direct, non-reflective kind that paths bestow, unless you count the phenomenon of "I" becoming more diffuse as related to insight. Its notable effects for me have been primarily related to equanimity and psychological wellbeing. (This might be different if I had attained it pre-SE, assuming that's possible.)
Here is how I identify the nanas right now:
Mind and body: stronger sense of being "I", sudden grasp of which phenomena are unclear and need to be analyzed for insight.
Cause and effect: indistinct.
Three characteristics: indistinct, maybe boredom.
A&P: vibrations vary synchronously as one inhales or exhales; later (not in review), all the typical A&P craziness.
Dissolution: easier to see the passing of phenomena, vibration rate of visual field upon cursory observation is faster than usual (5-6hz?) through all the dukkha nanas.
Fear: a bit of stomach tension.
Misery: indistinct, sometimes vague tension.
Disgust: indistinct, sometimes vague tension.
Desire for deliverance: indistinct; less tension if it were previously present.
Re-observation: sometimes indistinct, sometimes irregular sensations of buzzing in the body; rarely the typical re-observation unpleasantness.
Equanimity: boredom at first; then attentional width expands a tiny bit; then formless stuff and strong equanimity; then fruition.
The things to note about all of these is, first, that about half of the nanas have become indistinct for me, including most of the Dark Night (but none of the positive nanas), and second, the only way I know that I'm clearly in Equanimity is by keeping track of which nanas came immediately before, or by waiting until I get deeper into it and formless stuff begins to arise. This is because all the mentioned characteristics of all the nanas are superimposed on a state that's like the 4th jhana, but without the formless phenomena, and without the extreme equanimity that the 4th jhana can present with when approached with strong concentration.
Later paths made no difference to synchronization / dissynchronization, but only to direct insight and whatever psychological consequences follow from having insight.
I don't know if this corresponds in any way with where you are currently, but if so, I hope it helps!